Speakers

Speakers

We are thrilled to announce the return of popular MC, Effie Zahos along with securing a number of outstanding keynote speakers in our line-up. More will be announced as soon as possible.

Plenary Speakers

Lisa MacCallum
Q

Catriona Wallace

Exclusively represented by Saxton

Lisa MacCallum is a business and thought leader specialising in purpose lead business transformation.

Her company, Inspired Companies was created as a benchmark for the best version of the corporate sector. That is, companies that outperform their peers in a fast-paced, complex 21st-century marketplace because they pursue big, inspired ideas in harmony with people and the planet.

Prior to founding Inspired Companies, Lisa was a Vice President of Nike, where for 15 years she held leadership roles across Nike’s Global Apparel, Footwear and Sporting Goods businesses. She also led Nike USA’s Growth Strategy, corporate philanthropy and Global Community Sports efforts.

Amongst many things, Lisa is a Non-Executive Director of Bond University, a Young Global Leader Alumni of the World Economic Forum; Ambassador to the SDG’s World Benchmarking Alliance; Founding Advisory Board member of Meaningful Business, and author of “Inspired INC: Become a company the world will get behind”.

Lisa MacCallum

John Lonsdale
Q

John Lonsdale

John Lonsdale was appointed as Chair of APRA on 31 October 2022 after originally joining as Deputy Chair on 8 October 2018.

In his Deputy Chair role, John was responsible for oversight of Australia’s banking sector. His responsibilities also included oversight of APRA’s work on culture and remuneration, building APRA’s crisis resolution capability and strengthening APRA’s collaboration with peer regulators.

John worked for Australian Treasury for over 30 years prior to joining APRA. He was a member of Treasury’s Executive and, in his role as Deputy Secretary, Markets Group, he had responsibility for financial system, consumer and foreign investment policy. In 2014 he led the Secretariat to the Financial System Inquiry based in Sydney. John also worked across key areas in the Treasury including budget policy, tax policy, retirement incomes and the financial system.

John is APRA’s representative on the Payments System Board, the Council of Financial Regulators, the Trans-Tasman Council on Banking Supervision and the Financial Stability Board’s Standing Committee on Supervisory and Regulatory Cooperation.

John Lonsdale

Catriona Wallace
Q

Catriona Wallace

Dr Catriona Wallace has been recognised by the Australian Financial Review as the Most Influential Woman in Business & Entrepreneurship.

Catriona is an expert in the field of Artificial Intelligence and the Metaverse and is an Adjunct Professor, keynote speaker and Founder of the Responsible Metaverse Alliance. Catriona is also the co-author of the book Checkmate Humanity: the how and why of Responsible AI.

As the founder of one of the first Artificial Intelligence companies to list on the Australian Securities Exchange, Catriona has truly lived the life of an entrepreneur and CEO in the emerging technologies field. Indeed, Flamingo AI was the second only woman-led (CEO & Chair) business ever to list on the Australian Stock Exchange.

Current Work:

Based on her extensive experience in AI and emerging technology Catriona delivers keynote speeches globally on topics including Artificial Intelligence, Web3 and the Metaverse, Digital Transformation, Responsible Technology, the Future of Work and Diversity and Inclusion.

Catriona’s experience as one of the rare women leaders in advanced technology means that she is ideally suited to present on these important and topical subjects and does so in a way that is highly accessible, informative, non-technical, engaging and inclusive.
This unique skill set has also seen Catriona invited to Co-Chair Sir Richard Branson’s B Team’s AI Coalition and be a Director of the Garvan Institute, Gradient Institute and to Chair an AI VC Fund, Boab AI.

Catriona has been achieved Advance Australia’s highest award in Technology & Innovation for Australians working abroad and has been recognised by Onalytica as one of the top AI speakers and Metaverse commentators, globally. Catriona was inducted into the Royal Institution of Australia acknowledging her as one of the country’s most pre-eminent scientists.

With a burning passion for and deep knowledge of Artificial Intelligence and emerging tech such as the Metaverse, Catriona believes that sharing knowledge about the responsible use of technology and is her true path and purpose.

Catriona Wallace

Gus Balbontin
Q

Gus Balbontin

Born and bred in wild Patagonia, Gus Balbontin never allowed his small town and humble beginnings get in the way of his big dreams. A healthy disrespect for authority and a severe case of fomo (fear of missing out) landed him in Australia at the young age of 17.

By the age of 22 he had dropped out of uni, hitchhiked South America, set up his first business and landed his dream job at Lonely Planet. Fast forward a few more years and he was leading the company globally, working with companies such as Google X, Nokia and Amazon on the latest technology, creative cultures and high performing teams.

Seeking a change from corporate life, he hung up his boots as the Executive Director and CTO of Lonely Planet and decided to move back to his entrepreneurial roots, becoming an investor, founder and mentor across the start-up ecosystem in Melbourne. He loves sharing a story, he loves even more, knowing those stories make a difference to people, helping them in their own business and life.

Over the last 3 years Gus has presented to audiences of 10 across regional Australia and New Zealand, to audiences of 10,000 across North America, Europe, South America and Asia. To him there’s no difference. Small, large, private, public, board room to mail room, his lessons hit a chord, his simplicity disarms you, his energy infects you and his counterintuitive way of looking at the world will motivate you to do things different.

Often thought as futurist, not because he predicts the future, but instead because he helps you focus on what you can control to deal with any future. Still want to talk trends? Sure! He loves as much as the next person trying to imagine a world run by AI, but he warns that getting too distracted with future guesses will only take time away from you and your company to actually do something about the future.

Gus Balbontin

MC

Effie Zahos
Q

Effie Zahos

Effie Zahos is one of Australia’s leading personal finance commentators with more than two decades of experience helping Aussies make the most of their money. Known for her no-nonsense approach she has a knack for making money matters simple.

Best known for her former role as the editor of Money magazine, having helped establish it in 1999, Effie is now Editor-at-Large for Canstar, Australia’s biggest financial comparison website. She is also Channel 9s Today Show money expert and author of several money books – her latest being Ditch the Debt and Get Rich.

Effie Zahos

Business Session Speakers

Nicki Hutley
Q

Nicki Hutley

Nicki Hutley is Chief Economic Adviser to the Customer-Owned Banking Association. She is a highly experienced economist, with broad-based expertise gained over more than three decades in financial and investment markets, and in economic consulting.  

Nicki is also an independent economist, advising governments, business and not-for-profits on a wide range of policy issues, but with a focus on climate change, the environment, and social impact, and how these intersect with the economy.

Nicki is also a Councillor on the Climate Council and a member of JANA Investments’ Sustainability Advisory Committee.

Nicki holds an Honours degree in Economics. In 2021, she was elected President of the NSW Branch of the Economics Society of Australia. She is also a Committee member of the Australian Business Economists.

Nicki is a frequent commentator in the media and is a regular guest on The Drum and The Project.

Nicki Hutley

Bowen Fung
Q

Bowen Fung

Bowen is a Senior Research Advisor at the Behavioural Insights Team (BIT). With over a decade of experience in the behavioural sciences, his work has focused on financial behaviours, public health, and technology. Bowen completed a PhD in neuroeconomics at the University of Melbourne, looking at how physiological responses affect decision making. He also worked as a postdoctoral researcher at the California Institute of Technology, investigating neural and behavioural responses to fear, anxiety, and frustration, and at IBM, developing machine learning methods to predict Alzheimer’s disease.

Bowen Fung

Shirley Chowdhary
Q

Shirley Chowdhary

Exclusively represented by Saxton

Shirley Chowdhary’s current portfolio aims to create commercially sustainable and inclusive services for all members of our community. She is a passionate advocate for Indigenous empowerment and diversity and inclusion. Her career has been driven by a strong desire to create a connection between people, place and purpose and this work was recognized when she was selected as one of the 2019 AFR 100 Women of Influence.

Shirley is an internationally experienced executive leader with diverse credentials across law, financial services, investment management, the NFP sector and journalism. She is admitted to practice law in Australia and New York and has worked in the corporate and for-purpose sectors across Asia and Australia.

Career highlights include being Regional Counsel Asia Pacific for JP Morgan Investment Management, host of the Women’s Agenda podcast series The Leadership Lessons, and author of a range of writings, including a biography for a WW2 POW.

Her previous executive appointment was as the inaugural Chief Executive of the GO Foundation, an Indigenous NFP providing holistic education pathways and support to Indigenous students across Australia.

Key to success in the role, Shirley developed a collaborative Ecosystem model amongst government, philanthropy, corporates and other NFPs, providing funding and other support for Indigenous education. Her role supported the highly credentialled board and GO Foundation founders, Adam Goodes and Michael O’Loughlin, AFL Sydney Swans legends.

Current Work:

Shirley is a Non-executive Director on the boards of the Australian Associated Press, the Royal Australian Institute of Architects, and Northrop Engineering. She also sits on the Advisory Boards of Propel, an organisation that protects and enhances digital reputation, and Mentor Walks, which provides accessible mentoring for women in Australia, New Zealand, Canada and Singapore. She consults with the Paul Ramsay Foundation, and the Melbourne Indigenous Transition School.

She is also a volunteer assessor with the Australian Scholarship Foundation and a mentor for Mentor Walks..

Shirley’s expertise includes:
– A strong focus on Indigenous success, Reconciliation and connection of shareholder value to community impact
– Gender-lens investment as a tool to increase outcomes for women, girls and non-binary individuals in developing countries
– Corporate leadership experience in Japan, US, Australia and across Asia
– Corporate and financial governance in listed, private and not-for-profit companies
– Deep insight and expertise in legal, compliance and risk
– Leadership of large teams, including execution of project outcomes, delivery of goals and implementation and guidance of strategy, including P/L and line management experience
– Operational experience in wealth and funds management, technology, capital and equity/debt raising, fundraising and NFP/community.
– Government and regulatory experience across a broad range of banking, financial services and NFPs

Previous Experience:

Shirley’s career commenced in M&A, project finance, and corporate law in the international New York law firm Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton. She then moved to investment management as Regional Counsel with JP Morgan before spending over 4 years as a senior counsel at Westpac. In addition to spending 10 years in the NFP and community sector, she was the inaugural CEO at the GO Foundation, an Indigenous organisation founded by Adam Goodes and Michael O’Loughlin, Sydney Swans champions.

She has provided consulting services since 2021 to the University of Sydney, Scanlan Theodore, the Criterion Institute and the Paul Ramsay Foundation. Her consulting services cover gender-lens investing, systems lift to the NFP sector, Indigenous empowerment and corporate governance.

Shirley has always maintained a strong connection to purpose, working in the NFP space while maintaining a corporate career. She has volunteered on the executive management team at the Redfern Legal Centre, a presenter with The Cerebral Palsy Alliance, a Non-Executive Director and Deputy Chair of YMCA NSW and has written a book capturing the life of a WW2 prisoner of war. During her tenure as CEO of the GO Foundation, founded by Adam Goodes and Michael O’Loughlin, Shirley led the organisation to exponential growth.

 

Shirley Chowdhary

Nathan Lynch
Q

Nathan Lynch

Nathan Lynch is an internationally recognised expert in financial crime, money laundering and the financing of global terrorism.

Nathan’s book ‘The Lucky Laundry’ has been Amazon Australia’s #1 seller in the fields of Criminal Gangs, Banking & Finance, and Law Specialities. The book was longlisted for a Walkley Award and was influential in driving Australia’s money laundering law reforms in 2023.

Nathan has enjoyed a front-row seat in the “cat and rat” game between money launderers, terrorists, financial crooks and the spooks who aim to catch them.

Nathan has trained police, government officials and bankers across Asia and the Middle East on the secret techniques the world’s criminals use to conceal and clean their dirty lucre. He is certified by the US Department of Justice’s elite CCIPS Cybercrime Laboratory and is a program expert with the Asian Development Bank and the Financial Services Volunteer Corps, which help developing countries to combat the scourges of money laundering, corruption, nuclear proliferation and other serious financial crimes.

Nathan Lynch

Elissa Lewis
Q

Elissa Lewis

Elissa Lewis is Head of Corporate Communication for Teachers Mutual Bank Limited. Elissa has extensive experience in communication, and crisis and issues management having managed the reputation of some of the largest Australian Securities Exchange (ASX) listed organisations and brands in sectors including finance, fast moving consumer goods and energy.

Bridging practice and academia, Elissa’s research examines how media process content to create news during a crisis event – a relationship that is vital for organisations as they navigate crisis and seek to maintain trustworthiness with their stakeholders.

Elissa Lewis

Mel Loy
Q

Mel Loy

Mel Loy is the founder and owner of Hey Mel! Communication & Training, a small agency with big energy based in Brisbane, Australia.

After more than 20 years in in-house corporate communications roles, Mel ventured out on her own to start her own business, and hasn’t looked back.

Her business grew quickly, and Mel and her team have earned a reputation as specialists in internal, change, and crisis communication, supporting organisations of all shapes and sizes to navigate tricky times, while building engagement, and protecting reputations. Her team uses their unique EPIC Change Communication Framework to help guide businesses in managing change, while building their capability along the way.

Mel’s experience spans a huge variety of sectors, including emergency services, government, non-profit, infrastructure and construction, and financial services. She has a knack for visual communication – her sketchnoting skills come in handy for herself and her clients, and she’s able to distil complex information and detailed plans into easy-to-consume visuals her clients love.

When not working with her team to develop strategies, plans and communication materials to support their clients, Mel is busy facilitating workshops and meetings, and sharing her knowledge through speaking engagements. Mel is also the host of the Less Chatter, More Matter podcast (a show dedicated to delivering practical communication tips), and an international speaker and workshop facilitator.

When she’s not leading her comms agency, Mel is running group fitness classes at the gym she co-owns in Brisbane, or teaching yoga classes! It’s this kind of energy that she brings to everything else in life.

Mel Loy

Lynda Edwards
Q

Lynda Edwards

Lynda Edwards, a proud Wangkumara and Barkindji woman, is a dedicated voice for her community and a passionate advocate for the financial rights and inclusion of First Nations people.

For more than 18 years Lynda has worked in the financial sector, initially as a financial capability Worker, then a financial counsellor and now in policy and advocacy, sharing her expertise to improve the financial literacy of the community and to achieve better, fairer financial and healthier outcomes for First Nations people who are frequently the target of unfair dealings and too often fall victim to unconscionable practices. 

Lynda’s work has been pivotal in leading campaigns to call out unethical sales tactics and build financial health across the region while also consulting with financial services to ensure inclusive and culturally appropriate engagement with First Nations People.  Lynda also plays a vital role in building the capacity of First Nations Financial Counsellors and First Nations Financial Capability Workers.

Lynda is currently the NSW 2023 Aboriginal Woman of the Year and also the 2023 NSW Premier Woman of the Year

Lynda Edwards

Narelle Smythe
Q

Narelle Smythe

Narelle has over 30 years’ experience in financial services regulation. Her experience extends to privacy, as well as financial services and credit regulation, anti-money laundering, fraud and bribery and corruption. She is one of the few practitioners rated by independent directories in the top ranking for financial services regulation.  Reflecting her pre-eminence, she has acted for clients in many firsts, and clients commonly refer to trusting Narelle with their most important and complex work..

She’s had extensive experience in advising financial services organisations in relation to data management.  She is also part of the team acting for Optus in relation to the attack in 2022.

Narelle Smythe

Cindy Hansen
Q

Cindy Hansen

Cindy Hansen is the Chief Strategy and Transformation Officer of Qudos Bank, where she is  responsible for strategy, transformation and sustainability. She has extensive financial services experience in strategy, governance, ESG, legal and compliance, with 23 years in the mutual sector.

During her career Cindy has been involved in responding to all major challenges and opportunities that have shaped customer owned banking today.  Her passion is to bring together purpose, business acumen and innovation to deliver good customer outcomes and demonstrate the benefits of modern mutuals.

In addition to her role at Qudos Bank, Cindy is the Industry Representative on the Customer Owned Banking Code Compliance Committee, a Director of the Australian Finance Industry Association and an Elected Councillor of HCF, Australia’s largest not-for-profit health fund.

​Cindy Hansen

Therese Turner
Q

Therese Turner

With over 35 years of experience in the mutual banking sector, Therese joined the P&N Group as the inaugural Chief Customer Officer in 2023. ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​Therese has previously held chief executive roles at five customer-owned banks and credit unions and was most recently CEO of MOVE Bank.

Therese is highly committed to the ideals of the customer-owned banking sector and has served on numerous industry boards and committees, including as a director on the COBA Board. With extensive experience in retail banking, she has a proven track record in transformation and delivering customer value. Therese is a qualified accountant, holds an MBA, and is a graduate of AICD.

Therese Turner

Sasha Courville
Q

Sasha Courville

Sasha Courville is Bank Australia’s Chief Impact Officer, leading the impact and sustainability, corporate affairs, strategy, and marketing teams, and contributing to Bank Australia’s commitment to create positive impact for people and the planet. This includes accountability for the development and implementation of strategies across four key areas: climate action, nature and biodiversity, affordable and accessible housing and First Nations reconciliation.

Prior to this role, Sasha was Executive, Social Impact at NAB where she led efforts to embed sustainability into NAB’s group strategy, focusing shared value responses to society’s biggest challenges. She led NAB’s climate action strategy, oversaw NAB’s natural disaster resilience efforts, its Reconciliation Action Plans, Accessibility Action Plan and integrated reporting. Previously, Sasha was Executive Director of the London-based ISEAL Alliance, the global association for sustainability standards and assurance systems. She has also worked as an international consultant on social justice and environmental sustainability issues in soft commodity sectors, and as an academic, based at the Regulatory Institutions Network at the ANU. Sasha was deeply involved in setting up the Fairtrade labelling system in Australia and New Zealand.

Sasha is a Commissioner, Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research, and Independent Director and Chair of the Aluminium Stewardship Initiative. Sasha has a PhD on coffee from the ANU, an MSc from the London School of Economics and a Bachelor of Environmental Studies from York University in Canada.

Sasha Courville

Phil Usher
Q

Phil Usher

Phil loves to build businesses with a purpose. He is the CEO of Australia’s only national Indigenous financial wellbeing provider, First Nations Foundation. Since 2014, The Foundation has helped the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community reconnect with $24m in lost super via the Big Super Day Out. Under his leadership, First Nations Foundation was named the 2020 Indigenous business of the year from My Business.

Phil, a Wiradjuri man, born and raised on Gomeroi country, is highly sort after for his business and culture expertise advising to organisations such as the University of Newcastle, CBA, Australian Super, ANZ, and NAB. He is often called upon by the media as a spokesperson for business, finance, and culture, regularly being featured on ABC Breakfast TV, The Sydney Morning Herald, Smart Company, Money Management Magazine and the Financial Standard.

His podcast, Beyond The Gap, is among the top ranking management podcasts in iTunes.

Phil Usher

Megan Lane
Q

Megan Lane

Megan Lane is the Director of Communications and Government Affairs at Australia’s largest and leading cybersecurity firm, CyberCX.

Megan regularly briefs boards and senior management on complex communications and stakeholder engagement ahead of, during, and after cyber incidents.

Previously, she advised then-Shadow Treasurer Jim Chalmers as his press secretary through the pandemic and recession. Before that she worked as a strategic and communications advisor across the federal Australian political landscape, and in Queensland, Western Australia, Tasmania, and the Australia Capital Territory.

Megan holds a Bachelor of Asia Pacific Security from the Australian National University.

Megan Lane

Rade Musulin
Q

Rade Musulin

Rade Musulin is a Principal at Finity Consulting in Sydney, Australia, focusing on extreme events and climate risk. Previously he served as the Chief Executive Officer of FBAlliance Insurance, Chief Operating Officer of Aon Benfield Analytics Asia Pacific, and Vice President Operations, Public Affairs, and Reinsurance for the Florida Farm Bureau Insurance Companies.

Rade serves as Chair of the International Actuarial Association’s Resource and Environment Virtual Forum, has recently finished his term as Chair of the Actuaries Institute of Australia Climate and Sustainability Working Group, and was Vice President – Casualty for the American Academy of Actuaries from 2016 – 2018. He was the representative of the International Actuarial Association (IAA) at COP 27 in Egypt in 2022 and a lead author on a joint IAA-IPCC paper summarizing the IPCC’s AR6 Working Group I report on climate science prepared for COP 26.

He has had a diverse global career focused on extreme events, climate risk, community resilience, public-policy, reinsurance, and agriculture. He has also maintained close ties with academic institutions and has authored several articles in peer reviewed journals. He is currently serving on the editorial board of Oxford University’s Environmental Hazards Journal.

Rade Musulin

Kylie Macfarlane
Q

Kylie Macfarlane

Kylie is the Chief Operating Officer of the Insurance Council of Australia having joined in September 2020 with a mandate to support the incoming CEO to reset and refresh the ICA strategy. Today, Kylie leads the ICA’s advocacy work across all levels of government and other stakeholders on climate and resilience, fraud, and diversity, equity and inclusion. Kylie and her team have responsibility for co-ordinating the response and recovery efforts of the Insurance industry to severe weather events and her other responsibilities include leading the operational functions of the ICA across finance, human resources, member engagement, and IT and data management.

Kylie has held executive and non-executive positions in financial services over the past 25 years and is dedicated to optimising public and private sector responses to rapidly changing environmental context with a focus on strategy, governance, innovation and value creation.

Prior to the Insurance Council Kylie spent 8 years at the forefront of Environmental and Social Governance (ESG), setting standards in organisational reporting conventions on climate, and developing multi-stakeholder approaches to social impact investment focused on producing shared outcomes and embeding social license.

Kylie Macfarlane

Ashlee Cagney
Q

Ashlee Cagney

Ashlee started with The Capricornian in November 2019. During that time the Marketing and Community Engagement team has experienced a whirlwind of strategic direction; managing the effects of COVID, the tumultuous rate changes of late, collaboratively promoting regional branch partnerships and building a strong community engagement presence.

Ashlee has worked throughout Central Queensland following the completion of her bachelor degree at both CQUniversity Rockhampton and the University of Windsor, Canada. Ashlee was the Relay for Life Coordinator with Cancer Council QLD, working closely with volunteer committees to bring the Relay for Life event to Rockhampton, Gladstone, Emerald, Winton and Biloela communities.

Prior to joining The Capricornian, Ashlee was the Marketing Manager at retail giant Stockland Rockhampton.

Ashlee Cagney

Kate Wilson
Q

Kate Wilson

Kate Wilson is the Global Product Director for global data-driven strategic insights provider, RFI Global.

Kate joined the business in 2012, using her quantitative and qualitative research skills to support RFI Global’s research programs across a range of topics and regions. Kate currently heads up a pillar of the Global Research Team, working closely with clients to answer key business questions across a wide range of topics and areas. She presents to stakeholders on a daily basis on topics including consumer credit and payments, digital banking, mortgages, deposits and SME banking.

From 2015 to 2017, Kate worked in RFI’s EMEA headquarters in London, as Global Insights Manager, a role which involved combining insights across markets, identifying global trends and supporting the business strategies for a number of RFI Global’s key global clients.

 

Kate is a regular speaker at conferences and events, and features in the news on a frequent basis. She has a Bachelor of International and Global Studies from the University of Sydney and sits on RFI’s Executive Leadership Team.

Kate Wilson

Jeremy Andreani
Q

Jeremy Andreani

Jeremy has a genuine passion for cyber security leadership, with over 10 years of experience in cyber security in the mutual banking sector. Jeremy was most recently appointed as NGM Group’s Head of Cyber Security in June 2023, having previously held roles managing cyber, technology, and data risk.

Jeremy has proven skills in guiding progressive secure Cloud adoption in alignment with organisational risk appetites and regulatory expectation and has regularly provided advice on cyber risk and resilience through to Board level.

Jeremy is a certified information systems security professional and holds a Master of Management (information technology – information systems security).

Jeremy Andreani

Marthie Grobler
Q

Marthie Grobler

 

Dr Marthie Grobler is a Principal Research Scientist and team leader for the Human-Centric Security team at CSIRO’s Data61. She is also the Deputy Mission Lead of CSIRO’s Critical Infrastructure Protection and Resilience Mission. Marthie’s research focus is on enhancing the usability of security solutions by considering human factors, with a strong interest in executive education, cybersecurity governance and critical infrastructure resilience and protection. Marthie spearheaded the establishment of the original human-centric security research team in CSIRO, which focuses on addressing the alignment and integration of human factors in the cyber domain to enhance security adoption and efficiency. Her research, management and consulting experience span multiple continents, national and state government departments, and a variety of domains linked with the digital domain.

Marthie Grobler

Henry Peens
Q

Henry Peens

Henry is a Partner in Deloitte’s Risk Advisory practise leading the Cyber business across Queensland. He has over three decades of experience in over 50 countries across the globe.

He started his career as platoon sergeant and parachute instructor at 1 Parachute Regiment in the South African Defence Force, after which he joined the Intelligence services operating as a close protection officer to the President for six years, during his tenure he was trained as forensic polygraph examiner.

After his exit from government service, he worked as a corporate security management consultant conducting more than 5,000 forensic polygraph investigations assisting organisation with criminal- and corporate security investigations.   

Since 2001 he pivoted towards IT security, leading cyber security risk management projects for some of the largest organisations in the world, both public- and private.

He has in-dept knowledge and experience around all aspects of physical and logical security, including cyber risk management, insider threat programs, cyber technologies, governance and cyber security. He is a trusted advisor to Executives and Boards on cyber- and corporate security related business programs.  

Henry Peens

Breakfast Speakers

Mark Nguyen
Q

Mark Nguyen

Mark is Director – Policy for COBA, managing COBA’s engagement with policymakers, regulators and other stakeholders in regulatory policy development and implementation.

Mark has held various policy roles of increasing responsibility within COBA since joining as a Policy Adviser. Mark has been a passionate advocate for the customer owned banking sector since 2016, participating in a broad range of regulatory policy debates, including debates on prudential regulation, competition, proportionality and capital raising.

Prior to joining the customer owned banking sector, Mark worked as a federal public servant in various economics roles in economic statistics, productivity measurement, international development, international energy & resources policy and energy security. 

Mark has a Bachelor of Finance and a Master of Economics from the Australian National University. Outside of work, Mark enjoys cycling, gardening and tending to pet guinea pigs. Mark is based in Melbourne.

 

Mark Nguyen

Stephanie Elliott
Q

Stephanie Elliott

Stephanie Elliott is Director – Corporate Affairs for COBA, leading COBA’s strategic engagement and reputational initiatives. Her team includes government relations, media, marketing and communications, stakeholder relations, events and campaign functions.

Prior to joining COBA, Stephanie served as a lawyer, a federal and state public servant, a ministerial adviser and a senior manager of government relations within the financial sector. She has advised both domestic and offshore governments. As an experienced corporate affairs professional she specialises in managing organisational and reputational risks.

Outside of work, Stephanie is a board member and company secretary of, and provides consulting advice to, non-profit organisations. Stephanie holds a Bachelor of Laws, a Bachelor of Arts and a Master of Laws from the Australian National University.

Stephanie Elliott

Dr Tim Sharp
Q

Dr Tim Sharp

Dr Tim Sharp is Australia’s very own ‘Dr Happy’, at the forefront of the positive psychology movement and founder of The Happiness Institute.

A sought-after public speaker, best-selling author of multiple books and audiobooks and a regular on Australian and International TV, Dr Happy is widely regarded as a leader in mental health and the authority on all thing’s happiness in Australia.

With three degrees in psychology (including a Ph.D.) and an impressive record as an academic, clinician and coach, Dr Happy is a passionate professional with a wealth of experience both in the field and the media.

Actively involved in research, education and practice, he is the founder and CHO (Chief Happiness Officer) of The Happiness Institute, and is available for all types of media opportunities, TV and radio presenting, brand partnerships, corporate speaking and training.

Dr Tim Sharp

Emerging Leader Program Speakers

Kerrie Nayler
Q

Kerrie Nayler

Kerrie is a senior leadership professional who has spent over 20 years in banking, 14 of those in the customer-owned banking sector working across communications, corporate affairs, community, brand, and marketing.
With experience in the media, hospitality and tourism sectors, Kerrie reconnected with her passion for customer-owned banking 11 years ago when she joined P&N Group (through WA’s P&N Bank). Kerrie has a wealth of knowledge of the industry, having seen first-hand the significant and rapid changes the banking sector has experienced over the years.
Kerrie’s areas of expertise include stakeholder engagement and advocacy, strategic, corporate and crisis communication and media management. Kerrie embraces professional and personal development opportunities and is particularly passionate about leadership and supporting emerging leaders, actively participating in P&N Group’s mentorship program. She recently added leadership of the Enterprise Change Management function to her remit.

Kerrie Nayler

Tasneem Chopra
Q

Tasneem Chopra

A Cross-cultural Consultant, Tasneem addresses issues of diversity, equity and inclusion across organisational leadership, including intersectionality within government, corporate, arts and community sectors. For her efforts she has been appointed an ‘Anti-Racism Champion’ by the Australian Human Rights Commission – and awarded an OAM.

Tasneem is a Strategic Advisor to the Victorian Public Service Commission, Fire Rescue Victoria, the Collingwood Football Club Expert Panel on Anti-Racism and the inaugural Ambassador for Women of Colour, Australia. She is also an outgoing Board Director for The Australian Centre for the Moving Image (ACMI).

A TEDxMelbourne presenter and writer, Tasneem has featured on numerous platforms including The Guardian, SBS Life, BBC’s IQ2 Debates, Q&A The Drum and is host of the podcast series, ‘Strengths Untold’.

Tasneem Chopra

Catherine Molloy
Q

Catherine Molloy

International speaker, facilitator, author and creator of The Million Dollar Handshake and The Conscious Leader (How to powerfully connect in business and life) Fun, friendly and forward thinking; communication Expert Catherine Molloy reveals the hidden psychology behind connection and influence and provides people with the keys to revolutionise their communication effectiveness.
Catherine Molloy is an International Speaker, Author and Communication Expert, specialising in leadership, sales and service. With 25 years’ experience in business, education, speaking and transforming lives, Catherine believes that business success rests on the ability to build real connections at velocity. The participants will engage, connect and be more conscious of their communication. Her thought leadership is in how to hack the psychology of communication to build lasting connections, fast.
Catherine has owned and operated several highly successful training companies and been recognised both nationally and internationally as a leader in sales and service training. As Managing Director of Auspac Business Advantage, she was recently awarded an International “Stevie Award” in America for Sales Training/Education Leader of the Year. After training internationally, Catherine has developed the award winning Conscious Connection Framework. It is a holistic roadmap that combines insights from over 25 years of studying body language, behavioural science and Neuro-linguistic Programming to radically transform how teams and individuals self-lead and communicate.
Catherine uses a variety of different tools to help build confidence, courage and help grow your business. These skills have been honed during her extensive experience teaching cross-culturally and her passion to help people succeed.. This desire to build multicultural relationships and cultivate healthy communication skills also features outside of work.
She is a philanthropist and travels to Uganda to help build homes for orphans and vulnerable children, working closely with Watoto. Catherine is married, one husband, three children and two dogs. She travels from Brisbane, Australia and loves working with all the different cultures worldwide.

Catherine Molloy

Sophie Scott Young
Q

Sophie Scott Young

Sophie has worked in banking and finance for over two decades. Her roles have spanned running financial planning teams and lenders to managing retail banking networks. For the last seven years, Sophie has held the role of National Operations Manager at Beyond Bank. As a true advocate for financial literacy, Sophie brings her passion for customer education to every role. She is dedicated to helping people take control of their money, including building awareness of safe banking.

Outside of work, Sophie spends her time living between the seaside town of Middleton and the city. As a mother of two teenage boys, Sophie is certainly kept on her toes! A lover of both nature and the seaside, you’ll find Sophie hiking in the Adelaide Hills and swimming in the ocean. 

Sophie Scott Young

Jill Jetson-Shumbusho
Q

Jill Jetson-Shumbusho

Jill joined Bank of us in early 2017, after the decision had been made to transition to a Customer Owned Bank. Jill’s most recent banking roles as Head of Sales & Distribution – QT Mutual Bank 2014-16; Chief Operating Officer & Head of Member Services P&N (Mutual) Bank 2010-14; and Regional General Manager – Retail & Business Banking – Westpac 2009-10, have already seen her actively involved in the transition from a mutual to a bank.

Having commenced her banking career working for Trust Bank and its various iterations in Tasmania over a 10 year period, Jill also understands the nuances of the Tasmanian market. Jill has also held a number of other banking and corporate sector management roles including with CBA in Sydney and News Ltd.

Jill Jetson-Shumbusho

Get in touch

Convention Secretariat
Email: coba@conceptevents.com.au
P: (02) 9436 0232

Customer Owned Banking Association
Email: scontempree@coba.asn.au
P: 0415 425 869

Important Dates

Early Bird cut-off - 28 July 2023
Accommodation Booking & Cancellation Deadline - 18 August 2023

© 2023  Concept Event Management.  All Rights Reserved.

Get in touch

Convention Secretariat
Email: coba@conceptevents.com.au
P: (02) 9436 0232

Customer Owned Banking Association
Email: scontempree@coba.asn.au
P: 0415 425 869

Important Dates

Early Bird cut-off - 28 July 2023
Accommodation Bookings - 18 August 2023

Accommodation Cancellation
Deadline - 18 August 2023

© 2023  Concept Event Management.  All Rights Reserved.