Speakers biographies
Neryl East
Ross Dawson is globally recognized as a leading futurist, entrepreneur, keynote speaker, strategy advisor, and bestselling author.
Strong demand for Ross’s expertise has seen him deliver keynote speeches and executive workshops in over 30 countries across six continents and consult to leading organizations worldwide such as American Express, Citibank, Coca-Cola, Dubai Ministry of Finance, EY, Gartner, Google, Macquarie Bank, News Limited, Procter & Gamble, PwC, Star Alliance, Visa and many other leading organizations.
He is Founding Chairman of the Advanced Human Technologies Group of companies, which includes professional services and publishing units, futures consultancy Future Exploration Network, executive network The Insight Exchange, and strategy collective intelligence startup Fraxios (currently in stealth mode).
He is author of four books including the Amazon.com bestseller Developing Knowledge-Based Client Relationships, now out in its second edition, and the acclaimed book Living Networks, which The New York Times credits with predicting the social networking revolution.
Ross’s frequent media appearances include CNN, Bloomberg TV, SkyNews, European Business Network, Channel News Asia, ABC TV, Today and Sunrise shows, New York Times, The Guardian and many others. Ross has been named as one of the most influential people in the world on topics including the future of work, fintech, crowdfunding, and Enterprise 2.0.
Ross Dawson
Ross Dawson is globally recognized as a leading futurist, entrepreneur, keynote speaker, strategy advisor, and bestselling author.
Strong demand for Ross’s expertise has seen him deliver keynote speeches and executive workshops in over 30 countries across six continents and consult to leading organizations worldwide such as American Express, Citibank, Coca-Cola, Dubai Ministry of Finance, EY, Gartner, Google, Macquarie Bank, News Limited, Procter & Gamble, PwC, Star Alliance, Visa and many other leading organizations.
He is Founding Chairman of the Advanced Human Technologies Group of companies, which includes professional services and publishing units, futures consultancy Future Exploration Network, executive network The Insight Exchange, and strategy collective intelligence startup Fraxios (currently in stealth mode).
He is author of four books including the Amazon.com bestseller Developing Knowledge-Based Client Relationships, now out in its second edition, and the acclaimed book Living Networks, which The New York Times credits with predicting the social networking revolution.
Ross’s frequent media appearances include CNN, Bloomberg TV, SkyNews, European Business Network, Channel News Asia, ABC TV, Today and Sunrise shows, New York Times, The Guardian and many others. Ross has been named as one of the most influential people in the world on topics including the future of work, fintech, crowdfunding, and Enterprise 2.0.
Ian Firth
Before joining the regulator, Ian had a background as a Clinical Psychologist in occupational rehabilitation and the provision of workplace support services. Ian is currently the State Inspector for the Psychological Health and Safety Team at SafeWork NSW. Ian's role involves participating in and contributing to the national agenda, contributing to the development and promotion of guidance material, providing advice and support to industry and the Inspectorate, and responding to complex matters and investigations. Ian was also involved in the development of the Mentally Healthy Workplaces Strategy and the benchmarking tool and currently the draft code of practice for managing psychosocial hazards.
Helen Machalias
Helen Machalias is Infrastructure Australia’s Associate Director, Place. She leads regions and cities policy for the upcoming Australian Infrastructure Plan, and is project director of Infrastructure Australia’s Regional Strengths and Infrastructure Gaps project, which will identify and prioritise opportunities and challenges in each region of Australia.
Helen has worked at all three levels of government across infrastructure, transport, regional development, creative industries and social policy, with a particular focus on policy and advocacy to benefit regional communities.
Prior to her role at Infrastructure Australia, she held senior public affairs roles at YWCA and Transport for NSW, and while at the NRMA initiated and delivered the organisation’s regional advocacy agenda on behalf of the 1.3 million NRMA members across regional NSW and the ACT.
Mitch McPherson
As the founder of Tasmanian based organisation SPEAK UP! Stay ChatTY, Mitch’s journey to raise awareness of suicide prevention and reduce the stigma around mental health began after his younger brother Ty took his own life in 2013. Mitch, the 2017 Tasmanian Young Australian of the Year and National R U OK? Day Ambassador has had a remarkable journey transitioning from an everyday tradie into a well-respected and purpose-driven public speaker. Mitch leads with an extraordinary vision for change, courageously harnessing his lived experience of loss to encourage our community to speak up about their mental health and take action. All through the important message of sparking conversations. Since the loss of his younger brother Ty in 2013, Mitch has dedicated his life to helping, educating and encouraging others to speak up about mental health and prevent suicide. All of this important work is well aligned to Mitch’s own personal values: compassion, authenticity, kindness and perseverance. Mitch has become a “go to” in the Tasmanian community for important discussions and messaging around mental health. From media interviews, his weekly radio segment or assisting those seeking guidance on start-up charities, Mitch does all he can to positively impact the community. When presenting at schools, workplaces and sporting clubs, Mitch speaks from the heart. The connection he creates with the audiences he presents to is both genuine and empowering. A devoted family man, father and husband, Mitch is just like a mate – he’s a passionate Carlton supporter, lover of sport and avid coffee drinker. He is someone you can relate to. He is real.
Heidi Prowse
As the CEO of MIEACT, Heidi leads the ACT’s primary mental health and well-being education provider supporting schools and workplaces to create mental healthy environments for all, delivered by a volunteer workforce who have a lived experience of mental illness. Under Heidi’s leadership MIEACT's programs have achieved incredible results, including Canberra youth reporting they are 96% more likely to seek help, should they need it! Annually they have reached over 30,000 Canberrans with services delivery increasing by 3.5x in response to the pandemic. These remarkable results have been recognised with Heidi being a multi-award winner including receiving the 2020 Telstra ACT Business Women of the year. Heidi’s personal values are anchored on serving others and contributing to a purpose greater than herself. This is further evident with her work for Cystic Fibrosis ACT. Heidi’s husband Andrew lives with Cystic Fibrosis. Ever the changemaker, Heidi threw herself into advocating for more Canberra services for adults living with Cystic Fibrosis. In 2017 she received ACT Young Australian of the Year for starting the annual Santa Speedo Shuffle event, which has raised over $800,000 to provide local families for medical equipment and exercise grants.
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