Join us for the Annual Conference!

Stephen Bartlett is an advocate and leader of the burgeoning quantum technology ecosystem, in Sydney and globally. A theoretical quantum physicist and Professor in the School of Physics at the University of Sydney, he leads a team pursuing both fundamental and applied research in the design of quantum computers.
Stephen is Director of the University of Sydney Nano Institute, the Director of the Australian Research Council Training Centre for Future Leaders in Quantum Computing (FLiQC), and led the establishment of the national growth centre for quantum industry, Quantum Australia. He is a Chief Investigator in the Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence in Engineered Quantum Systems (EQUS), and is the inaugural Lead Editor of the premier international research journal PRX Quantum.
He is a Fellow of the American Physical Society, the Australian Institute of Physics, and the Royal Society of NSW.

Dr Josh Brown is Head of Epitaxy at BluGlass Limited, where he leads the development of advanced Gallium Nitride (GaN) laser diode wafers, including the RPCVD-enhanced designs underpinning BluGlass’ world-record single-mode laser performance. A recognised expert in III-nitride materials and device engineering, Josh has contributed to pioneering advancements across LEDs, microLEDs, laser diodes, and power electronics.
Since joining BluGlass, Josh has played a central role in developing the Company’s proprietary Remote Plasma Chemical Vapour Deposition (RPCVD) technology. He is a named inventor on multiple patents and has authored numerous publications advancing the state of GaN epitaxy.
In 2017, Josh founded and continues to lead EpiBlu, BluGlass’ epitaxy foundry services division, delivering bespoke MOCVD and RPCVD solutions to global photonics and semiconductor clients. His leadership has enabled critical breakthroughs in manufacturability, performance, and supply chain resilience across quantum, defence, sensing, and medical applications. Josh’s unique ability to reengineer materials from the atomic level has driven commercial and R&D success for customers worldwide, reinforcing BluGlass’ position as a leader in next-generation semiconductor manufacturing.

Charles Guan is the Co-founder and Chief Technology Officer of RDC.AI, where he leads the development of AI-powered decisioning technology that enables banks to make faster, safer, and more inclusive business lending decisions.
With over two decades of experience spanning government and enterprise systems, Charles brings deep technical expertise and a commitment to solving complex problems with real-world impact. Prior to founding RDC.AI, he held senior roles at the NSW Department of Justice and NSW Juvenile Justice, driving technology transformation to better serve public outcomes. He has also contributed to academic research as a Visiting Research Fellow at the University of Technology Sydney, focusing on machine learning and its application in financial services.

Professor Raina Maclntyre is Head of the Biosecurity Program at the Kirby Institute, UNSW, and an adjunct professor at Arizona State University. She leads research on infectious disease control, including pandemics, vaccines, and bioterrorism. She founded EPIWATCH®, an AI early warning system for pandemics, featured in US INDOPACOM wargames.
With over 450 publications, her work has earned numerous awards, including the Eureka Prize and the Frank Fenner Award. She has advised WHO, the US National Academies, and others. Her books Dark Winter (2022) and Vaccine Nation (2025) reflect her leadership in global biosecurity.

Ben Schultz began his AI career developing brain-computer interfaces for children with severe disabilities. Back in Australia, he applied his problem-solving skills across healthcare, Defence, mining, and energy. In 2021, he launched Streamline, an AI-driven dynamic pricing engine that boosted revenues in passenger transport.
At Aurizn, he founded the AI Center of Excellence, growing it to over 30 experts and pioneering projects like AI-powered earth observation and 3D tree height estimation. Now, as Executive General Manager – Decision Advantage, Ben leads teams delivering critical AI systems for Defence and infrastructure, bridging technical and strategic leadership.

Stuart is a technology innovation expert and business leader with over 25 years’ experience and world-class expertise in the field of advanced technology product development and commercialization. Stuart has been the CEO of Planet Innovation since its creation in 2009.
Prior to forming PI, Stuart held senior innovation and R&D roles for global biomedical companies initiating, defining and managing the development of medical diagnostic products.
Stuart holds an Honours degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Melbourne and MBA level training in finance, marketing, strategy and leadership.

Rebecca Keeley is a dedicated allied health professional with exceptional leadership and expertise in healthcare management, speech pathology, and rural & remote service delivery. With an MBA (Distinction) from the University of Oxford and a Bachelor of Speech Pathology from Flinders University, she values blending innovation with practical experience to improve healthcare access for geographically isolated communities.
Her career reflects a strong commitment to addressing the challenges faced by rural and remote populations. From working with First Nations Australians in the Northern Territory to farming families in the Hay Plains, Rebecca has firsthand experience at the coalface of rural allied health service delivery. This has fuelled her passion for improving access to services for children and families in these areas.
Rebecca founded Yarn, an innovative digital health platform tackling geographical isolation, service delivery challenges, and long waitlists for speech pathology worldwide. Yarn empowers allied health professionals and families with evidence-based, accessible, gamified programs that give parents tools to support their child’s communication while they wait. She believes innovative technology like Yarn can help shape equitable, revitalised healthcare systems for rural and remote communities.

Dr Paton is a stem cell scientist and Research Fellow at the Cerebral Palsy Alliance Research Institute. She has been working in the field of cell therapies for both neonatal and childhood brain conditions for more than thirteen years, successfully transitioning from working in the lab to now establishing essential clinical trials that drive the global research pipeline.
In her current role, Dr Paton delivers collaborative projects that investigate early cell therapy treatments to improve quality of life for children with brain injuries like cerebral palsy. She is particularly interested in utilising cell therapies to transform clinical practice in areas of medicine with limited effective treatments. In 2024, Dr Paton was awarded a Fulbright Fellowship (funded by the Kinghorn Foundation) at Duke University to support improving access to novel treatments, including umbilical cord blood. This knowledge and cultural exchange led to direct local medical implementation, and the first ever case of compassionate access to cord blood treatment for a child with cerebral palsy in Australia in 2025.
Dr Paton is regarded as an emerging leader for progressing Australian stem cell research, advocacy, research dissemination, public and consumer outreach. Her work is driven by community need, with genuine passion for supporting families and those with disability.

Mr John Van Der Wielen has over 30 years’ experience in wealth management, private banking, investments and insurance, which includes executive positions in global financial services groups. These positions allowed Mr Van Der Wielen to work in London, Luxemburg, Malaysia, Sydney and Perth, for major brands such as Crown Resorts, Blackstone, HBF Heath Ltd, Lloyds Banking Group, Lombard Assurance and ANZ Bank.
Mr Van Der Wielen currently holds the role of Chair, Crown Perth and is a Non-Executive Director on the Blackstone owned Crown Resorts Australia Ltd. Mr Van Der Wielen is also Chair of Orthocell (OCC) and serves on the Boards of the Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS), Bridgewest Perth Pharma and as a Senior Advisor for Appian Capital Advisory UK. Mr Van Der Wielen is the former inaugural Chair of the Western Australian Government’s Future Health Research & Innovation Fund (FHRI).
Since returning to Perth John has specialised in fostering investment in to Western Australia with transactions like Bridgewest acquisition of Pfizer, Blackstone's acquisition of Crown Resorts and Orthocells Australia's FDA approval to export medical products to the USA.
Mr Van Der Wielen holds an MBA from the University of Western Australia, has studied at London Business School and Oxford University, and is a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

Dr Sara Webb is an astrophysicist, science communicator, and educator dedicated to making the universe accessible to all. As a senior academic at Swinburne University of Technology, she leads cutting-edge research using artificial intelligence to uncover hidden astronomical phenomena and is a pioneer in Australia’s space education initiatives.
Through her leadership of national programs, sending student-led experiments to the International Space Station and bringing real space-returned samples into classrooms, she has inspired thousands of young minds. Recognized on the Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia list in 2025, Sara is also a sought-after media voice and TEDx speaker, known for turning complex science into captivating stories that connect communities with the cosmos.

Henry Bilinsky is the founder and CEO of MicroTau, an Australian deep-tech company using laser direct-writing technology to produce microscopic surface patterns inspired by nature. Best known for developing riblet surfaces that dramatically reduce drag on aircraft and ships, MicroTau’s technology has far-reaching implications for aerospace, defence, and clean energy.
With a background in law and biochemistry, Henry pivoted from a legal career to science entrepreneurship after winning a CSIRO innovation challenge. Since founding MicroTau in 2015, he has led the company through significant R&D breakthroughs and global partnerships. Henry is a passionate advocate for advanced manufacturing and deep-tech commercialisation in Australia.

Professor Lachlan Blackhall is leading Australia’s energy transition through engineering, strategy and collaboration. He is a founder of Reposit Power, the Battery Storage and Grid Integration Program and the Interoperability Steering Committee – linking research, industry, policy, and regulation to accelerate the transition to a more equitable energy system powered by renewable and distributed energy generation and storage. Professor Blackhall is currently Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research & Innovation) at The Australian National University where he is responsible for the University's strategic goals in research and innovation and oversees over A$2 billion of research infrastructure. Lachlan was previously Entrepreneurial Fellow and Head of the ANU Battery Storage and Grid Integration Program, and prior to that co-founder and CTO of Reposit Power.
Lachlan is a Director of Engineers Australia, Cicada Innovations, and various other organisations that support engineering, research and innovation. He holds a BE, BSc and PhD and is a Fellow of both Engineers Australia and the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering.

James DiLiberto is CEO and Principal Engineer at AZZO, a leader in global energy innovation. Since joining in 2008, he has led over 350 major projects across Australia and the USA, guiding a team of 60+ engineers in designing advanced renewable energy and distributed energy resource (DER) management systems.
Originally from New York City and now based in Australia, James is a recognised expert in large-scale DER portfolio management, microgrids, and mission-critical solar farms. He is at the forefront of the digital power revolution, pioneering managed services at the Cloud and Edge layers.
A respected global thought leader and keynote speaker, James has delivered over 100 presentations worldwide. His dual American-Australian perspective and passion for integrating advanced technologies drive his mission to build sustainable, scalable solutions for the future of energy.

Dr Andrew Minett is the cofounder and CTO of Sicona Battery Technologies, an Australian materials technology company advancing next-generation lithium-ion battery innovations. He leads the company’s R&D and engineering teams, driving the development of its flagship SiCx® Silicon Carbon product, supported by a robust IP portfolio of 126 patents across 26 families.
A materials scientist and device engineer with 25 years of post-PhD experience, Dr Minett has dedicated his career to designing and commercialising advanced materials and scalable processes. Formerly a prominent academic, he held prestigious fellowships at the Max Planck Institute, Trinity College Dublin, and was a Professor of Chemical Engineering at the University of Sydney. He also served as Director of the Laboratory for Sustainable Technology and Deputy Director of the Energy Storage Flagship at the Australian Institute for Nanoscale Science and Technology. Widely published and internationally recognised, he has a strong academic footprint (h-index 51, ~12,000 citations).

Nathan Oxley is a seasoned technology executive whose 30-year career spans engineering, product, and commercial leadership across the energy and electronics sectors. As Chief Technology Officer at Edge Zero (2020–present), he steers the full technology stack—directing hardware and software engineering, shaping the product roadmap, and architecting the company’s cloud, data, and cyber-security platforms. Previously, Nathan drove market fit and strategic partnerships as Business Development Manager at Edge Electrons, and guided product compliance, dealer enablement, and go-to-market programmes at Flextronics Australia.

Annie Haggar is a Canberra-based cybersecurity and technology lawyer with 20 years’ experience advising government and private sector clients on technology law, cybersecurity risk, procurement, and global security regulations. She has worked with organisations ranging from start-ups to Fortune 500 companies, supporting product development, regulatory compliance, and complex transactions.
Previously, Annie founded Cyber GC, a boutique cybersecurity law firm, where she advised on critical infrastructure, procurement security, and cyber incident response. In 2024, she was named Sole Practitioner of the Year, and Cyber GC was a finalist for Boutique Firm of the Year at the Lawyers Weekly Australian Law Awards.

Professor Helge Janicke is a globally recognised cybersecurity expert, researcher, and entrepreneur focused on strengthening digital resilience. He is the founder of Janicke Consulting and creator of Corporates Compromised®, a widely used cyber crisis simulation for executives and boards.
Currently a Professor of Cybersecurity at Edith Cowan University (ECU), his work centres on critical infrastructure and secure digital transformation. He was formerly CEO and Research Director of the Cyber Security Cooperative Research Centre, managing a $100 million national portfolio and fostering major industry-government-academic collaborations.
Named Australia’s top researcher in Computer Security and Cryptography in The Australian’s 2024 list, Helge continues to shape cybersecurity strategy, innovation, and education both nationally and internationally.

Robert is the Co-Founder and Chair of Internet 2.0 and invented the concept Cloaking Firewall. He is an experienced cyber security leader. Robert has held roles as Head of Cyber Operations at BAE Systems, GM of WithYouWithMe Cyber, advisor to the Australian Shadow Cabinet for Cyber Security, and lead SME for North Korean Cyber Security for the United States Department of State (CTR Program).

Shane Reschke is the Chief Engineer of Consunet since 2019. He leads the engineering function, empowering and supporting team members to produce advanced electronic warfare capabilities. Shane has brought exceptional leadership and deep knowledge to the organisation, using his almost two decades of Defence industry experience to drive the maturation of Consunet’s engineering operations.
Shane has pioneered Consunet’s engineering operations to implement agile delivery methods in support of the ASDEFCON procurement framework, ensuring the organisation can effectively meet the demands of Defence, while continuing to deliver innovative engineering outcomes. Consunet’s Electromagnetic Battle Management delivery team was formed and matured under Shane’s leadership, an effort that has advanced enterprise-wide growth. The EMBM solution has achieved on-time initial operating capability (IOC) and final operating capability (FOC) success, and spearheaded development of agile engineering processes enabling sustainable delivery of long-term benefits to Consunet. Shane holds a Bachelor of Engineering with Honours (Computer Systems), graduating with a Diploma of Sciences (Defence) in 2016, and completed the Defence Industry Leadership Program in conjunction with the Defence Teaming Centre. Shane’s leadership has helped contribute to Consunet’s strategic development, enabling the business to deliver successful engineering solutions that meet customer expectations

Tom Scully, CSC is Director and Principal Architect for Government and Critical Industries at Palo Alto Networks, where he leads cybersecurity strategy across Asia Pacific and Japan. With over 10 years of experience, he specialises in securing high-assurance environments and advising on the safe and practical adoption of AI, including emerging risks like agentic AI.
Previously, Tom served as an Officer in the Royal Australian Air Force, earning the Conspicuous Service Cross in 2018. He holds a Bachelor of Electrical Engineering from UNSW and is currently a PhD candidate, researching resilient AI security systems for autonomous vehicles. Known for blending deep technical expertise with strategic insight, he is a trusted voice on Zero Trust, aviation cybersecurity, and digital transformation for critical infrastructure.

Camilla is an entrepreneur and influential leader in the global payments industry. As CEO and Co-Founder of the Emerging Payments Association Asia (EPAA), she has been instrumental in uniting the payments ecosystem across the Asia-Pacific since 2018. Under her leadership, EPAA has become a key regional voice and global advocate, contributing to FSB task forces and the G20 agenda on payment innovation and cross-border interoperability.
With a 14-year career at Reuters (now LSEG) in London, Camilla brings deep expertise in financial technology and a strong commitment to industry collaboration. She is also the founder of “Meet-Her She Knows Payments,” a platform championing female thought leadership in payments, and serves on the board of the Swedish Australian Chamber of Commerce. A dedicated mentor, she actively supports the next generation of fintech leaders, promoting diversity as a catalyst for innovation.

Premila Jina is relentless in her pursuit of harnessing the power of digital transformation to drive positive business outcomes. She combines technical expertise with human-centred digital innovations to tackle the most high-profile challenges while achieving outstanding commercial results. She operates across diverse industries such as mining, public utilities, commercial fishing, and government.
As a leader, she’s a fierce advocate of DEI, especially for those with neurodiversity challenges so no one experiences the self-doubt she did as a child with ADHD. Her determination and fearlessness have seen her twice reestablish herself internationally and rapidly grow a Perth-based technology business. She’s transforming Western Australia’s tech industry through Board and Chair roles, fostering opportunities for women, youth, neurodiverse, and First Nations innovators.

Benjamin Nichol is an Australian entrepreneur with a strong track record in international business expansion. He began by scaling his family’s company, Nichol Industries, into the US market, gaining firsthand experience in cross-border trade and client relations.
Identifying a need for practical support, he founded G’day Gateway, a full-service US representation company that helps Australian businesses succeed in America through lead follow-up, local representation, consulting, and market research.
Today, Benjamin leverages his real-world experience and passion to make US expansion easier and more effective for Australian entrepreneurs.

Angela Shi is the visionary founder and CEO of Empathetic AI, an award-winning Generative AI startup headquartered in Sydney. Under her leadership, Empathetic AI developed Luna, Australia’s first AI-powered tax copilot, leveraging cutting-edge Generative AI technology. Luna is proudly backed by the National AI Centre and supported by CSIRO’s Data61, the premier data and digital innovation arm of Australia’s national science agency. Empathetic AI has quickly emerged as a trailblazer in the AI ecosystem, securing 3rd place in Australia’s inaugural AI Sprint in 2024. In January 2025, the company launched Australia’s first AI agents evaluation framework in partnership with CSIRO’s Data61. Additionally, Empathetic AI unveiled Empathetic AI Labs, a rapidly expanding portfolio of AI agents designed specifically to streamline the workflows of finance professionals.
Angela herself is a distinguished finance professional turned AI entrepreneur, bringing over 15 years of deep expertise in financial services and fintech. She has held pivotal leadership roles as CFO at Plus500 and Capital.com, where she led high-performing teams across seven countries and supported customers in more than 40 markets worldwide. Beyond her entrepreneurial success, Angela is a dedicated academic and industry partner at the University of New South Wales (UNSW). She is also the creator of the AI in Finance course at the Institute of Applied Technology, passionately educating and inspiring the next generation of finance professionals about AI’s transformative potential.
A sought-after public speaker and advocate for the integration of AI in finance, Angela’s leadership and impact have been widely recognized, earning her the prestigious 2023 Australian Ambassador Award for Women in Leadership.

Tim Stollznow is an Adelaide-born software engineer turned internationally successful CEO and entrepreneur, known for leading innovative teams and scaling tech companies globally. He is the Founder and CEO of MyVenue, a point-of-sale solutions company supporting major sports and entertainment venues across Australia and North America, including the Miami F1 Grand Prix, Dallas Cowboys, and Las Vegas Sphere.
Under Tim’s leadership, MyVenue has grown to a 75-person team, and in April 2025, secured a major investment from Greater Sum Ventures to fuel global expansion. He actively supports the IT, export, and startup sectors through government and industry associations. Tim holds an Honours Degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of Adelaide and is a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

As leader of Fivecast, Brenton is responsible for driving innovation in the security industry through the application of world leading data science techniques to the field of open-source intelligence (OSINT). Brenton was formerly CTO of the Data To Decisions CRC, a $100 million collaborative research initiative to address data analysis challenges facing Australia’s national security agencies.
This work led to the formation & spin-out of Fivecast, where he and the team are working toward their mission to enable a safer world by providing digital intelligence solutions that help protect global communities. Brenton has a Ph.D. in neural networks and his 20+ year career spans technology and management roles for companies including BAE Systems, Tenix Defence and Motorola.

Steve is the Co-Founder and CTO of SPEE3D, an Australian company that developed the world’s first metal 3D printer using supersonic deposition technology, enabling manufacturing-grade printing at production speeds. With a Master’s in Engineering and multiple patents, Steve has a strong track record in innovation.Before SPEE3D, he co-founded In Motion Technologies, a Charles Darwin University spin-off focused on axial flux electric motors, later acquired by Fasco Motors (Regal Beloit, NYSE). His successful products include world-record solar cars, electric motors, e-bikes, and energy-efficient pool pumps. Steve has broad interests across manufacturing, science, and engineering, and speaks several languages.

Byron Kennedy is the Co-Founder and CEO of SPEE3D, a pioneering company in high-speed metal 3D printing. With over 20 years of experience in innovation and commercialisation, he has led the development of supersonic 3D deposition (SP3D) technology, transforming manufacturing using metals like copper and aluminium.Before SPEE3D, Byron co-founded In Motion Technologies, the first spin-off from Charles Darwin University, which was later acquired by Regal Beloit (Fasco). As R&D Director there, he oversaw the development of successful products like axial flux motors for pool pumps and HVAC systems.
Byron holds a Master of Engineering from Charles Darwin University and a Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) from UNSW. Known for turning innovation into commercial success, he continues to lead SPEE3D in redefining the future of metal manufacturing.

Adam Falconer-West is the CEO of Franmarine, an Australian-owned leader in underwater asset and biofouling management. Under his leadership, the company has expanded nationally and earned a reputation for innovation, safety, and environmental stewardship, actively supporting the goals of AUKUS Pillars One and Two.
Adam has played a key role in building strategic partnerships that strengthen Australia’s sovereign capability and enhance interoperability with the US and UK. Franmarine provides critical underwater services that improve naval platform readiness and sustainability across allied fleets.
A champion of collaborative innovation, Adam has integrated AI-driven, blockchain-based asset management and underwater remotely operated vehicles with traditional engineering. He has also pioneered underwater sustainment in lieu of dry docking, a dual-use capability supporting defence, digitalisation, and decarbonisation goals within the AUKUS industrial base.
With a deep understanding of the Indo-Pacific’s strategic importance and the marine environment, Adam is reinforcing industry-to-industry ties across the AUKUS alliance, enhancing supply chain connectivity, resilience, and capability.

Duane Rivett is the Co-Founder and Vice President of Strategic Growth at Fivecast, a global leader in digital intelligence solutions serving national security, law enforcement, corporate security, and financial intelligence sectors. With over two decades of experience in research, tech commercialisation, and start-up growth, Duane has been pivotal in turning innovative technology into impactful solutions.
Since co-founding Fivecast in 2017—emerging from a collaboration between government and research institutions—he has helped grow the company to over 150 employees with offices in Adelaide, Canberra, Washington D.C., and London. In 2023, Fivecast secured a US$20 million Series A funding round to fuel international expansion and innovation.
Duane relocated to Washington D.C. in 2019 to lead U.S. operations and continues to strengthen Australia–U.S. tech and defence partnerships, working closely with Austrade and the U.S. Embassy. He also advises Australian defence tech companies entering the U.S. market.

Ashley Schneider is the Chief Safety, Engineering and Assurance Officer at H&B Defence, with over 20 years of experience in nuclear engineering, radiological waste management, and emergency planning.Previously, she served as Director for AUKUS Emerging Markets at HII Mission Technologies, where she played a key role in shaping and launching operations to support the AUKUS trilateral agreement.
Since joining HII in 2008, Ashley held leadership roles across nuclear propulsion, test engineering, international relations, and R&D. She also led the formation of a 135-person Maritime Operations team responsible for maintenance and construction of nuclear-powered vessels and facilities.
Ashley holds a BSc from the University of Central Florida, a Graduate Certificate in Nuclear Engineering from Virginia Tech, and a Master’s in Industrial and Systems Engineering from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville.

Brett Hill is the founder and CEO of Praetorian Aeronautics, a cutting-edge Australian defence tech startup based in Adelaide. With over 20 years of international experience across Europe, the U.S., and Australia, Brett brings a unique blend of aerospace engineering expertise and strategic leadership. His career includes key roles at major defence companies, including Boeing, where he contributed to major programs such as the 787 Dreamliner.
Since founding Praetorian in 2022, Brett has led the company in developing advanced, AI-driven unmanned aerial systems (UAS) designed to address modern threats like drone swarms. These scalable and resilient systems are built with a focus on sovereignty and innovation. Under his leadership, Praetorian has grown rapidly and was recognised as a finalist in the 2025 South Australian Premier’s Business and Export Awards.
Driven by a lifelong mission to strengthen Australia’s sovereign defence capabilities, Brett continues to lead the development of next-generation aerospace technologies, aiming to position Australia and its allies at the forefront of autonomous aerial defence.

Rux Energy is Founded and led by Dr Jehan Kanga, who discovered the advanced materials in their PhD at the University of Sydney, and following a trailblazing career at KPMG Australia has risen to become one of Australia's most influential clean tech leaders, chairing the Hydrogen Industry Committee of the $250M Automation Composites Manufacturing Cooperative Research Centre and leading consortia decarbonisation projects in maritime and aviation across UK, Singapore and Australia.
They have built strategic links to over 100 key industrial hydrogen groups over the last two years since the end of the pandemic and are now gearing the company for scale.

Professor Raina MacIntyre is Head of the Biosecurity Program at the Kirby Institute, UNSW, and an adjunct professor at Arizona State University. She leads research on infectious disease control, including pandemics, vaccines, and bioterrorism. She founded EPIWATCH®, an AI early warning system for pandemics, featured in US INDOPACOM wargames.
With over 450 publications, her work has earned numerous awards, including the Eureka Prize and the Frank Fenner Award. She has advised WHO, the US National Academies, and others. Her books Dark Winter (2022) and Vaccine Nation (2025) reflect her leadership in global biosecurity.

Duane Rivett is the Co-Founder and Vice President of Strategic Growth at Fivecast, a global leader in digital intelligence solutions serving national security, law enforcement, corporate security, and financial intelligence sectors. With over two decades of experience in research, tech commercialisation, and start-up growth, Duane has been pivotal in turning innovative technology into impactful solutions.
Since co-founding Fivecast in 2017—emerging from a collaboration between government and research institutions—he has helped grow the company to over 150 employees with offices in Adelaide, Canberra, Washington D.C., and London. In 2023, Fivecast secured a US$20 million Series A funding round to fuel international expansion and innovation.
Duane relocated to Washington D.C. in 2019 to lead U.S. operations and continues to strengthen Australia–U.S. tech and defence partnerships, working closely with Austrade and the U.S. Embassy. He also advises Australian defence tech companies entering the U.S. market.

Stefanie Winwood is a capital markets and corporate strategy executive with over 18 years’ experience in semiconductors, photonics, and deep-tech. She has helped grow tech companies from concept to IPO and is a strong advocate for Australia’s semiconductor industry. In 2025, Stef founded Semiconductor Australia—a national platform designed to unite the country’s leading semiconductor, photonics, and quantum innovators with investors, industry, and government. The flagship conference and showcase is focused on accelerating Australia’s deep-tech ecosystem by fostering collaboration across research, policy, capital, and commercialisation.

Dr Aniss G. E. Chami, Chief Executive Officer and Co-founder of Vitex Pharmaceuticals is widely regarded as an industry leader with unrivalled experience and qualifications. Under Dr Chami’s leadership, Vitex has been cemented as a leading Australian manufacturer of high quality complementary medicines.
With a remarkable list of credentials, Dr Chami is also one of the youngest CEOs in the industry. Unequivocally, however, he is considered as one of the most experienced - having been immersed in the industry at an early age under the tutelage of his father, Vitex Chairman, Elie Chami. He was named Manufacturing Executive of the Year in 2017 and 2018 by CEO Magazine and received the 2019 Corporate Citizen of the Year Award by Blacktown City Council. Dr Chami is currently serving as a Board Director of Consumer Health Products (CHP) Australia, the peak body representing the manufacturers and distributors of consumer healthcare products.

Professor Raina MacIntyre is Head of the Biosecurity Program at the Kirby Institute, UNSW, and an adjunct professor at Arizona State University. She leads research on infectious disease control, including pandemics, vaccines, and bioterrorism. She founded EPIWATCH®, an AI early warning system for pandemics, featured in US INDOPACOM wargames.
With over 450 publications, her work has earned numerous awards, including the Eureka Prize and the Frank Fenner Award. She has advised WHO, the US National Academies, and others. Her books Dark Winter (2022) and Vaccine Nation (2025) reflect her leadership in global biosecurity.

Dr David Martinez Martin is an accomplished physicist and globally recognised innovator who has created important commercial technologies. He holds 19 granted patents (18 as principal inventor and 1 as co-principal inventor), 17 of which have been licensed or assigned to industry. David is Deputy Director of Sydney Microscopy and Microanalysis, and Senior Lecturer in Biomedical Engineering at the University of Sydney. He has established and leads the Strategic Research Partnership with Bruker (world leading company in instrumentation and diagnostic solutions), which has become a model of international scientific cooperation. Supported by this partnership, David has created a bio-nanotechnology and nanomedicine facility that is the first of its kind in Australia and represents a transformative leap in sovereign research capability and commercial innovation in life sciences.
David is renowned for the invention of commercial technology known as picobalance, which enables to measure the mass of cells in real time. Understanding how cells regulate their mass has enormous potential to transform the way we diagnose, monitor and treat conditions such as cancer, diabetes, obesity, cardiovascular disease and ageing.
David’s research achievements and efforts to develop effective innovation ecosystems have been honoured by the World Intellectual Property Organisation among many others.

Dr Kathryn Sunn is the CEO of Celosia Therapeutics, an Australian biotech developing first-in-class genetic therapies and diagnostic biomarkers for neurodegenerative diseases, including motor neuron disease, frontotemporal dementia, and Alzheimer’s disease.Under her leadership of a strong and high performing team, Celosia raised $16.75 million in one of Australia’s largest Series A rounds for a preclinical biotech and, within 12 months, completed the regulatory, non-clinical, and manufacturing milestones required to advance its lead gene therapy, CTx1000, to the Phase 1b clinical trial.
Kathryn is a seasoned executive with a distinguished career spanning over two decades in research, intellectual property, and commercialisation. Kathryn also serves as Director of Commercialisation at Macquarie University, where she drives strategic initiatives to accelerate innovation and startup formation. She is widely recognised for her ability to translate research into impact through high-value partnerships, investment, and commercially focused execution.Holding a PhD in Medicine from the University of New South Wales, Kathryn—alongside the incredible Celosia team—is helping to reshape the future of treatment for neurodegenerative disease.

Peter Vranes is a chemical engineer and serial entrepreneur. The CEO and Co-Founder of Nutromics, he is passionate about creatin a better healthcare system to save lives.

Dr Rebecca Allen is the Co-Director of the Space Technology and Industry Institute at Swinburne University of Technology. She completed her PhD in Astrophysics at Swinburne where she used information from powerful telescopes like the Hubble Space Telescope to study the evolution and growth of galaxies going back to when the Universe was barely a billion years old. Now, Dr Allen applies her scientific expertise to help support Australia's growing space industry.
To this end, she supports the translation of cutting-edge research in areas such as microgravity experimentation and Earth observation to build climate change resilient communities and support innovations for Earth. When she’s not studying space or sending things there, she’s inspiring and empowering future space leaders by communicating the wonders of the Universe and creating immersive, hands-on learning experiences.

A qualified engineer and entrepreneur with an international commercialisation background, Herve had 15 years of experience in large U.S. high-tech companies, before moving to Australia. Herve first worked with the South-Australian government, identifying high-potential start-ups, helping them secure funding to pursue initial development.
In 2019 he joined Neumann Space and led the business from a low Technology Readiness Level experimentation to an award-winning sovereign space-technology company. Developed by a fantastic team of engineers and scientists, their product, the Neumann Drive® is a flight proven in-space electric propulsion system for spacecraft using solid metal as propellant. Neumann Space established their Assembly, Integration and Test facility in Adelaide in 2024 and in 2025 officially entered the U.S. market with their first local employee. Supported by passionate and committed investors, Neumann Space is now scaling up and is already exporting propulsion systems to a U.S. constellation owner and satellite manufacturer.
Herve holds engineering and business degrees. He is also a graduate of several Harvard Business School executive programs, of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, the DTC Defence Industry Leadership Program, the International Space University Executive Space Course and the AmCham Global Leadership Academy.

Dr William (Will) Crowe is Co-Founder and CEO of HEO, a Sydney-based company that provides commercial, resolved non-Earth imaging services through proprietary software by acquiring satellite imagery from space-based sensors.
Will founded HEO in 2016, while completing his PhD in astrodynamics from the University of New South Wales, Australia. His research focused on the dynamics of spacecraft swarms around asteroids and included a prize-winning paper on satellite missions to asteroids passing through Earth orbit. After earning his PhD in 2018, Will began applying the principles developed during his research to his business.
Will quickly discovered that his research could be applied to urgent applications in space debris management and inspecting damaged satellites. Today, he leads a team dedicated to helping satellite operators and governments monitor their assets in space, ensuring Earth and space safety.

Professor Anita Ho-Baillie is the John Hooke Chair of Nanoscience at the University of Sydney and an ARC Future Fellow. Her research focuses on high-efficiency multi-junction solar cells using perovskites, with key breakthroughs in improving performance and stability. She actively promotes STEM through science communication and outreach.
Highly recognised, she has been a highly cited researcher (2019–2024), a Eureka Prize finalist (2021, 2024, 2025), and has received multiple awards including the Royal Society of NSW Warren Prize (2022), the Nancy Millis Medal (2024), and Australian Space Awards’ Scientist and Academic of the Year (2024, 2025).

Lloyd Damp is CEO of Southern Launch and is at the forefront of the space industry in Australia. He founded Southern Launch in 2017 and the company conducted the first commercial space launch from Australian soil in 2020 and Australia’s first commercial space return in 2025.
Today, Southern Launch employs 30 people and operates two space launch and return facilities in Koonibba and Whalers Way on the Eyre Peninsula of South Australia. These multi-user space launch facilities have been used by domestic and international customers with the Koonibba Test Range hosting the launch of the first high-powered rocket and the world’s first commercial spacecraft return to a commercial facility. Lloyd leads a team dedicated to developing world-class space launch and return facilities in South Australia and providing bespoke solutions for customers. Lloyd’s vision is to build a connected space industry centred around domestic launch and return capabilities to establish Australia as the next global space hub.
Prior to starting Southern Launch, Lloyd spent over 12 years working for the Australian Government specialising in complex program design and delivery. While there Lloyd also played a small part in helping Australia undertake regular rocket launches into space from Woomera.