THINK.BIG. VIC

Casey Harris

Relationship Executive, Harris Capital

Casey is an author, motivational speaker, and Executive of Relationships at Harris Capital, where she manages key partnerships and purpose-driven initiatives.

She is also the Founder of La Folie, Australia’s first national aerial competition and a not-for-profit platform that supports emerging aerialists through providing performance opportunities, creative grants, and cash prizes.

'From teen mum and bricklayer to business owner and speaker, my journey has been anything but conventional. I’ve built and sold two successful companies, written Girls Don’t Lay Bricks, and now focus on empowering others through storytelling, mentorship, and community impact', she says. 

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Lisa Blair

World-Record Solo Sailor & Climate Action Advocate

Lisa Blair is a record-breaking sailor who, in 2017, became the first woman to sail solo around Antarctica with one stop, overcoming a dramatic dismasting at sea. She went on to lead the first all-female team in 16 years in the Rolex Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race, set two solo, non-stop, unassisted records around Australia in 2018, and in 2019 became part of the first double-handed female team to finish the Melbourne to Hobart Yacht Race. Her yacht, Climate Action Now, reflects her commitment to sustainability and inspiring others to take action.

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Caroline Gurney

CEO, Future Generation

Caroline is Chief Executive Officer of Future Generation and has more than 25 years’ experience in the financial services sector focused on marketing, corporate affairs and corporate social responsibility. Caroline has held senior roles at UBS and Citibank and has worked in London, across Asia-Pacific and Australia during her career. She is a member of Ascham School Council and the Centennial Park and Moore Park Foundation, an ambassador for the Australian Indigenous Education Foundation (AIEF), a director of Our Watch, an organisation focused on preventing violence against women and children and set up and was a director of the UBS Australia Foundation. Caroline has also previously served as a director of Future Generation Australia and as a Council Member of Chief Executive Women, and is currently an active member.

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Emily Jateff

Head of Ocean Futures, Australian National Maritime Museum

Emily Jateff leads the Australian National Maritime Museum's Ocean Futures pillar and associated ten-year program in support of the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development 2021-2030. Her remit includes partnerships, collections and content for ocean sciences, marine technologies, climate change and sustainability. She is also a maritime archaeologist.

Emily Jateff first fell in love with archaeology while down a Hellenistic-era well in Crete, and realising that people did this underwater, learned to dive, and had a great time completing undergraduate and graduate degrees in anthropology/maritime archaeology. She has since managed laboratories, curated permanent, temporary and travelling exhibitions, taught students, written articles, helped make short films and conducted fieldwork on a variety of sites, including four dives to RMS Titanic in a Mir submersible and time spent searching for shipwrecks on board RV Investigator.

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Anita Kolni

Founder and Director, Ocean Lovers Festival

Anita is a passionate, purpose-driven and outcome-focused eco-preneur, communicator and connector.

She is the Founder and Director of the Ocean Lovers Festival, Australia's largest cultural and science celebration for the ocean. Since its launch in 2019 at Sydney’s iconic Bondi Beach, the Festival has welcomed over 225,000 people across 5 events, mostly free with the purpose of inspiring hope, sparking curiosity and driving action for our blue planet.

The unique hybrid not-for-profit model she has created connects communities with scientists, artists, innovators, entrepreneurs and ocean experts through a dynamic mix of live experiences, interactive displays, film, music and ideas. It's a joyful and solutions-focused showcase of marine science, cutting-edge tech, circular economy success stories, Indigenous knowledge, conservation leadership and climate innovations.

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Andrew J. Nash

Venture Partner, Pacific Channel

Andrew is a seasoned executive and entrepreneur with over 35 years of global experience leading start-ups, expansions, turnarounds, and mergers across the tech sector. After 28 years in the United States, he returned to Australia in 2024. He has held senior leadership roles at companies acquired by Apple, Deloitte, eBay, Apax, and Omniture, and has worked extensively with VC and PE-backed businesses in CEO, board, and advisory roles.

Andrew is an Operating Partner at Peak Equity Partners, a Venture Partner at Black Nova VC, and an Investment Committee member at Advance VC. He is also an Enterprise Fellow at The University of Melbourne and a long-time mentor to emerging research entrepreneurs.

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Seri Renkin OAM

Co-Founder, The Dea Network

Seri is a seasoned executive, non-executive director, and changemaker with over 20 years’ experience across social finance, venture philanthropy, and impact investing. She has held numerous leadership roles, including as Head of Social Investment for one of Australia’s largest private trusts, CEO of the ten20 Foundation, and Founding Director of Social Ventures Australia’s Melbourne office. In 2020, she was awarded the Order of Australia medal for her service to communities and non-profit organisations.

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