Scott Farquhar is the co-founder of Atlassian, the Sydney-based collaboration software company behind products used by global enterprises including Costco and Delta Air Lines.

He launched Atlassian alongside Mike Cannon-Brookes shortly after graduating university, funding the venture on credit cards. Together, they helped shape one of Australia’s most successful tech companies.

Farquhar is also a cofounder of Pledge 1%, a global movement encouraging companies to commit at least 1% of equity, employee time, or product to charitable causes.

In September 2024, he stepped down as co-CEO to focus on family and philanthropic work. He remains a board member and strategic advisor to the company.

Emmy® and Golden Globe®–winning producer Bruna Papandrea is the Founder and CEO of Made Up Stories, a development, production, and finance company committed to amplifying distinctive voices and telling unforgettable stories, often centered on multifaceted women on and off screen. 

Papandrea is behind some of the most acclaimed and commercially successful series of the past decade, including HBO’s The Undoing (the network’s most watched series of 2020), Hulu’s record-breaking Nine Perfect Strangers (the platform’s most watched original series of all time), and HBO’s Emmy® and Golden Globe®–winning Big Little Lies. She also co-founded Pacific Standard with Reese Witherspoon, producing the global phenomenon Gone Girl and the Oscar-nominated Wild. 

Through Made Up Stories, she has delivered Netflix’s global hit Pieces of Her starring Toni Collette, Anatomy of a Scandal starring Sienna Miller, Apple TV+’s anthology Roar, Spectrum’s Long Slow Exhale, Peacock’s genre-bending romantic comedy Wolf Like Me, Amazon’s Tell Me Your Secrets, and Binge’s Strife starring Asher Keddie. Most recently, she produced The Lost Flowers of Alice Hart starring Sigourney Weaver, and the Liane Moriarty adaptation The Last Anniversary for AMC+ and Foxtel/Binge. She is currently in post production on US thriller The Good Daughter, starring Rose Byrne and Meghann Fahy for Peacock. 

On the film side, her credits include Netflix’s Luckiest Girl Alive starring Mila Kunis, which debuted at #1 globally; The box office hit Warm Bodies; Glendyn Ivin’s Penguin Bloom; Rob Connolly’s box office hit The Dry; Jennifer Kent’s AACTA-winning The Nightingale; Abe Forsythe’s Little Monsters; and the TIFF selections Penguin Bloom and Addition. 

Bruna also produces content for her platform The Brunaverse including her podcast Invisible Roadmap. 

Ben Thompson is the founder and CEO of Employment Hero, a platform that helps businesses manage people, payroll, and compliance. With a background in finance and employment law, and over 20 years of experience, he’s built one of Australia’s fastest-growing tech companies by focusing on practical solutions to real problems in the workplace.

He offers a clear, hands-on perspective on leadership – what it takes to scale a business, build strong teams, and stay focused in a fast-changing environment.

Laura Henshaw is the co-founder and CEO of Kic, a wellness platform that’s redefined how a generation engages with health, movement, and mindset.

With a community-first approach and a sharp focus on trust, Laura has grown Kic into one of Australia’s most recognisable wellness brands. She’ll share how she’s building in a saturated space, what consumers really value now, and why brand integrity matters more than ever.

Robin Khuda is the founder and CEO of AirTrunk, the leading hyperscale data centre provider in Asia-Pacific and Japan.

He built the company to meet the region’s growing demand for cloud and AI infrastructure, with a footprint across five countries. In 2024, AirTrunk was acquired in a record $24 billion deal led by Blackstone and CPP Investments. Robin brings a clear perspective on scaling infrastructure and staying ahead of technology shifts.

Currently Chief Executive Officer of Terrace Tower Group (TTG), Richard leads the privately owned investment group’s operations in Sydney and New York. Richard has spearheaded the expansion of the company’s asset and investment portfolio, evolving beyond TTG’s commercial property legacy to diversify across the capital structure in equity and credit, private and public markets; with a particular emphasis on private-credit investing, and a non-traditional investment allocation.

Co-Founder of production company Karlinberg Entertainment and a founding partner in Hollywood production company Material Pictures. Richard is on the Board of Tropfest, and is also an Executive Advisory Board Member of disruptive biotech company Colossal Laboratories & Biosciences and an Angel 8VC Investor with technology and life-sciences firm 8VC Group. He has a Bachelor of Commerce and Law (Accounting) from the University of New South Wales.

Nick Mowbray has quietly built one of the most disruptive companies in the world. As co-founder of ZURU, he’s behind global brands like Bunch O Balloons, MONDAY Haircare, and ZURU Tech — a new venture rethinking how homes are designed and built.

He’ll share lessons from growing across categories, leading with innovation, and thinking long-term in a fast-moving world.

Dr Mary Manning is the NRFC’s inaugural Chief Investment Officer. Mary joined the NRFC in July 2024 after more than 25 years’ experience in finance, economics and investment in Australia and overseas, including in New York, London and Singapore. 

She was previously a Portfolio Manager at Ellerston Capital and Aphinity Investment Management, and also held senior investment positions at Oaktree Capital and Soros Funds Management. 

Dr Manning has an MBA from Harvard Business School, a PhD in Economics from the University of Sydney and has completed additional courses at Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government and the Cambridge Institute for Sustainable Leadership.  

She is a member of 100 Women in Finance and is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. 

Sarah Walsh brings a rare perspective to the business of sport – as both a former Matilda and a leader driving investment and innovation in football.

She played a central role in delivering one of the most commercially successful FIFA Women’s World Cups, securing over $389 million in funding and setting new standards for audience engagement and commercial return. Her perspective reveals how sport, when taken seriously, becomes both a cultural force and a commercial strategy.

Daniel Petre is one of Australia’s most experienced tech investors, founder of Airtree Ventures and former Microsoft exec.

Now leading StartGiving, he brings a clear view of where funding is flowing, what’s drying up, the macro forces reshaping business strategy, and where the smart bets lie for 2026 and beyond.

She is the Founder and Creative Director of ELLE EFFECT.

While she is known for her golden tan and beachy blonde waves, Elle is also one of Australia’s most popular fashion identities and have carved a very successful career both locally and internationally. Spanning a career of 10 years in the business, she has established herself as an inspiring businesswoman, digital creative and fashion consultant.

Steve Baxter is the founder and lead investor of Beaten Zone Venture Partners, a specialist defence technology venture capital firm supporting sovereign Australian Defence capabilities for the allied market.

A former regular soldier in the Australian Army, he went on to a successful career as a telecommunications entrepreneur, founding two businesses and taking both through private and public exits. He is now an active investor in Australia, with over 90 portfolio companies.

Steve is a proud father of three daughters, husband to a gorgeous wife, an avid fisherman, and a passionate advocate for innovation in the Australian Defence sector.

Dom Price spent 12 years at tech juggernaut Atlassian, joining as employee number 600 and leaving when the company had grown to 16,000 people and a valuation north of AUD $60 billion. As Atlassian’s Work Futurist, he spent half his time experimenting with new ways of working inside the business, and the other half with customers around the world — helping them adapt, change, and thrive. He’s partnered with organisations like Spotify, ANZ Bank, Red Bull, Telstra, Morgan Stanley, British Telecom, Lloyds of London, Xero, Coles, and even spends 2 weeks a year in Canberra working with the government!  

Dom is a passionate advocate for rethinking leadership, culture, and the human side of technology. He believes the future of work isn’t about robots replacing humans — it’s about leaders designing organisations where humans and AI amplify each other. Known for his cheeky humour and ability to challenge comfortable thinking, Dom now works with global organisations to help them break legacy habits, innovate at speed, and build teams that flourish in the age of acceleration.

Swati Dave is an experienced CEO and non-executive director with an established track record of successfully leading and transforming financing businesses covering domestic and international markets. 

She was most recently the Managing Director and CEO at Export Finance Australia from 2017 to 2022, where she led a significant business and cultural transformation to make the organisation more impactful and inclusive. 

Ms Dave has over 30 years of banking and financial sector experience across a number of sectors, including infrastructure, natural resources, energy and utilities, renewable energy and property. She has held senior roles at National Australia Bank, Deutsche Bank, AMP Henderson Global Investors, Bankers Trust and Westpac. 

Swati currently serves as the Chair of the Advisory Board for the Centre for Australia India Relations, Member of the RBA Governance Board, Non-Executive Director on the Boards of the Australian Financial Complaints Authority and Treasury Corporation of Victoria, and an independent member of the QIC Global Infrastructure Investment Committee.  

She is a member of the Trade 2040 Taskforce convened by the Minister for Trade and Tourism and a Multicultural Ambassador for Cricket Australia. 

Jacqui Lennon is the Chief Technology and Transformation Officer for Zurich’s business in Australia. She is responsible for delivering technology solutions across the organisation as well as continuous improvement in the way we work including the use of enterprise agile within our business. Jacqui moved into this role in March 2025 after being the Head of Retail Life insurance business at Zurich Australia since 2021.  

Prior to Zurich, Jacqui was Head of Product and Customer Experience at Allianz Retire+, a purpose-built retirement product life company, where she was responsible for the design of innovative products and client experience. 

With 20 years’ experience in financial services, Jacqui has also previously held executive roles in product design and strategy at IRESS, as well as roles with Macquarie Group, including as a division director leading client experience in Personal Banking. 

Jacqui holds a Master of Criminology, Bachelor of Laws and Bachelor of Economics from the University of Sydney. She also holds a Master of Business and Technology from the University of NSW. Jacqui attended the Stanford University Customer-Focused Innovation | School Bootcamp and is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. 

Frank Fillmann is EVP & GM of Salesforce Australia and New Zealand. In this role, Frank helps companies of all sizes bring their AI and agentic vision to life by unlocking new efficiencies, revenue streams, and ways of working. Frank has over 20 years of experience in the technology industry, including 13 years at Salesforce and in senior roles at Amazon Web Services and IBM. 
 
Frank is passionate about business being a platform for change. He co-founded Salesforce Warmline Connections to help women and other underrepresented groups access networking and opportunities. His recent fundraising efforts include leading the company’s support of Steptember and Breakthrough T1D. 
 
Frank lives in Sydney with his wife and their four children. 

Adelaide-born and raised, Pan Koutlakis is the CEO and co-founder of EatClub – Australia’s leading demand-based
dining platform helping hospitality venues transform quieter trading windows into meaningful profit. With a
background in economics and a deep passion for food culture, Pan launched EatClub in 2017 to solve one of
hospitality’s most costly challenges: unsold capacity and missed revenue opportunities.

From neighbourhood cafes to multi-site restaurant groups, EatClub enables operators to publish limited-time,
strategic offers that attract nearby diners – helping fill seats and increase revenue during lower-demand moments
without eroding brand value.

Pan is a committed advocate for profitability and sustainability in hospitality. He regularly speaks on the power of
dynamic pricing, technology-driven behaviour change, and the importance of flexible, operator-first platforms in a
shifting economic environment.

Sean is one of Australia’s most experienced business journalists and co-host of Fear & Greed, the country’s most popular business podcast.

He was formerly Editorial Director of Fairfax Media and has reported on economics, financial services and superannuation for more than 20 years.

At Aylmer Anderson, Sean works directly with clients to create written, podcast, and video content that delivers results.

Tim Doyle is the Founder and CEO of Eucalyptus, a leading digital healthcare company building the future of high-touch, high-quality care through brands such as Pilot, Kin Fertility, Software, and Juniper. Since founding Eucalyptus in 2019, Tim has led the company’s rapid growth and expansion into new models of personalized care that blend technology with clinical excellence.

Before Eucalyptus, Tim was Head of Marketing and Strategy at Koala, where he helped scale one of Australia’s most iconic DTC brands. With a background spanning strategic planning, growth marketing, and digital innovation, Tim brings deep expertise in building and scaling brands that resonate with consumers and deliver lasting impact.

Felicity has spent her career in tech and entertainment, leading teams at organisations like Google, YouTube, and most recently as Global Head of Entertainment at TikTok. 

Felicity now consults on media strategy and is producing her first feature film. 

Scott Bidmead is a TV host, award winning entrepreneur and wellbeing expert. Scott has experience in tech startups, creative directing film and advertising campaigns and hosting TV shows across the world.

Winner of 2019 Mumbrella Next award: “The jury said Scott is entrepreneurial, courageous, purpose driven and passionate.”

Scott has appeared as a host on the Today Show, having interviewed everyone from The Rock to Morgan Freeman, host of a travel series, Totally Wild (ten), and various wellbeing and psychology segments.

He has built Coaching Software Euda, and through his agency Mead Media worked with clients such as the Commonwealth Games, Amex, Success Resources, GQ and other global brands and tech startups. Scott is certified in both psychology (MAPP) and Journalism from CQU, Griffith and Berkeley, and is an ambassador for headspace (former chairperson) and Youngcare.  

He has also directed the likes of Jason Momoa and worked across various international TV shows (Network Ten, Nine and more), commercials and film projects.

Jacqui Duncan is the General Manager NSW at Stone & Chalk, working with visionary founders and ecosystem leaders to turn bold ideas into scalable businesses. She believes that when startups are surrounded by the right people, opportunities, and support, extraordinary things happen. Jacqui oversees state operations and leads the new Tech Central Innovation Hub, supporting more than 1,000 innovators and entrepreneurs and driving growth and collaboration across Australia’s largest startup hub. She has helped shape the national startup landscape by enabling founder success, advancing international trade, and contributing as an advisor and investment scout.

Sarah O’Carroll is a seasoned media professional with extensive experience in journalism and editorial leadership. As Editor-in-Chief of Forbes Australia, she leads the brand’s Australian editorial operations, focusing on delivering high-quality content across multiple platforms, including print and digital. Previously, she served as Editor-in-Chief of Yahoo Finance, where she played a pivotal role in expanding the brand’s influence in the finance sector. O’Carroll is known for her commitment to fostering impactful conversations and driving positive change through media.

Shivaune Field is a journalist with Forbes Australia reporting on tech and innovation, entrepreneurs, investing, leadership and national and international news. Field is the editorial lead for Forbes Women in Australia, overseeing the bi-monthly newsletter and curating, sourcing and editing content from contributors.

The Australian-born journalist has reported extensively in the U.S. and Australia. Before Forbes, Field was a journalist with Bloomberg Media based in Los Angeles covering innovation and the business of media and entertainment.

Walkley-Award winning writer Mark Whittaker has been in the media almost four decades, specialising for most of that in long-form journalism.
He has written, co-authored and ghosted 15 books ranging from the best-selling Sins of the Brother, to Mike Willesee’s Memoirs. He worked with cricketer Adam Gilchrist on his Walking to Victory, with Roseanne Catt on her account of ten years behind bars following a wrongful conviction, and with former Bandido Caesar Campbell on his three books about the biker life.
His work has appeared in publications as diverse as the South Coast Register and The New York Times. He has been nominated for feature-writing Walkley Awards three times (for stories in The Weekend Australian Magazine and Good Weekend magazine) winning it in 2005 with a story about a group of strangers who ran into a burning childcare centre. He has been nominated for three Kennedy Awards, winning it in 2012 for a story about sexual assault allegations levelled at rugby league player Brett Stewart.
He has made two podcasts with Audible and another he wrote, researched and voiced for SBS True Stories was, briefly, the top-ranked podcast in Australi.