Keynotes and Panel Speakers

Kick-off for Diversity and Innovation 2025

Councillor Bruce Reynolds, Deputy Mayor of the City of Perth, is more than just a leader. He's a pillar of the community. With over 30 years of dedicated service, his commitment to giving back is woven into his DNA. Concillor Reynold has been instrumental in supporting not-for-profits and charities, serving as a board member, chair, and volunteer. His countless hours and resources dedicated to sponsorships have made a tangible difference in the lives of Perth's residents. As the owner of three diverse businesses spanning Property, Sales, Marketing, Branding, Design, and Hospitality, Bruce embodies the spirit of innovation and adaptability. Every day brings new challenges; he meets them with unwavering dedication and integrity.

MC and Panel Discussion Chair

Dr. Eunice Sari is the CEO and Co-Founder of UX Indonesia, a pioneering UX research, training, and consulting firm, and co-founder of Customer Experience Insight Pty Ltd (Australia). With over 25 years of experience, she has helped organisations across the USA, Europe, Australia, and Asia accelerate their digital transformation and innovate in UX design. She is the first Asian female Google Developer Expert in Product Design and Strategy and a certified Google Design Sprint Master. A leader in Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) and UX, Dr. Sari has built communities across Southeast Asia and served in various influential roles, including as an adjunct associate professor at UNSW. She is passionate about empowering entrepreneurs, especially those from migrant and international backgrounds. As the founder of Marginpreneur, she spearheads initiatives to empower underrepresented communities, including contributions to events like the Diversity & Innovation TechFest (DITF), which foster innovation and inclusivity within the entrepreneurial ecosystem.

Keynote Speaker

Dr Anne Aly MP has been the Federal Member for Cowan since 2016. She is also the Federal Minister for Early Childhood Education, Minister for Youth and the Minister Assisting the Minister for the National Disability Insurance Scheme in the Albanese Government. Anne was a single mother of two young boys by her late twenties, earning the minimum wage to put food on the table. She went on to study her Master's and PhD and worked as a professor, academic and practitioner in counter terrorism and countering violent extremism. Anne, the founder of People Against Violent Extremism, was the only Australian representative to speak at President Obama's 2015 White House summit on countering violent extremism. Anne is a 2011 inductee into the Western Australian Women's Hall of Fame, a 2016 nominee for Australian of the Year and a 2016 recipient of the prestigious Australian Security Medal. In 2021, she was awarded the McKinnon Prize for Emerging Political Leader of the Year, in recognition of her Parliamentary work against both right-wing extremism and family & domestic violence.

Keynote Speaker

Sally Dawkins commenced as Director in January 2022. In this role, Sally leads the Department's engagement with its diverse stakeholders in Western Australia, including government, business, academia and the community. Sally has served overseas with the Department in Geneva (United Nations), Paris, West Africa and most recently in Ankara, as Deputy Head of Mission at the Australian Embassy in Turkey. Sally has worked on several initiatives in Canberra to support Australian businesses overseas, including the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI), the ASEAN-Australia-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement, the Africa Down Under mining conference, and the Shanghai World Trade Expo. She has also worked as an Adviser to the Minister for International Development and the Pacific. 2017-19, Sally managed government relations and social investment for Newcrest Mining in Papua New Guinea, based in Port Moresby. In this role, she sat as the Director of Newcrest’s subsidiary corporations and represented Newcrest at the PNG Chamber of Mines & Petroleum. Sally graduated with Honours in Bachelor of Laws and Arts from the University of Western Australia, and is an admitted solicitor. She speaks fluent French.

Keynote Speaker

Ayor is WA’s first MP of African descent and the first person from a South Sudanese background to occupy a seat in any Parliament in Australia. Before politics, Ayor worked as a patient care assistant, interpreter, international model, modelling agent, restaurateur, and accountant. She is the mother of three children and passionate about health, education, and jobs; women’s interests, families, and multiculturalism. Ayor is a member of the Ministerial Multicultural Advisory Council and the Joint Standing Committee on the Commissioner for Children and Young People and co-convenor of three Parliamentary Friends Groups: Refugees, Africa, and Fashion. In 2023, Ayor was awarded the One Young World Politician of the Year Award for positively changing her community.

Panel Discussion: Youth Entrepreneurship

As Interim PVC, Professor Chang commenced as Pro Vice-Chancellor of the Faculty of Business and Law in September 2022. From May 2019 to December 2021, Vanessa was the Deputy Pro Vice-Chancellor. She joined Curtin in 1989 as a Tutor in the School of Information Systems. Her previous leadership roles at the University include Director of Learning Innovations, where she led innovation and project teams to develop Massive Open Online Courses. She led transformational IT projects at Curtin, Dean of Learning and Teaching, and Head of the School of Information Systems. Professor Chang is a Fellow of the Australian Computer Society and an experienced leader in higher education. Her information systems research focuses on leadership, governance, and using data and systems in organisations. As an educator, she researches learning pedagogies in immersive and online learning.

Panel Discussion Chair

Anne Burlinson is a polymathic thinker and emerging entrepreneur with a dynamic career spanning academia and management. Her interdisciplinary background includes natural sciences, psychology, data management, and organisation. After completing her doctorate training at the Max Planck Society for Human Ethology in Germany, she relocated to Perth, where she demonstrated leadership and intrapreneurial innovation by establishing new operational units at the University of Western Australia and Murdoch University. In 2021, Anne returned to academia to teach business students, first at Kaplan Business School (Perth) and now at the Sheridan Institute of Higher Education. Passionate about developing human-centric leaders and future-proofing humanity in an era of rapid transformation, she is channelr (pronounced 'empower'), her innovative leadership development initiative.

MC

Lisa Longman is a Director at Bloom, focusing on developing enterprise skills in young Western Australians and supporting founders. Previously, as Bloom's Head of Innovation Pathways, she guided future founders through the entrepreneurial journey. Lisa also served as Regional Manager for Young Change Agents in Western Australia, empowering youth with creative thinking and leadership skills. She was CEO and Director of The Boxing Project, building self-efficacy and advocacy, a project that expanded internationally. Her earlier roles include Partnerships and Pathways at OPRA Psychology Group and Inclusion and Access at PeopleSense. Lisa has a Human Services and Commerce background, and her publications include the "Autism Parents Handbook" and "Don't Panic: A Manager's Handbook".

Panel Discussion  Chair

S Zaung Nau is currently a Lecturer in the School of Management and Marketing at Curtin University. She has completed several data analytics projects focused on sustainable transportation, public transportation, cycling, socioeconomic regional profiling, and cultural diversity indices. She has achieved the Higher Education Academy HEA Fellowship and won the teaching award as “Citation for Outstanding Contribution to Student Learning” at Curtin Business School.  She has published several peer-reviewed academic journal papers and supervised several PhD completions. She is the course lead for Supply Chain Management in the School of Management and Marketing at Curtin University, and has been elected as a community member of the Australian Computer Society (WA) and the Freight and Logistics Council of WA.

Welcome to Country

Aaliyah Nestoridis is a Proud Whadjuk Nyoongar Yorga from Boorloo, deeply passionate about her First Nations culture and heritage. She descends from a lineage of Strong BLAK female role models, the Culbongs from Narrogin and Boorloo. Aaliyah's Elders and family have inspired her commitment to effecting positive change for the First Nations Peoples. In June of 2024, Aaliyah started her own business, Kaarla Koort Boodja - Fire in Heart and Country. She delivers ‘Acknowledgement of Countries’ at events throughout Boorloo/Perth. She has been involved in the Polly Farmer Foundation’s 'Follow the Dream' program since 2017 and has since become a Role Model and Alumni, working closely with Jennet Hansen and speaking at notable events such as the International Women's Day Breakfast in 2021.  Aaliyah delivered an 'Acknowledgement of Country' in 2024, alongside Perth’s Mayor - Basil Zempilas, reflecting on the grand legacy of Dr. Margaret Culbong and her impact on the First Nations Peoples of Boorloo/Perth. Aaliyah has since become a TEDxKingsPark Alumnus and Founder of her own business, Kaarla Koort Boodja. 

Panel Discussion: Youth Leadership

Robbie Gaspar is a prominent advocate for Australia-Indonesia relations, serving as President of the Indonesia Institute and a Board Member of the Australia-Indonesia Institute. He made history as the first Australian to play professional football in Indonesia, a nearly eight-year career he leveraged for sports diplomacy. Fluent in Indonesian, Robbie contributed to the Australian Embassy's inaugural Sports Diplomacy Strategy in Jakarta.   His influence extends to athlete welfare, earning him Life Membership of Professional Footballers Australia. A key figure in bilateral business, he chaired the AIBC WA and received the Australia-Indonesia Award (Sports Category) in 2017. Robbie actively promotes Indonesian language and culture through youth soccer clinics and co-hosts the IACEPA Katalis Podcast, remaining dedicated to strengthening ties through mutual understanding and shared opportunities.

Panel Discussion: Youth Leadership

Derryn is the CEO of StudyPerth, the peak membership organisation for Western Australia’s international education sector. In addition to working with members to raise the profile of Perth as a global study destination, StudyPerth actively welcomes and supports students who have chosen our beautiful city as a place to study. Derryn joined StudyPerth in early 2022, after 13 years as Executive Director at Tourism Western Australia. Derryn’s tourism achievements include the significant increase in new hotels built in Perth between 2012 and 2020, the rapid growth of the cruise ship industry in WA, and the continuing development of the Aboriginal tourism sector across the State. Derryn completed her time at Tourism WA as Acting Managing Director, supporting the State’s tourism industry through the COVID-19 pandemic.  Derryn has found her tribe in the international education sector. She is both a patriotic Western Australian and a lover of education. She has a Bachelor of Science (Psychology) from the University of Western Australia, a Master of Business Administration (Marketing) from Edith Cowan University, and is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

Panel Discussion: Youth Leadership

An admitted lawyer, procurement specialist and New Colombo Plan Scholar, Ruben Proud is a multidisciplinary professional with a career spanning law, commercial strategy, and international development. With expertise grounded in legal practice and enriched through senior roles in procurement and commercial advisory, Ruben brings a uniquely strategic lens to cross-sector innovation and inclusive policy design. Having worked across the private sector, government, non-profit, and within international contexts, Ruben has advised on complex commercial frameworks, supported ethical and inclusive procurement strategies, and contributed to multilateral development initiatives. His global perspective—bolstered by formal training in politics and international relations—enables him to navigate the intersections of policy, commerce, and community impact with nuance and vision. As the youngest ever President of the Rotary Club of Elizabeth Quay and a Board Director of VESPIIA, Ruben is deeply committed to embedding principles of equity, access, and service within systems of governance and innovation. He regularly collaborates with stakeholders across various sectors to drive forward initiatives that promote social justice, economic inclusion, and ethical leadership within innovation ecosystems.

Panel Discussion: Youth Leadership

A dynamic young leader, Hanna-Grace is making significant strides, recognised as a 2025 state finalist in the Lions Youth of the Year program. As the 2025 Academic Captain and a Student Leader Council member, she champions academic excellence and spearheads impactful fundraisers. Her Chinese Indonesian heritage fuels her passion for social justice, particularly evident in her support at the 2023 Diversity and Innovation Techfest launch, which helped celebrate diversity and foster industry connections. Hanna-Grace actively engages in Young Pressies, a social justice group, and sharpens her critical thinking in Mock Trials. A strong advocate for women's rights and STEM for girls, she has participated in the Harry Perkins Profs program, the Girls Programming Network, and was a Rotary scholarship recipient for the National Youth Science Forum in Queensland. Her commitment extends to community service with Vinnies and Edmund Rice Camps. Aspiring to be a Biotechnologist, Hanna-Grace embodies leadership and a dedication to creating meaningful change.

Panel Discussion: Youth Entrepreneurship

Minh currently works at Bloom, Western Australia’s leading Youth Innovation Centre and serves on the Advisory Council for the eSafety Commissioner of Australia. As an advocate for online safety, digital rights, and responsible technology, Minh has consulted on policies with state and federal governments, international organisations such as the United Nations and the World Bank, and Big Tech, including TikTok, Snapchat, and Meta. In 2024, Minh was named one of 32 Youth Leaders from the Asia-Pacific region by Global Citizen.

Panel Discussion: Youth  Entrepreneurship

Donna Buckley is a creative educator, mathematics specialist, and advocate for interdisciplinary learning that connects maths with technology, the Arts, and real-world challenges. As President and Life Member of the Mathematics Association of WA, she champions inclusive, future-focused maths education grounded in equity, innovation, and professional growth.  In 2023, Donna became the first maths teacher to receive the Australian Prime Minister’s Prize for Excellence in Science Teaching. She also received the WiTWA STAR[+] Award and was recognised in the inaugural ICT Educator Awards.  Donna teaches at Bob Hawke College and is completing her Master’s in Cybersecurity. She developed WA’s first accredited high school cybersecurity course, opening vocational pathways from school to TAFE and industry, and continues to support teachers nationally with inclusive, innovative approaches to teaching. Donna has also shaped Australia’s curriculum, particularly computational thinking and AI education. 

Panel Discussion: Youth Entrepreneurship

Joshua Patrick’s idyllic Kimberley childhood shifted dramatically when his sister's birth with an undiagnosed syndrome made him a young carer. This ignited his advocacy, leading to a TEDx talk by age 13. As an ambassador for Carers Australia and other foundations, he's driven national change, advising ministers and mentoring youth on bullying and inclusion. Patrick founded a national sibling support program (SWAN) and aids geneticists with AI genome sequencing. A student leader with a predicted ATAR of 98.3, he completed a Health and Nursing Certificate IV quickly. He aims to study Medicine or Genetic Engineering at UWA, continuing his mission to innovate, include, and inspire, ensuring no young person feels unheard or unsupported.

Panel Discussion: Youth Entrepreneurship

Jia is a thriving endurance athlete, a Tech Optimiser, a Climate Educator, a TEDx Speaker, and a multi-award winner of Women in Technology Western Australia 2019, NASA Space App Challenge, Energy Hack, Transport Hack WA and UWA Innovation Challenge. Jia works at Microsoft, bringing together Cloud Computing, Data, Artificial Intelligence, and Environmental Sustainability to help public sector customers do more with what they have. You often find her involved in community events that increase technology accessibility and inclusiveness for underrepresented groups, such as encouraging other women to enter the tech field and inspiring disadvantaged students to be curious and confident in the world of STEAM. Jia's superpower is failing fast and learning fast. Staying current in a world of rapid change, she strives to be 1% better every day by cultivating her abilities through persistence and effort.

Panel Discussion: Youth Leadership

Proud Ghanaian-Australian, Adoley is a 2023 Premiers ANZAC student tour alumnus, 2024 EVATT state finalist, 2025 YOTY state finalist and current Future Female Leaders Program mentee. After living in the Kimberly region since she was 8 years old, Adoley’s passion for equality and social justice has grown alongside her. This passion drives her love for learning and education; she is currently developing a sustainable development project based on the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGS), specifically Goal 4. In 2024, she relocated to the south-west region and currently resides on a farm in Nannup. Passionate about volleyball, languages, reading, and music, Adoley aspires to travel the world teaching English. As for plans, she believes her path will reveal itself as she continues to explore all the possibilities.  Life is journey not a destination.