Speakers
These people are leading or taking part in one or more event.
Speaker
Art facilitator
Born in Afghanistan, Elyas is an emerging visual artist and poet, now based in Adelaide. He has a Masters in Visual Arts from UniSA and has exhibited nationally...
Inaugural director, MOD, University of South Australia
As a futurist based at the futuristic Museum of Discovery, Kristin thrives on asking provocative questions about the role of science at the intersection...
Co-founder, The Sparkke Change Beverage Company
Sparkke is an all-female alcohol company tackling entrenched biases of a male-dominated industry worth billions per annum. Kari’s extensive international marketing experience is now...
Senior lecturer & director, Match studio
Match studio is an inspiring model for inter-disciplinary teaching and research. Jane’s students are developing knowledge and skills within a context and reinforcing them...
Singer, writer, artistic director and public advocate for the arts
Awarded the International Society of Performing Arts Citation of Merit, Robyn combines artistic direction with performance, strategic advice, mentoring of younger artists and artistic...
Artistic director, ActNow Theatre
Edwin won a 2015 SA Ruby Award and the Australia Council’s 2018 Kirk Robson Award. His work focuses on interactive theatre and participatory storytelling, exploring social justice themes.
Daring human
From the vantage of a handstand on top of a tall stack of wooden chairs, Dan’s mission is simple: To dare himself, and those...
Vice chancellor and post doctoral research fellow, CAST Centre for Art, Society, and Transformation
Marnie is an artist-researcher at RMIT University. She’s had the enviable task of exploring the relationship between food, sociality and sustainability through a series of...
Head, School of Creative Industries, UniSA
Jason is an internationally recognised researcher in media, merchandising, screen studies, and popular understandings of law. He occasionally finds his previous experience as a stand-up comedian very...
General Manager, Customer Innovation & Brand, ACH Group
Having 20 years’ experience in the health industry under her belt, Jani has a passion for ensuring South Australians live good lives.
Renewable energy and decarbonisation manager, UniSA
Stephen is a scientist with a passion for investigating how we can improve the quality of people’s lives through better building and precinct design,...
Reporter and broadcaster
David co-presents ABC Radio Adelaide’s breakfast program. His account of the Ivan Polyukhovich prosecution, A case to answer, was republished this year to mark...
Specialist magistrate, Children's Court
As deputy chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia, Graham helped to create an enforceable body of international criminal law.
Data adviser and writer
Ellen is a respected expert in data sharing, open data and artificial intelligence (AI) ethics. Her forthcoming book Made by humans: the AI condition is about...
South Australian chair in energy, UniSA
Frank has been involved in research, consultancy and teaching in the areas of thermal storage, low energy buildings, air conditioning, refrigeration and solar thermal...
Director systems innovation at TACSI
With two decades of experience in leading systems innovation, Ingrid is changing the ways that we approach place-based disadvantage, and fund and commission social...
Social commentator
Jane has published ten books, including the two novels Just a girl and Just a queen and memoir Plain speaking Jane. She created and...
Lecturer, Department of History, School of Humanities, University of Adelaide
Jenni is an Eastern Arrente woman who lectures in Aboriginal cultures and histories. Her research focuses on the impacts of removal on the Stolen...
Senior research associate, Bentham Project, University College London Faculty of Laws
Tim is working on Jeremy Bentham’s writings on Australia for a project funded by UK Research and Innovation’s Arts and Humanities Research Council.
Director general, Australian Space Agency
Megan recently led the review of Australia’s space industry capability. She is a director of Rio Tinto, CSL Limited and CARE Australia, and former...
Singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist
Taasha is best known as the front woman for the highly successful, multi-ARIA-winning Australian band The Audreys. She released her first solo album in 2016.
Neuroscientist, Flinders University
Born in Italy, Marcello is dedicated to public education in neuroscience. He’s a member of the Australian Academy of Science, and holds the title...
Director, Fire Hazard Australia; immersive performer and entrepreneur
Having left a successful career in IT and software engineering, Marshall uses improvisational theatre with corporate clients and educational institutions. He’s won awards at the...
Managing director, Freerange Future
Nick is an AFoI board member and runs creative agency, Freerange Future. He believes our values are the key to personal happiness and the...
Barrister, Justice of the SA Supreme Court
Michael was senior defence counsel in Australia’s only war crimes trials. He has a keen interest in modern history, in particular the Nuremberg trials.
Match Tournament workshop leader
Aaron is a design educator and researchers at UniSA, who develops innovative inter-disciplinary teaching models in higher education. His research focuses on understanding the...
Emeritus professor of History, Monash University
Graeme is Australia’s leading urban historian, interested in national identity, public history and family history. His books include The rise and fall of marvellous...
Director, Drama for Schools Program, University of Texas
Katie Dawson has written two books and presents locally and globally about ways to increase student engagement and ownership of learning through the arts.
Honorary associate professor in environmental humanities, UNSW Sydney
Mark believes science, technology and economics should serve the community at large. He looks for ways to achieve ecologically-sustainable and socially-just development.
Visual artist
James exhibits regularly across Australia in publicly-funded institutions, commercial galleries and artist-run spaces. His particular interests are in painting, machines as art, graffiti, adventure...
Co-chief executive officer and co-founder, Civic Ledger
Katrina’s interest in blockchain technologies is driven by her curiosity of the potential they offer to replace government legacy systems, thereby delivering efficiencies, stimulating...
Australian street artist
Peter is known for his clandestine poster installation campaigns challenging Australian identity, most notably Real Australians say welcome, and for works based on the...
Assistant professor George Mason University, Virginia, USA
Writer, activist and co-founding editor of the e-zine Jadaliyya, Noura is also a human rights attorney. She researches humanitarian law and refugee law.
Foundation director, University of Adelaide’s Australian Smart City Consortium
Nick conducts research into computer network design and development, blockchain, network security, privacy preservation and the Internet of Things. His educational research focuses on...
Building construction manager, LendLease
With 35 years’ experience in the construction industry, Guy’s passion is sustainable design. His industry perspectives were gained through corporate property management, cost consultancy,...
Head, military heraldry & technology, Australian War Memorial, Canberra
Based at the Australian War Memorial for over 20 years, Nick knows a lot about military heraldry. He’s visited Afghanistan twice and regularly leads...
Manager arts in health at FMC, Flinders Medical Centre
Ambassador for the Institute for Creative Health, Sally works towards having arts in health programs validated and integrated into the delivery of health services.
Co-director of the Centre for Media Transition, University of Technology Sydney
As a reporter, editor and academic, Peter has lived through the digital revolution in news media – and spends his waking hours wondering how...
Freelance journalist and author
Nina is a Walkley Award-winning journalist and anti-sexual-assault advocate. She headed up New Matilda’s exclusive #MeToo investigation into workplace sexual harassment.
Chief executive, South Australian Film Corporation
Courtney’s experience in TV production and commissioning has been extensive. She’s held executive and senior management positions at Screen NSW, ABC TV, Endemol Australia,...
Author, Australian Children’s Laureate 2018–2019
Morris writes fiction for children and young adults. His hugely popular and internationally-published books explore serious and sometimes confronting subjects in funny and unexpected...
Space archeologist, Flinders University
An advisory council member of the Space Industry Association of Australia, Alice is an internationally-recognised leader in the field of space archaeology. She tweets...
Artist, independent curator and writer
Based in Hobart, Julie loves uncovering – through her research and art practice – subsumed histories, many of which refer to her family’s experiences...
Editor, New Matilda
Chris founded National Indigenous Times and the magazine Tracker. He’s won a Walkley Award, a Walkley High Commendation and two Human Rights Awards for his reporting.
Director, Australian Orthopaedic Association National Joint Replacement Registry
Steve is the international expert in arthroplasty registries. He conducts research and contributes to policy development and has presented and published extensively on the...
Professor of history, Australian National University
Tom is a prize-winning author whose works include Forests of ash: an environmental history, Slicing the silence: voyaging to Antarctica and The art of...
GetUp Organiser
Paul has been involved in community organising for nearly 20 years and, before he knew it, doing something about the state of the world...
Visiting professor, Kings College London Policy Institute
As well as being founder of Lateral Economics and Peach Financial, Nicholas is adjunct professor, UTS Business School, and a policy economist, entrepreneur and...
Founder and director, GOGO Events
Sarah is an international award-winning innovator, disruptor, thought leader and crusader for a socially-equitable world.
Professor of criminology, University of Melbourne
Fiona explores how businesses create harm and commit crime, and what can be done about it. Her research projects include how to rethink regulation...
Strategic consultant and founding principal, Urban Mind
From health, wellbeing, creative cities, public art and urban life, Trish has initiated, led and managed social enterprises, projects and programs in the tertiary...
Astrophysicist, CSIRO
Astronomer, black-hole wrangler and author of When galaxies collide, Lisa is also a presenter of ABC television’s popular science series Stargazing live.
Rehabilitation engineer, Medical Device Research Institute, Flinders University
Awarded a Churchill Fellowship and Fulbright Scholarship, David has extensive experience in disability, rehabilitation engineering and assistive technologies. He recently represented Australia at the...
Principal, HASSELL
Former president of the Australian Institute of Architects (SA), David regularly contributes to the public conversation on cities, cycling and design thinking and is...
Director, Dancer, Choreographer
Victoria Hunt is an Australian-Maori performance artist, living on Gadigal land in Sydney. She works to reinstates the power of Indigenous creativity and knowledge...
Producer and director
An award-winning filmmaker and co-founder of film collaborative Closer Productions, Sophie’s currently busy directing the feature film Animals, producing a feature doc Gayby Baby...
Artist
Aldo’s four decades of distinctive practice is informed by political, religious and socio-cultural concerns. Working across painting, drawing, sculpture and installation, he has exhibited...
Environmental scientist, author, adventurer
Perhaps best known for his Antarctic expeditions, Tim is passionate about helping to solve climate change issues through his 25zero project. He now focuses...
Independent urban and rural planning consultant
A former book publisher turned urban and rural planner, Stephanie has been working on the bid for UNESCO world heritage listing of Adelaide’s Mount...
Child psychiatrist, Robinson Research Institute, University of Adelaide
Jon advocates non-pathologising approaches to mental health as well as safer, more effective and more ethical research in mental health. He regards parents and...
Founding director, Kape Communications Pty Ltd
Former senior government multicultural media and policy adviser, and former head of Multicultural Arts Victoria, Fotis writes for Daily review and Neos kosmos and...
Portfolio manager, Infrastructure, Magellan Financial Group
Ofer is a portfolio manager at Magellan, with responsibility for company analysis and portfolio management functions. He also a member of the Magellan Investment...
Professor of politics, University of Sydney and Wissenschaftszentrum Berlin
Distinguished professor at Peking University, John is renowned globally for his creative thinking about democracy. He’s currently working on a book about its decline...
Industry professor, neural and systems complexity, University of Adelaide
Fiona speaks and consults on a range of topics including the neurophysiology of human-human and human-technology interaction, neurogenesis, and how good leaders create organisations...
Vice-president and executive dean, College of Nursing and Health Sciences, Flinders University
Alison Kitson is an internationally recognised researcher and nursing leader and is the Vice President & Executive Dean of the College of Nursing &...
Co-founder and creative producer, Tallstoreez / Change Media
As a filmmaker and change agent, Carl has won national acclaim delivering workshops across the nation to remote, regional and urban communities and working...
Fellow of the Robert Bosch Academy, Berlin
Charles is an international authority, author, speaker and adviser on the use of imagination and creativity in urban change. His latest book is The...
Author, journalist, columnist and TV screenwriter
Benjamin has written The family law, Gaysia: adventures in the queer east and Quarterly essay 67: moral panic 101. The first of these is now an award-winning TV series for SBS.
Director, Centre for the Study of Social Change in the School of Psychological Science, University of Western Australia
Carmen, former Premier of WA, held portfolios across fields including education, environment, industry and innovation, and Aboriginal affairs, and was minister assisting the prime...
Director, Hugo Centre for Migration and Population Research, University of Adelaide
A recent migrant himself, Chris is well placed to comment on factors (including migration) that drive house prices, and the role that supply plays...
Managing director, Housing Choices Australia
Michael is national chair of the Community Housing Industry Association, a member of the South Australian Planning Commission and a trustee of the History...
Account director, littlelion PR
Gabrielle heads up littlelion PR, a boutique agency specialising in luxury, lifestyle and community brands. She has more than 25 years experience and works...
Barbara Hardy chair of environmental science and engineering, UniSA
Enzo is strand leader at the Future Industries Institute, UniSA, where his major research focuses on the behaviour and fate of contaminants and nutrients...
Chairman, Adelaide Sustainable Building Network
A sustainability consultant at dsquared Consulting, Ken is passionate about creating built environments which enable a positive quality of life. His work has ranged...
Climate Justice Co-Director, GetUp!
Miriam, who has been a frequent guest on media programs including the ABC shows Q&A and The drum, is a policy analyst, writer and...
Co-founder and artistic director Tallstoreez / Change Media
Since 2002, Jen has explored creative multi-disciplinary ways of addressing social justice, environmental and human rights issues. She and Carl Kuddell are high impact trouble-makers.
Executive director, Anzarts Institute
Justin has held executive roles in major arts organisations in Australia, NZ and the USA. He’s provided strategic advice to a diverse range of...
Emeritus laureate professor and professorial fellow, University of Melbourne
Stuart’s most recent books are No end of a lesson, on what happened to our universities, and Australia’s boldest experiment, on the extraordinary national...
CEO, History Trust of SA
Culture broker’ and ‘ageing provocateur’, Greg’s service has been recognised nationally with a Medal of the Order of Australia (2002), the Dame Elizabeth Murdoch...
Match Tournament lead academic, Copenhagen
Martina is a researcher in the University of Copenhagen’s Human Impact project. She’s experienced in media and communication studies and is a creative educator...
Visiting fellow, ANU
Amrita is a researcher, writer, instructor and adviser on the histories and politics of Muslim movements in Southeast Asia – especially in Malaysia –...
Senior lecturer, College of Business, Government and Law, Flinders University
Rob teaches and researches into politics and public policy. His research is in the area of social democratic politics, and his 2018 co-edited collection...
Contributing editor, Inside story
Peter’s work helps people, through dialogue, to access new ways of thinking about their challenges. His most recent book is Not quite Australian: how...
Programs and partnerships coordinator, Carbon Neutral Adelaide
Sandy is an environmental and sustainability adviser. She’s been implementing innovative solutions to advance sustainability practices in a variety of industries for over 20...
Executive officer, ANZ Dialysis and Transplant Registry (ANZDATA)
Stephen, a kidney specialist at the Royal Adelaide Hospital and SAHMRI, is researching the epidemiology of chronic kidney disease – who is affected, their...
Director, Centre for Traumatic Stress Studies, University of Adelaide
Alexander is a psychiatrist with international expertise in the field of traumatic stress. He has extensive experience as a researcher and clinician dealing with...
Director of space technology and policy, Nova Systems
A military test pilot (retired colonel, US Air Force) and former NASA astronaut, Pam flew on three space shuttle missions. Her first flight aboard...
Creative director, Freerange Future
Motivated by beauty and excellence, Amy is a visual communicator striving for deeper meaning and human/universal connection. She is deeply committed to culture and the...
Researcher, ARC Centre for the History of Emotions, University of Adelaide
Amy researches eighteenth century history, literature and culture. Her interests include radical politics, legal history, and print culture.
Freelance economist, musician and software entrepreneur
Simon co-founded a software company in the 1990s and has been an economic consultant to most Australian arts and screen agencies. He’s managing director...
Jury chair of English language and literature, University of Adelaide
Fellow of the Australian Academy of the Humanities, Stephen has long worked with Indigenous people and his current research involves ethnographic documentation of Goolarabooloo...
Programme leader, Social Innovation Exchange Organisation, London
Julie has extensive experience, in both public and academic platforms, in enabling collaborative learning environments, knowledge exchange and co-designed solutions to deal with complex...
David Klingberg chair in energy and advanced manufacturing, UniSA
Peter is strand leader within UniSA’s Future Industries Institute. He was one of UniSA’s inaugural industry professors, in recognition of his extensive research engagement...
Chief executive, Council on the Ageing in South Australia
Jane actively promotes the rights, interests and futures of South Australians as they age. She’s won an SA Telstra Business Women’s Award and a...
Founder, ekko.world
Jennifer is founder of ekko.world, a tech platform supporting eco products and services and the Global Eco Alliance (G-ECO-A) – a movement focused on making...
Personal sustainability specialist
Thea is dedicated to re-humanising our work ethic. She is also a Naptivist, aiming to normalise the powernap in our personal and professional lives.
Senior democracy campaigner, GetUp!
Ruby-Rose works across issues such as electoral law reform, maintaining a free and independent media landscape, and fighting mass surveillance.
Torture and trauma counsellor
Gary specialises in working with survivors of torture and trauma. From 2012 to late 2017, he worked as a trauma counsellor in the Nauru...
Director, Wilderness Society South Australia
Peter, who was Australian Environmentalist of the Year 2016, has been instrumental, with his team, in protecting vast areas across the State from practices...
Executive director, Arts Access Victoria
Veronica is currently handing over her position to an artist living with a disability. Arts Access Victoria has an agenda of social and artistic transformation for people...
Chief executive officer, Global Centre for Modern Ageing
With over 25 years’ experience as a global financial and legal consultant under her belt, Julianne has played a leading, collaborative role in supporting...
Publishing director, Opinion Media
With a long career in media, communications and management under her belt, Amanda now oversees print and online publications including the iconic Adelaide masthead,...
Senior architect, Hames Sharley
Yaara has extensive experience in the construction industry. She has managed design development and implementation and been contract manager across industrial, residential, commercial and...
Economist
One of Australia’s top economists, Jason specialises in how new technology, innovation and creative industries drive economic and institutional change.
Barrister
Lindy’s areas of practice are civil and commercial litigation and criminal law. She briefed for the defence in the three Australian war crimes prosecutions.
Creative Director, Writer & AADC President
An independent creative consultant, James has been responsible for creating some of the state’s most recognisable and globally awarded campaigns for iconic local brands...
Associate professor in social work at Flinders University, Australian Research Council future fellow
Damien has written many publications on gender, family, and well-being, including (with Clare Bartholomaeus) Transgender people and education. As a practising psychotherapist, Damien works...
Former CEO, Ngarrindjeri Regional Authority
A Ngarrindjeri man, Clyde is a cultural competency leader, creative producer, writer and long-term collaborator with Change Media. He led recent treaty negotiations with...
Discovery Circle citizen science initiative, UniSA
Philip runs innovative citizen science projects. He has engaged thousands of people in activities like tracking pet cats, counting koalas, and recording bat calls.
Author
Lyndall has produced the first digital map of frontier massacres in eastern Australia 1788-1872. Its purpose is to reframe the way Australians understand the...
Producer, Art by Prisoners
A criminology PhD candidate at Flinders University, Jeremy has been producing annual public exhibitions of prison art since 2012. He studies what it does...
CEO, AnglicareSA
Before joining AnglicareSA, Peter served in leadership roles for Anglicare in NSW and ACT, and for Mission Australia. He has a long history of working for...
Head of sustainability, Family Business Network International
As connector-in-chief, Caroline passionately advocates conscious and inclusive capitalism, aiming to build trust between sectors, foster cross-pollination of ideas, and catalyse profit and non-profit partnerships.
Directeur de l'Institut d'Histoire de la Révolution Française (2008-2015), Université de Paris I Panthéon Sorbonne
Pierre has been professor of the history of the French Revolution and the Empire at the Sorbonne. He’s written works about the place of...
Sharing economy researcher and consultant. Director, Social Surplus
Darren works on programs that amplify the strengths of people and communities through sharing. He is the Australian editor of Shareable and the Melbourne...
Assistant director, artistic programs, Art Gallery of South Australia
A curator and writer, Lisa developed the exhibition Sappers & shrapnel: contemporary art and the art of the trenches. She chairs ArtlinkAustralia and Arts SA’s...
General manager, education and corporate affairs, Torrens University
BOSS Magazine’s Young Executive of the Year in 2009, Adam volunteers as a mentor, facilitator and adviser for many non-profit organisations, especially those supporting...
Head of aerospace physiology and consultant anaesthetist, King’s College London
Former South Australian Rhodes scholar and Churchill fellow, Thomas runs a masters course in space physiology and health. Working clinically as an anaesthetist, he’s...
NHMRC-ARC dementia research development fellow, UniSA
Ashleigh’s work focuses on reducing age-related disability through novel, sustainable and enjoyable exercise interventions and on exploring the nexus between physical activity, brain function...
Artistic director, Australian Dance Theatre
Since taking on his current role at ADT in 1999, Garry has created over 15 original contemporary dance works which have toured extensively to...
Senior research fellow, Australian Institute for Machine Learning, University of Adelaide
Zygmunt is a computer scientist whose research interests lie at the interface of computer vision, image processing, machine learning, and statistics. He is passionate...
Principal scientist of forensic statistics, Forensic Science SA
An associate professor of biology, Duncan has worked in forensic biology for 13 years, supervising hundreds of cases and testifying around Australia. He pioneers...
Emeritus professor, vice chancellor’s fellow, University of Melbourne
Chair of non-profit organisation Justice Connect, Gillian is dedicated to connecting those locked out of the justice system with free legal help. She has provided...
Former managing director, Care & Share Associates (CASA)
Guy nurtured CASA into an employee-owned enterprise delivering domicilary care services across northern England and created an innovative training approach to social enterprise development with people with a disability.
Chief Executive Officer, TACSI
Chris’s first career was product designer, designing biscuits, cameras and razors. He’s spent the last 14 years working with interdisciplinary teams and communities to...
Commissioner for equal opportunity (SA)
Niki helped to deliver the Governor’s Leadership Foundation. She’s a member of the SA Women in Sport Taskforce and, on weekends, a foster carer...
National president – Australian Association of Special Education
Peter, a former principal who spent over 20 years in diverse educational settings across NSW and SA, now lectures at Flinders University. In 2016,...
Senior lecturer in biblical studies, University of Divinity
Robyn is interested in the contemporary use of the Bible in debates about sexuality, gender, race, and ethics. She has published in academic journals...
Palaeontological researcher and science communicator
Paul is passionate about dinosaurs, fossils, trains, his great dane Caesar and his son Chester, but do not ask him to rank these passions!...
Founder and CEO, Crowdicity
Rob is a technology entrepreneur with a passion for helping people to succeed by giving them the power to unlock their own potential on...
Director and wealth manager, Hopscotch Wealth
Jarod thinks of himself as a ‘fun’-ancial adviser. As a master aerospace engineer turned wealth manager, his passions and skillsets lie in understanding people,...
Associate Curator of Prints, Drawings & Photographs, Art Gallery of South Australia
Maria specialises in Italian Renaissance art. She has followed Iacobelli’s career for over a decade, with particular interest in the way he draws on...
Chair of linguistics and endangered languages, University of Adelaide
Ghil’ad researches language revival and mental health. He’s been working with the Barngarla Aboriginal communities on reclaiming their language and also been a consultant...
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