QLD State Summit: Private Wealth Insights

Ross Barclay

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.

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Gary McConaghy

Managing Director, McConaghy Properties Pty Ltd

Gary is the Managing Director of McConaghy Properties where he is responsible for the future vision and direction of the McConaghy Family Corporation including the McConaghy Family Office and the family’s current and future investments. 

Gary oversees all Governance requirements for McConaghy Properties and the McConaghy Family Office. Prior to joining McConaghy Properties, Gary held senior development, design and construction roles within Lend Lease Australia.   

Gary joined McConaghy Properties in 2004 and worked alongside Jim McConaghy, the Chairman and Founder. After 10 years working across and leading every department within the business, Gary commenced in the role of CEO in 2014.
 

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Ben De Luca

Director - Residential & Childcare, Deluca

With a Bachelor of Property Economics and experience delivering complex urban development projects in Melbourne, Ben De Luca brings strong commercial and development expertise to his role as the Residential and Childcare Director. His background spans commercial, multi-residential, hotel, and mixed-use projects, where he was closely involved in feasibility, planning, stakeholder coordination, and delivery within highly regulated environments. This experience underpins his leadership across Deluca’s residential and childcare portfolios, ensuring projects are commercially sound, thoughtfully designed and delivered with long term value in mind.

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Dr Navinda Kottege

Research Director for Robotics, AI and Computer Vision (Physical AI), CSIRO

Navinda is the Research Director of the 200+ person Cyber-Physical Systems Research Program, conducting R&D in Physical AI at CSIRO. He was the Principal Investigator and Project Leader for the CSIRO Data61 team that competed and won the US$1M second-place prize at the DARPA Subterranean Challenge finals in 2021, ahead of teams from NASA, MIT and CMU.

Before stepping into the current role, He led CSIRO's 100+ person Robotics and Autonomous Systems group and also conducted and published research in legged locomotion with multi-legged robots focused on navigation in complex unstructured environments.

Navinda completed his PhD in Engineering at The Australian National University developing localisation technology for swarms of underwater robots. He is a senior member of the IEEE, and former Chair of the IEEE Queensland joint chapter for Control Systems/Robotics and Automation Societies. He is an Adjunct Professor at both the Queensland University of Technology and the University of Queensland.

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Perry Cross AM

Executive President & Founder, Perry Cross Spinal Research Foundation (PCSRF)

At 19, a rugby accident changed my life — leaving me a C2 ventilated quadriplegic. That moment ignited a lifelong mission: to help find a cure for paralysis, and to make the world more inclusive, accessible, and empowering for people living with disability.

I founded the Perry Cross Spinal Research Foundation to fast-track spinal cord injury (SCI) research, support groundbreaking projects, and connect people with purpose. Through Accessible Homes Australia, which I founded, we are transforming the housing landscape by delivering Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA) that supports independence, dignity, and choice.

Whether through advocacy, speaking, entrepreneurship or collaboration, I work to bring real change to people’s lives and to create a future where paralysis is no longer permanent — and everyone has the opportunity to live without limits.

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Georgia Barkell

Peer Group Chair, PWN

Georgia Barkell is a finance and investment professional with a strong grounding in financial strategy, complemented by a deep interest in people, relationships and the dynamics that shape outcomes over time.

She is the founder of Kinexis, where she works alongside families as a consigliere, helping to develop and implement right-sized strategy and governance. Her approach brings a risk management lens to the skilful stewardship of family values and wealth across generations.

Georgia brings 25 years of experience across Chartered Accounting, Investment Banking, Technology, Fund Management and Family Office, with a career spanning Australia and the UK and experience with organisations including Deloitte, Westpac and General Electric. She is an experienced Director, Executive and Investor.

A mother of three, Georgia’s deep connection to family is reflected in Anthony Brandt’s words: “Other things may change us, but we start and end with family.” Outside of work, she enjoys travel and languages, snow skiing, music and reading — interests that continue to shape her perspective and curiosity.

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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. 

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Nim de Swardt

Peer Group Chair, PWN

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.

Rod Douglas

Founder, Legacy Private Capital

After retiring from his purpose-built property development business at just 30, Rod Douglas chose to dedicate his life to serving entrepreneurial families and the enterprises they create.

For more than three decades, Rod has worked alongside founders, business owners and families of significant wealth, helping them navigate the opportunities and challenges of building, owning and passing on successful businesses.

As founder of Legacy Private Capital, Rod brings together a deep understanding of family dynamics, business strategy and wealth creation. His work extends well beyond the boardroom, helping families align their aspirations, strengthen relationships, prepare the next generation and create the freedom to make meaningful choices about their future.

Rod believes enduring success begins with culture, is shaped by strategy and ultimately reflected in the value created for families, businesses and communities. His personal purpose, putting the humanity back into business, reflects his conviction that commercial success and human flourishing belong together.

Rod is an experienced independent chair and company director, an MBA graduate of Bond University, a Foundation Fellow of the AICD and a Vincent Fairfax Fellow in Ethical Leadership.

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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.

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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.

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Ryan Holsheimer

CEO, Admiralty Capital Group

Ryan Holsheimer brings three decades of trading and investment experience in the Australian and Asia-Pacific financial markets. His career journey has included senior leadership roles at Goldman Sachs and Bank of America Merrill Lynch. Most recently Ryan served as JPMorgan’s Head of Asia Pacific Cash Equities and Equity Distribution. He spent 25 years based in Asia (Tokyo and Hong Kong) and has helped to build and lead some of the most successful teams in the modern Asian market era.

Today, as the CEO, major shareholder and largest investor of Admiralty Capital Group, Ryan continues to focus on identifying and supporting the best people to invest in and alongside. He enjoys helping people to maximise their capacity to have positive impact. He believes success must always be shared and that every interaction may present a learning opportunity.

Ryan is passionate about innovation and wants to always identify and support those brave enough to seek positive change in our communities and for our planet.

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Dr Katherine Hunt

Family Adviser, Ethicist, PhD in Law & Economics

Dr Katherine Hunt is one of the world's most engaging voices on decision-making — where psychology meets performance. Her particular fascination is how families decide: the choices around relationships, rituals and values, legacy, investment and balance that quietly determine whether wealth compounds across generations or erodes. Working closely with families of significant wealth and the advisers who serve them, she brings scholarly depth without sanctimony — a former tenured academic at Griffith University, author of definitive texts on professional ethics, with a PhD spanning law, economics and finance. Across 650 audiences on six continents, she turns values into velocity, and ideas into action families actually use.

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Adrian Kerley

Co-Founder & Managing Partner, Black Kite Partners

Before founding Black Kite, Adrian spent seven years at IFM Investors as Executive Director. Prior to this, he served as Head of Private Capital at Commonwealth Superannuation Corporation (CSC). He also spent significant time at CHAMP Ventures.

Adrian is equipped with over 17 years of experience in private equity, as both a general and limited partner and brings extensive top-tier experience across finance and private equity, having also held various operational and strategic leadership roles at Woolworths

Adrian is the Chair of PRP Diagnostic Imaging and is a Non-Executive Director of 13Sick, Splend, Tally Group and Render Networks. He previously led the successful investments in Payapps, SG Fleet, TSmarine, Macpac, APB, and Lorna Jane.

Adrian has a Bachelor of Applied Finance and Bachelor of Commerce (Macquarie University) and is a Chartered Accountant.

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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. 

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George Pullar

Actor, Writer & Producer

George Pullar is a Brisbane-born, Gold Coast-raised actor, writer and producer. A WAAPA graduate who broke through as Larry Grey in A Place to Call Home (AACTA Best New Talent nomination), then Playing for Keeps, and won the Casting Guild of Australia Rising Star award in 2018. He's since gone international with Paramount+'s Coyote opposite Michael Chiklis, directed by Michelle MacLaren of Breaking Bad fame and and joins the Evil Dead franchise in the upcoming Evil Dead Burn, releasing this year. He wrote, acted in and produced his own dark comedy short, Stonefish, and won Best Actor at the Australian Screen Industry Network Awards for Moon Rock for Monday.

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Patrycja Slawuta

Behavioural Scientist and Founder, UnLab

Australia-based, NYC-educated and Poland-born behavioural scientist, serial entrepreneur and mindhacker.

I work with the complexity, nonlinearity and messiness of the human nature across the spectrum from high performing individuals to muti-generational family dynasties.

Prof James St. John

Head of Clem Jones Centre for Neurobiology and Stem Cell Research, Griffith University

Professor James St John is a leading Australian translational neuroscientist and Head of the Clem Jones Centre for Neurobiology and Stem Cell Research within Griffith University’s Institute for Biomedicine and Glycomics. His research is focused on developing therapies that repair damage to the nervous system, with particular emphasis on spinal cord injury, peripheral nerve injury, traumatic brain injury, and neurodegenerative diseases.

Since commencement of the Clem Jones Centre in 2016, Professor St John has led more than $50 million in research projects supported by philanthropic organisations, government agencies, and competitive national funding schemes. Critically, over one-third of this funding has come from philanthropy and has played a crucial role in delivering the underpinning research which has subsequently been supported by large government funding.

Through philanthropy and community engagement, his team has developed a pioneering cell transplantation therapy that combines specialised cells with bioengineered nerve bridges to promote repair of chronic spinal cord injuries. This
groundbreaking work has progressed from original concept to a world-first clinical trial in Queensland in just over nine years, demonstrating how philanthropy and community involvement can accelerate biomedical discovery and translation. 

A passionate advocate for research translation and community engagement, Professor St John works closely with clinicians, patients and their families, industry partners, and philanthropic supporters to accelerate the journey from laboratory discovery to real-world impact. 

Professor St John has received two national awards recognising his transformative research and community engagement, the National Health and Medical Research Council’s Marshall and Warren Innovation Award 2019 and the Consumer Involvement Award 2025.

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Jeff Steiner

Partner, Head of Family Office Advisory, Mutual Trust

Jeff Steiner is Head of Family Office Advisory at Mutual Trust, where he works with UHNW families and family offices to define purpose, build intergenerational alignment, and design structures that sustain wealth over time.

His work draws on established family wealth frameworks and proven, practice-led advisory methodologies, guiding families from purpose and alignment through to strategy, structure, and execution. He partners with principals, family boards, and family office executive teams to strengthen governance, navigate complexity, and support effective decision-making across generations.

Jeff advises on the design and execution of tailored family office models, including Single Family Offices, Multi-Family Offices, Hybrid Family Offices and Family Business in-house structures. His focus is on creating efficient, cohesive functions that reinforce purpose and enable long-term wealth stewardship.

With more than 25 years’ experience, Jeff has advised many of Australia’s most prominent families, leading the delivery of integrated advice across family strategy, governance, succession, education, tax, investment, business interests, estate planning, and philanthropy.

Jeff is an active contributor to the global family office community through the Family Office Exchange (FOX) and the Ultra High Net Worth Institute. He also serves as an independent chair and board member across family and not-for-profit organisations. Jeff holds a Bachelor of Commerce, is a Certified Practicing Accountant, a registered tax agent and a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

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