Speaker Biographies

Steve Baxter, Founder, Beaten Zone Venture Partners

Steve Baxter is one of Australia’s most successful tech entrepreneurs, an active investor and mentor to startups. Steve founded River City Labs, Brisbane’s well-known co-working hub in 2012 and has been championing Australian startups and entrepreneurs ever since. He has appeared as a ‘Shark’ on Channel 10’s Shark Tank Australia since 2014. Steve has now launched TEN13 an investment syndicate platform for sophisticated investors to invest alongside him and the experienced Transition Level Investments team. If you’re a sophisticated investor looking to diversify your portfolio and invest in top calibre technology companies apply on TEN13. He is also founder and CEO of Transition Level Investments, who invest in early-stage startups.

Katherine Mansted, Executive Director Cyber Intelligence, CyberCX

Katherine is an experienced strategic adviser and public speaker covering national security, cyber risk and technology policy. 

Katherine is currently the Executive Director of Cyber Intelligence at Australia’s leading cyber services company, CyberCX. She’s also a Senior Fellow at the ANU National Security College where she convenes and lectures a Masters course on information power.

An engaging speaker and media commentator, Katherine’s work has been featured across mainstream media and global conferences and she regularly briefs Boards and public officials.

Robert Nioa, Group Chief Executive Officer, NIOA

Robert Nioa is the CEO of NIOA. He has held this position since 2002, and has been a Director of the company since 1994. NIOA is Australia’s largest supplier of small arms, ammunition and related products to the commercial, law enforcement and military markets. Representing over 50 international partners, NIOA is a strong and reliable Australian portal to some of the world’s biggest and most innovative commercial and defence companies. Robert is responsible for NIOA’s strategic development, with a focus on creating and developing opportunities whilst building the company’s capabilities and expertise. He oversees the management and growth of NIOA’s products and services, and provides daily business strategy advice including risk and financial management. He is a highly skilled negotiator and leader who encourages innovation at all organisational levels.

Robert has an extensive multi-disciplinary background in the shooting, law enforcement, military, telecommunications, and property industries. He has been involved in the management and business development of companies for over 25 years and has considerable leadership experience. Robert is actively involved in the firearms community and spends considerable time furthering the industry’s interests at a state and national level. He has been appointed as a member of the Commonwealth Firearms Advisory Council and the Queensland Ministerial Weapons Advisory Panel, both of which advise the Federal and Queensland Governments on a wide range of firearms issues. Robert is the current President of the National Firearm Dealers Association, and Vice President of the Queensland Firearm Dealers Association. Robert is also a Graduate Member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.


Alok Patel, Chairman, National Security Association of Australia

Alok is a positive and driven business executive who has developed his leadership skills over 15 years across the military (Australian Army), management consulting, real estate, and private equity/venture capital. He has developed successful strategies (from corporate initiatives, programs and projects) that create value through emerging technology investments and digital transformation. He is an out-of-the-box thinker whose creativity centers on business models that harness technology and the talent of motivated teams that yearn for greatness. He has worked across large capital assets transactions valued over AUD$4bn including complex real estate transactions. Alok is a, 'Future of Cities (National Security and Critical Infrastructure),' thought explorer and an aspiring adviser to the world political leaders. His gift and strength that allow him to formulate pragmatic vision(s) inspires managers to see greater potential to bring economic prosperity and positive social and environmental impact.