Peter Evans
Anna-Maria Arabia OAM
Nim de Swardt
Libbie Doherty
Jason Fielding
Elise Gillespie
Roger Gillespie OAM
Lesley Gillespie, OAM
Adam Gilmour
Michelle Gilmour
Emily Hammon
Prof Patrick McGorry AO
Philip Pryor
Tom Skotidas
Prof Bryce Vissel
Advisor, consultant, and speaker to legacy families and family offices, Peter Evans helps to create the conditions where affluent families have the greatest chance of flourishing. He has worked with and presented to hundreds of families on six continents.
Peter’s primary engagements are long-term as a personne de confiance, helping legacy families sustain their family and business relationships for many generations. This work is in six areas: growing the human capital of the family by investing in the personal development of each individual and generation...the goal being happy, joyful, productive, contributive members of society, rather than entitled beneficiaries; building intellectual capital - a robust governance system, clear succession plans and successful decision-making; investing in the organization’s social capital – building traditions of civic contribution, family philanthropy, and maintaining social and political connections; helping families live in sustainable relationship with the world’s natural capital; fostering the development of the family’s spiritual capital; and finally, helping family members make choices to ensure wise stewardship of the financial capital of their enterprise.
For 26 years, Peter was involved in many facets of Laird Norton Company LLC, an 8th generation family enterprise. He concluded his tenure as President in 2003. His responsibilities at Laird Norton included the stewardship of the long-held values and traditions of 400+ family members’ financial, intellectual, social and human assets. He remains a member of the family and company.
Peter is currently advising several global legacy families and working on projects which support an expansion of consciousness in individuals and groups. Peter is a Member and past Chapter Chairman of Young Presidents Organization -YPO/YPO Gold; recently serving as the Learning Officer for YPO’s Global Family Business Network – 5,800 leaders of family enterprises in 80 countries; and founding Chairman (now Emeritus) of the Collaboration for Family Flourishing, a network of cross-discipline practitioners supporting affluent families; Emeritus advisor to Arlington Family Offices. Formerly, he was Chairman of the Learning Academy, an experiential learning program serving the needs of family members in multi-generational enterprises. Executive Producer of the Emmy-Award winning documentary: John Muir in the New World, which premiered on PBS and BBC as their feature film for Earth Week 2011. Peter has served as Trustee of several non-profit organizations including the James E. Hughes, Jr Foundation; Partners in Youth Empowerment; Prescott College; the American Sail Training Association; Founding President of Sound Experience, a marine science-environmental learning program aboard the 101’ schooner Adventuress; Explorer West School; Pathfinder School; Director of the Earth & Spirit Conference, Deva Foundation; and the Seattle Parks Foundation. Peter earned a Master of Science in Management from Antioch University, and a BA from Western Washington University in Physical Anthropology, with concentrations in Chemistry and Biology. He has enjoyed a meditation practice for 50 years.
A Seattle resident, Peter and his wife Melissa enjoy boating and exploring the beauty, majesty and wonder of the Pacific Northwest Coast. Along with their adult children and grandchildren, they are a family of lifelong learners and avid world travelers.
Embracing Unity: Lessons From a Multigenerational Journey Thursday @ 9:00 AM
Anna-Maria is Chief Executive at the Australian Academy of Science, an independent organisation of distinguished Australian scientists, championing science for the benefit of all. Starting her career as a neuroscientist, Anna-Maria has worked nationally and globally in scientific research, policy development, politics and advocacy.
Her leadership and policy advice at the highest levels of government in Australia and contributions to global policy fora have led to significant reform at the science–policy interface. In 2025, Anna-Maria was awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia for her services to science. Anna-Maria is routinely called upon to serve as an agent of change.
Change Makers: Big Ideas Having Global Impact Friday @ 11:15 AM
Nim de Swardt is a Narrative Practitioner, Non-Executive Director, and Adviser. She chairs the PWN Family Wealth Peer Group (QLD) and created RE-AUTHOR, a narrative-first positioning method for leading advisers. Formerly the world’s first Chief Next Generation Officer at a US$16B, seventh-generation family enterprise and Guest Faculty at the Modern Elder Academy, teaching ‘Intergenerational Wisdom Sharing’. Nim draws on two decades in communications, narrative psychology, narrative therapy, storytelling science, and human-centred design. She is currently completing her Master’s research on how narrative practices can build legacy capital in significant families.
Change Makers: Big Ideas Having Global Impact Friday @ 11:15 AM
Elise is a successful retail executive with extensive experience in operating businesses throughout Australia and North America.
As the daughter of Bakers Delight founders, Roger and Lesley Gillespie, Elise was ‘born to bake’ and quickly adopted her parents’ passion for delighting each and every customer with great quality bread.
Elise spent the first nine years of her career in North America working in a series of operational roles for COBS Bread, a subsidiary of Bakers Delight. She played a key role in the rapid growth of the COBS Bread business in North America and quickly rose through the ranks to become Vice President – a role she held from 2009 to 2012.
In 2012, Elise returned home to Australia to form part of the Bakers Delight Executive Team and worked across multiple areas of the business to develop and implement a range of successful growth strategies.
In January 2017, Elise and her husband, David Christie were appointed Joint CEOs of Bakers Delight in Australia and New Zealand when founders, Roger and Lesley Gillespie chose to step down after 37 years at the helm. The focus for Bakers Delight, since 2017 has been driving brand relevance for today and tomorrow’s consumers, through innovation and product development, whilst supporting greater customer convenience. Core to Bakers Delight’s success for decades is its commitment to enabling its franchisees to thrive. This combined focus on customer relevance and franchisee success has delivered sustained year on year sales and profit growth for both the franchisees and Bakers Delight Holdings.
From Kitchen Table to National Icon: A Story of Unity Across Generations Thursday @ 9:45 AM
Roger is Co-Founder and Executive Chairman of Bakers Delight, the largest national chain of bakeries in Australia with nearly 700 bakeries operating throughout Australia, New Zealand, Canada and most recently the USA.
In May 1980, Roger, together with his wife Lesley and another partner started Bakery Delight in Hawthorn, Victoria. Roger & Lesley then went on to create Bakers Delight, which is still very much a family business with Roger and Lesley as co-Founders and their two children in leadership positions. Aaron who is based in Canada is the President of COBS Bread (North American trading name for Bakers Delight), overseeing the Canadian and USA businesses. Elise, along with her husband David Christie, are based in Melbourne and are the joint-CEOs overseeing the Australian and NZ businesses.
Bakers Delight is about creating an organisational culture that puts something back into the community, whether that’s through charitable donations or giving individuals the chance to pursue the dream of owning their own business. Bakers Delight is recognised as a leading corporate citizen in the country and has been a major corporate partner of the Breast Cancer Network Australia since 2000, raising more than $25 million over the past 24 years to support their work.
Roger has been inducted into the Hall of Fame for both the Swinburne University of Technology’s Australian Graduate School of Entrepreneurship (AGSE) and the Franchising Council of Australia. Roger has been named ‘Citizen of the Year’ for the City of Boroondara and was granted an Order of Australia for his tireless work within the community. Roger is an Honorary Fellow at Monash University and is an honorary Doctor of Laws at Monash University.
From Kitchen Table to National Icon: A Story of Unity Across Generations Thursday @ 9:45 AM
Lesley along with her husband Roger are founders of Bakers Delight, a 700 plus bakery franchise network across four countries; Australia, New Zealand, Canada and the United States. In Canada and the United States, it is branded as COBS Bread. Bakers Delight started from one bakery in Hawthorn, Melbourne May 1980.
Lesley and Roger are no longer in executive roles; the leadership is now shared by their children; their son Aaron, their daughter Elise and her husband David Christie.
Even though Bakers Delight / COBS Bread could now no longer be classed as a small business, the many franchisees across the network are small business operators. Lesley understands small business and she is committed to the success of Bakers Delight / COBS Bread franchisees. They are part of the backbone of the communities they serve.
Community involvement has been important and over the years Lesley has been involved in many community activities ranging from serving on school boards to chairing advisory committees at Swinburne and Monash universities. Bakers Delight /COBS Bread has always been there to support at the community grass roots level, whether it be local sporting teams or Bunnings sausage sizzles. For the last 25 years Bakers Delight has partnered with the Breast Cancer Network of Australia helping to raise millions of dollars to support families affected by this disease.
Lesley was a founding director of the Australian Business Growth Fund, a fund focused on helping small business thrive. This initiative, starting in 2019, is a federal government partnership with the major banks and is committed to helping small and medium sized businesses prosper.
Along the journey she has been fortunate to be recognised. Highlights have been:
2006 OAM Order of Australia Medal
2013 Fellowship from Monash University where she gained an Honours Degree in Science and a Diploma of Education
2014 Champion of Entrepreneurship at the EY Entrepreneur Of The Year™ Southern Region awards
Honorary Doctorates from both Swinburne University of Technology (2018) and Monash University (2021).
Lesley’s greatest joy in life are her four grandchildren.
From Kitchen Table to National Icon: A Story of Unity Across Generations Thursday @ 9:45 AM
Adam Gilmour is CEO and Co-founder of Gilmour Space Technologies, a homegrown company developing new space technologies in launch vehicles, satellite platforms, hypersonic testing, and commercial access to space.
Before founding Gilmour Space, Adam spent two decades in banking, managing a billion-dollar global derivatives business. A lifelong space enthusiast, his inspiration for change came after the 2004 X-Prize competition, which showed how private companies could make spaceflight far more affordable.
Today, Adam leads a growing team in Queensland, Australia, working to deliver reliable, low-cost launch services and build sovereign space capabilities to serve domestic and international customers.
Lift‑Off: Purpose, Partnership, and the Courage to Pioneer Thursday @ 4:30 PM
Michelle Gilmour is a Director and Head of Marketing & Communications at Gilmour Space Technologies. As part of the founding team, Michelle has helped guide the company's growth from a three-person startup in 2015 to one of the largest space employers in the country.
Michelle spent two decades in wealth management and financial media in Singapore before joining the company. She holds degrees in Banking & Finance at Monash University, and an Honours degree in Finance & Economics from University of Technology, Sydney. She now works to build understanding and support for Australia’s emerging space industry among customers, partners, policymakers, and the wider public.
Lift‑Off: Purpose, Partnership, and the Courage to Pioneer Thursday @ 4:30 PM
Emily is a certified Family Business & Wealth Advisor with the Family Business Association (AU) and the Family Firm Institute (USA). Emily’s lived experience as a third generation family business member has inspired her to work with other enterprising families to help them plan, protect and prosper for generations through governance, legacy building and family learning programs. Emily has 20 years of experience in the fields of marketing, events, sponsorship and international trade in both the public and private sectors.
Who Am I? Identity and Patterns in Family Success Friday @ 9:15 AM
Professor Patrick McGorry AO is one of the world’s most influential leaders in youth mental health, internationally recognised for reshaping how mental illness is understood and treated in young people. He is Executive Director of Orygen, Australia’s Centre of Excellence in Youth Mental Health, and a Founding Director of headspace, which has transformed access to care across Australia and beyond. McGorry’s pioneering work in early intervention has informed clinical practice and policy worldwide. In 2024, he led a global consortium of world-leading experts to deliver a definitive analysis of youth mental health, published in The Lancet Psychiatry. He was named Australian of the Year in 2010. ssets, but how they nurture the mental health and resilience that make flourishing possible.
Change Makers: Big Ideas Having Global Impact Friday @ 11:15 AM
Philip is a trusted advisor to family businesses and family offices across Australia and New Zealand. Drawing on a unique background and training from the US and UK in psychology, family therapy, problem resolution, organisational change, and business consulting, he brings both depth of theory and a practical understanding of the challenges families face at the intersection of love, legacy, and enterprise.
His focus is on preventing future family conflict—helping families design long-term succession plans, building appropriate governance, developing the Next Generation, and aligning the family with the business to create resilient, multigenerational enterprises.
Philip’s passion is personal. His own family once ran a business that did not survive beyond the first generation. That experience drives his commitment to helping strengthen families to create enduring and successful family enterprises.
He has also developed a distinctive model of succession that enables families to have the right conversations, share wisdom and culture, and grow while staying true to their values. A Fellow of the Cybernetics Society in London, Philip is one of the leading developers of Light Touch Change methodology with a group in the UK which is used to bring about changes in complex organisations and families.
Who Am I? Identity and Patterns in Family Success Friday @ 9:15 AM
