SXSW Sydney Conference

Andi Mastrosavas is an experienced leader and ethical technologist, specialised in product management practices, transforming organisations, and scaling high performance teams. At Pladia, Andi combines strategic foresight with operational agility, to deliver value to customers and market-leading products. She spent 10 years in California at various startups, scale-ups, and inside of a Fortune 1s’ innovation arm. With master's degrees in human-computer interaction and in global technology and development, Andi advocates for responsible research & innovation to ensure emerging technologies are aligned with the public interest.

Andra Keay is the visionary Founder and Managing Director of Silicon Valley Robotics, leading a paramount non-profit robotics cluster driving over 600 startups, catalyzing 50% of global robotics investments. Her pioneering focus lies in bridging the gap between research and real-world commercialization, imparting insights globally. A prominent speaker, Andra delves into AI, robotics, and their ethical dimensions.

Ariel Zeleznikow-Johnston is a neuroscientist at Monash University, Australia, where he investigates methods for characterising the nature of conscious experiences. In 2019, he obtained his PhD from The University of Melbourne, where he researched how genetic and environmental factors affect cognition. His research interests range from the decline, preservation and rescue of cognitive function at different stages of the lifespan, through to comparing different people’s conscious experience of colour. By contributing to research that clarifies the neurobiological, cognitive, and philosophical basis of what it is to be a person, he hopes to accelerate the development of medical infrastructure that will help prevent him and everyone else from dying.

Public Policy Architect

Born and raised in Nambour, Queensland, Dr Benjamin Law is on his way to being an Australian icon. Since the publishing of his seminal family memoir 'The Family Law', Benjamin has been extremely active in the literary world, whether through his journalistic explorations of the queer experience in Asia with 'Gaysia', his co-authored books, one co-written by Vic Collingwood, and another his mother Jenny Phang, or his frequent contributions to numerous non-fiction books and journals, including the Quarterly Essay, The Guardian, and The Australian Financial Review.nnBenjamin's prolific nature is visible also in his performance writing resume, with the adaptation of 'The Family Law' in 2016 bringing his autobiographical story to an international audience and garnered critical acclaim along the way, and his co-creating, co-writing and co-executive production of the Netflix comedy-drama 'Wellmania'. In 2020, he wrote Melbourne Theatre Company’s sold-out play 'Torch the Place'. He has a PhD in creative writing and cultural studies from the Queensland University of Technology (QUT). Benjamin is also a seasoned radio host, interviewing public figures for 'Good Weekend', co-hosted ABC Radio’s Stop Everything with Beverley Wang from 2018–2023, and The Guardian's 'Look At Me' in 2019. A fixture in documentaries, an ambassador and board member for multiple charitable foundations, and a constant champion of the unrecognised stories of Australia, he is a powerhouse writer with razor sharp journalistic insight. Benjamin works and lives on Gadigal Country, part of the Eora Nation (Sydney)

Brendan was appointed as Australia’s Ambassador for Cyber Affairs and Critical Technology in May 2023. As Ambassador, he leads Australia’s international engagement on cyber affairs and critical technology issues, while delivering cyber capacity building, crisis response and building resilience across our region. Brendan has had a distinguished career in cyber affairs, most recently leading the Cyber and Critical Technology Coordination Centre at the Department of Home Affairs. He also served as the First Assistant Secretary for Digital and Technology Security Policy in Home Affairs. In those roles he provided national leadership and international engagement on cyber security strategy and coordination, the security of critical and emerging technologies and safety and security online. Brendan held a senior role at Australia’s Embassy in the United States, leading engagement in the United States and across the Americas region on national security, cyber security, critical technology, criminal justice, emergency management, and immigration and border functions. Prior to the US, Brendan was the Assistant Secretary for the Americas, Europe, Middle East and Africa in Home Affairs’ International Division. In that role, he led the department’s engagement with governments across those regions, as well as with the United Nations and other multilateral institutions. Brendan was also posted to Amman, Jordan, leading the Department’s largest refugee mission and relations with governments across the region. Brendan holds a Master of Public Policy (Economic Policy) from the Australian National University and a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in political science and literature from the University of Melbourne.

Kirstin is ranked as one of the top 50 management thinkers in the world by Thinkers50. She has also been awarded theThinkers50 Distinguished Leadership Award in 2023. Kirstin began her career as an officer in the Royal Australian Air Force and has held senior leadership roles including chief executive officer of an international consulting firm, and acting chair and deputy chair of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation. During a fifteen-year career as a company director, Kirstin sat on a range of large publicly listed, private company and non-profit boards. Kirstin holds a PhD in leadership and culture and honours degrees in Law, and also History. She is an adjunct professor at the Queensland University of Technology Business School, where she was named Outstanding Alumnus of the Year in 2020. In 2024, Kirstin was recognised as Alumni of the Year for Professional Achievement by the University of New South Wales. Kirstin is the author of three books on leadership: Blindspotting: How to See What Others Miss (2025), Head & Heart: The Art of Modern Leadership (2023) and Women Kind: Unlocking the Power of Women Supporting Women (2018). Kirstin's books have received numerous international awards and recognition. Since 2021, Kirstin has written a popular weekly column in the Sydney Morning Herald and the Age called 'Got a Minute?' on work, leadership, and careers. Kirstin is a sought-after keynote speaker at conferences, events and corporate leadership sessions. She has opened conferences across the world, including Australia, New Zealand, United States, Canada, UK, South Africa and beyond.

Dr Karl Kruszelnicki AM just loves science to pieces, and has been spreading the word in print, on TV and radio and online for more than 30 years. The author of 48 books, Dr Karl is a lifetime student with degrees in physics and mathematics, biomedical engineering, medicine and surgery. He has worked as a physicist, labourer, roadie for bands, car mechanic, filmmaker, biomedical engineer, taxi driver, TV weatherman, and medical doctor at the Children's Hospital in Sydney. Since 1995, Dr Karl has been the Julius Sumner Miller Fellow at the University of Sydney. In 2019 he was awarded the UNESCO Kalinga Prize for the Popularisation of Science, previous recipients of which include Margaret Mead, David Attenborough, Bertrand Russell and David Suzuki

Dr. Flávia Fayet-Moore, better known as Dr. Fláv, is a Brazilian-born, Canadian-raised, Australian-made keynote speaker, nutrition scientist, space nutritionist and entrepreneur. With a career spanning more than two decades, she has been at the forefront of what’s next in food and nutrition and tailors her keynotes to various industries. Flávia graduated from the University of Toronto with an Honours Bachelor of Science (Human Biology and Nutritional Sciences Specialist), obtained her Master of Nutrition and Dietetics and PhD in nutrition from the University of Sydney, and completed the Space Studies Program at the International Space University. Flávia was the first dietitian in Australia to be board-certified in lifestyle medicine and is passionate about improving health. As founder and CEO of FOODiQ Global, she leads game-changing research, education, and communication that directly impacts health. As co-founder of Food is Cool, she is on a mission to help children in their early years have a positive relationship with food for life. Flávia is the founding board member and fellow of the Australasian Society of Lifestyle Medicine, Adjunct Lecturer at Newcastle University and a recipient of the Dietitians Australia President's Award for Innovation for her work in the space sector. Flávia brings her unique perspectives as a global citizen, businesswoman, and active scientist to inspire people to open their minds to concepts that they have never imagined, to be ahead of the curve, to challenge the status quo, take action, and nurture the longest relationship they will ever have: the one with food.

Holly Wainwright is an Executive Editor at Mamamia. She co-hosts Mamamia Out Loud and is the host of MID - a new podcast launched in 2024 which offers raw and honest conversations for midlife women. Holly is the author of five novels - The Mummy Bloggers, How To Be Perfect, I Give My Marriage A Year, The Couple Upstairs and her latest work, He Would Never. She lives on the south coast of NSW with her family and their dog.

Jennie is a globally recognised leader in the entertainment, media, and technology sectors, and brings a wealth of experience and an innovative approach as the WNBL enters an exciting new chapter following its acquisition by Wollemi Capital Group Syndicate and the NBL. Jennie’s distinguished career spans global roles with major organisations including Nine Entertainment, National Geographic, Viacom/MTV, Twitter, and Nextdoor. She is passionate about basketball having played at an elite level in college and is strongly connected with community sports through her current participation. She is also currently the Chair of the Australian Women in Music Awards (AWMA) and a Director of Sydney’s City Recital Hall. Her leadership in spearheading transformative projects, fostering community impact, and empowering women makes her a game-changer for the WNBL.

Jessi Miley-Dyer is the Commissioner for the World Surf League (WSL), the global home of competitive surfing. Miley-Dyer, a former Championship Tour (CT) competitor, oversees the WSL’s entire competitive landscape, including the Championship Tour, Challenger Series, Qualifying Series, Pro Junior Series, Longboard, Big Wave, and specialty events/series.Since joining the WSL in 2012, Miley-Dyer has been integral to professional surfing's growth, particularly in developing the women's Tours. Miley-Dyer has held several positions within the Tours and Competitions team, including the Women's Championship Tour Manager, and Senior Vice President of Tours and Competitions. Miley-Dyer most recently held the role of Chief of Sport for the League. Miley-Dyer has led milestones for professional surfing through her work with the WSL. Miley-Dyer was key in the WSL's groundbreaking 2018 announcement to award equal prize money to male and female athletes for every WSL-owned and operated event from 2019 onwards, becoming the first and only US-based, global sports league to do so. Miley-Dyer also introduced the WSL Rising Tides program, a community engagement program to inspire the next generation to take to the surf. Her work has received worldwide recognition for surfing and women's sport. She was honored as a 2022 Sports Business Journal (SBJ) Game Changer for her groundbreaking work at the WSL.Before joining the WSL, Miley-Dyer spent over 10 years as a professional surfer. She earned numerous accolades, including winning the first World Junior Championship and spending six years competing on the Championship Tour, where she won the Billabong Pro Maui in her rookie year. During her competitive career, Miley-Dyer also took on the Surfers' Representative role, allowing her the opportunity to help grow the sport as an Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) Board Member and Director.Miley-Dyer was born and raised in Bronte in Sydney, Australia, and earned her Master's Degree in Business from the University of New South Wales. Miley-Dyer is based in the WSL’s El Segundo, California headquarters.

Beyond co-hosting Mamamia Out Loud, Jessie Stephens has hosted several other shows across the network including Cancelled and most recently The Baby Bubble, as well as Hello Bump, Book Club and once upon a time, True Crime Conversations. An Executive Editor at Mamamia, she is the author of the internationally best-selling book Heartsick published in 2021 and the number one best-selling book, Something Bad Is Going To Happen, published in 2023. She was a writer and producer on Logie nominated comedy series Strife, and is a regular on ABC radio and Channel Ten’s The Project.

Jim Rabeau is the CEO and Founder of DeteQt, a quantum technology company pioneering next-generation sensing solutions for navigation, subterranean exploration, and medical diagnostics. With a career spanning industry, government, and academia, Jim is a recognised leader in quantum technology, combining deep technical expertise with commercial strategy.Jim has held key leadership roles across the global quantum ecosystem. As President of Infleqtion Australia, he led the U.S. quantum startup’s expansion into Australia. At CSIRO, he spearheaded quantum technology initiatives as Director of the Quantum Technologies Future Science Platform. Previously, he was a Professor at the University of Sydney and Deputy Director at Sydney Nano, driving research and industry engagement.His industry experience includes roles as Program Manager at Microsoft Quantum Computing and Director at Deloitte in Data Analytics, bridging cutting-edge research with commercial applications.With expertise spanning quantum, optical, and materials science, Jim is leading DeteQt in transforming quantum sensing into real-world impact. He holds a PhD in diamond synthesis from Heriot-Watt University and has published extensively in top scientific journals.

Josh Lindgren is the Head of the Podcast department at leading entertainment and sports agency Creative Artists Agency (CAA). Lindgren has been a Podcast Agent since 2014 and represents many of the most successful podcast properties, creators, and production companies, including SmartLess, hosted by Jason Bateman, Sean Hayes, and Will Arnett, Wiser Than Me with Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Stuff You Should Know, Wait Wait…Don’t Tell Me!, Futuro Studios, NPR correspondent Ari Shapiro, New York Times Audio’s Lulu Garcia-Navarro, Dr. Death reporter Laura Beil, Death Sex and Money host Anna Sale, Lemonada Media, Maximum Fun, and Radiotopia, among others. He has also brokered deals for a wide range of agency clients, including Jamie Lee Curtis, Chris Pine, Lupita Nyong’o, Allison Williams, Chelsea Peretti David Duchovny, Jennette McCurdy, Jordan Peele’s Monkeypaw Productions, Ava DuVernay’s filmmaker’s creative collective ARRAY, Laura Dern and Jayme Lemon’s Jaywalker Pictures, Cate Blanchett’s Dirty Films, and Paul Feig’s Powderkeg. Lindgren joined CAA in 2018 after nearly a decade at The Billions Corporation and, in 2021, was elevated to lead the agency’s podcast efforts. Lindgren has been recognized as one of the most powerful people in podcasting by The Hollywood Reporter and Inside Radio. He has been quoted in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, and Vanity Fair.

Julie Eckersley is an award-winning producer and screen executive known for her bold leadership and creative innovation in Australia’s screen industry. As Head of Scripted at SBS, she spearheaded the reinvention of SBS Scripted, driving an increase in international investment and delivering a slate of groundbreaking, award-winning series including Safe Home, While the Men are Away, Erotic Stories, Swift Street and Four Years Later. Julie’s credits include globally celebrated series like Glitch (Netflix Original) and The Family Law, which redefined cultural narratives. A recipient of the prestigious Commissioner of the Year award, and industry advisor, Julie is recognised for her ability to marry strategic vision with creative excellence. Whether developing multi-million-dollar productions or reshaping industry standards, she combines business acumen with fearless innovation to engage audiences and inspire creatives and empower transformative storytellers. Julie is the co-host of industry podcast We Interrupt this Broadcast and runs the Expanding Media consultancy. She is currently doing her PhD on leadership and transformation in the screen industry.

Katherine Mansted is an Executive Director at CyberCX, heading their global intelligence practice. Concurrently, Katherine is a Senior Fellow in the Practice of National Security at the ANU National Security College. Katherine regularly briefs government officials and business leaders on national security issues and commentates widely in the mainstream media. She’s a former fellow at Harvard’s Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs and a former non-resident fellow at the Alliance for Securing Democracy at the German Marshall Fund of the United States. Previously, Katherine practiced as a commercial solicitor with King & Wood Mallesons, served as a judge’s associate in the High Court of Australia, and worked as a ministerial adviser in the Australian Government. She holds a Master’s in Public Policy from the Harvard Kennedy School of Government.

Kyah Bell is a proud Wulgurukaba, Bindal, and Juru woman, and a strategic leader shaping the future of capital through Indigenous-designed finance. With a foundation in design thinking, she brings a systems-led, human-centred approach to capital markets—grounded in lived experience, international exposure, and cultural integrity.Over the course of her career, Kyah has raised more than $20 million in private capital, founded three companies, and led cross-sector initiatives spanning digital health, agriculture, and wellness. Her venture capital journey began in the United States, where she contributed to a wellness-focused fund before launching her own global investment vehicle in the health and agriculture sectors.Kyah is recognised for creating investment frameworks that centre Indigenous self-determination and economic empowerment. Notable examples include the Black Excellence Fund and the FAC Impact Equity Fund—innovative models that reimagine capital through community-led governance, intergenerational wealth, and regenerative flow.In recognition of her leadership in financial inclusion, Kyah was appointed to the HSBC Indigenous Advisory Board. She continues to champion institutional change through co-design and values-aligned capital partnerships.

Lisa is CEO of The Conversation Media Group, responsible for strategy, funding and operations, and the IT and Product teams who serve the international group. Previously Lisa was CEO of ArtsHub, CEO of a search marketing firm, and GM online employment for Fairfax Digital.Lisa has been a Director of Vertical Networks Group and Chair of Midsumma Festival. Lisa is a Deloitte Outstanding 50 LGBTI Leader.

Luli Adeyemo is an award-winning leader and visionary in the Australian technology sector, with over 30 years of experience driving transformative change. As the Executive Director of TechDiversity, she champions Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI), highlighting its transformative power in business strategy and innovation. Passionate about integrating the arts into STEM to embrace STEAM, Luli fosters creativity and inclusivity within the tech industry.As the Founder and Director of Best Case Scenario, a Sydney-based integrated marketing and events agency, Luli has crafted impactful campaigns that have shaped industry narratives. Her strategic acumen was evident during her tenure at Gartner, where she expanded the Asia-Pacific conference business by 250%, launching executive programs across Australia, Singapore, India, and China.An authentic advocate for DEI, Luli brings her lived experience as a Black, queer woman in tech leadership to the forefront. She bridges the gap between DEI advocacy and corporate strategy, providing actionable, data-driven solutions that help organisations realize the tangible benefits of diversity and inclusion.In recognition of her significant impact, Luli was honoured as the Emerging Leader in Tech at the 2023 Women's Agenda Leadership Awards. She also serves as an elected Council Member of the Australian Information Industry Association (AIIA), contributing to shaping policies and advancing the ICT industry in Australia.A dynamic and engaging speaker, Luli is known for her energetic and personable style. She has graced stages at high-profile events such as SXSW Sydney, the Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix Executive Breakfast, and Women in Tech Fest. Her expertise has been featured in prominent publications like Forbes, BBC News, and HR Leader.Committed to mentoring the next generation, Luli actively empowers women and underrepresented groups in tech, encouraging them to pursue and thrive in technology careers. Her vision is to create a tech industry that not only innovates but also truly represents the diversity of society.

Matt Bevan is the host and writer of the award-winning ABC News podcast If You're Listening. He has been a journalist at the ABC since 2008, and spent six years as newsreader for Radio National Breakfast. In 2022 he was awarded Podcast Host of the Year by Radio Today. In 2023 he was nominated for a Walkley Award for Explanatory Journalism.

Mia Freedman is the co-founder of Mamamia, the women's media company she began from her lounge room in 2007 and which now reaches 7.5 million women every month. She is the co-host of Mamamia Out Loud, Mamamia's flagship daily podcast that has had more than 116 million lifetime downloads. Mia is the former Editor-In-Chief of Cosmopolitan, Cleo and Dolly magazines and the author of four best-selling books including her memoir Work, Strife, Balance upon which the hit TV show Strife is based. Mia is an Executive Producer on Strife and an ambassador for RizeUp, the charity that helps women and children escape domestic violence. Mamamia is also the proud media partner of RizeUp.

Neil Sharma is an International Emmy Award winning director, based in Sydney.Mentored by Oscar winning auteur Taika Waititi and acclaimed director Jeffrey Walker, his directing credits include the International Emmy and AACTA winning reboot of HEARTBREAK HIGH for Fremantle Media and Netflix; STRIFE S2 for Binge and Made Up Stories; The psychological drama CRITICAL INCIDENT for STAN; The dramedy remake MOTHER AND SON for Wooden Horse and the ABC; the SBS Digital Original Series APPETITE, which premiered at the 2023 CANNESERIES Festival as the only Australian project invited into competition; the children’s series THE UNLISTED for Aquarius and Netflix; and BORN TO SPY for ABC Kids and Aquarius Films. Neil’s work has also been nominated for two ADG awards, an AACTA and a Rose D’Or.He cut his teeth in the film industry as an assistant director on productions such as MARVEL’S SHANG-CHI AND THE LEGEND OF THE TEN RINGS, MADMAX: FURIOSA, THE FALL GUY and MORTAL KOMBAT to name a few. Neil’s approach to directing has a musicality to it that resonates throughout his work, which explores the human experience through his own unique lens. His extensive on-set experience and invaluable mentorships have put him in a very small pool of film makers who can creatively, efficiently, and effectively conceptualise and navigate a film production, of any scale and genre.Other credits include THOR: LOVE AND THUNDER, LOST FLOWERS OF ALICE HART, LION, THE CRY, PICNIC AT HANGING ROCK, MODERN FAMILY.

Nicholas started coding in VBA when he was eight years old but gave it all up for a life of finance. He finally came to his senses, has since built machine learning models for Fortune 500 companies, founded an EdTech startup and currently leads over 500 AI engineers across the globe at IBM. Over the past 5 years, he has built a following of over 265,000 AI engineers and data scientists on YouTube, created hundreds of machine learning models and shared over 50,000 lines of code on GitHub, which has helped thousands of organisations and individuals take their first steps into the field of AI to build better, faster, more efficient businesses.

Nicole Velik is a globally recognised creativity and innovation speaker, facilitator, and trainer. As the founder of The Ideas Bodega, host of Creativity Unpacked: The Podcast, and the force behind CreativeMornings Sydney, she’s on a mission to make creativity exciting, accessible, and essential for everyone.For 17 years, Nicole has helped organisations around the world—from the U.S. to Australia, Asia, Europe and Africa—supercharge their creative potential through workshops, talks and training. Her clients include The United Nations, Nike, Apple, Canva, LEGO, Spotify, Coca-Cola, TikTok, and Google. Nicole believes creativity isn’t a gift for the lucky few—it’s a skill we all have. Her high-energy sessions leave audiences buzzing with confidence and ready to generate game-changing ideas.Her podcast, Creativity Unpacked, debuted at No. 1 in the Apple Marketing charts and stayed there for six weeks. Through in-depth conversations with brilliant creatives, Nicole demystifies the creative process, proving that innovation isn’t magic—it’s something we can all tap into.With a background in advertising as a brand strategist, Nicole worked at Saatchi & Saatchi Sydney and KBP New York City before returning home in 2008 to pursue her passion for building creative workplace cultures. In 2009, she founded The Ideas Bodega, blending her love for ideas, innovation, and empowering people to think differently.Nicole is a sought-after speaker at global conferences, including SXSW Sydney, Vivid Ideas, Ad:Tech, Promax BDA, CreativeMornings, Creative Innovation, CREA, and Emergence Creative. Nicole’s insights on creativity and innovation have been featured in The Australian Financial Review, ABC, CMO Magazine, Media Week, and The Collective Magazine.For 8 years Nicole has hosted CreativeMornings Sydney - A monthly, global lecture series for the creative industry. Sydney is one of 240 cities around the world to take part.When she’s not igniting creativity in others, she fuels her own by playing percussion in a 50-person samba band, writing songs, playing guitar, and learning Portuguese.

Noelle Russell is a multi-award-winning speaker, author, and AI Executive who specializes in transforming businesses through strategic AI adoption. She is a revenue growth + cost optimization expert, 4x Microsoft Responsible AI MVP, and named the #1 Agentic AI Leader in 2025. She has led teams at NPR, Microsoft, IBM, AWS and Amazon Alexa, and is a consistent champion for Data and AI literacy and is the founder of the "I ❤️ AI" Community teaching responsible AI for everyone.She is the founder of the AI Leadership Institute and empowers business owners to grow and scale with AI. In the last year, she has been named an awardee of the AI and Cyber Leadership Award from DCALive, the #1 Thought Leader in Agentic AI and a Top 10 Global Thought Leader in Generative AI by Thinkers360.

Fearless Defender of Press Freedom

Remy Hii is a professional actor, avid film photographer, and budding home chef. Remy most recently voiced the role of Platy in the animated feature film THE SLOTH LANE, and can be heard voicing the role of Marcus & Mr. Kiramman in the latest season of the acclaimed animated Netflix series ARCANE. His other screen credits include the Netflix series WELLMANIA, Animated feature film SCARYGIRL, voicing the role of Bunniguru, Netflix feature film PRINCESS SWITCH 3: ROMANCING THE STAR, ABC series’ AFTERTASTE and HARROW, Marvel Studio’s SPIDER-MAN: FAR FROM HOME, Netflix epic drama MARCO POLO and Warner Bros feature CRAZY RICH ASIANS.

Renee Wootton is a high-impact aerospace executive, sustainability strategist, and proud Tharawal woman, dedicated to driving real-world change in aviation and energy transition. Her career spans NASA JPL, Qantas, and LanzaJet, where she has played a pivotal role in advancing Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) adoption, global market expansion, and corporate sustainability strategies.As Global Director of New Market Development at LanzaJet, Renee leads efforts to scale SAF globally, working across corporate, government, and nonprofit sectors to develop commercially viable, policy-supported, and environmentally sustainable solutions. With deep technical expertise in aerospace engineering and market development, she bridges the gap between industry needs, regulatory frameworks, and clean energy innovation.nnRenee is also the co-host of the Promoted Podcast, where she shares career insights, leadership strategies, and industry trends to help professionals thrive in fast-evolving industries. A passionate advocate for climate action and Indigenous representation in STEM, she is committed to driving global sustainability, fostering inclusive leadership, and shaping the future of aviation and clean energy.High-Impact Aerospace Executive and Proud Tharawal woman Renee Wootton & Global Director of New Market Development at LanzaJet

René de Monchy joined Tourism New Zealand (TNZ) in August 2015 bringing 20 years' global experience in consumer-led businesses including local and international marketing roles for Fonterra and Heineken and Asia Pacific Breweries in Singapore.Prior to becoming TNZ’s Chief Executive in April 2021, René was TNZ’s Interim Chief Executive for four months. Before this, René was TNZ’s Director Commercial. In this role, René led the teams across the international markets and Business Events, responsible for identifying key markets and audiences to travel to New Zealand. René also led the development of TNZ’s Aviation Strategy to guide partnerships with international airlines including establishing Memorandum of Understandings with major airlines including Air New Zealand.René is passionate about the tourism sector and active in tourism industry engagement, undertaking regular speaking engagements and panel discussions.

Ricky Sutton’s career spans three decades at the intersection of journalism and technology. He has reported from conflict zones, led global newsrooms, and advised global companies from News Corp and CNN to Microsoft. In the early 2000s, he moved into tech, working in search and early AI, which led him to found Oovvuu, which pioneered using AI to match videos and articles. Last year, Ricky launched the Future Media newsletter, to focus on the collision of Big Media and Big Tech, AI, future business models for media, and the global antitrust movement. It's now read by 15,000 media tech and marketing leaders across 1,000 companies in 79 countries.

Shuang Hu is a multi-faceted, award-winning Chinese Australian actress, writer, director, producer and content creator. Since she started making content online in March 2020, Shuang has amassed over 4.6 million followers on TikTok, 7.8 million subscribers on Youtube and 231K followers on Instagram. In 2024, Shuang was awarded a Digital Icon award in Comedy Skits from the Outstanding Asian America Women Who Dared Gala hosted by the China Institute. As an actor, Shuang is best known for her role as Candy Law in SBS's critically acclaimed series ‘The Family Law’, the first Australian show to be led by a majority Asian cast. She also starred in Comedy Central’s ‘Ronny Chieng: International Student’ and made her theatre debut appearing in The Outhouse Theatre's production of Annie Baker's ‘John’ in 2019. Shuang is the host of 2023 documentary feature ‘Beyond The Reef’ on Amazon Prime and was a cast member in the prestigious VIACOMCBS Sketch Showcase 2022. Shuang also co-created, co-wrote, co-produced and is the star of 2024 Rom Com ‘Five Blind Dates’, Amazon Studio’s first Australian original feature film. Shuang also stars in sci-fi romantic comedy ‘Future Date’, available to watch on Tubi.She hopes to continue telling stories that entertain and delight, whether it’s on the big screen, silver screen, or phone screen.

Silvija Martincevic is the CEO of Deputy, the complete people platform purpose-built for shift work and trusted by 1.5 million shift workers and 380,000 workplaces in over 100 countries.

Before joining Deputy, Silvija served as Chief Commercial Officer at Affirm, the Silicon Valley-based fintech, where she scaled the company from 6,500 to over 200,000 merchants, grew annual revenue from $100 million to $1.3 billion, and forged partnerships with some of the world’s largest retailers including Shopify, Walmart, and Amazon. Previously, Silvija was also the Chief Operating Officer at Groupon, leading international operations across Europe, Australia and Asia.

Silvija holds an MBA in Econometrics and Statistics from the University of Chicago and currently serves on the board of Kiva, a global nonprofit that expands financial access to underserved communities. Her career has been guided by a deep commitment to using technology as a force for good and ensuring equitable access and opportunity for all.

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“Stela Willemstein, is Credit Risk Director for Global Wealth Management at UBS Group headquarters in Zurich. She is seasoned multi-disciplinary banking professional with front to back experience, risk management expertise, digital initiative and international outreach. She holds MSc degree in International Business from Tilburg University, Certificate Advanced Studies in Sustainable Finance from the University of Zurich and a Woman FIDE Master title from the International Chess Federation. Currently, she acts as Diversity, Equity and Inclusion ambassador in the organization.”

Tiffany Rolfe is a trailblazer in the creative industry, recognized for her visionary approach to innovation, storytelling, and design. As Chair and Global Chief Creative Officer at R/GA, she leads the company’s creative vision, fostering a culture that merges technology, design, and humanity to create impactful solutions for the world’s most iconic brands, such as Nike, Google, PayPal, Sephora, and Samsung. During her 6 years at the helm, R/GA has received global recognition with multiple Cannes Lion Grand Prix, Gold Effies, and Webby’s Agency of the Year, and Campaign’s Digital Innovation Agency of the Year. Notable projects under her leadership include Reddit’s breakthrough 5-second Superbowl hack in response to the Wall Street Bets/ Game Stop frenzy and Nike Sync, a Nike app feature for training during different phases of the menstrual cycle. She also oversaw Verizon’s 5G Stadium built within Fortnite where 40 million people were able to attend the Superbowl virtually during the pandemic. She also applies her creativity to the business, launching a first-of-its-kind fractional talent program for R/GA called /Associates. Prior to R/GA, Tiffany was a Partner and Chief Creative Officer at Co:Collective, one of the first agency consultancy hybrids, where she branded and led YouTube’s first global creator campaigns and the launch of YouTube Music and YouTube Kids. She helped Puma during some of their most successful years in collaborations with Rihanna and a basketball brand with Jay-Z. She also led the new vision and experience design for the MoMA expansion in NYC. Tiffany began her career launching some of the earliest entertainment websites for Pixar and Disney before joining Crispin Porter + Bogusky, where she rose to VP Executive Creative Director and helped the agency grow from 100 to over 1,200 employees, earning Ad Age’s “Agency of the Decade.” She led groundbreaking campaigns for brands like American Express, MINI Cooper, VW, and the Truth anti-smoking initiative, recognized as the most successful teen smoking cessation campaign in history. Over her two-decade career, Tiffany has consistently anticipated cultural shifts and embraced emerging technologies to build iconic campaigns and platforms, earning accolades such as Cannes Lions, Webbys, and Grand Clios. Named to Ad Age’s “Women to Watch” and twice nominated for “Chief Creative Officer of the Year,” Tiffany is a sought-after speaker, juror, and board member for organizations including The Ad Council, The One Club, and the Ad Club of NY.

Tim became CEO of GoFundMe in March 2020 and is focused on accelerating the company’s mission to help people help each other. Since its launch, GoFundMe has enabled people to raise over $30 billion for themselves and their loved ones, their communities, and the non-profit organizations they care about.Tim brings a wide range of consumer and B2B experience, along with a long-standing commitment to service. Before joining GoFundMe, he was CEO of OpenX, which he built into one of the world’s largest ad exchanges. At Yahoo, he led the global advertising business and previously ran the consumer search division. He began his career at The Boston Consulting Group in London.He holds a BSc from the London School of Economics, an MPhil from Oxford University, and an MBA from Stanford University. He has served as a Search & Rescue volunteer since 2010.Tim is a widely recognized voice in the media on giving and innovation and has been profiled by The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Fortune, and The Financial Times.

Todd Sears is the founder and CEO of Out Leadership, the world’s premier global platform for businesses to drive LGBTQ+ equality. Out Leadership works closely with the world’s leading companies to develop extraordinary talent, produce cutting-edge research, advance powerful advocacy, and improve business outcomes. Since 2011, Out Leadership has advised hundreds of the world’s most powerful companies in the world on LGBTQ+ issues. Sears has spent over 25 years working at the intersection of finance and equality. He began his career as an investment banker before joining Merrill Lynch as a financial advisor. There, he created the first team of financial advisors in Wall Street focused on the LGBTQ+ community and brought almost $2 billion of new assets to the firm from LGBTQ+ couples and nonprofit organizations. Subsequently, expanding his leadership in diversity, Todd pioneered award-winning diversity initiatives as Head of Diversity Strategy at Merrill Lynch and then at Credit Suisse as Head of Diversity and Inclusion. Sears started Out Leadership in 2010. Out Leadership is the first certified gay B Corporation, which means Sears and his team have voluntarily met the highest standards of verified social and environmental performance, public transparency, and legal accountability to balance profit and purpose. Out Leadership donates 20% of our net profits to LGBTQ+ nonprofits, To advance economic benefits and talent dividend derived from inclusion, Out Leadership convenes global summits around the world, hosting CEO dinners to advance the conversation around LGBTQ+ diversity in corporate governance. Sears serves on various nonprofit boards, including the Williams Institute of UCLA, the Palette Fund, the Global Equality Fund of the U.S. Department of State, Lambda Legal Defense & Education Fund, The North Carolina Community Foundation, and the National Advisory Council of the Stonewall National Archives & Museum. Additionally, he is the founding chair of Jeffrey Fashion Cares, which raised over $8 million for LGBTQ+/HIV causes over the decade he led it.Originally from Tarboro, North Carolina, Todd is a graduate of the Woodbury Forest School and Duke University. He currently lives in New York City.

Valerie is the Chief Creative Officer for McCann Worldgroup Asia Pacific, one of only a few female creative leaders in the region, but being a leader was never what she envisioned after graduating from arts school. Her love for painting, since the age of five, has flourished into more than 20 years of creative work for clients such as Zespri, Caltex, Hewlett-Packard, Procter & Gamble, Singapore Airlines, HSBC, Burger King, Singapore Tourism Board, Changi Airport, Shell, GSK, Cycle & Carriage, Friesland Campina and many others. Previously the Director of Creative Shop, SEA & Emerging Markets at Meta, Valerie was tasked to elevate the effectiveness of its powerful media platforms with creativity that’s fit for media and new emerging technologies. Her greatest joy today stems from being the regional creative leader for Mastercard and Ferrero, where she gets to make meaningful work with clients through McCann Worldgroup’s philosophy of ‘Truth Well Told’. With her diverse experience, she has judged and been awarded at all major shows including One Show, New York Festival, Effies, Spikes Asia, AdFest, Cannes Lions and D&AD. Jury highlights include being jury president for D&AD and judging Cannes Lions three times. Always feeling blessed that she gets to do what she loves, Valerie offers her time to empower others, especially female creatives, through engagements such as launching “See It Be It” at Spikes 2019, driving the McCann Worldgroup “Ambition Collective” in APAC and hosting “Shape My Portfolio” at AdFest. Besides creativity at work, her creative spirit takes new form through her own ice cream brand called “Licktionary”, where her unique flavours are inspired by words from her husband, and her newfound love of pottery where she pushes the artistic boundaries of form and function.

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