CapTech 2022 Speakers and Panellists
The Hon Paul Fletcher MP – Federal Member for Bradfield – Manager of Opposition Business in the House, Shadow Minister for Government Services and the Digital Economy, and Shadow Minister for Science and the Arts
Paul Fletcher MP is the Manager of Opposition Business in the House, Shadow Minister for Government Services and the Digital Economy, and Shadow Minister for Science and the Arts in the 47th Parliament.
Paul Fletcher entered Parliament in December 2009 as the Member for Bradfield; was appointed Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Communications in September 2013; Minister for Major Projects, Territories, and Local Government in September 2015; Minister for Urban Infrastructure in July2016; Minister for Urban Infrastructure and Cities in December 2017; Minister for Families and Social Services in August 2018; Minister for Communications, Cyber Safety and the Arts in 2019 and for Communications, Urban Infrastructure, Cities and the Arts in December 2020, serving in that role until May 2022.
Before entering Parliament, Paul was Director, Corporate and Regulatory Affairs, at Optus for eighty ears, and established a consulting firm serving the communications sector. His 2009 book about broadband, Wired Brown Land, was published by UNSW Press; in 2021 his bookGoverning in the Internet Age was published by Monash University Press.
Earlier in his career Paul was Chief of Staff to the Minister for Communications in the Howard Government, Senator Richard Alston.
He has dual first class honours degrees in law and economics from The University of Sydney and an MBA from Columbia University in New York where he was a Fulbright Scholar.
Paul has been a member of the Liberal Party since he was 16 and was active in student politics at Sydney University. He was a champion university debater, twice reaching the finals of the World Universities Debating Championship.
ANTHONY F SHEPHERD – AO
Tony is Chairman of Venues NSW, the AFL GWS Giants, Bingo Industries Pty Ltd, the Inaugural Chairman of Infrastructure SA and Chair of the NSW Modern Manufacturing Taskforce. He is also a Director of Racing NSW, Enviropacific Pty Ltd,Virgin Australia International Holdings Limited and Snowy Hydro Limited.
Tony has had an extensive career in Australia and overseas in the private and public sectors. He pioneered private infrastructure with projects such as the Sydney Harbour Tunnel, Melbourne City Link and East Link.
He was the inaugural Chairman of WestConnex. He oversaw the listing of Transurban, Transfield Services and Connect East.Tony was President of the Business Council of Australia, Chairman of the National Commission of Audit and Chairman of ASTRA(the subscription TV Association).
He is a Member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and a Patron of Infrastructure Partnerships Australia.
In June 2012 Tony was named as an Officer of the Order of Australia.
The Hon Victor Dominello – Minister for Customer Service and Digital Government, Minister for Small Business, and Minister for Fair Trading
Victor Dominello is a senior Minister in the New South Wales Government and has held various portfolios over the last decade including Aboriginal Affairs, Innovation and Finance.
In 2019 he was appointed the inaugural Minister for Customer Service and in 2021 was also appointed the inaugural Minister for Digital Government.
Victor firmly believes the use of real-time data and technology are the most powerful ways to improve quality of life and reduce suffering.
Victor was a member of the original Crisis Cabinet which led the NSW response to Covid-19 and now sits on the Covid-19 and Economic Recovery Committee.
His particular focus has been on delivering digital solutions such as the Service NSW QR code check-in feature and the real-time data analysis which has informed the state’s decision making.
Victor has been the driving force behind the roll out of the Digital Driver Licence, the establishment of the $2.1b Digital Restart Fund and the rapid expansion of the Service NSW app to include QR code check-ins, the voucher programs, such as Dine and Discover, Covid-19test alert notificationsand the registration of positive rapid antigen tests.
In addition to digital, technology and customer experience, Victor is also obsessed with Batman
Dr Harinath – Emeritus Chairperson of Multicultural NSW
Dr Harinath is Emeritus Chairperson of Multicultural NSW and Chairperson of Parramasala and Member of the NSW Centenary of ANZAC Advisory Council.
Previously he was the Chairman and Board Member of Cricket NSW and Board Member of Cricket Australia, Board Member of the South East Area Health Board and President Sydney Cricket Club.
Dr Harinath was awarded an Order of Australia Medal in the 2009 Queen’s Birthday Honours for service to cricket and to the community. He was also awarded the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman (Medal) by the President of India in 2017, the highest honour conferred to Indians living overseas.
Dr Charlie Teo – Charlie Teo Foundation
Prof. Teo was, and remains, instrumental in the development, dissemination and acceptance of the concept of keyhole minimally invasive techniques in neurosurgery. He runs a fellowship program that attracts over 600 applicants yearly and has trained many of the world’s leading figures in neurosurgery at distinguished centres such as the Karolinska and Barrow Neurological Institutes and Johns Hopkins, Yale, Duke, Stanford, Vanderbilt and Harvard Universities. He is recognised as a global neurosurgeon who has had academic appointments in Australia, Singapore, USA, Vietnam, Europe and India. Dr Teo has over 170 publications in peer-reviewed journals and has authored two books on keyhole approaches to brain tumours and is a guest editor for several journals. He is the Australian representative on the Tumour Section of the AANS and CNS.Prof. Teo strongly believes that a surgeon’s responsibility to his patients does not end after surgery. In keeping with his desire to find treatments and a cure for brain cancer he has raised over $50 million that has been used to fund research scientists both in Australia and abroad. He has done this through the Cure for Life Foundation, the Cure Brain Cancer Foundation (Charity of the Year 2016) and currently the Charlie Teo Foundation. Charlie dedicates 3 months every year to pro bono work in developing countries, for which he has been recognised with awards from Rotary International,including the Paul Harris Fellowship (for contribution to World Health), and as a finalist in the NSW Australian of the Year awards in 2003 and 2009. In the 2011 Australia Day awards he was named as a Member of the Order of Australia (for contribution to the development of minimally invasive neurosurgery). In 2012 he was invited to give the Australia Day Address to the Nation and in 2013 was honoured to be the first non-politician Australian to address the US Congress on the need for more funding for brain cancer research. His profile in Australia is such that for the last 7 years Professor Teo has been voted Australia’s Most Trusted Person. Over the last few years, Professor Teo has used his innovative mind to develop and nurture several game-changing companies. Omniscient Neuro-technologies is a data software company that has technology that provides a patient-specific structural and functional map of the brain through connectomics. It won Most Innovative AI/ML company in the World at the 2022 SBSW Awards. Cingulum Health is a clinic dedicated to brain health and fitness using scientific rigour, an holistic approach and transcranial magnetic stimulation. The Teo Institute in Blacktown is his dream of creating a patient-centric, world class centre of excellence attracting patients from around the globe and offering the highest standard of care.
Charlie is a father to four fiercely independent and extremely capable daughters and supports the rights of girls and young women in impoverished countries such as Cambodia and India through various charities including his own Teo Family Foundation. He is a Patron for Voiceless, an Australian based charity that is dedicated to reducing cruelty to industry animals, a Director of Zambi Wildlife Sanctuary that gives a forever home to discarded wild animals and an Ambassador for CCT (Cambodian Children’s Trust) which supports orphaned and impoverished children to secure an education and vocational skills for independent living.
Mr Joseph Rizk AM – CEO & Managing Director of Arab Bank Australia
Joseph RizkAM is the CEO & Managing Director of Arab Bank Australia for the past 8 years. Prior to his appointment as Managing Director, Joseph held the position of Chief Banking Officer for over five years, overseeing the retail, commercial and trade banking operations as well as its branch network, and being responsible for all revenue generating arms of the Bank.
Joseph has over 40 years of corporate, commercial and international banking and finance experience along with extensive experience across the banking spectrum with the ability to generate positive results in the face of tough market conditions and in an increasingly competitive business environment.
Prior to joining Arab Bank Australia, Joseph worked predominantly for the National Australia Bank in a senior executive capacity, leading and managing a series of large business units in Sydney and NSW and headed up the NAB’s NSW & ACT Property Finance Groups.
Joseph is a member of (MAICD) The Australian Institute of Company Directors. He is also a fellow of (AIM) The Australian Institute of Management.
Joseph has been a Director of the Australian Lebanese Chamber of Commerce since 2007.
In 2014 to 2017 was President of the (WMRF) Westmead Medical Research Foundation.
In May 2015 Joseph was nominated the Chairman of the (IOFA) Italian Opera Foundation Association.
Joseph was also nominated in 2015 the Director for the (WMI) Westmead Millennium Institute for Medical Research.
On Monday 8th June 2015 (Queens’ Birthday) – Joseph was awarded the ‘Order of Australia’ The Award has been given to Joseph in recognition of his extraordinary contribution to the banking sector and community.
In January 2016 Joseph became Board member of (AACCI) Australia Arab Chamber of Commerce & Industry.
In October 2020 Joseph became Board Director of the Melkite Catholic Eparchy Corporation.
In July 2021 Joseph became a member of the Powerhouse Capital Campaign Committee.
On Wednesday 26 January 2022 – Australia Day. Member of the Order of Australia Honours, AM announcement. Joseph was recognised for his significant service to the not- for- profit sector, and to banking and commerce.
Stephen Halmarick – CBA Chief Economist
Stephen Halmarick is Chief Economist and Head of Global Economic & Markets Research at Commonwealth Bank of Australia (CBA) – the largest financial services company in Australia. He was appointed to the Chief Economist role in April 2020 – having been the Head of the Global Economic & Markets Research team since January 2018.
As Chief Economist and Head of Global Economic & Markets Research, Stephen is responsible for the team of economists and strategists that cover Australian Economics, International Economics, Rates, Fixed Income, Foreign Exchange, Credit and Commodities research.
Stephen and his team work to ensure that customers and clients are well informed and have a strong understanding of key macroeconomic factors in Australia and globally and their impact on a broad range of financial markets.
Stephen is also the key spokesperson to clients and media on macroeconomic themes and a broad range of financial market issues.
The Global Economic & Markets Research team produces a number of economic publications. These include short research notes on economic and market developments, presentation packs, longer thought leadership pieces on key structural issues, and a number of regular reports on key countries and regions of the global economy. The team also regularly appears in public forums and holds meeting with key clients both in Australia and globally.
Stephen has over 35 years’ experience as a financial markets economist and is widely regarded as one of the best economic communicators and presenters in Australia.
Prior to his role in CBA, Stephen was Chief Economist for Colonial First State Global Asset Management (the wealth management arm of CBA) from March 2009 to September 2017. Earlier in his career, Stephen worked for Westpac, SBC Australia, the Nomura Research Institute and from 1994-2009 the Salomon Smith Barney Citibank group, where he held the title of Managing Director and Co-Head of Economic and Market Analysis.
Stephen holds a Bachelor of Economics from Macquarie University, a graduate diploma from the Securities Institute of Australia (SIA) and is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (AICD).
Stephen was Chairman of the Australian Business Economists (ABE) – the peak professional body for financial market economists in Australia from 2008-2017 and he has been on the ABE Executive Committee for over 20 years. He is a Life Member of the ABE.
In March 2016 Stephen was elected as a Member Director on the Commonwealth Bank Group Staff Superannuation Fund Board. He was re-elected to this position in November 2019.
Stephen lives in Sydney with his wife – and their ‘blended’ family of six children.
Kerry Chikarovski – Founder and Director of Chikarovski & Associates, Business woman and Former Leader of
NSW Liberal Party
Kerry Chikarovski is a former NSW Liberal Leader and first woman to lead a major political
party in New South Wales.
She is also the founder and Director of Chikarovski & Associates, a government relations,
community engagement and stakeholder relations consultancy, which she founded in 2003,
whose expertise spans a wide range of industries including financial, government,
community, property and technology startups.
Knowing the ins and outs of working with government and its departments, has seen her assist
a wide range of clients achieve success in circumstances where bureaucracy has been
challenging to navigate. Removing these roadblocks via sound policy and strategic approach
is what Kerry is widely known for in the industry.
Kerry holds a number of non executive board roles including, Our Watch and the Humpty
Dumpty Foundation. She is the Chair of NSW Women’s rugby union, an ambassador for the
Australian Indigenous Education Foundation, and a mentor with the Minerva Network,
supporting professional sportswomen on and off the field.
Kerry can be seen and heard regularly as a media commentator across national television
and radio channels including Sky News, ABC Weekend Breakfast, 2GB Radio, ABC The
Drum, Channel 7 Sunrise and was part of the key panel for the Seven News NSW 2019
State Election Coverage.
Michael Rodrigues- 24-Hour Economy Commissioner, Investment NSW
Mike believes in the inspirational power of cities and spends a good amount of time encouraging anyone in his orbit to get out of the house, to know their city and to have more fun.
While working as a lawyer in the Middle East,he spotted an opportunity to launch global lifestyle brand Time Out in Sydney in 2007 to achieve these aims.
In 15 years at the helm of Time Out Australia he has grew the brand across print, digital, event and social channels, which now reaches 1,000,000 Australians monthly. He co-founded the Time Out Bar Awards and the Time Out Food Awards. Time Out’s contribution to our cities was recently recognised in 2020 when Time Out was awarded the Mumbrella Publish Awards Publishing Company of the Year, and Mike himself was awarded Publish Leader of the Year.
Since 2017 and prompted by the challenges facing Sydney’s night time economy, Mike has focussed his efforts on aligning and empowering industry to actively engage in the political process in order to effect change. This saw him take a leading role in launching an independent bars association for Sydney in May 2018, followed by the launch of a Night Time Industries Association (NTIA) in November 2018 of which he was the inaugural Chair. The NTIA was at the forefront of the development of the NSW Government strategy for a 24-Hour Economy, and in February Mike was announced as the State of NSW’s first 24 Hour Economy Commissioner, a role that commenced formally on 29 March 2021.
Mike is also co-host of leading hospitality podcast Back of House, a board member of UNSW Art & Design’s advisory council and a board member of Torrens University Hospitality advisory council.
Fun Fact: Mike worked as a trainee civil engineer for Leighton Contractors on the Homebush Bay Rail Link in the lead up to the 2000 Games.
Professor Catherine Bennett – Chair in Epidemiology within Deakin’s Institute for Health Transformation
Professor Bennett’s career in applied biostatistics and epidemiology cuts across health, university and government sectors, including working on outbreak preparedness and response with NSW Health and the Australian Government.
After working as Olympic Public Health Coordinator for Northern Sydney in 2000, Catherine returned to academia and was Associate Professor in Epidemiology and Director of Population Health Practice with the Melbourne School of Population and Global Health before taking up the inaugural Chair in Epidemiology at Deakin in late 2009. Her research focusses on community transmission of infectious diseases, and Catherine is involved in a range ofCOVID-19 projects, including global analyses of excess deaths, public health risk communication, contact tracing methods and COVID-safe protocols.
Catherine has been a leading public analyst during the COVID-19 response, keynote speaker, and advisor to industry, governments, and institutions globally. Catherine is on the scientific advisory committees for Impact Biotech Healthcare and Res App Health. In 2022, Catherine’s research contributions were recognised with the conferral of the title Alfred Deakin Professor, the highest honour the University can bestow.
Damon Rees – CEO, Service NSW
Damon Rees is a business leader focused on customer centricity, culture, digital enablement and innovation. He has more than 20 years of experience in driving transformational change, organisational performance and better customer outcomes.
Current positions
– Chief Executive Officer, Service NSW
– Independent Director at GP Synergy–Australia’s largest training organisation for GPs
Former positions
Damon’s experience spans the private, public, and not for profit sectors
– Inaugural Government Chief Information and Digital Officer for NSWGovernment
– Chief Digital Officer for Macquarie Group
– Chief Technology and Interim Chief Information Officer for WoolworthsHead of Integrated Delivery for Westpac
– Independent Director at GP Synergy since 2014 including; 3 years as Chair of the Finance, Audit and Risk committee; 6 years as Chair of the Digital and ICT committee.
Education
– Awarded the Sir James Wolfhenson scholarship to study at the Harvard Kennedy School in 2018
– Completed a Global Executive MBA with the University of Sydney in 2011
– Holds a Bachelor of Information Technology from the University ofTechnology, Sydney
Michael Sharpe – National Director of Advanced Manufacturing
Michael is the National Director for Industry at the Advanced Manufacturing Growth Centre. He has vast industrial experience and has been recognised for his service to industry, community groups, and the arts through charitable support. He is a Director of the Sharpe Family Office.
Michael has been involved with a range of industry including infrastructure, health & medical research and manufacturing. He is an advocate for the future of energy in Australia and aims to boost skills and manufacturers efforts for access to global supply chains in the nuclear industry.
He serves on a range of Australian initiatives including as a Steering Committee Member of the Sustainable Communities and Waste Hub, part of the Australian Government’s National Environmental Science Program, and at the University of New South Wales as a Member of the Industry Advisory Network for the School of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering within the Nation’s number one faculty for engineering.
Michael is a Fellow of the Institute of Managers and Leaders; a Fellow of The Royal Society for the Arts, Manufactures & Commerce; and has completed executive education in the Leadership Initiative at Harvard Business School.
Sheba Nandkeolyar – CEO & Founder of MultiConnexions
We are privileged to have Sheba Nandkeolyar, Founder & CEO of MultiConnexions Group as a guest speaker for this event.
Mark McCrindle – International Social Researcher
Mark’s Biography Mark McCrindle is a social researcher with an international following. He is recognised as a leader in tracking emerging issues and researching social trends. As an award-winning social researcher and an engaging public speaker, Mark has appeared across many television networks and other media.
He is a best-selling author, an influential thought leader, TEDx speaker and Principal of McCrindle Research. His advisory, communications and research company, McCrindle, count among its clients more than 100 of Australia’s largest companies and leading international brands.
Mark’s highly valued research and reports, presented through infographics, data visualisations, videos, media input, resources, and blogs, have developed his regard as an expert demographer, futurist and social commentator. Mark brings a fresh approach to his research based boardroom briefings, executive workshops, strategy sessions and keynotes. Armed with the latest findings and presented in a customised and innovative way, Mark is an in-demand communicator.
Mark McCrindle, BSc (Psychology), MA, is the author of four books on emerging trends and social change. Work Wellbeing: Leading Thriving Teams in Rapidly Changing Times, The ABC of XYZ: Understanding the Global Generations, Word Up: A Lexicon and Guide to Communication in the 21st Century and The Power of Good.
Dr Jim Taggart – Education
Jim’s career began as a teacher and Deputy Principal of a Catholic High School. Subsequently, he entered the financial services industry, providing financial adviser soft-skill training and education and regularly speaking at conferences and seminars, in Australia and internationally. Jim for some 25 years Build a very successful business in financial planning and ultimately sold it to a publicly listed ASX company.
In 2012 and 2013 respectively, Jim was appointed Adjunct Professor with Notre Dame University, Australia and Western Sydney University. He is actively involved in community activities, including the Salvation Army Red Shield Appeal and Local Chambers of Commerce. Jim was the Chairman of Mentor Education, and Chairman of APIC, a leading international educational organization. He was Deputy Chairman of Regional Development Australia for Sydney and sat on three separate council bodies in Western Sydney , specifically dealing with audit and risk, asset management and other financial related matters , pertaining to each of the councils t hat Jim has served.
Dr Sandra Krishnan – Leading Breast Surgeon, Clinical Associate Professor, Australian Medical University
Dr Sandra Krishnan is a surgeon, and beyond this, an educator, mentor, writer, and speaker. She is a Senior Consultant, Surgical Oncologist; Breast, Melanoma and General Surgeon and Senior Clinical Lecturer ANU, based in Sydney and Canberra. She is Co-President of the Provincial Surgeons Association of Australia and Co-Convenor for the ACT Annual Scientific Meeting in August 2022 in Canberra. Dr Krishnan is a Member of RACS Special Groups — Surgical Oncology, Women in Surgery; has memberships with BreastSurgANZ, ANZ Breast Cancer Trials Group, Australasian Society for Breast Disease, ACT & SE NSW Breast Cancer Treatment Group, ANZ Melanoma Trials Group. She is also a CHASM (Collaborating Hospitals’ Audit of Surgical Mortality) First Line Assessor and a Senior Instructor for Early Management of Severe Trauma.
Dr Krishnan is a Non-Executive Director – Board of So Brave Australia’s Young Women’s Breast Cancer Charity. She is a Mentor for ASSA, Australasian Students’ Surgical Association (ASSA). She has partnerships with Healthcert Education and is an op Ed Writer for Oncology and Medical Republic, Staff Lead for ‘The Link,’ an ANU program to connect global healthcare workers. She is the Founder of ‘Note to Myself,’ What I wish I knew in my 20s, and empowering chapter series for women empowering women while raising funds for charity.
Dianne Tipping – Chair Export Council of Australia
Dianne has enjoyed a long and varied career in international trade promotion and facilitation. Dianne has been Chair of the Export Council of Australia for 6 years.
She is a commercially astute senior leader with a proven track record within the trade community. With over 40 years’ experience and a background in both the business ownership and project management of greenfield projects is helping guide the growth of Australian trade by serving on several Boards and sharing critical knowledge and insights.
Dianne is involved with many public and private organisations dedicated to the betterment of international trade as well as a participant on numerous Government and Non-Government Committees including the Dept. of Home Affairs’ National Committee on Trade Facilitation and the Dept. of Agriculture and Water Resources’ DAWR Cargo Consultative Committee.
Michael Masterson – Managing Director, EverEdge Global
Michael is a Managing Director at EverEdge, a global intangible asset advisory, valuation, and corporate finance specialist that helps companies and investors unlock their competitive edge by identifying, strategising, valuing, and monetising their intangible assets.
Prior to joining EverEdge, Michael was the Managing Director of Asia & New Zealand at SalesForce (now Salmat), driving the company to grow from 6 to 7,500 people in just over eight years. Michael successfully led the business to become one of Omnicom Group’s (NYSE:OMC) most successful and profitable acquisitions.
Michael has turned around two mid-sized companies in the logistics and FMCG sectors. He is on several Boards, including Cure Brain Cancer, named by the AFR as the most Innovative Charity and 25th most Innovative Organisation.
To contact Michael:
- E: michael@everedgeglobal.com
- LinkedIn: michaeldmasterson
About EverEdge EverEdge is a global intangible asset advisory, corporate finance, and investment firm. Today, intangible assets account for 90% of enterprise value for companies in the S&P 500. EverEdge helps companies and investors unlock the value of these intangible assets and reduce intangible asset risk by identifying, strategizing, valuing, and monetizing intangible assets. www.everedgeglobal.com
Lori Modde – CEO of Australian Outdoor Industry
Lori Modde has had a diverse career in community and economic development of over 25 years. From Regional Marketing Manager at Tourism NSW, Community and Economic Development Manager at a Local Government Authority through to Senior Manager of PlaceActivation and Strategy at Sydney Olympic Park Authority.
In the past 17 years through her business, Lorick Management Management Pty Ltd, she has held roles such as Event Manager of the NSW Tourism Awards, Marketing Manager of New England North West Tourism and CEO of Outback NSW Tourism, Hills Hawkesbury Tourism and South Coast Tourism. Through her business she now hold the role of Project Manager for Sturt’s Steps in Outback NSW, CEO of Outdoors NSW & ACT and General Manager of Visitor Economy Development.
She maintains a strong position for her community and industry through several volunteer positions and also is a passionate mentor for people in the tourism, retail and community development industries.
She attends this event wearing her Outdoors NSW & ACT CEO hat, driving the health and wellbeing outcomes for the larger community and working with policy change opportunities to empower the sector to work collaboratively across other industries to find solutions and sustainability of outcomes
Stephen Harrison – B.Ec, CPA
Stephen has over 30 years of experience in the financial services, funds management, M&A, private equity and accounting fields. He primarily focused on the energy, technology, IT services, infrastructure, financial services, entertainment and natural resource sectors. He has held Directorships with international Fund Managers subsidiaries, Investec Funds Management and the Australian subsidiary of US-based fund manager Sanford C. Bernstein. He has been a founder and held Directorships in number of Unlisted and Listed companies both in Australia and internationally.
He is currently Chairman of two Public Companies in Australia, NobleOak Life Limited and IncentiaPay Limited (ASX – INP)
DD Saxena – Leading Australian Businessman
DD is a Chemical Engineer from IIT Kanpur and was a Gold Medallist from IIM Bangalore.
DD started his career with Unilever in Marketing and became a senior Executive. He also worked with India’s 4th largest group as Vice-President and established Greenfield Projects including the Gherkins Industry in India which is currently largest producer globally and employing 500,000 people. He worked as Managing Director of Bakrie International and was handling a business over $1 billion 20 years ago.
DD is the founder/promoter of Riverina Oils which is the largest Green Field Project in Australia. It is $150 Million investment which has become the second largest processor of Canola in Australia and is a landmark project. He successfully has established Unibic Biscuits in India which is $200 Million company distributing products in 150,000 outlets. DD has launched 9 Green Field Projects in his career.
DD has won many awards including Asia Pacific Entrepreneur of the Year by TimesNow (2016)and CEO of the year for Energy and Resources. He was awarded Indian Australian of the Year in 2015.
Dr Nicole Brooke – CEO Australian Community Industry Alliance (ACIA)
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER of Australian Community Industry Alliance – ACIA
Associate Professor Nicole Brooke is committed to improving the quality of care and service provision in the community sector. Nicole has a strong background in clinical governance, corporate governance, workforce, clinical leadership, quality management and compliance, education and supervision, safeguarding, diversity and advocacy, operational management, research, and government relations. Nicole has more than 25 years of experience across the residential, community, and disability care sectors including commencing as a support worker and progressing as a Registered Nurse, Director of Nursing, and Chief Nursing Officer.
Nicole has an academic background that includes the completion of a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Case Management in Care, Master of Education, Master of Leadership, Graduate Certificate in Research Commercialisation, Graduate Certificate in Aged Care, and Bachelor of Nursing. She additionally holds qualifications in auditing, policy development, workplace training, return to work, workplace health and safety, food safety, training, and immunisation, and has a passion for career development and community outreach. Nicole holds a partnership Adjunct Professor role with the University of Canberra.
Rajeev Gupta – Partner – Alium Capital
Mr Gupta is a Partner of the cross-over technology focused investment fund, Alium Capital which he co-founded in 2016 and has invested in over 100 companies and manages $600mn AUM. Mr Gupta began his career at Goldman Sachs where he worked in the investment group in Hong Kong, Singapore & New York with a focus on listed & unlisted technology companies. He then utilised his technology investment experience as a portfolio manager at both Tribeca & Merricks Capital where he ran global technology funds. He then built his own 25-person technology start up called Geckolife, before establishing Alium Capital. Mr Gupta has an Honours degree in Economics/Law from the University of Sydney. Mr Gupta sits on the Boards over several companies and foundations, including the Garvan Institute, Academy Xi, EatClub and Daisee.
Simon Cant – Co-Founder and Managing Partner of Reinventure
Simon Cant is the Co-Founder and Managing Partner of Reinventure. Founded in 2013,
Reinventure is a Founder-First Corporate Venture Fund with $150m under management,
with Westpac as the primary investor. To date, Reinventure has invested in over 30
companies which are primarily focused on Fintech and adjacent areas. Simon led a number
of those investments including their 2015 investment in Coinbase and 2019 investment in
Immutable.
Simon also founded and was the inaugural President of FinTech Australia, the industry’s
peak representative body.
Simon has built his career around venture and innovation. He was a founding team member
at Social Ventures Australia, Tinshed Angel Group, ninemsn and Austlii. Simon began his
career as a solicitor with Allens.
Twitter: @simoncant
Matthew Watson – Managing Partner, Bridge Impact Capital
Matthew is a leading corporate lawyer and business executive who has advised on over $20 billion of complex corporate and commercial transactions over more than 20 years. Matthew is a gifted strategist and persuasive visionary and has deep expertise in healthcare and renewable energy, having founded and led a London-based financial services consultancy focused on investment in health and renewable energy technology. Matthew is currently the Managing Partner of Bridge Impact Capital, a private equity fund management firm focused on investment in renewable energy and healthcare infrastructure in global emerging markets.
Melissa Monteiro – CEO CMRC
Melissa Monteiro is the CEO of Community Migrant Resource Centre providing settlement services to Refugees and Humanitarian entrants, having over 27 years of experience in strategically navigated diverse environment and advocates on behalf of vulnerable clients within the community Sector. Melissa served on various local and national committees and is currently Chair of Settlement Council of Australia, Member of Police Multicultural Advisory Council , Founder of Indian Women Empowerment, Director of Anti- Discrimination NSW&Multicultural Ambassador for The Salvation Army.
Christopher Peralta – Founder/CEO Silicon Valley HQ
Christopher Peralta is the Founder & CEO of SiliconValleyHQ – an online mentorship platform connecting to matter experts. For the last decade Christopher has been living in SiliconValley, running 100+ accelerator and immersion programs for organizations and governments from 20+ countries. He loves helping startups and has mentored more than 500+, leaning on his experience as an entrepreneur. Christopher loves working with innovative founders, purpose driven projects and more recently the world of NFTs, DAOs & Metaverse.
Anuraj Gambhir – Strategic Business and Start Up Advisor
Anuraj Gambhir is an internationally recognized Strategic Business/Startup Advisor, Technology Visionary, Exponential Thought Leader and multi-award winning Innovator. He has over 30 years’ global experience across 5 continents and is a trans-disciplinary expert. His practical knowledge spans executive management, innovation, entrepreneurship, conscious leadership, exponential technologies, design thinking and holistic wellbeing. Key domains of focus include future of Health/Wellness, Learning/Education, Media, Transportation, Telecom & Space as part of emerging Smart Cities/Communities.
Connie Carnabuci GAICD
Connie is the former General Counsel of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (2017 to 2021).
She has over 35 years’ experience as an advisor to the technology, media and telecommunications sectors. She began her career in Australia as a law graduate with Mallesons Stephen Jaques in their IP/IT Litigation team, and was admitted to the partnership in the firm’s corporate practice in 1997 specialising in M&A and commercial work with technology, data and IP intensive businesses.
In 2002 she joined the international firm, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer, based in Hong Kong as the head of their regional TMT practice in Asia–a position she held until May 2013.Connie is a Non-Executive Director of ASX listed OFX (a leading on line global fx payments provider), Chair of the Media and Communications Law Committee of the Business Law Section of theLaw Council of Australia and a member of the Business Advisory Council of the UNSW Business School.She is a graduate of UNSW (Bachelor of Commerce (Marketing), with merit / LLB, (1986) and a graduate of AICD.
Clive Mayhew – Chair – Fishburners
Sydney based tech entrepreneur, angel investor and startup community supporter.He is the chair of Fishburners, Sydney’s largest startup community. Clive is also the CEO and principal investor of Play Today a web3 sports tech company based in Sydney.
Clive holds an M.B.A. and a Masters of Wellness from the University of Melbourne. He was previously the Chair and principal investor of Sky Software and Open Learning, two leading Australian based edutech businesses.
Clive was also the founder of Netscape Australasia and led CDNow, the largest e-commerce store before Amazon in the early 2000s.
Clive has a passion for sport, health and wellness, he is the founder and director of his family charity foundation – the Yoga Aid Foundation.
Heath Behncke – Managing Director, Portfolio Manager, Holon Global Investments
Heath is the Founder & Managing Director of Holon, a global equities manager focussed on innovation and investor aligned wealth management. Established in 2018, Holon brings together a team of experienced investment and business professionals. Holon is committed to growing the wealth of Australians through intelligent and responsible investing.
Over the last twenty years, Heath has forged a strong career in investment management, developing a deep knowledge of equities markets and the financial services sector. Prior to establishing Holon, he was the co-founder of Sigma Funds Management.
Lisa Wade – CEO of DigitalX
Lisa is the CEO of DigitalX. DigitalX is a blockchain financial company innovating at the frontiers of Web3.0. with a sustainable focus via a commitment to the WEF ESG and Stakeholder Capital framework and RegTech innovations such as Drawbridge.
Lisa has over 29 years of experience in the finance industry including co-founding Australia’s first Low Carbon Fund in 2007 and Change Investment Management in 2009. As a proven pioneer of the socially responsible and impact investment industry, she has established a reputation for driving superior investment returns from the economic opportunity of the transition to a low carbon economy.
Lisa is also an ambassador for Earth Hour and Al Gore’s Climate Reality Leaders initiative as well as a Mentor for AYP and current holder of the Blockie for Gender and Diverse Blockchain leader of the year – as an out member of the LGBTI+ community Lisa is an advocate and example of equality in action.
Lisa passionately believes investors should no longer have to compromise their values for their investments and with technology and de-fi will be able to truly align their values to their investments. She is also using new technologies to promote equity and equality across financial landscapes via her work exploring the tokenisation of impact.
Lisa has multiple years experience managing international portfolios in both De-fi and trad-fi assets. During her career Lisa has been a Director at Citigroup where she specialised in arbitrage and derivatives and Head of Digital innovation and sustainability at NAB. Lisa is an experienced trader with an in-depth understanding of pricing and investing in derivatives and financial products. In her role as head of Community Assets at Bendigo Bank Lisa specialised in developing financial structures to facilitate the acceleration of impact investment, including community micro-grid investment models, co-founding the Bright Energy fund, an early stage investment in Future Super and co-creating RARI – Australia’s first responsible investment ETF.
Lisa has a Bachelor of Business majoring in accounting and finance. In 2011 Lisa completed a Post-Graduate certificate in Shariah Compliant Investing at LaTrobe University, Melbourne.
LinkedIn Profile : https://www.linkedin.com/in/lisa-wade-she-her/
Ms. Bonnie Shek Director, Australia/New Zealand Hong Kong Trade Development Council
Ms Bonnie Shek is the Director, Australia/New Zealand, of the Hong Kong Trade
Development Council.Bonnie has extensive marketing, business development and management
experience in Asia/Pacific. Before joining the HKTDC, she spent over ten years
in the telecommunications industry, being responsible for developing marketing
strategy and leading the Asia/Pacific consumer team.
Having grown up in Hong Kong, then living in Australia and travelling back &
forth to New Zealand for over 25 years, Bonnie understands the business
dynamics among the three economies. She leads the team to connect businesses,
facilitate deals and further strengthen the bilateral trade & investment relations
between Hong Kong and the Australasian region.
From time to time, Bonnie speaks at seminars and workshops educating businesses
on how they can use Hong Kong as a gateway to China and the rest of Asia.
Bonnie holds a MBA (Executive) degree from the Australian Graduate School of
Management and a Bachelor of Business degree from the University of
Technology, Sydney. She is the National Treasurer/Secretary of the Hong Kong
Australia Business Association.
Richard Yuan – Chair, ACE Club, CEO of ABC World
For the past 20 years, Richard Yuan has been one of Australia’s most successful migration agents, attracting millions of dollars in direct investment to Australia through Business and Innovation and investment programs like the Significant Investor Visa.
He established ABC World Pty Ltd in June 2000, specialising in a broad range of services, from migration to trade facilitation and promotion.
In 2007 he founded the Australia China Entrepreneurs Club (ACEC), as both a business networking forum for high-net-worth clients and business incubator identifying trade opportunities in China for Australian exporters.
He maintains an extensive network of contacts amongst both industry leaders and trade policymakers and, though his China network, has facilitated numerous consumer good and bulk export agreements.
He brings unique and invaluable insights into both Chinese and Australian business culture and trade; and continues to promote business opportunities though his media company, ABC iMedia, which is one of the biggest Chinese social media platforms in Australia.
Dr Joanna Winchester, PhD
Kapel Malhotra – Serial Entrepreneur & Angel Investor
Kapel brings 20+ years of progressive leadership experience across Market Intelligence, Strategy &Planning, Auditing, Customer Satisfaction & Experience Index, Performance Enhancement Programs and Go-To-Market, specifically in the functional domains of Insights, Marketing, Sales, Pricing andSupply Chain. He is driven by his zeal which made him venture into different sectors of business world. Known for his business acumen and an eye for detail, Kapel is an active angel investor with over 17 investments to date. He has a midas touch which is evident in the four startups where he had invested and then successfully exited as well as their angel investments which went on to raise subsequent VC rounds.
SOME OF THE STARTUPS INVESTED IN
- GenuineMark – Anticounterfeiting, Digital Warranty, Customer Loyalty, Supply Chain Management and Big Data
- DeliverFuel – Fuel delivery logistics and app based delivery
- Wobot – CCTV based camera AI
- iTRAIN – App based gamified learning management system
- iREPLY – Social Media review aggregator & social listening tool
- TSE – Energy efficiency audits and solutions
Michael Johnson – CEO,TAA National/NSW
Kala Philip – COO, BSI Learning
Kala has been working in the L&D and vocational education industry since 2001, in a number of organisations across Asia, Middle East and Australia. As an executive and director, she has been leading operational teams to achieve high quality and innovative service delivery, build strategic partnerships with industry, drive community engagement projects. She is passionate about up-skilling Women in Leadership & Business roles, taking learning to the disadvantaged and challenged cohorts in our community, and working with inmates in prison to help them rehabilitate successfully with the right skills and employment. She works with government and corporate clients, designing learning solutions utilising the full spectrum of learning modalities and making use of the latest adult learning methods, leadership & governance frameworks from around the world.
Steve Grace – Founder & CEO of The Nudge group
Pascal Gouel – Partner, SRO Capital Pty Ltd
Pascal is an accomplished professional with over 25 years global experience in operations, top tier management consulting and investment management including 10 years spent working in the Middle East in Egypt, Kuwait, KSA and UAE. Pascal has worked for firms such as Booz Allen, Qantas, British American Tobacco as well as a number of Family Offices out of Kuwait and Germany.
Recently, he was a Private Equity Investment Committee member of a large Industry Superannuation Fund, responsible for deal origination, due diligence and execution of various global private equity deals and has held a number of operational and investment roles in his career including Chief Investment Officer, General Manager, Director level roles and a number of operational roles within various industries and sectors. Currently Pascal also serves as an Executive Director of a Publicly Listed company, Papyrus Australia Ltd.