Family Office Congress XVII

Peter Evans

Trusted Adviser to Legacy Families (United States)

Peter 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.

For decades, 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.

Sean O'Sullivan

PWN Member, Founder & Managing General Partner, SOSV (United States)

Emily Hammon

PWN Member, Family Business & Wealth Advisor

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.

Anna-Maria Arabia OAM

Chief Executive, Australian Academy of Sciences

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 has led to significant reform at the science–policy interface. She has established novel mechanisms to facilitate evidence-informed decision making in parliaments and the justice system; spear headed new approaches to science communication; and implemented global initiatives to make visible under represented scientists.

She provides policy advice to the highest levels of government in Australia and contributes to global policy for a, most recently leading the establishment of the International Science Council Regional Focal Point for Asia and the Pacific.

In 2025, Anna-Maria was awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia for her services to science, particularly through organisational leadership roles. She has also earnt the Knight of the Order of the Star of Italy for her constant commitment to promoting the role of science in society and her determination in enabling young and diverse people to access science. Anna-Maria is routinely called upon to serve as an agent of change.

A/Prof Clare Arnott

Staff Specialist Cardiologist and the Pagent Family Director of Heart Lung Clinical Research, St Vincent’s Hospital Sydney

Associate Professor Clare Arnott is a Staff Specialist Cardiologist at St Vincent’s Hospital Sydney and Royal Prince Alfred Hospital. She is the Pagent Family Director of Heart Lung Clinical Research at St Vincent’s Hospital Sydney. She is a clinical triallist in Cardio-kidney-metabolic medicine and the Director of the Global Cardiovascular Program at the George Institute for Global health.

A/Prof. Arnott obtained her MBBS (Hons) and PhD at the University of Sydney, and her medical training at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital and Prince of Wales Hospital. She has fellowships in Women’s Cardiovascular Disease (Churchill Fellowship, Mayo Clinic and Stanford University USA); echocardiography (US echocardiography board certified 2019), and cardiac MRI (RPA, 2016), and she established Australia's first Women's Heart Clinic (RPA hospital). She currently holds an MRFF Investigator Grant and a NSW health fellowship. She was awarded the Cardiovascular Research Network (CVRN) Ministerial rising star award for academic excellence in 2022. In addition, she has received >$35 million in peer review funding from NHMRC, MRFF and the National Heart Foundation.

She has published >140 peer reviewed manuscripts, has served as the national Clinical Stream Lead for the Cardiac Society of Australia and New Zealand Annual Scientific Meeting, is an Associate Editor for Heart Lung and Circulation, is an Executive team Member of Australia and New Zealand Alliance for CV trials, and is a Fellow of European Society of Cardiology and CSANZ.

Prof Nicholas Ashbolt

ARC Industry Laureate Fellow, Queensland University of Technology (QUT)

Dr Ashbolt joined the Queensland University of Technology in September 2025 – where he is the ARC Industry Laureate Fellow in the School of Civil and Environmental Engineering and leads the Living Labs initiative and associated risk assessment and management aspects within the Cooperative Research Centre for Solving Antimicrobial Resistance in Agribusiness, Foods and Environments (SAAFE^CRC).

He has held previous positions as the Peter Teasdale Chair in Environmental Health Risk Assessment at UniSA, Executive Dean, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Southern Cross University, the Alberta Innovates Chair in Waterborne Disease Prevention in the School of Public Health & adjunct in the School of Medical Immunology and Microbiology, University of Alberta, Title 42 Senior Research Microbiologist within the National Exposure Research Laboratory, U.S. EPA Cincinnati, and Professor and Head of the School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, the University of New South Wales (UNSW) Sydney. Over the previous 20 years he has worked in joint Australian-Sweden, European and North American programs developing methods to interpret pathogen data with the aid of quantitative microbial risk assessment within an urban water sustainability framework.

This work has contributed to the risk-based approach adopted in the most recent WHO and U.S. EPA water documents that address recreation, drinking and reuse guidelines. He has been an adjunct professor at UNSW-Sydney, Swedish Institute for Infectious Diseases, Stockholm and in the School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University Tianjin, China.

Ross Barclay

PWN Member, Co-Founder & Director, FULFIL Advisory

Ross is a third-generation family business leader and strategy specialist with over a decade of experience across finance and aged care. As a co-founder and Director of FULFIL Advisory, he combines practical commercial strategy with deep psychological insights. He is currently completing a Masters of Business Psychology to complement his MBA. Ross is dedicated to solving the complex interpersonal and structural challenges of succession.

Sarah Beard

Producer, The Plastic Country

Sarah is a documentary producer and impact producer with over 30 years’ experience in film and television production, delivering highly successful projects to diverse national and international stakeholders. With a focus on impactful storytelling around ocean conservation, key projects include the award-winning ocean conservation film BLUE, Sea Lions-Life By A Whisker, an IMAX film about the critical status of the Australian sea lion, Secrets of the Octopus, with EP James Cameron for National Geographic/Disney+, and Sea Otters 3D for IMAX.

She is considered one of Australia’s leading impact producers, including the Australian impact campaign for OCEAN with David Attenborough for the Minderoo Foundation, Trade Secret and Untitled Film Works and is currently Co-Producer and Impact Producer for The Plastic Country, directed by Kal Glanznig. Sarah works at the intersection between filmmaking, impact, and the not-for-profit sector, having co-founded The Australian Sea Lion Recovery Foundation and holding Director positions with The Conflict Islands Conservation Initiative and Take 3 for the Sea. In addition, she has built a strong network of Philanthropic partners and enjoys connecting them to impactful projects.

Susanne Bransgrove

Partner, Family Office Team, Mutual Trust

Susanne Bransgrove is a Partner in Mutual Trust’s Family Office team, helping families and family enterprises navigate complex transitions with clarity and confidence. She specialises in ownership alignment, governance, and fostering meaningful intergenerational communication—skills shaped by her upbringing in a third-generation family business in Germany, giving her a firsthand understanding of family dynamics and legacy challenges.

Over the past 15 years, Susanne has guided families through succession planning, evolving governance needs, and sensitive intergenerational issues. Through structured discussions, tailored governance models, and facilitated conversations, she creates practical solutions that strengthen both relationships and long-term business resilience. As the founder of Liquid Gold Consultants, she has partnered with families across Australia to build sustainable frameworks for the future.

With senior experience at ANZ, Macquarie, and PwC, Susanne is also a respected voice in the family business community, leading the Women in Family Business Network. She holds a Bachelor of Business (Accounting), an Advanced Diploma of Neuroscience in Leadership, and is an Accredited Family Business Advisor. 

Lahra Carey

Founder, Narrative & Founder, NewsFlash Media

Lahra Carey is an experienced communications strategist and crisis manager. She has provided Australia’s blue-chip companies, best known brands, not-for-profit organisations and government departments with strategic corporate communications, and has worked with many executives and companies preparing for government inquiries, Royal Commissions and media interviews. Lahra uses her experience and knowledge to leverage leadership positioning on behalf of the organisations she works with. She is the founder of communications consultancy narrative, as well as NewsFlash Media, which develops and delivers purpose-built media and presentation training programs for senior executives and other key staff. Lahra is an experienced Non Executive Director on Boards including the Carlton Football Club, The King David School, the Australian Dementia Network Ltd, Quipex Pty Ltd, and a former Director of Foodbank Victoria’s Board.

Martin Cook

CEO, Co-Founder & Board Member, VenstraMedical

Martin Cook is a recognised leader in mechanical circulatory support (MCS) with more than two decades of experience advancing cardiac assist technologies. He previously served as Vice President of Product Development at Sunshine Heart and held key leadership roles at Ventracor (LVAD) and Percutaneous Cardiovascular Solutions (acquired by Edwards). Martin has directed multiple device development programs through CE mark and FDA approval and has advised CEOs and CTOs across the MCS sector as a consultant and mentor to MedTech startup leaders.

He holds undergraduate degrees in aerospace engineering and physics, a PhD in fluid mechanics, and is the author of numerous scientific publications as well as the inventor of multiple patents. Martin also contributes to the broader MedTech community as a reviewer for medical technology journals and related grant programs.
 

Rachel Cook

PWN Member & Co-Founder, Cook Group Family Office

Rachel is a pioneering technology and operations executive with a foundational background in early-internet enterprise architecture and digital transformation.

A major career highlight includes her pivotal role as Second in Command (2IC) at the start-up Business Web from 1999 to 2003. Beginning her tenure as a self-taught web engineer at just 22 years old, Rachel was instrumental in creating the operational ecosystem required to execute a unique digital business model during the dawn of the global internet economy. In this capacity, she spearheaded the automation and digitization of the nascent search industry, acting as the crucial bridge between visionary concepts and scalable technical execution.

Drawing on her deep technical and operational expertise, Rachel architected comprehensive workflows that transitioned traditional paper-based methods into sophisticated digital solutions. She led the prototyping of order fulfillment systems using Visual Basic and database solutions, ultimately laying the strategic groundwork for a proprietary, browser-based intranet system. Her foresight in e-commerce strategy was critical in automating manual, international payment processes prior to the advent of modern payment gateways. She operationally designed technical roles, customer data capture protocols, contract architectures, and robust communication templates, all focused on maximizing the online cart experience and ensuring continuous system uptime.

Beyond technical systems, Rachel is a proven leader in human capital and financial oversight. She actively managed the hiring, training, and administration of cross-functional teams, expertly troubleshooting the intersection of human, digital, and business platforms. Furthermore, Rachel actively designed the firm’s fiscal expense culture, implementing stringent process controls that yielded deep insights into operational success, sourced systemic efficiencies, and seamlessly integrated human workflows with digital fulfillment processing.

Hashan De Silva

PWN Member, Founder & Managing Partner, KP Rx

Nim de Swardt

Narrative Practitioner, Adviser & Non-Executive Director

Nim de Swardt chairs the PWN Family Wealth Peer Group (QLD) and is Australia’s leading family storyteller. For 17 years, Nim has been cultivating Narrative Capital™ within significant families. 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.

Libbie Doherty

Co-CEO & Founder, Runaway Unicorn

Libbie is Co-CEO, Runaway Unicorn, Australian IP and content company with a remarkable legacy crafting successful entertainment IP into global franchises. 

As Executive Producer and the former Head of Children and Family at Australian Broadcasting Corporation(ABC), Libbie commissioned and produced an impressive portfolio of ambitious and internationally acclaimed programs. 

Among her proudest achievements is the global phenomenon BLUEY, catapulting Australian IP onto the global radar dominating all streaming charts for three consecutive years. 

Her impressive credits also include titles such as, VEGESAURS, BEEP & MORT, KANGAROO BEACH, MUSTANGS FC,

NOWHERE BOYS and CRAZY FUN.

Libbie’s exceptional work has earned many accolades including International Emmy Awards, BAFTAs, five Prix Jeunesse Awards, and prestigious honours such as the Rose d’Or and Logie Awards.

Hugo Douglas

PWN Member, Executive Director, Investment Management Australia Ltd

Alan Duncan

Founder and Executive Director, Private Wealth Network

Alan is a Co-Founder and Executive Director of Private Wealth Network, having previously founded and run an events and media business catering to high-end corporate and private clients.He spent some years working for The Economist Group in Japan, Europe, the Middle East and Africa facilitating government and industry dialogues. Alan provided commentary on economic and business matters as well as running conference, research and corporate membership businesses.

He holds an Executive MBA from the Philadelphia based Temple University (Tokyo Campus) and a Bachelor of Arts from Newcastle University, Australia. Alan is Chair of Impact100 Sydney, a community-based collective giving program.

Rachel English

Director, Philanthropy, Mutual Trust

Rachel helps families across Victoria, South Australia and Tasmania to identify their philanthropic passions and give with purpose, along with supporting their granting, governance and administration requirements.  

Passionate about empowering families and individuals to engage in strategic philanthropy, Rachel believes the act of giving is about more than cheque book writing.  Rachel is also recognised for her expertise in helping families to empower their youngest generations to become actively involved in family giving activities. 

Prior to joining Mutual Trust in 2017, Rachel worked for the Foundation for Young Australians (FYA) in partnerships and service delivery, before moving to the United Kingdom to work for several foundations including Virgin Unite, the Foundation of the Virgin Group and the Branson family.  Rachel has a deep commitment to the not-for-profit and community sector on both a professional and a personal level. 

Rachel holds a Bachelor of Economics from the University of Queensland.  She is also a Director of the English Family Foundation, co-Chair of NEXUS Australia and sits on the Advisory Committee for the Australian International Development Network. 

Ren Fernando

Co-Founder, ReLove

Ren Fernando is an architect, artist, and Co-Founder of ReLove. Together with her Co-Founder, Ben Stammer, she founded ReLove in response to a surge in domestic and family violence during COVID. With a background in sustainable architecture and a deep commitment to social and environmental change, Ren recognised an opportunity to tackle furniture waste while helping people in crisis create safe, fully furnished homes.

ReLove has created a free furniture store for women impacted by domestic violence and homelessness where they can choose great-quality furniture, household goods and all the furnishings that they need to start again. ReLove then delivers everything within the next couple of days and helps to set up the client’s new home to ensure that the transition out of crisis is as stress-free as possible.

ReLove currently partners with over 55 charities that refer people in crisis to ReLove when they access safe housing. In the last twelve months, ReLove furnished the homes of 780 families (including 1200 children) of women and children impacted by domestic violence and people experiencing homelessness.

Ren was a 2023 Snow Entrepreneur and AMP Tomorrow Maker, Finalist Marie Claire Woman of the Year Eco Warrior, 2023 NSW Local Woman of the Year, Maroubra and 2021 Westfield Local Hero. ReLove was the winner of the 2023 Tomorrow Awards Change maker of the Year.

Jason Fielding

Co-Founder, Voice Capital

Jason Fielding comes from a global career in sports and entertainment as an agent and consultant and for the past five years has connected those industries through the Voice Capital initiative.

For over twenty-five years, Jason worked with clients and partners including FIFA, Live Nation, Scuderia Ferrari, Manchester United, Liverpool F.C., The Walt Disney Company, Warner Music and talent from the US, UK and Australia.
 
Jason was an early member of Octagon in the UK and created Octagon’s entertainment division in London before moving to Australia with Octagon in 2004. In 2007, Jason founded The Sound Campaign, which became Australia’s leading music and entertainment agency, which eventually joined forces with Endeavor, where he became a Senior Vice President and Managing Director.

In 2020, Jason founded Voice Capital in collaboration with Main Sequence, APAC’s largest Deep Tech Venture Capital fund with $1b AUM to connect science and culture with venture capital through storytelling.

In 2025, Voice Capital transitioned and is now a team of five Partners based in Australia and the US and is preparing to become a stand alone fund that sits at the nexus of science, capital and culture.

Megan Flamer

Chair, Family Wealth Peer Group, PWN

Edward Fletcher

Partner, Pitcher Partners

Edward draws on over a decade of financial services experience to create bespoke strategies, helping clients achieve financial objectives based on their unique circumstances and risk tolerance.

Most recently serving seven years as specialist Investment Adviser at Macquarie Private Wealth,Edward has also spent time in Private Banking at Westpac and Financial Planning with a boutique firm. This broad background, combined with Pitcher Partners’ unique blend of scale and independence, enables Edward to source the most appropriate solutions across the entire market to deliver superior outcomes for clients.

Edward’s investment philosophy involves creating a strategic asset allocation to match a client’s objectives and risk profile, from which to construct an investment portfolio combining core, long term holdings complimented by satellite positions to take advantage of specific company and industry opportunities.

Edward holds a Bachelor of Business from Queensland University of Technology (QUT) and a Diploma of Financial Services. He is an ASX Accredited Derivatives Adviser (ADA Levels 1 and 2) and a Representative of Pitcher Partners Wealth Management, where he is RG146 qualified. In recognition of his leadership potential within the financial services industry, Edward was awarded the 2012 Financial Services Council / Deloitte Future Leaders Award in the Global Markets category.

Elise Gillespie

Co-CEO, Bakers Delight

Elise is a successful retail executive with extensive experience in operating across Australia, New Zealand, Canada and US.

As the daughter of Bakers Delight Founders, Roger and Lesley Gillespie, Elise was ‘born to bake’.

Elise spent the first nine years of her career in North America working in a series of operational roles including Vice President, COBS Bread, a subsidiary of Bakers Delight, enabling rapid growth of the business.

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.

Under the CEO leadership of Elise Gillespie and husband, David Christie, Bakers Delight can be found in more than 650 locations across Australia, New Zealand, Canada and US.

Roger Gillespie OAM

Co-Founder & Executive Chairman, Bakers Delight

Roger is Co-Founder and Executive Chairman of Bakers Delight, founded 1980, the largest national chain of bakeries in Australia with over 700 bakeries operating throughout Australia, New Zealand, Canada and the USA.

In May 1980, Roger, together with his wife Lesley and another partner started Bakery Delight in Hawthorn, Victoria. Roger and Lesley then went on to create Bakers Delight, which is still very much a family business. Whilst Roger and Lesley remain as co-Founders, their two children are in leadership positions.

Whilst remaining in touch with the business Roger is also involved in philanthropic activities as Director, Gillespie Family Foundation, which contributes to a range of initiatives in education, science research and medicine.

Lesley Gillespie OAM

Co-Founder, Bakers Delight

Lesley along with her husband Roger are Founders,Bakers Delight, a 700 plus bakery franchise network across four countries; Australia, New Zealand, Canada and the United States. In Canada and United States, it is branded as COBS Bread. Bakers Delight started from one bakery in Hawthorn, Melbourne May 1980.

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 where she has been awarded honorary doctorates. Bakers Delight is also a major sponsor of Breast Cancer Network Australia.

Other businesses in which Lesley is involved are 121SEED and Health Food Holdings.

Along the journey Lesley has been recognised in 2026 OAM Order of Australia Medal 2026 and Champion of Entrepreneurship at EY Entrepreneur Of The Year™.

Adam Gilmour

Co-Founder & CEO, Gilmour Space Technologies

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.

Michelle Gilmour

Director & Head of Communications, Gilmour Space Technologies

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.

Yehuda Gottlieb

Deputy CEO, Centuria Bass Credit

Yehuda has over fifteen years experience advising middle-market and publicly listed companies across a wide range of issues including corporate strategy, mergers and acquisitions and capital raisings.

Before managing the Spotlight Group family office, Yehuda held various roles focusing on investment management, private equity, corporate advisory (M&A and ECM) and corporate strategy.

Suzanne Grosvenor

PWN Member & Executive Assistant, Segenhoe Group

No bio provided

Tony Hockey

Director, Bondi Partners Capital | 1941 Fund

Tony Hockey is a specialist growth equity investor focused on dual-use technologies across the Advanced Manufacturing, Aerospace and Space, Artificial Intelligence, Renewable Energy, and Robotics and Autonomy sectors. He partners directly with visionary founders on both sides of the Pacific, providing the critical support and strategic guidance necessary to successfully navigate complex scale-up phases and international expansion. His primary focus lies in identifying and backing exceptional teams who are transforming breakthrough innovations into category-defining global businesses.

Drawing from an extensive professional background in strategy, transformation, and mergers and acquisitions (M&A) as a management consultant in the global asset management sector, Tony brings a highly disciplined commercial and value-creation approach to every investment decision. This rigorous foundational experience equips him to deliver comprehensive strategic advisory services that are specifically tailored for rapidly scaling technology companies.

Tony’s specific areas of expertise encompass executing growth-stage investments in dual-use technology sectors, facilitating cross-Pacific market expansion, developing high-value partnerships, and leading corporate development initiatives. Ultimately, he is deeply passionate about working alongside ambitious entrepreneurs who are actively building the vital infrastructure and capabilities destined to define the next decade of technological advancement.

Terese Hooper

CEO, Life Ed NSW/ACT

Terese is a purpose-driven executive and the Chief Executive Officer of Life Ed NSW/ACT, the state's most trusted health and wellbeing education provider. With over fifteen years of experience across education, leadership, and organizational development, Terese is dedicated to leading transformative growth and social impact. She is highly skilled at translating strategic vision into scalable action, empowering teams, and building robust partnerships across the government, community, and corporate sectors to advance youth wellbeing.

A qualified teacher, Terese possesses a unique, ground-up understanding of the organization she leads. Her journey with Life Ed began nearly a decade ago as an Educator delivering the iconic "Healthy Harold" programs in Sydney’s Northern Beaches mobile learning centre. Over the years, she has steadily advanced through the organization, holding pivotal senior roles including Director of Education, Chief Operating Officer, and Acting CEO for Life Ed Northern Territory. This rare combination of frontline program expertise and proven executive leadership ensures her approach is both deeply empathetic and highly strategic.

Now residing in regional NSW, Terese brings a nuanced understanding of the diverse metropolitan, regional, and remote communities that Life Ed serves. Her leadership is heavily informed by her own early life experiences with instability, which forged her profound belief in the transformative power of knowledge and the importance of trusted adult mentorship. She champions an evidence-based educational model that scaffolds learning year-on-year, guiding children from curiosity to confidence, and ultimately equipping them with the health literacy, resilience, and agency needed to navigate life's complex choices.

Terese holds impressive credentials from leading professional institutions. She is an alumna of the McKinsey Executive Leadership Program and Chief Executive Women (CEW), and she holds credentials from the Australian Institute of Company Directors (AICD). As CEO, she is committed to guiding Life Ed through its next phase of growth, firmly believing that this work is not just about prevention, but about potential—ensuring every child has the support and opportunity to pursue a healthy, limitless future.

David Hughes

Partner, Tax Team, McCullough Robertson

David is an accredited tax law specialist, and a chartered tax adviser. He has over 25 years experience acting for tax payers of all types including individuals, family groups, SMEs, and listed and unlisted public companies across all aspects of tax law.

The ATO is closely scrutinising families of significant wealth, particularly in the context of family and business succession. David has successfully leveraged his experience and collaborative relationships within the ATO to facilitate complex and tax effective restructures, that achieve his clients’ objectives.

Prof Elanor Huntington

Deputy Chief Executive, CSIRO

Professor Elanor Huntington is the Deputy Chief Executive at CSIRO where she leads strategy and external engagement for CSIRO. She joined CSIRO in November 2021 as Executive Director, Digital, National Facilities and Collections, where she led the organisation’s data-focused research, development, and digital capability, and was responsible for major national research infrastructure, including the Pawsey Supercomputing Centre, the Marine National Facility, and the Australia Telescope National Facility.

Professor Huntington holds a PhD in experimental quantum optics and is an established senior leader with several Board appointments. Prior to joining CSIRO, Professor Huntington was Dean of the College of Engineering and Computer Science at the Australian National University, where she drove significant transformation within the College and across the sector. She is passionate about raising the profile of STEM in the community, breaking down barriers to participation, and attracting diverse talent to the field.

Emma Jeffcoat

Australian Olympian and Elite Triathlete

Emma is an Australian Olympian and elite triathlete, recognised as one of the nation’s leading performers on the world stage. Transitioning from a surf lifesaving background, she rapidly rose through the international ranks to become a multiple World Cup winner and Australian national champion.

She represented Australia at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games in both the individual and mixed relay events, and has since built a reputation for resilience, consistency and composure under pressure at the highest level of competition.

In 2025, Emma played a key role in Australia’s gold medal performance at the World Triathlon Mixed Relay Championships in Hamburg, delivering a decisive leg to help secure the world title.

Beyond sport, Emma holds a nursing degree from the University of Sydney, reflecting her commitment to purpose, discipline, and service beyond elite performance. Her journey is defined by determination, adaptability, and the courage to perform when it matters most.

Benjamin Kohn

PWN Member, Senior Principal & Wealth Adviser, Focus Partners Australia | Link Financial Services

In 2003, Ben founded Link Financial Services with a vision to provide boutique, relationship-driven advice to clients who expect excellence. Over more than two decades, he has built a reputation as one of Australia’s leading wealth management advisers, recognised in Barron’s Australia Top Financial Advisers ranking.

He works closely with ultra-high-net-worth individuals, families, and family offices, guiding them through the complexities of wealth creation, preservation, and multi-generational transfer. His expertise spans financial planning, investment management, superannuation and SMSFs, retirement strategies, asset protection, and estate planning.

What sets his approach apart is a deep commitment to clarity, discretion, and tailored strategy—ensuring every client feels confident about their financial future, across all stages of life.

Kylie Lamprecht

Partner, Pitcher Partners

Kylie is responsible for the coordination and oversight of complex financial and structural matters within the family office environment. She delivers an integrated advisory service that encompasses family group structuring, asset protection, intergenerational planning, and long-term wealth preservation strategies. Kylie’s strength lies in fostering enduring, trusted relationships across generations.

Her role involves working closely with founders, family members, and external advisers to ensure cohesive governance, regulatory compliance, tax compliance and effective implementation of strategic objectives. Kylie has a strong understanding of statutory obligations and regulatory frameworks, enabling the family office to operate with disciplined financial management and robust internal processes.

Kylie provides strategic oversight across business interests, investment structures, and private assets, ensuring alignment with the family’s broader vision and legacy objectives. She is highly regarded for her ability to manage complexity while maintaining discretion, precision, and a strong client-centric focus. 

James Lyell

Musician, Flight Facilities

No bio provided

Benjamin Martin-Henry

Head of Private Assets Research for the Pacific, MSCI

Ben is an Executive Director and Head of Private Assets Research for the Pacific at MSCI, leading action-oriented insights across major and emerging property sectors.

With over 15 years' experience in Australia and the UK, he specialises in investment analysis, research, strategy, and product development, with expertise in property performance metrics, macroeconomic data interpretation, and financial markets.

Ben began his career at IPD in London (now MSCI) before moving to Sydney as Lead Client Consultant for Asia Pacific. He then spent five years at CBRE as Head of Capital Markets, Office & BTR Research before joining RCA as Head of Analytics for the Pacific, which MSCI acquired in 2021.

Mark Mazzarella

Head of Real Estate Securities, Dexus

Mark joined Dexus in August 2021, having originally joined APN in June 2014. Since then, he has been part of the investment team responsible for analysing and investing in global listed real estate securities.

Prior to APN, Mark spent four and a half years at Ernst & Young Australia as a Senior Consultant, advising across all major real estate sectors including residential, commercial, retail, industrial and social infrastructure. His work included real estate market research, property valuation, project feasibility studies, financial modelling, transaction due diligence and strategic advisory engagements. During this time, he was selected for the New Horizons Program, completing a six-month secondment with EY’s corporate finance team in Singapore.

Earlier in his career, Mark completed a three-year cadetship with m3property between 2007 and 2009.

He holds a Bachelor of Commerce (Finance) and a Bachelor of Property and Construction (Property) from The University of Melbourne, and is an Associate of the Australian Property Institute (AAPI), a Certified Practising Valuer (CPV) and a CFA charterholder.

Alex McDonald

PWN Member, KetoMarathons

Prof Patrick McGorry AO

Executive Director, Orygen

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, Orygen, Australia’s Centre of Excellence in Youth Mental Health, and a Founding Director, 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. 

Katherine Miller

Head of Philanthropy, Vision Australia

With over two decades of professional experience in the for-purpose-sector in both hands-on and management roles, Katherine brings not only commitment and passion to her work, but also strong communication and collaborative skills. She holds a Business Management Degree from the University of Queensland along with a Diploma of Leadership and Management from Deakin University. In her current role as Head of Philanthropy, leading a team of highly professional Major Donor, Stewardship and Senior Grant Writing Specialists, she continues to strengthen and embrace relationship-focused stakeholder management, collaborative leadership and cross-team facilitation.

Employing high-level organisational and project management skills, she believes that strategic and creative knowledge has helped to inspire investment and partnerships that work to achieve Vision Australia’s organisational goals and objectives. Agile and solutions focused with significant knowledge about the philanthropic landscape and a strong understanding of compliance, relationship management and accountability, her work is driven by purpose, integrity and a commitment to driving meaningful and strategic change, underpinning her desire to continue supporting Vision Australia’s mission to support over 40,000 clients across Australia to live the life they choose.

Andrew Milroy

Founder, Veqtor8

Andrew Milroy is the founder of Veqtor8, a technology advisory firm based in Singapore. His work focuses on helping organisations unlock value from emerging technologies, with a particular emphasis on AI, data management, cloud platforms, and cybersecurity.

A recognised thought leader and speaker in the Asia-Pacific region, Andrew has more than two decades of experience advising enterprises and governments across multiple domains, including AI, data strategy, cloud computing, intelligent automation, IoT, cybersecurity, and customer experience. His current work centres on guiding organisations through AI adoption, data-driven transformation, and cybersecurity resilience.

In addition to his advisory practice, Andrew has served as lead cybersecurity analyst for Information Services Group (ISG) in APAC and as APAC analyst for the MIT Technology Review. He is also an adjunct lecturer at ESSEC Business School, Asia Pacific, where he teaches cybersecurity strategy to master's students.

He holds a BSc from Newcastle University (UK), an MA from Middlesex University (UK), and an MBA from MGSM (Australia).

Richard Milroy

Founder and Executive Director, Private Wealth Network

Richard is a Co-Founder and Executive Director of Private Wealth Network, and also founded several other specialist events and publishing companies in the areas of wealth management and sustainability. Starting his career at the International Herald Tribune in Paris, he then moved into specialist trade publishing and investment conferences based in London and now Sydney.Richard’s vision is to form knowledge networks where people connect face-to-face at events, then continue their relationships through online platforms. His focus is to assist members to share and gain new knowledge and understanding, and hopefully to inspire them too.

Richard holds a BA (Hons) in European Political Science with Modern Languages, from Newcastle upon Tyne University, UK.

Gabrielle Munzer

Partner, Main Sequence

Gabrielle Munzer is a partner at Main Sequence, the venture capital firm co-founded by the CSIRO, where she leads a number of deep technology investments. With a strong focus on decarbonising technologies and technologies to Feed 10 Billion people, Gabrielle specifically seeks investments in startups with the ambition to have massive impact in the world.

Gabrielle has 25 years of financial markets experience, having worked at Challenger in Australia, and Morgan Stanley and ABN AMRO in London. Gabrielle earned her Bachelor of Science in International Securities, Investment and Banking from the University of Reading and received a Master of Business Administration from INSEAD. She has also completed a fellowship program for Leadership in Sustainable Development from LEAD in Europe.

Fleur Philip

PWN Member, Family Office Executive, The Minta Group

Fleur Philip is a fifth generation member of the Baillieu family and has spent the past 15 years as Family Office Executive of The Minta Group (TMG), the family office established in partnership with her parents and siblings. Together, they have built TMG as a practical framework for stewardship, aligning the family around shared values and providing a clear roadmap for decision making across generations.

Fleur’s authority on succession, governance and family office structure is grounded in lived experience: translating a multigenerational family context into workable operating rhythms, decision rights, governance forums, reporting discipline, next generation engagement, and transition planning. Her perspective is informed by a long tradition of Australian family enterprise and structured stewardship associated with the Baillieu family, including the founding of Mutual Trust in 1921 by W. L. Baillieu and his siblings through its evolution into Australia’s leading multifamily office.

Fleur emphasises that succession is a system, not an event: the right family office architecture clarifies decision rights, information flow, and accountability as leadership shifts across generations. Strong governance reduces friction by separating family relationships from operating decisions, creating a steady cadence for transparent reporting and earlier, safer conversations so transitions protect continuity rather than trigger conflict. TMG’s story illustrates how families can move from informal arrangements to an intentional family office model creating clarity, resilience, and cohesion through generational change.

A/Prof Andrea Phillipou

Head, Eating Disorders, Orygen

Associate Professor Andrea Phillipou is a Principal Research Fellow in Eating Disorders at Orygen and The Centre for Youth Mental Health at The University of Melbourne.

She is the Head of Eating Disorders Research and leads the Scientific Work in Anorexia Nervosa and Other Eating Disorders (SWAN) Research Group.

Andrea's research is mainly focused on improving the lives of people with anorexia nervosa and other eating disorders. Her research uses comprehensive neurobiological, biological, psychological and socio-cultural influences: understanding factors in development, early diagnosis, effective interventions and care of those with eating disorders.

Michael Plener

Founder & CEO, Climatic

Michael is a catalyst for change in people, organisations and markets, connecting the strategy across to powerful implementation - turning plans into reality. 

Michael studied at the Technical University of Denmark and Copenhagen Business School gaining a double degree. He’s passionate about business, food, travel and his family.

He has spoken at a number of events and led a range of panels on stage. His very first public speaking engagement was at age 27 in front of 300+ people in Helsinki. Since then he has spoken before and trained thousands of entrepreneurs globally. He has been fortunate to meet many great leaders, thinkers, inventors and investors, including the likes of HM Queen Margrethe of Denmark, Desmond Tutu of South Africa, and running events globally for NATO, EU, UN and more.

He has enjoyed a career that has included years in corporate in an M&A driven company and led a range of businesses as well as provided substantial advisory work with leading companies.

This broad mix of insights and experiences has led to where Michael is today. His focus is now entirely on finding the best solutions where positive climate impact meets strong economic growth and result which has led to the creation of Climatic as a vehicle for scalable change.

Philip Pryor

CEO & Founder, Family Business Central

Dr Scarlett Raine

Research Fellow in AI Marine Robotics, QUT

Dr Scarlett Raine is a Research Fellow, QUT Centre for Robotics, pioneering the use of Artificial Intelligence to analyse underwater images and help monitor marine ecosystems more efficiently.  With the increasing use of robotic underwater and surface vehicles to study coral reefs and seagrass meadows, vast amounts of imagery are generated.

Traditionally, analysing this data has been challenging, time-consuming, and expensive, as it heavily relied on marine experts. Dr Raine's innovative artificial intelligence methods automatically identify marine species in these images, streamlining the process. This technology can monitor coral reef health, estimate blue carbon in seagrass meadows, and identify the best seafloor areas for coral restoration.

Angelo Robles

Founder & CEO, SFO Continuity | AI Family Office Masterclass

Angelo is the Founder and former CEO of the Family Office Association. He now leads SFO Continuity and is the author of The AI-Native Single Family Office: A Manifesto for the Families Pulling Ahead in 2026 — and Staying There, 10 Things Every Family Office Should Be Doing Now in AI, and the originator of Creating the Top 1% Family Office.

What he has built with families through SFO Continuity is not simply a productivity enhancement. It is a fundamentally different operating reality — one where intelligence arrives earlier, architecture anticipates rather than reacts, decisions are pressure-tested before capital is committed, and institutional knowledge survives the individuals who created it.

Dr Tetyana​ Rocks

Founder & Director, The Food & Mood Academy

Dr Tetyana Rocks is an award-winning Accredited Practising Dietitian, Founder and Director of the Food & Mood Academy, and Senior Research Fellow at the Food & Mood Centre, Deakin University, Australia. She is internationally recognised for her contributions to Nutritional Psychiatry and is dedicated to translating cutting-edge research on diet and mental health into real-world clinical and public health practice.

Tetyana developed and leads three flagship educational programs: the free online course Food and Mood (with more than 94,000 enrolments worldwide), and two accredited professional training courses—Nutri-Psyche (accredited by the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists and the British Society of Lifestyle Medicine) and Life and Mind (accredited by the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners).

She has authored more than 50 scientific publications, secured over $1 million in competitive and philanthropic funding, and delivered more than 170 keynote lectures, presentations, and workshops internationally. Originally from Ukraine, Tetyana brings a deeply personal commitment to improving mental health and wellbeing through food, education, and global collaboration.

Jonathan Rodwell

Board Member, Dignity Freedom Network

Motivated by a trip to India, Jonathan and his wife Kate were impacted by the plight of the Dalit people–those who fall below the caste system and are trapped in a life of poverty and marginalisation. They connected with a nationally led and run organisation addressing these issues.

In 2006, they decided to establish Dignity Freedom Network (DFN) in Australia and New Zealand. DFN seeks to restore dignity and hope to the Dalit people through providing non-exploitative healthcare, quality education and economic empowerment.

Kate Rodwell

CEO, Dignity Freedom Network

Motivated by a trip to India, Kate and her husband Jonathan were impacted by the plight of the Dalit people–those who fall below the caste system and are trapped in a life of poverty and marginalisation. They connected with a nationally led and run organisation addressing these issues.

In 2006, they decided to establish Dignity Freedom Network (DFN) in Australia and New Zealand. DFN seeks to restore dignity and hope to the Dalit people through providing non-exploitative healthcare, quality education and economic empowerment.

As CEO of DFN, Kate's passion is to see effective and sustainable development provided to those most in need.

Kate has a Master’s degree in Transformative Development.

Julie Rosenberg

Founding Executive Director, Australian International Development Network (AIDN)

Julie Rosenberg is the founding Executive Director of the Australian International Development Network (AIDN), an organisation dedicated to driving more and better international giving and investing from Australia. 

Prior to this, Julie worked with Mark Carnegie as Director of his Foundation, developing and implementing a form of venture philanthropy. She is also the founder and Director of the International Fistula Alliance, a representative organisation whose members support the work of Dr Catherine Hamlin in Ethiopia and now in Uganda. Julie brings over 30 years' experience in senior roles across the commercial and for-purpose sectors in Australia and internationally. 

Will Scully-Power

PWN Member & General Partner, Pine Gap

Will Scully-Power is the General Partner at Pine Gap, a venture capital firm that invests in space technologies. It focuses on defence, intelligence and national security capabilities across the US, UK and Australia. He is the son of Australia's first NASA astronaut (Dr. Paul Scully-Power, AM), flying aboard Space Shuttle Challenger.

Will previously served as the Area Vice President at OSF Digital, an AI-first Salesforce partner with over 2,000 staff across more than 50 locations. OSF Digital is backed by USD$189 million in capital from Salesforce Ventures, Delta-v Capital, and Sunstone Partners. He joined OSF Digital in 2022 through the acquisition of Datarati, a marketing automation software (Martech) & CRM services business he co-founded in 2009. At Datarati, he secured the Asia-Pacific rights for Marketo, a Silicon Valley-based marketing automation software platform, and was responsible for its rapid revenue growth across the region. Marketo was acquired in 2018 by Adobe for USD$4.75 billion. 

Prior to Datarati, in 2008, Scully-Power founded the data services business at M&C Saatchi. The company merged its direct, digital, and data marketing divisions to create a new business, Mark. He was responsible for recruiting the founding team, establishing the data, automation, CRM, optimisation and analytics services, and growing revenue across the enterprise client base. M&C Saatchi agreed to a USD$387 million acquisition offer by Next Fifteen Communications Group based in London; however, the acquisition was later halted due to shareholder opposition. M&C Saatchi remains an independent publicly listed company and trades on the London Stock Exchange’s alternative investment market in the United Kingdom under the ticker: SAA.

In 2002, Scully-Power co-founded MarketingFX, a digital campaign automation business, which was acquired by Sqware Peg in 2006, Australia's first Salesforce partner backed by Salesforce Ventures. At Sqware Peg, he secured the Asia-Pacific rights for Eloqua, the world's first, cloud-based marketing automation software (Martech) platform, and was responsible for growing Eloqua’s enterprise software revenue across the region. Sqware Peg was acquired by Simplus in 2019, which was then acquired by Infosys in 2020 for USD$250 million. Eloqua was acquired in 2012 by Oracle for USD$871 million.

Carly Severino

Director of Community and Philanthropy, Australian Communities Foundation

Carly Severino is a strategic philanthropic leader known for combining visionary thinking with practical execution to drive meaningful, sustainable social impact. With deep expertise in philanthropy, intergenerational wealth, social investment and community building, she has led transformative programs across Australia’s most respected organisations. As Director of Community and Philanthropy at Australian Communities Foundation, Carly oversees three national teams and plays a critical role on the Senior Executive, strengthening relationships with more than 700 Funds and Foundations, elevating best‑practice philanthropy, and modernising the Foundation’s approach to education, engagement and storytelling.

Carly previously served as Executive Officer of the Betty Amsden Foundation. Prior to this, she spent seven years with the Private Wealth Network, working closely with families of significant wealth to deepen impact and support next‑generation engagement. Carly is a respected facilitator, speaker and advisor within the philanthropic and family wealth ecosystems. She holds a Masters in Social Investment and Philanthropy from Swinburne University. 

Meghal Shah

CEO, Action on Poverty

Meghal is a distinguished social impact leader who leverages deep commercial acumen to help purpose-driven organizations maximize their impact both in Australia and abroad. He currently serves as the Chief Executive Officer at Action on Poverty (AOP), where he leads a vital mission to empower communities to break the cycle of poverty through locally led, sustainable solutions.

Meghal brings extensive international development and operational expertise to his executive leadership. Prior to his appointment as CEO, he served as AOP’s Regional Director for Asia, based in Hanoi, Vietnam, and as Chief Operating Officer. In these roles, he successfully supported and scaled complex poverty reduction programs spanning 14 countries across Asia, the Pacific, and Africa.

Before joining AOP, Meghal served as the CEO of BCD Community Care. In this capacity, he orchestrated a highly successful turnaround that more than doubled the organization’s size, strategically positioning it for long-term success under the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) in New South Wales. This executive track record in the non-profit sector is heavily underpinned by a robust corporate foundation. With early career roles in finance, mergers and acquisitions (M&A), and product development at PwC and the Commonwealth Bank of Australia (CBA), Meghal cultivated a strong base in financial management, operations, and enterprise innovation.

A Chartered Accountant by profession, Meghal holds an MBA with Distinction from the University of Sydney and a Bachelor of Commerce with Honours in Finance from the University of Auckland. His exceptional leadership and innovative approach have been widely recognized across the corporate and social sectors. His accolades include being named one of Acuity Magazine’s "20 Under 35 Future Leaders" (2020), receiving the prestigious University of Sydney MBA Scholarship for Community Leadership (2020), and being awarded "Intrapreneur of the Year" during his tenure at the Commonwealth Bank of Australia (2017).

Tom Skotidas

Specialist Family Business Psychotherapist & Director, everpath

Patrycja Slawuta

Founder, SelfHackathon (USA) & UnLab (Australia)

Ben Stammer

Co-Founder, ReLove

Lance Stringer

PWN Member, Entrepreneur & Farmer, Roaming Kelpie

Lance worked from the age of 11 in the family business when it was founded in 1984 and found a passion for helping people, taking phone bookings from the age of 15 with his deep voice.

After school each day his duties included grave digging, cutting wood for the totally wood fired cremation units and painstakingly sorting the pet’s ashes from the charcoal remains.

He completed a business degree in 1995 and worked in agribusiness around Australia before he and his fiancé Maddie purchased Lawnswood from Lance’s father in 2002.

Lance & Maddie rebuilt the service from a one-man business in decline, to service WA, SA, Victoria, lower NSW and even Alice Springs with a team 76 staff when they sold to Invocare.

Their brand of Edenhills has become well known in south eastern Australia since its start in 2010 while Lawnswood enters its 38th year in WA and the team has grown to around 120 people.

Lance sees his greatest achievements as being able to gradually make himself redundant via the management team and achieve this growth while maintaining quality service and a positive culture with so many employees so spread across Australia.

Joanna Sun

Co-Founder, Emerald Family Enterprise Group

Drawing from her own background as a member of a family office navigating succession challenges and family conflict amongst the Generation 1 to 3, Joanna understands firsthand the intersection of family dynamics, governance needs, and wealth continuity. This personal experience, combined with her expertise in building family office advisory boards, enables her to create governance frameworks that honor both family relationships and business imperatives.

Joanna specialises in designing tailored governance structures for family offices and navigating the complex emotional dynamics of multigenerational wealth transitions. With extensive experience working with global families of significant wealth, she bringsa trauma-informed approach to succession planning, recognising how rapid wealth creation and family complexity impact decision-making across generations.

Born in China and raised in Australia, Joanna brings deep cultural intelligence to her work with Asian family enterprises and transnational wealth structures. She focuses on family enterprise planning, succession strategy, next-generation development, and establishing governance systems that support healthy family dynamics while protecting wealth across borders and generations.

Joanna holds a double Bachelor's degree in Business Management and Arts and a Master's degree in Financial Planning. Her specialised credentials include Certified Family Advisor and Advanced Certificate Family Advisor (Family Firm Institute), Certified Executive Chair (Advisory Board Centre), and the Company Director course (AICD).

Dr Suku Thambar

Co-Founder & Chief Medical Officer, Venstra Medical

Dr. Suku Thambar is a highly regarded interventional cardiologist with extensive experience across both the public and private health sectors in the Hunter region. He completed his specialist cardiology training at St Vincent's Hospital in Sydney, NSW, and Rhode Island Hospital in Providence, USA. A recognized leader in his field, Dr. Thambar holds a conjoint appointment as a Senior Staff Specialist at John Hunter Hospital and serves as a Senior Lecturer within the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Newcastle. Additionally, he is a Visiting Medical Officer at Lake Macquarie Private Hospital, Newcastle Private Hospital, and Mayo Private Hospital.

A dedicated clinical researcher, Dr. Thambar is deeply committed to advancing the field of cardiology through the exploration of innovative therapies. His primary research interests focus on the application of adult stem cells in the management of acute and chronic cardiovascular diseases. Furthermore, he is actively involved in studying the emerging technology of renal artery denervation—utilizing catheter-based radiofrequency ablation—to manage complex conditions such as resistant hypertension and heart failure.

In his clinical practice, Dr. Thambar possesses deep expertise in a comprehensive array of advanced interventional procedures. His specialized capabilities span coronary angiography, left and right heart catheterization for detailed valve assessment, and complex coronary interventions utilizing intracoronary imaging, lesion-modifying devices, and hemodynamic support. He is also highly proficient in cutting-edge structural and targeted therapies, including Left Atrial Appendage closure utilizing the Watchman device, advanced renal denervation, and balloon aortic valvuloplasty.

Arisa Trew

Gold Medalist Skateboarding Paris Olympics 2024 (Australia's Youngest Ever Gold Olympic Medalist)

Arisa Trew is an Olympic Gold Medalist and a history-making Australian skateboarder who has redefined the limits of her sport. Catapulted into the global spotlight in June 2023, she achieved what was widely considered the "holy grail" of vert skating by becoming the first female athlete to land a 720 in a competition setting. Executing the demanding, two-rotation trick at the Tony Hawk Vert Alert in Salt Lake City, USA, she received immediate acclaim from the sport's biggest icons and her peers alike.

Her remarkable ascent to the pinnacle of global skateboarding began at age eight, pivoting from surfing to the local skate park simply because the winter water was too cold. Though she initially skated purely for fun without formal lessons, Arisa’s dedication intensified as she found camaraderie and encouragement within a growing community of young female skaters. Supported by her family and coach Trevor Ward, her career reached a new tier when she joined the Gold Coast-based Level Up Australia Academy, allowing her to seamlessly balance elite athletic coaching with her high school education.

Her history-making 720 was the catalyst for a dominant competitive streak. Arisa quickly followed up with a gold medal in the vert competition at the X Games in Ventura, California, and cemented her Olympic berth by winning back-to-back gold medals at the qualification series in Shanghai and Budapest. At the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, at exactly 14 years and 86 days old, Arisa delivered an extraordinary 93.18-scoring final run to claim the Park Skateboarding Gold Medal. This monumental victory shattered a 68-year-old record (previously held by swimmer Sandra Morgan), officially crowning Arisa as Australia's youngest-ever Olympic champion.

Honored as the Emerging Athlete of the Year at the 2024 Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) Performance Awards, Arisa remains deeply grounded despite her unprecedented global success. When she is not traveling the world breaking records, she still enjoys surfing multiple times a week at home on the Gold Coast. Known for her vibrant personality and strong bonds within the skating community, she frequently shares the world stage with fellow Australian skateboarding prodigy Ruby Trew—with whom she shares a playful, ongoing joke about being cousins.  

John Vamos

Independent Chair, Private Wealth Network & Founder and Managing Director, Business Coaching Systems and Four Voices Advisory

John Vamos is the Independent Chair of Private Wealth Network and the Founder and Managing Director of Business Coaching Systems and Four Voices Advisory. A pioneer of organisational coaching in Australia, John brings over three decades of experience advising boards and leading strategic transformations across sectors including wealth management, construction, hospitality, technology, and philanthropy. 

With a background in law and financial services, John is renowned for his expertise in business performance, governance, board effectiveness, and leadership transitions—particularly within multi-generational family enterprises. He serves as a director and trusted advisor to numerous family-owned companies and private boards. 

A published author and sought-after speaker, John’s most recent work, Four Voices, explores the stewardship of family wealth, loyalty, and legacy across generations. He holds a Law degree from Macquarie University and a Diploma in Life Assurance from Deakin University and is widely credited with shaping the business coaching profession in Australia. 

Prof Bryce Vissel

Head, Centre for Neuroscience & Regenerative Medicine, St Vincent’s Hospital

Professor Bryce Vissel is the Head of Neuroscience and Regenerative Medicine Research at St Vincent's Hospital and a Professor of Neuroscience at UNSW Sydney. Guided by the team mantra, "Think Different, Do Different," his research is deeply committed to improving the lives of individuals affected by Alzheimer's dementia, Parkinson's disease, and related conditions such as Progressive Supranuclear Palsy (PSP) and Multiple System Atrophy (MSA). Driven by rigorous, data-centric methodologies, his work bridges cell and molecular biology through to complex systems approaches to lay the underpinning research necessary for new, effective therapeutics.

Professor Vissel has actively challenged mainstream paradigms regarding the causes of neurodegeneration. Through decades of effort and seminal studies on synaptic plasticity, his laboratory has published extensively in top-tier journals, generating compelling data that points toward revolutionary new concepts for curing these diseases. His multidisciplinary approach utilizes advanced behavioral studies, sophisticated disease models, molecular biochemistry, and advanced microscopy to investigate the neural basis of learning, memory dysfunction, and movement mechanisms. Specifically, his pioneering work explores the critical roles of neuro-inflammation, the immune system and glial cells, synaptic transmission, and the brain's immense—and previously underestimated—potential for stem cell-driven regeneration and repair. Building on these discoveries, his team is currently embarking on highly novel clinical studies and launching a dedicated drug discovery program.

Professor Vissel’s esteemed career spans the globe's premier research institutions. After earning his PhD in medical genetics from the University of Melbourne in 1991, he joined the Garvan Institute’s Neuroscience Division. He was subsequently awarded a prestigious NHMRC CJ Martin Fellowship, allowing him to pursue research at the world-renowned Salk Institute in San Diego, USA, alongside Professor Stephen Heinemann. Over his 10 years at Salk, he collaborated with Nobel Prize winners, authored seminal studies on molecular mechanisms regulating synaptic function, and was honored with the Human Frontiers Award, a Fulbright Award, and a Lieberman Award. He returned to Australia in 2002 as Head of the Neurodegenerative Diseases Laboratory at the Garvan Institute, and later served as the Director of the Centre for Neuroscience & Regenerative Medicine (CNRM) at the University of Technology Sydney.

An active leader in the broader scientific and medical community, Professor Vissel contributes his expertise to numerous high-level board and advisory positions. He served as Chair of the Advisory Board for Cellmid Ltd from 2015 until recently, and was a member of the Baxter Pharmaceuticals Advisory Board in the USA (2010–2011). Furthermore, he is a dedicated advocate for patient organizations, serving on the Board of Parkinson’s NSW and as a scientific advisor to both Alzheimer’s Australia and SpinalCure Australia.

Louise Walsh

Founder and CEO, Walsh Capital

Louise is the founder and CEO of Walsh Capital. Louise has extensive capital raising experience across many sectors. Previously, as the CEO of the Future Generation companies, Louise and her team grew these ASX listed funds by $1bn in assets in just six years.

Louise has developed best practice investor and major donor engagement programs throughout her career. Of particular note, Louise has a substantial ultra-high net worth and high net worth network across Australia. This extensive network has been developed and nurtured over three decades, having started her career as a lawyer at Allens then Head of Sponsorships for the Sydney Olympic Games. Louise is widely regarded as one of Australia’s leading philanthropic advisers and is a fundraising expert.

Louise has been a champion of impact investing since her time as CEO of Philanthropy Australia and has engaged with PWN over many years. Louise sits on the Boards of the Snow Foundation and the St Vincent’s Curran Foundation.

Alan Watters

Head, Innovation Banking Australia & New Zealand, HSBC

Alan Watters is Head of Innovation Banking for HSBC Australia and New Zealand. As the only specialised banking service for the local tech and venture ecosystem in this market, Alan works to connect the local ecosystem with capital, customers, and partners to fast-track global growth.

Prior to this Alan was the Tech Sector Lead for HSBC Australia and New Zealand. In this role Alan was responsible for building out the Corporate & Institutional Bank’s broader technology sector coverage across Australia and New Zealand. As part of his role Alan was also responsible for the launch of HSBC Australia’s venture debt offering across Australian and New Zealand.

With over 20 years’ experience in financial services Alan has a deep knowledge across both retail and corporate banking in multiple markets (including Ireland, UK and Australia), with an expertise in international business development, stakeholder engagement and strategic growth initiatives.

Schuyler Weiss

Managing Director & Producing Partner, Bazmark

Schuyler Weiss is an Academy Award nominated producer based in the Gold Coast, Australia. He has worked with Baz Luhrmann’s production company, Bazmark, since 2005 and currently serves as Managing Director and producing partner to Luhrmann and his creative partner Catherine Martin.

In addition to producing Luhrmann’s hit 2022 feature Elvis, which garnered eight Academy Award nominations, including Best Picture, Weiss also produced the recent documentary companion piece, EPiC: Elvis Presley in Concert, which has already become one of the most successful IMAX documentaries of all time.

Outside of his work at Bazmark, Weiss recently produced the widely acclaimed 2024 feature film How To Make Gravy, based on Paul Kelly’s iconic song.

In the US, Weiss co-founded New York-based Tandem Pictures in 2010, which he built into a successful film and commercial production company and sold in 2016. He has produced numerous independent films, including three features selected for the Sundance Film Festival.

Weiss’s work in entertainment spans film, TV, commercials, live events, VR and even co-writing a song with Elton John. His next production will be Luhrmann’s much-anticipated film based on the life of Joan of Arc.

Stuart Wesley

Peer Group Chair, PWN

Stuart Wesley is a highly experienced leadership coach and organizational development consultant who specializes in empowering family enterprises to achieve both commercial success and rich, harmonious family relationships. With deep expertise in culture development, leadership coaching, and conflict resolution, Stuart operates on the foundational philosophy that "human interaction is a core business process." He is particularly adept at cultivating relational maturity and refining human dynamics within complex business structures.

Stuart’s understanding of the unique highs and lows of family enterprises began early in his life while working in his family’s glass and aluminum window business. Driven by a passion for supporting the growth and development of others, he initially pursued a successful vocation in pastoral ministry. In this capacity, his natural talents for public speaking, coaching, and leadership flourished, leading to active roles in the national leadership of his denomination and the establishment of new faith communities. Driven by a desire to bring his expertise to the broader commercial landscape, Stuart transitioned into corporate consulting, bringing together his lived experience in the family business with his profound understanding of human dynamics.

To support his consulting practice, Stuart undertook rigorous university-level education and specialized training in coaching and organizational development. He holds a Bachelor of Theology from the Sydney College of Divinity, alongside a Diploma of Professional Coaching and a Graduate Diploma of Ontological Coaching. Furthermore, he is a Human Change Management Certified Professional (HCMBOK) and an accredited practitioner in several advanced behavioral and vocational frameworks, including the Integrative9 Enneagram, Pro-d Vocational Assessment, and DISC Personality Assessment.

Outside of his professional endeavors, Stuart and his wife, Carolyn, enjoy a rich and fulfilling family life with their four adult children and a growing band of grandchildren.

Scott Whitla

Partner, Estate’s Team, McCullogh Robertson

With extensive expertise in succession planning, estate administration, estate litigation, and equity claims, Scott is an accredited specialist in succession law and a qualified mediator.

Trusted by private clients, family offices, and trustee companies, Scott collaborates with the McR Private team, accountants, and financial advisers to create tailored succession planning solutions that help preserve estates and the family legacy. 

Malinda Wink

Executive Director, Minderoo Pictures

Malinda is the Executive Director of Minderoo Pictures. Established by Andrew and Nicola Forrest in 2021, Minderoo Pictures invests in scripted and documentary projects in development and production, thematically aligned with the work and priorities of the Minderoo Foundation.

From 2040 to David Attenborough's Ocean, Malinda Wink has invested in films that shift culture. Now at Minderoo Pictures, she's investing in the next generation of stories that matter.

Before joining Minderoo Pictures, Malinda was Doc Society's Global Director of Good Pitch and launched their Australian programs, including the ABC's Climate and Environment Shorts initiative. She was previously Executive Director of Good Pitch Australia whose films included That Sugar Film, Gayby Baby, The Opposition, Blue, Frackman, and In My Blood It Runs, and Executive Director of Ian Darling’s Shark Island Institute.