Get to know your speakers!

CHIEF MARKETING OFFICER, BRISBANE 2032 OLYMPICS & PARALYMPICS GAMES

Brisbane, Australia

Originally from Adelaide, Australia, Brent joined as Chief Marketing Officer for the Brisbane 2032 Olympic & Paralympic Games Organising Committee, based in Queensland in November 2025. A globally experienced Executive leader & award-winning CEO and marketer, Brent has lived and worked across Australia and Fiji. He is a specialist in marketing and branding, tourism, destination development and events, and has proudly led teams to develop globally recognised brands.

‘YUAN YUGGERA’
ELDER AND SENIOR ANCIENT

Uncle Shannon Ruska is a Storyteller for the Yuggera-Toorabul people. He has been delivering Welcome to Country for 30 years in Brisbane City welcoming guests all around the Globe. Recently, he as chosen by the Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese as an Ambassador in the 51st Pacific Summit in Fiji.

Uncle Shannon has educated over 20 million people in England, France, America, China, Germany, New Zealand, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Holland and many more via live performances and live TV shows.

Uncle Shannon is currently the Co-Chair of the Indigenous Advisory group for the Brisbane Festival, a Board member for the Inaugural First Nations Tourism Queensland, selected by the Lord Mayor of Brisbane as 25 Elites for the City's Brisbane Alliance to drive the City beyond 2032 Olympic Games, A current Indigenous Advisor for the Brisbane Committee focusing on Reconciliation for 3000+ Corporate companies.

He is the owner-director of Tribal Experiences Australia, the No 1 booked Cultural Company in the State of Queensland performing 900+ Welcome to Countries per year.

MANAGING DIRECTOR, ARTICULUS

Brisbane, Australia

Amanda is a communications and engagement professional who has made a career out of solving tough projects. Whether it's controversial, or there's a lot at stake, Amanda thrives on challenging projects - for instance, Amanda led the community and stakeholders engagement for the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Legacy Plan.

She loves data and digital and has chaired the nation’s first Centre for Civic Innovation for the Smart Cities Council for Aus New Zealand. Amanda has judged the inaugural national Smart Cities Awards and worked in industry-first data and digital engagement tools.

A former journalist, Amanda was a weekly panellist on ABC Radio's Hidden Persuaders program that critiques advertising, PR and marketing for 16 years up to 2023. And in 2024 has been appearing on ABC radio’s Spin Cycle program.

CHIEF STRATEGY OFFICER, SEEDLINGLABS

Bangalore, India

Anshuman Kumar is a senior communications and strategy leader with 25+ years of experience building brands, shaping culture, and driving business impact inside global technology companies. He is known for translating organisational vision into integrated communication strategies that attract top talent, strengthen reputation, and accelerate growth. 

As the Chief Strategy Officer at SeedlingLabs, he aligns AI-native product development with human-centric innovation to deliver sustainable value. Previously, as Director of Global Brand and Communications at Intuit, he led a brand transformation that earned the company the #1 "Best Company to Work For" ranking in India - an achievement later featured as a Harvard Business Review case study.

Anshuman is also a distinguished Leadership Coach for several senior leaders globally, and currently serves on the IABC Asia Pacific Board as Secretary and Governance Director, actively exploring the intersection of leadership, strategy, communications, and AI.

MANAGING DIRECTOR, PESEL & CARR

Melbourne, Australia

Barbara Pesel is the Chair of IABC APAC Region and the founder and Managing Director of Pesel & Carr, an internationally awarded strategic communications and reputation advisory firm established in 1997. For more than 30 years she has advised boards, CEOs, regulators and senior leaders through periods of scrutiny, disruption and crisis, working across health, education, sport and the not-for-profit sector. Barbara's expertise sits at the intersection of governance, brand and stakeholder confidence, and she is regularly engaged when stakes are high and the environment is complex. Her counsel is sought for its rigour and practicality, particularly where political, commercial and public interests intersect.

CEO & MARKETING FUTURIST, GRG - GLOBAL REV GEN

Brisbane, Australia

Bosco Anthony is the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) for GRG (Global Rev Gen), an internationally recognised, progressive, fully integrated marketing collective specialising in digital media buying solutions and consultancy.

Bosco is a seasoned digital strategist, disruptive storyteller, marketing futurist and international speaker with a background in corporate leadership, communications and business operational maturity – all fueled by an entrepreneurial spirit.

As the Chief Executive Officer and Managing Partner of multiple global agencies and consultancies, he brings a dynamic mix of expertise in Technology Adoption, Public Relations, Communications, Marketing, and Advertising. Bosco’s impressive 20-year portfolio includes completing over 1,000 digital projects and 500 strategies across more than 300 different sectors. He is known as an influential business leader, having spoken at TEDxStanley Park and at more than 1,000 global and national events, conferences and workshops.

PRINCIPAL, DAVID IMBER ADVISORY

Melbourne, Australia

David Imber is the Principal of David Imber Advisory, a firm that specialises in crisis and issues management, strategic communications and training. 

He enjoys working at the intersection of policy, politics and media, so is no stranger to how wicked problems and conflict can play out in the public square. David regularly supports clients through complex issues and high-stakes moments, including crisis response, media management, stakeholder engagement, brand positioning, and long-term reputation building. He's seen challenges from every angle, which allows him to offer calm, considered advice that’s grounded in both strategy and lived experience.

Across a career of over 25 years he's worked in house as well as advised across the public, private and not for profit sectors. David is a non executive Director and Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. He is currently a Director of Holmesglen Institute of TAFE and of the Victorian Pride Centre. 

PRESIDENT, DITO CME HOLDINGS CORPORATION | PRESIDENT, MANAGEMENT ASSOCIATION OF THE PHILIPPINES

Dr Donald Patrick Lim is one of the Philippines' most accomplished leaders in digital transformation, business innovation, and nation building. Over two decades, he has held senior leadership roles across media, advertising, telecommunications, and digital sectors, including Country CEO of Dentsu Aegis Philippines, Chief Digital Officer of ABS-CBN Corporation, and CEO of Yehey Corporation.

A passionate advocate for emerging technologies, Dr Lim founded the Blockchain Council of the Philippines, the Cybersecurity Council of the Philippines, and the Global AI Council Philippines — uniting government, industry, and academe to advance digital governance and innovation. He is also a respected educator, teaching at institutions including De La Salle University and Enderun Colleges, and has authored three books. He holds an MBA with distinction from Murdoch University and a Doctor in Business Administration from the University of Phoenix.

Dr Lim's leadership has been recognised with numerous prestigious honours, including the Ten Outstanding Young Men (TOYM) Award for Community Building in Digital Media, the Agora Award for Marketing Communications, and recognition as a Young Global Leader of the World Economic Forum. He is the only Filipino to be named in the DMN 40 Under 40 list in New York. Beyond the boardroom, he serves as President of Operation Smile Philippines and holds the rank of Lieutenant Colonel in the Philippine Air Force Reserve Command.

FOUNDER / MANAGING DIRECTOR, AGILE CHANGE LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE / 3RD ACT BUSINESS LAB

Melbourne, Australia

Dr Jen Frahm has spent three decades helping people make sense of change. A global expert in organizational change, transformation, and change communication, she's known for translating complexity into action—equal parts truth-teller, ambiguity-tamer, and practical problem-solver.

Jen is the co-founder of the Agile Change Leadership Institute, where she has helped thousands of practitioners and leaders build the capability to lead through complex, continuously evolving environments. She is the author of four books.

Originally an academic, Jen's doctoral research at Queensland University of Technology examined how change communication shapes change receptivity—work that continues to underpin her thinking today. She has designed and delivered change across a wide range of industries, and delivered value in more than 80 countries.

DIRECTOR, THE EBS EFFECT

Brisbane, Australia

Emma Boddington-Stubbs has built a career helping leaders strengthen relationships, navigate change, and connect authentically with their audiences. 

With more than 25 years’ experience across corporate, government and not-for-profit sectors, Emma believes people may forget what you said, but they’ll never forget how you made them feel.

Now a freelance communication specialist, Emma has a passion for employee communication and issues management, and a talent for making leaders sound ah-may-zing.

Once described as a 'human labrador', Emma is also a serial volunteer, funeral celebrant, enthusiastic book collector, and lover of beach air and em dashes.

HEAD OF DIGITAL CONTENT, FEBA / PESEL & CARR

Melbourne, Australia

Felicity Cull is Head of Digital Content at Pesel & Carr and co-founder of FeBa, a digital training consultancy. A social media and community management strategist, she brings experience across crisis communications, content marketing, campaign management and governance, with a career spanning higher education, entertainment, telecommunications and government. Felicity led Victoria's Department of Health social media response during the first 18 months of COVID-19, using audience insights to guide action in real time. She is a central part of Pesel & Carr's issues and crisis response team, and is known for her practical, grounded approach to managing communities and moderating difficult conversations under pressure.

FOUNDER & PRINCIPAL, ECHOMAKERS

Melbourne, Australia

Julia is a strategic marketing and communications consultant with interests in narrative architecture, behavioural economics and organisational alignment. With an MBA and a Bachelor of Journalism, she works at the intersection of business, brand and communication.

As Founder and Principal Consultant of Echomakers, Julia partners with service-based and B2B organisations to deliver integrated programs that build trust, strengthen positioning and drive commercial outcomes.

Her experience spans corporate affairs, brand, marketing and communication strategy for Fortune 500 companies, ASX 100 organisations, government agencies and high growth businesses navigating transformation and growth.

Julia is a former President of the Victorian chapter of the IABC and holds both Strategic Communication Management Professional (SCMP) and Certified Practising Marketer (CPM) accreditations.

MANAGING DIRECTOR, NEW WORK CONSULTING

Perth, Australia

Julissa Shrewsbury is one of Australia's leading specialists in board, leadership and team branding and strategic brand-culture alignment. Julissa has worked across a range of industries, with a focus on organisations that must unite nationally dispersed teams.

Julissa’s work sits at the intersection of organisational strategy and human identity — helping leaders and their people develop the clarity, confidence and communication capability that builds reputation from the inside out. She has a passion for supporting the elevation of communication professionals inside their organisations, helping them to be seen as true strategic leaders to create real impact with the work they do.

A nationally recognised speaker, published author and regular presenter for the Australian Institute of Company Directors and a range of professional associations, Julissa’s work has been covered in the AFR's BOSS Magazine, the Company Director Magazine, the Law Institute Journal and Brief Magazine.

DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS & STAKEHOLDER RELATIONS, MELBOURNE PARK

Melbourne, Australia

Katherine Oakley is a senior communications and stakeholder engagement executive with experience leading reputation, government relations, media, brand and strategic communications. As Director of Communications and Stakeholder Relations at Melbourne Park, she oversees enterprise communications, stakeholder engagement, organisational positioning, and strategic reputation initiatives for one of Australia’s most recognised sports and entertainment destinations.

PRINCIPAL, KATIE BENNETT-STENTON ADVISORY

Melbourne, Australia

Katie Bennett-Stenton is a senior marketing and communications strategist with more than 25 years’ experience, including leadership roles with ANZ and Deloitte, helping senior leaders and complex organisations build profile, trust and influence. She was recognised as the 2025 Certified Practising Marketer of the Year.

DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS AND CORPORATE AFFIARS - APAC / MEA, ACI WORLDWIDE

Singapore

Lyn Kwek is a communications leader with 20+ years of experience turning complex narratives into business outcomes. As Director of Communications & Corporate Affairs at ACI Worldwide (NASDAQ: ACIW), she partners with C-suite executives, regulators, and media to craft narratives that build credibility, shape policy, and support business growth.

An active industry speaker, she has spoken at PRCA APAC Conferences and Women in Payments Symposium, championing the business value of communications and the advancement of women in financial services. Grounded in an MBA in Marketing & Strategy from Nanyang Business School and early career experience in technology sales and demand generation, Lyn brings a distinctive commercial lens to communications, one that connects strategy to story and story to outcomes.

CEO & PRINCIPAL CONSULTANT, CUTTLEFISH

Brisbane, Australia

Mel Loy SCMP is a serial ideator who is obsessed with how humans behave, and what that means for effective communications. Her small but mighty team at Cuttlefish deliver internal and change communication services to clients around the world.

She’s the author of two books, a host of multiple podcasts, and an international award winner for her training and change comms projects. Mel is also a sought-after speaker, facilitator, and coach.

When she’s not busy fixating on human behaviour, you’ll find her in the gym teaching group fitness classes, or being the self-proclaimed World’s Coolest Aunty.

HEAD OF STRATEGIC COMMUNICATION, MELBOURNE PARK

Melbourne, Australia

Mitchell Welch is a senior strategic communications professional and experienced leader specialising in organisational storytelling for places with unique stories to tell. As Head of Strategic Communications at Australia’s epicentre of live events, he recently led the delivery of the Melbourne Park masterbrand. He is also an award-winning writer, having contributed creative and critical work to dozens of literary journals in Australia and abroad.

DIRECTOR, NERYL EAST COMMUNICATIONS PTY LIMITED

Woonona, Australia

Dr Neryl East is an authority on trustworthy communication for leaders and brands.

She’s worked with leaders at the highest levels of business and government and helps organisations communicate with credibility, especially under pressure.  

Neryl ha been a TV and radio reporter, an Olympic announcer and a trusted adviser during some of Australia’s biggest public controversies.

She has a PhD in Journalism and is the author of five books including an Amazon best-seller on media and reputation.

DIRECTOR, IMPACCCT

Gold Coast, Australia

Petra Zink is a strategic advisor, keynote speaker, and author who works with founders, executives, and leadership teams navigating growth, transformation, and what comes next.

Drawing on two decades across business growth, leadership, and brand strategy, Petra works with leaders and organisations to turn expertise into influence that people trust, follow, and act on - especially in a world where skepticism is high and credibility alone is no longer enough.

Petra is the founder of impaCCCt and author of Trusted Authority™ and her latest book, ROI on Trust.

PRINCIPAL CONSULTANT - SPEAKING & ENGAGEMENT, A GLASS OF WATER

Melbourne, Australia

Shea Evans is a speaking and engagement coach with a focus on facilitating, a skill that he has been honing since he was a teenager.

Working with business leaders, Shea has used his acting and improv background to bring teams together for robust conversations that bring clarity, foster team-work and provide direction. His most recent work was with La Trobe University and their 1200 people leaders.

As a Principal Consultant of A Glass of Water Shea works with organisations on how they can uplift their capability on real-life audience engagement and leadership development.

VP MARKETING & COMMUNICATIONS

New Delhi, India

Subho Das is a former journalist and communication professional based in India. He has over two decades of experience in public affairs, marketing and communications, having worked with top MNCs in India. He has served on the board of IABC India as well as the IABC APAC region.

OWNER, BLAK IGNITED

Brisbane, Australia

Tammy Baart is a proud Dharug woman of the Boorooberongal clan, an award-winning educational leader, and the Founder of Blak Ignited - a purpose-drive consultancy igniting human potential through honouring culture, reclaiming identity, and transforming systems. With over two decades of executive experience across educational, corporate, and community sectors, Tammy brings a fierce commitment to disrupting inequity and reimagining how we lead, learn, and live.

Walking in two worlds, Tammy weaves Western knowledge and understanding to amplify the valuable contributions as well as opportunities to honour, embrace and celebrate Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures through Cultural Intelligence (how we work together across cultures), Emotional Intelligence (People Skills), and Leadership.

Tammy is the creator of the podcast, Blak N White, supporting individuals on their journey towards growth.

DIRECTOR, ROWLEY ADVISORY

Melbourne, Australia

Trudi Rowley is a marketing and communications leader who works with boards, executives and teams to strengthen capability, use data to make better decisions, and align marketing and communication activity with business priorities.

CEO & CO-FOUNDER, AI LEADERS & CLEAR LEADERS

Geelong, Australia

Wayne helps organisations and teams realise their potential in today’s new world of work. A world where the opportunities created by AI are balanced against the strain of accelerating change and uncertainty. This is achieved with a focus on enabling AI capability, strategic alignment and communication and change capacity.

Wayne is one of Australia’s most experienced AI enablement leaders. He’s provided AI training to more than 3,000 people, written four research papers on the future of work and spoken in webinars and interviews across five continents.

He is also a senior leadership, strategy and change communication professional. He has advised boards, executives and senior leaders on strategy and alignment, transformation, thought leadership, employee enablement, technology adoption and behavioural change.

CEO & CO-FOUNDER, ARTIS ADVISORY / CLEAR LEADERS

Melbourne, Australia

Zora Artis helps leaders do the hard work of alignment when the stakes are high, and the path isn’t obvious. As CEO of Artis Advisory, co-founder of The Alignment People and Clear Leaders, she coaches, advises, and facilitates C-suite and senior teams through change and complexity, turning competing priorities into clear decisions, stronger cohesion and action.

Over three decades in executive leadership, advisory, consulting, strategic brand, and strategic communication, Zora has partnered with major brands, government, and purpose-led organisations to connect purpose, culture, strategy, and performance. She is a Research Fellow with the Team Flow Institute and, with Wayne Aspland, has recently finalised their third global research paper on Strategic Alignment and Leadership. Zora is also an author, contributing to The 7 Cs of the New Communication Compass: Insights, Inspiration, and Strategies for Navigating Future Forward Success.