Speakers
Peter Verwer AO, Prime Minister's Special Envoy, Global Business and Talent and Attraction Taskforce
Peter’s previous roles include Executive Chairman of start-up think tank Fractal IQ, CEO of the Asia Pacific Real Estate Association, CEO of the Property Council of Australia and Adjunct Senior Research Fellow at the National University of Singapore. His most recent focus has been working with governments and industry in Asia to help open-up capital markets platforms.
Peter was invested as an Officer of the Order of Australia in January 2019 for "distinguished service to the property sector, to sustainable development and construction and to professional bodies''.
Dr Graeme Blackman AO, Chairman, Leading Age Services Australia
Michael Bell, President, Coeliac Australia
Michael is a Chartered Accountant, Fellow of the Governance Institute and Graduate of the Institute of Company Directors. He has worked in chartered accounting practices, banking and finance industry and his own consulting service in financial control and risk management. His first board appointment was to a public company in 2000.
He has been an active Committee Member in several Not for Profits and joined Coeliac NSW&ACT in 2012, becoming President of Coeliac Australia in 2016. Michael brings a broad governance, finance and risk perspective to his roles ensuring this works in a positive way to achieve strategic goals.
Lyn Lewis-Smith, Chief Executive Officer, BESydney
As Chief Executive Officer, Lyn leads a global team of professionals spanning Europe, North America and Asia who are charged with securing global meetings of economic, social and educational benefit to Sydney, Australia. Specifically, Lyn is focused on leading BESydney to acquire strategic events that are aligned to NSW’s priority sectors that will drive the national agenda.
Lyn is one of the world’s most respected and influential figures in the tourism and business events industry, winning a number of accolades for her leadership, including the Destinations International Humanitarian Award.
Lyn is an Adjunct Professor and Business School Advisory Board Member at the University of Technology Sydney, Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, Past President and Director - Australian Association of Convention Bureaux, Committee for Sydney Board Member and past Chair of the Liveability Loveability Taskforce.
Gillian Stapleton was appointed Executive Director of Direct Selling Australia in July 2016. Gill is the first female appointed to this position in the Association’s 50- year history. Gill, started her career as a teacher in the UK but joined a home based direct selling business, so that she could be a full- time mum to her two children.
Rising to the top of that business, Gill was offered a corporate role in Australia with that same organisation. Since then, she has been the CEO of both an International network marketing organisation and a party-plan business and CEO of Special Olympics Australia, a national Charity. Gill has also previously served as a member of the DSA Board.
Gill is passionate about empowering others, particularly women, to be the best that they can be – a big believer in setting and achieving goals! Gill has an infectious energy – she has run 10 marathons in the past 10 years...for fun!
Sean Rooney, Chief Executive Officer, Leading Age Services Australia
Sean Rooney is the CEO of Leading Age Services Australia (LASA). LASA is the national association for all providers of age services across residential care, home care, and retirement living/seniors housing, and represents the providers of age services of all types and sizes within Australia.
The aged care system in Australia has been under an unrelenting spotlight during COVID-19 and through a Royal Commission, meaning Sean Rooney, in his role as CEO representing LASA members, has had to draw on all his skills and experiences every day.
Tanya Barden, Chief Executive Officer, Australian Food and Grocery Council
This role culminates Tanya’s career, which has been spent in and around policy and regulatory issues that impact the industry, while working in government, the private sector and even running her own on-line organic grocery business. She has a particularly good understanding of environmental issues, having spent five years as the AFGC’s Director of Economics, Trade and Sustainability prior to becoming CEO as well as chair of the National Packaging Covenant Industry Association from 2015 – 2017. Tanya holds Bachelor of Economics/ Bachelor of Arts degrees and is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
Sally Loane joined the Financial Services Council as Chief Executive Officer in December 2014. Prior to this Sally had a decade in the corporate sector, working at Coca-Cola Amatil as a senior executive. Her first career was in the media, where she spent 25 years as a broadcaster and journalist across radio, television and print. Sally is also a published author.
Sally is a Director of Venues NSW, Destination NSW and PanKind - The Australian Pancreatic Cancer Foundation. Sally is also a Governor of the Cerebral Palsy Research Foundation, Ambassador for Business Events Sydney and a member of Chief Executive Women.
Sally was the first female director of Waratahs Rugby and served on the board for seven years. She was a Director of SCEGGS Darlinghurst for 12 years and chaired the Salvation Army’s Sydney East Doorknock Appeal from 2008-2011.
Katherine Raskob, Chief Executive Officer, Fundraising Institute Australia
Katherine is the Chief Executive Officer of Fundraising Institute Australia (FIA), the largest representative body for the $10.5 billion charitable fundraising sector. FIA’s mission is to advance professional, ethical and best practice fundraising in Australia through a self-regulatory Code, professional development, education and training, and knowledge and resource sharing.
A keen volunteer, Katherine has served as a board director for several organisations over the past 10 years. She currently sits on the board of Girl Guides Australia, the national guiding organisation empowering girls and young women to grow into confident community members. Katherine is also an independent board director with PayPal Giving Fund (Australia).
She grew up in Minnesota, USA, where she completed her undergraduate degree and a Master’s in International Business Management. Katherine is also a member and graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
John Winter, Chief Executive Officer, Australian Restructuring Insolvency and Turnaround Association
John took on the role of CEO of the Australian Restructuring Insolvency and Turnaround Association in 2014. He was also previously the Head of Association of Chartered Certified Accountants Australia and New Zealand. John has also worked as a senior marketing and communications professional across the recruitment industry, membership organisations and the banking and finance sector.
His past roles include Chief Marketing Officer ANZ for leading listed international recruitment firm, Hudson. He has also worked for a major division of insurance firm QBE and was previously Director of Communications for the NSW Rural Fire Service.
Helen White is the CEO of Girl Guides NSW, ACT & NT. During this time she has overseen the merger of Northern Territory into the existing entity of Girl Guides NSW, ACT & NT. Helen is passionate about the empowerment of girls and young women and is focused on improving member and volunteer engagement and value and developing member satisfaction and growth.
Jenny has held the position at Turf Australia since early 2018. Turf Australia is the peak industry body for the turf production industry. Her role is focused on managing the operations of the organisation as well as project work contracted under the turf levy system.
Prior to working at Turf Australia, Jenny has been involved in not-for-profit associations since 2001 working for the Sports Turf Association NSW, Sports Turf Association Australia and Turf Producers Association NSW. The lead into the turf industry developed after working for 10 years in venue management at Parramatta Stadium and having a respect for the professionalism of producing a sports turf surface.
Rob Barnes, Country Manager APAC, Higher Logic
My first association job at 19 years old kicked off a career in association management spanning 20+ years, three countries and multiple associations including Surf Life Saving Australia and Fitness Australia. A husband to Nicole and father to Lockyer and Keeley I live in the southern beaches area of Sydney, Australia. Surfing, dirt bikes, snowboarding and wake-boarding dominate any spare time I get outside of work.
I recently published my first book - a children's picture book titled Benjamin Allsorts Likes All Sorts of Sports. I recently published an online course called Inbox Zero helping people take control of their email inboxes in just 37 minutes. In 2020 I received my Certified Association Executive (CAE) designation from the American Society of Association Executives being one of only two Australians to gain this credential.
John Peacock AM, Chief Executive Officer, Associations Forum
John is one of Australia’s most experienced advisors to associations and charities and is a thought leader for the associations sector. He is a regular presenter, both nationally and internationally, on matters essential to the governance and operations of associations, charities and other mutual bodies.
Since 2000, John has trained and consulted to hundreds of associations and charities, large and small, on strategic planning, governance, Board effectiveness, operations, restructuring, financial issues and external reviews. His particular areas of specialisation are mergers of associations and developing association plans that can be translated into actions, budgets and job descriptions.
John’s work with associations was recognised in the 2021 Australia Day Honours List with his appointment as a Member (AM) of the Order of Australia (General Division) for significant service to the associations and not-for-profit sectors through a range of initiatives.