Sophie Hascher (UK)
Neil Sahota (US)
Anna-Maria Arabia OAM
Prof Jo Robinson AM
Sophie Hascher is a neuroscientist working in PE longevity investments, where she evaluates companies and technologies shaping the future of longevity through a wellbeing, nutritional, movement and medical lens. She has a particular interest in brain health and women's health. The brain receives less than 2% of global health financing despite carrying 24% of the global disease burden, and Sophie brings scientific rigour to her work, separating science from marketing fluff.
Sophie was one of the first neuroscientists to bring brain health into luxury hospitality, working with brands like the Four Seasons and Kamalaya. Nominated as Top Wellbeing Practitioner Finalist 2026 by Destination Deluxe, Sophie's work has included developing EEG-guided experiences and personalised brain health strategies for high performers, as well as working with leading luxury wellness destinations, family offices and health platforms. A published researcher, Sophie is completing her PhD with Birkbeck, University of London and the University of Technology Sydney on the topic of sugar addiction.
Throughout her career, Sophie has spoken on international stages across Australia, Saudi, Switzerland, Monaco, Thailand and the UK on topics spanning cognitive leadership, women's brain health, medtech & neuroscience investments, and luxury tourism through a neuroscience lens.
Sophie also hosted a session at our PWN Insigtht Tour to Switzerland in 2026.
Neil Sahota is a globally recognised AI expert, United Nations AI Adviser, IBM Master Inventor and Co-Founder of the UN's AI for Good initiative.
He works with governments, Fortune 500 companies, boards and family offices to identify the opportunities and risks emerging technologies create before they become mainstream. Rather than focusing solely on AI itself, Neil helps leaders ask better questions, recognise asymmetric opportunities, and make more informed strategic decisions in an increasingly complex world.
His insights challenge conventional thinking and provide a practical framework for understanding where the next generation of value may be created.
Anna-Maria Arabia is a senior executive and strategic leader with more than 25 years’ experience at the intersection of research, policy, government and global affairs. Known as a change agent who combines intellectual depth with practical judgement, she has shaped some of Australia’s most consequential science policy decisions and built enduring partnerships across the public, private, philanthropic and international sectors.
Today, as CEO of the Australian Council on AI Strategy, Anna-Maria is helping shape AI policy in Australia’s national interest and in the global public interest.
As CEO of the Australian Academy of Science for a decade, Anna-Maria led significant transformation through a period of disruption. She played an instrumental role in supporting national decision-making during the COVID-19 pandemic; advanced science as a tool of statecraft from the Asia-Pacific to the United Nations; helped establish the Pacific Academy of Sciences; and ensured science remained influential in national security, defence, law, health and technology policy debates in Australia and abroad.
A former neuroscientist, Anna-Maria began her career in medical research in Australia and internationally. Her career spans scientific research, the Australian Public Service, political advisory roles and senior executive leadership across social and economic portfolios, giving her a rare breadth of experience and a deep understanding of government, business, philanthropy, the media and the research sector.
She currently serves on the University of Canberra Council and the boards of the Australian Science Media Centre and the Australian Advisory Board on Competitiveness. She is also a Visiting Fellow at the ANU National Centre for the Public Awareness of Science and a member of Chief Executive Women.
Anna-Maria holds the Medal of the Order of Australia for services to science and the distinction of Knight of the Order of the Star of Italy, reflecting recognition from two nations for a career defined by impact.
She established Scientia Advisory to bring knowledge and know-how to decisions that shape the future, continuing her commitment to ensuring evidence informs the decisions that matter.
Professor Jo Robinson is the world’s leading expert in youth suicide prevention, the author of more than 190 peer-reviewed publications, and creator of #chatsafe, the world’s first social media-based suicide prevention program.
President of the International Association for Suicide Prevention, her work focuses on the development and testing of novel interventions that specifically target at-risk youth across settings, and the translation of that research evidence into practice and policy. In 2023, she was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) in recognition of “significant service to community health through suicide prevention awareness and support”.
Prof. Robinson’s work has a strong focus on the potential of social media platforms in suicide prevention, which includes the development of the world-leading #chatsafe guidelines, the first evidence-based best practice guidelines for safe peer-to-peer communication about suicide and self-harm online. The resources have been adapted and translated for dozens of countries, and reached 14 million young people globally.
Prof. Robinson also has a keen interest in policy development and evaluation, has led the development of two major policy reports, and is regularly called upon to provide advice to both state and federal government.
She was a member of the Self-injury Advisory Group for Meta and was an advisory board member for the Oprah Winfrey production The Me You Can’t See.
In 2025, Prof. Robinson co-chaired the Australian Government’s Anti-Bullying Rapid Review and was previously an Associate Editor of a leading suicide prevention journal, Suicide and Life-Threatening Behaviour.