Speakers
Speakers
Larissa Brown
Larissa Brown is the 2008 Australian Young Environmentalist of the Year. She is the founder and executive director of the Centre for Sustainability Leadership, a non profit organisation dedicated to
supporting Australians to make their communities, workplaces and sectors more sustainable. She is the recipient of the 2006 British Council award for Communicating Climate Change and the 2006 Brian Robinson Fellowship. Larissa has personally interviewed 100 of world's greatest
sustainability leaders across twenty countries and 5 continents on what it take to cause real systemic change towards a sustainable world. Larissa was named as one of Melbourne 100 most influential people and one of Melbourne's ten most influential environmentalists by The Age
Magazine in 2007.
She was selected represent Asian and Pacific youth at the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Bali in 2007 and is a member of the Ministers Reference Council on Climate Change Adaptation which advisors the state Environment Minister and participated in the Prime Minister's
2020 Summit in 2008.
Larissa has worked as a research scientist at the Australian National University, studying the extinction event of Australia's megafauna, helped save a forest by creating an ecotourism lodge in Costa Rica, rehabilitated endangered primates and big cats in Bolivia, taught snowboarding in the USA and spent a year as a high school student in Japan.
Brian Caldwell
Brian J. Caldwell is Managing Director of Educational Transformations Pty Ltd in Australia and Associate Director of the Specialist Schools and Academies Trust in England, providing support for its international arm - International Networking for Educational Transformation (iNet). From 1998 to 2004 he served as Dean of Education at the University of Melbourne where he is currently Professorial Fellow. His previous appointments include Head of Teacher Education (1988-1999) and Dean of Education (1989-1990) at the University of Tasmania. He is deputy chair of the board of the Australian Council for Educational Research.
Iain Calman
Iain is the Director of Calcomm-Solutions, a consulting organisation that specialises in designing and implementing holistic human resource initiatives. He works in Australia and South East Asia, consulting and delivering training.
He actively pursues his passion for human resource management as a member of the ACT Australian Human Resource Institute (AHRI) Council and as the convener of AHRI's Organisational Design and Development Specialist Area Network.
Iain studied Marketing and Public Relations at the University of Canberra. He has a Masters Degree in Management, is a graduate of the Australian Command and Staff Course and the Australian Public Service Commission's Human Resource Capability Development Program.
Bob Carr
Exclusively represented by Saxton
One of Australia's most popular and respected political leaders, Bob Carr made his political reputation through public speaking.
"There is no doubt Carr is a master orator," according to Simon Benson, political correspondent of The Daily Telegraph.
"Carr is a smart speaker, a colourful orator with a carefully trained voice," wrote Gerard Noonan of The Sydney Morning Herald.
"Carr is the most consistently effective, engaging and entertaining speaker with whom I have collaborated," writes Graham Freudenberg, Australia's best known political speech writer in his memoir.
Dominating the floor of the rough house New South Wales Parliament - known as the "bear pit" - or giving a highly acclaimed speech of welcome to Margaret Thatcher in 1988, Bob Carr has spoken about far more than the narrow political agenda. His annual addresses at Australia Day lunches or at Anzac commemorations were widely appreciated.
Some of the other subjects he has spoken on include Lessons from Leadership: an Australian looks at the careers of Lincoln and FDR; The Australia of 1942 and the fall of Singapore; The 10 Decisions Australia got Right; The Case for Medical Research; The Roman Empire and its Lessons for Us; Imagining Catastrophe: greenhouse, terrorism and proliferation.
He recently retired from politics after 10 years as Premier of the State of New South Wales, Australia's wealthiest and most populous State.
Entering politics in 1983, Bob became leader of the Australian Labor Party in New South Wales in 1988 and led it to electoral victory in 1995. He led the party to two further landslide victories in 1999 and 2003, and retired undefeated in August 2005. "Only Carr has made that rare triumphant farewell to politics," said The Bulletin, "… from the top and at his choosing."
Bob's interests and priorities ranged over conservation, literacy, tort law reform, medical research, the arts and economic development.
His biggest achievements in office include hosting the most successful Olympic Games ever, achieving highest-ever levels of literacy among school students, declaring 350 new national parks and enacting tough new greenhouse benchmarks.
Bob received the World Conservation Union International Parks Merit Award in 1998. He received a Fulbright Distinguished Fellow Award in 1999 for a significant contribution to Australian-American relations. In 2004 he served as a member of Tony Blair's International Climate Change Taskforce.
Bob Carr is the author of three books, Thoughtlines: Reflections of a Public Man (2002) and What Australia Means To Me (2003) and most recently My Reading Life (2008). He is also the subject of two biographies.
Geoff Carter
Geoff Carter MAIEF MAICD is the principal of Enable Business Control Systems - a consulting business specialising in corporate governance, organisational and enterprise management development, facilitation, training and systems development services.
Geoff has worked with hundreds of organisations across the private, not-for-profit and government sectors facilitating corporate governance training and evaluation, governance process, policy and charter development, strategy formulation, risk management and compliance systems development, business development processes and organisational management issues.
Geoff is a 'core' facilitator with the Australian Institute of Company Directors, conducting governance education programs, tailored in-board-room briefings and governance information workshops and seminars.
He has previously managed a Business Enterprise Centre, Business Incubator and a Group Training Company and has authored a number of practical papers, articles, programs and training curriculum dealing with business management and governance issues.
Geoff has undertaken international business development projects in China and Japan, is a member (and director) of the Australasian Institute of Enterprise Facilitators, the Australian Institute of Company Directors and has several tertiary business and training qualifications.
He has experience as a Director, Company Secretary, Chairman and Public Officer of a number of organisations.
In a previous life Geoff has a background, qualifications and experience as a practitioner, a business manager and a business owner in the horticulture and broadcast industries.
Chris Caton
As Chief Economist of BT Financial Group, Dr Chris Caton advises clients on the financial implications of economic trends, policy pronouncements and major political developments. A former head of the Economic Division of the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, Chris is a leading analyst of the current and future state of both the Australian and international
economies, and their potential impact on individual industries.
Drawing on his international experience and with an impressive breadth of knowledge, Chris provides succinct and tailored advice to his clients in a wide range of industries, including many that are dominated by small businesses. A brilliant communicator, Chris has a rare ability to make
economics come alive for his audience and has received innumerable accolades for his highly accessible, meaningful, and entertaining presentations.
Bill Daniels
Executive Director, Independent Schools Council of Australia
Bill was appointed Executive Director of the Independent Schools Council of Australia in 2001 after a career of 35 years with the Commonwealth Government, including many years in the education portfolio. He was head of the Schools Division from 1994 - 1998 and the Student Assistance and Indigenous Programs Division from 1990 -1994. He also spent five years as the Chief of Staff of the Commonwealth Minister for Education and the Minister for Resources and Energy
David Ford
Emil Ford & Co
BA LLM (Hons) FTIA - Partner
David practises extensively for organisations in the not-for-profit sector. He is known for his expertise in education law. He acts for many independent schools and other educational institutions. He consults to the boards of schools and charities on governance issues and regularly presents seminars to school teachers and administrators on education law issues. David has presented at conferences in the United Kingdom, South Africa, Belgium, the Czech Republic, New Zealand and throughout Australia, and published numerous papers on topics as varied as student rights, teachers' liability, teachers/counsellors and confidentiality, bullying, outdoor education, discrimination, child protection and investigations. David also lectures counsellors and counselling students in the area of confidentiality and the law.
David is a member of the Law Society of New South Wales, the Law Council of Australia (and its Business Law Section), a Fellow of the Taxation Institute of Australia, a member of the Australian Taxation Office's Nonprofit Tax Advisors Forum, President of the NSW Chapter of the Australia and New Zealand Education Law Association, a member of the American and South African Education Law Associations, the Editorial Board of the CCH School Principals Legal Guide, the editor of Education Law Notes, which keep schools throughout Australia up-to-date with education law developments and a former Chairman of the Council of MLC School, an independent girls school in Sydney.
Dr Toby Ford
Dr Toby Ford is a leading expert in the area of corporate health risk management.
Over the years he has been a professional speaker providing key notes, work shops, starter sessions for conferences, company retreats, staff development programs.
His clients include Young Presidents Organization, Woolworth's, CPAs, Ernst and Young, Aus Tax Institute , Queensland Government Executive Leadership, CSR, Incitec Australian Large Herd Association, Raine Horne, Tempo, NAB, Westpac, BHP Billiton, Hatch, ING Toby Ford has been a Flying Doctor in the past. He has developed over 18 years of medical practice a speciality interest in the health and wellbeing of working people.
From his research he has fashioned several different talks to address some of the key work issues of:
- Stress management
- Resilience and Wellbeing
- Work Life Balance
- Health Promotion Programming in the workplace.
Avril Henry
Avril Henry Pty Ltd is a management consulting business established in July 2003, focusing on leadership, change management, talent management, diversity, recruitment and retention strategies.
Over the last three years, Avril has delivered over 350 Keynote Addresses to over 30,000 people in Australia, New Zealand and Asia to companies and industries as diverse as CEDA, IBM, BHP, Department of Defence, ATO, Murray Darling Basin, ABS, Queensland Health, NSW Health, NSW Police, WA Police, ANZ, Westpac, Astra Zeneca, UTS, Macquarie University, CPA Australia, Telstra, Mortgage Industry Association of Australia, Fitness Industry Association, Australian
Superannuation Funds Industry, Real Estate Industry Association and Property Council of Australia, The Chamber of Commerce in 4 states, and various Singapore government departments.
The topics covered range Leadership, Change Management, Talent Management, Managing Diversity, Women in Leadership, Recruitment and Retention, Motivating and Managing Different Generations, Conflict Resolution, Communicating Effectively, Flexibility, Building Winning Teams, to The Workforce of the Future.
Avril has recently been contracted by the University of Western Sydney to develop a 3-year leadership program for their gifted scholarship students, to be delivered in addition to their academic studies to better prepare them for leadership positions in the future.
During 2006, Avril completed a Ministerial Review for the Minister of Defence, into Recruitment and Retention in the Army, Air Force and Navy. The recommendations of "The Henry Report" were accepted by the government in December 2006.
Following the review, Avril was appointed as a Strategic Advisor to the Chief of Navy, and has ed the Navy's Workforce Planning Committee, being the only female and civilian on the committee. In 2006, Avril won the prestigious Lifetime Achievement in HR Award at the Australian Human Resources Awards. In 2005, she was a finalist in the Sydney Business Review Business Woman of the Year. In 2008,she was recognised by the NSW government, as part of International Women's Day, as one of the 100 women nominated for the NSW Woman of the Year 2008.
In 2007 Avril ed the board of Hands Across the Water Australia, a charity which raises money to build and operate self sustainable orphanages in Thailand for Thai children who lost their parents in the 2004 Boxing Day Tsunami. She is also proud of the fact that in 2007 she achieved a long held dream of successfully running the New York City Marathon.
Avril is the author of "Leadership Revelations: An Australian Perspective", "The Who What When and Y of Generation Why?", and is a co-author of the book "Ideas, Original Perspectives Leading Thinkers". She is featured in the book "Secrets Exposed of Inspiring Leaders", as one of Australia's most inspiring female leaders. Her latest book released in 2007, entitled "Inspiring Tomorrow's Leaders Today: Breaking Down Generational Barriers At Work" is the first in a four part series to be released over the next few years.
Grace Kinch
Grace's current role as the Director of Studies & Learning at Korowa Anglican Girls' School, Glen Iris, Victoria, encompasses leading and managing the implementation of Year 6-12 curriculum and the professional development of Year 6-12 staff. Having recently completed her Masters of Education, Grace believes that this has broadened her perspectives and understandings in a wide range of curriculum-related areas, especially that of enhancing student learning and student learning outcomes. Grace's teaching experience prior to Korowa has also been in girls' independent
schools.
Debra Learmonth
During a 25 year career in financial services Debra had roles in insurance, legal, securities and lending before finding her true calling as a Financial Planner in 1996. She holds a Diploma of Financial Planning and a Certificate in Accounting. In 2004 her dedication and commitment to clients was rewarded with Advice Quality accreditation and the title of NSW Financial Planner of the Year.
Debra specialises in wealth creation, pre-retirement planning and creating sustainable retirement income streams. She is currently the senior financial planner and part-owner of JV Financial Group a Canberra based financial services company.
Andrew Leigh
Andrew Leigh is a professor in the Economics Program of the Research School of Social Sciences at the Australian National University. His current research is in the fields of labour economics, public economics and the economics of elections. Andrew holds a PhD from Harvard University, and has previously worked as a lawyer, a political adviser, and a think-tank researcher. He has published two books and over fifty journal articles and book chapters. Andrew is also a regular columnist for the Australian Financial Review, and writes a semi-daily weblog.
Professor Ian Lowe
Professor Ian Lowe AO is emeritus professor of science, technology and society at Griffith University in Brisbane, an adjunct professor at Sunshine Coast University and QUT, and an honorary research fellow at the University of Adelaide.
Professor Lowe was made an Officer of the Order of Australia in 2001 for services to science and technology, especially in the area of environmental studies. In 2002 he was awarded a Centenary Medal for contributions to environmental science and won the Eureka Prize for promotion of science. His contributions have also been recognised by the Prime Minister's Environment Award for Outstanding Individual Achievement, the Queensland Premier's Millennium Award for Excellence in Science and the University of NSW Alumni Award for achievement in science. Professor
Lowe was named Humanist of the Year in 1988.
Professor Lowe studied engineering and science at the University of NSW and earned his doctorate in physics the University of York. He is the author or co-author of 10 Open University books, 8 other books, more than 50 book chapters and over 500 other publications or conference papers.
From 1983 to 1989 Professor Lowe was a member of the National Energy Research, Development and Demonstration Council, chairing its standing committee on social, economic and environmental issues. He was Director of the Commission for the Future in 1988, and chaired the advisory council that produced the first independent national report on the state of the environment in 1996. He is a member of the Environmental Health Council and the Radiation Health and Safety Advisory
Council. He chairs the Queensland Government task force implementing the reform of science education and the Brisbane City Council task force on climate change and energy. He is deputy chair of the Queensland Sustainable Energy Innovation Group, which advises the State government on energy innovations. He has conducted consultancies for all three levels of government as well as companies and peak organisations in the private sector.
Professor Lowe has been a referee for the Inter-Governmental Panel on Climate Change, attended the Geneva and Kyoto conferences of the parties to the Framework Convention on Climate Change and was a member of the Australian delegation to the 1999 UNESCO World Conference on Science. He was on the steering group for the UNEP project Global Environmental Outlook, an invited participant in the 2000 and 2002 workshops on Sustainability Science and a referee for both the International Geosphere-Biosphere Program's 2004 book on planetary science and the Millennium Assessment Report.
Professor Lowe has made countless contributions to newspapers, radio, television and periodicals since 1991 and wrote a regular column for New Scientist for thirteen years. He gave the ABC's Boyer Lectures in 1991 and has been a member of the advisory group for Brisbane's Ideas Festivals since their inception. He is a member of the board of Major Brisbane Festivals Ltd and is Vice-President of Queensland Academy of the Arts and Sciences.
Sue Murray
CEO, National Breast Cancer Foundation
After beginning her career in education Sue moved across to the community sector to work for the NSW Cancer Council where she held roles in education, media and communications. She then moved to the role of Executive Director with the AMA (NSW) Charitable Foundation and developed a CD ROM to support school drug education programs while simultaneously working with the Leukaemia Foundation of Australia to facilitate the formation of the State organisation. Sue took up her current position with the National Breast Cancer Foundation in April 2000.
As the CEO Sue has responsibility for developing and implementing strategy to increase participation in, and support for, breast cancer research throughout Australia.
Sue has named her greatest achievement as Initiating Australia's first ever National Action Plan for Breast Cancer Research and Funding and growing the Pink Ribbon campaign.
Her most passionate goal is to one day close the doors of the National Breast Cancer Foundation. "If this becomes possible, it will be because we understand the causes of breast cancer and have the potential to prevent it".
Paddy Spruce CSP
Paddy is a professional speaker who specializes in 'The art of influence', our ability to get what we want from ourselves and others. He speaks internationally and throughout Australia. His clients include public and private sector organizations over a twenty five year journey. He has been awarded the highest level of recognition granted by the National Speakers Association and the only international accreditation granted to professional speakers.
Toby Travanner
R.E. (Toby) Travanner is a professional corporate trainer, keynote presenter, master of ceremonies and consultant. His primary area of expertise is coaching individuals and teams to realise their business and personal goals especially in the areas of sales and marketing. He is an entertaining and challenging facilitator, with a reputation for high-energy, high-contact presentations. Toby consistently achieves 'excellent' ratings from the participants of his sessions, with most of his clients rating him as the best presenter they have ever worked with.
Being well versed in many industries and with over 14 years of experience in consulting to provide peak personal performance (providing a 'return on intellect' to organisations), Toby is able to capture and motivate audiences with real, 'take home' techniques and attitudes.
With global experience of business and personal cultures, Toby tailors his presentations and facilitated sessions specifically to the strategic environment of his clients and will often develop new techniques and methodologies to meet the continuing demands of people development in business today. This customisation means that new ideas are more likely to be used and implemented by participants in his programs which are more likely to lead to a significant impact to the success of
an organisation.
Toby's presentations, MC engagements and programs are designed around his 3 'S's. Short term: There must be something that is immediately useable by the participants.
If people and organisations don't see an immediate benefit, it is more difficult to
gain the momentum from Skills Development or motivational activites. Sustainable: Motivation can sometimes be limited to the time during the interaction with the presenter. Often we take part in sessions where we are entertained and think "I must do that when I get back to work". Unless the ideas, attitudes and methods are sustainable outside the conference or learning environment, then improvements to the return on intellect will not be achievable.
Significant: Outcomes, over a period of time, need to have a significant, measurable benefit to both the individual and to the organisation of which they are a part. These outcomes need to be in the form of improved technical and professional behaviours that lead to benefits to business processes.
He has used this philosophy while working with over 10,000 individuals (not including speaking engagements) from organisations including IBM Asia Pacific, National Australia Bank, Cap Gemini Ernst & Young, Heinz Watties, Minter Ellison Lawyers, Telstra, Malleson Stephens Jaques, Hewlett Packard, Corrs Chambers Westgarth, Novation Leasing Company and Tattersall's.
Toby headed his own company for 8 years before merging operations in 2000 with CPT Global Limited, an IT consultancy firm, where he was General Manager - Training. Toby also worked for IBM Australia for 7 years, where he was most recently the Professional Skills Curriculum Manager for IBM Education Consulting, Asia Pacific after holding a variety of sales and sales management roles.
Toby has a degree in scientific research and also has a background in the entertainment industry. He is also a Member of the Adjunct Faculty at the Australian Graduate School of Management.
Warren Overton
Warren Overton is a Director of Viridis E3, a specialist green building consultancy. Warren has a wealth of knowledge in the design and operation of 'green' buildings with direct experience in commercial, institutional and residential building design. He has also been involved in the development and management of several corporate environmental management programs.
Warren is an experienced Green Star Accredited Professional, has been involved in the development of a number of Green Star tools, undertakes Green Star assessments for the GBCA, is a member of the Green Star faculty and the Green Star Technical Advisory Panel.
Warren was the ESD consultant for the 6 Green Star rated Trevor Pearcey House refurbishment project for Australian Ethical Investment. He has provided technical support and advice to more than 20 current projects seeking Green Star accreditation. He is also currently undertaking Post Occupancy Evaluation assessments of a number of green building projects.
Ian Yorston
Ian Yorston is Head of Digital Strategy at Radley College in the United Kingdom.
He has previously been Head of Science, Head of Physics and Head of Careers. The fact that Radley keeps giving him new jobs suggests that perhaps he's not very good at any of them.
Prior to Radley he spent 10 years in the Royal Air Force including 3 years as an Electronic Warfare Officer. This involved a lot of computers and a number of wars. He also spent a great deal of time working alongside Americans. This wasn't necessarily a bad thing.