State Conference 2024. Shake it up: BOLD CHANGE!

19-20 June 2024

BOOK TICKETS

Speakers

Rana Hussain

Rana Hussain

Conference MC

Rana Hussain, a pioneer in the realms of inclusion and belonging, has charted an extraordinary journey through the landscape of sports administration, community engagement, Social Work and the media. With a career marked by a relentless pursuit of positive change and a deep commitment to fostering inclusivity, Rana stands as a powerful advocate for social integration and reduction of discrimination.

Continuing her mission to create a bigger impact, Rana started Good.Human, bringing all the facets of her work together in one place: Expertise, Advocacy and Impact. It's a movement focused on changing people's lives, cultures, and leadership all over the country.

Good.Human is an invitation to celebrate our shared humanity, supporting one another through life's ups and downs, aiming to build a world where everyone feels valued and included as they are. Rana's vision is a more inclusive and brighter future for all.

Dr Sandro Demaio

Dr Sandro Demaio

Keynote Speaker (Day 1)

Dr Sandro Demaio is the CEO of VicHealth, a medical doctor and a public health expert and advocate. He previously held the roles of Medical Officer for non-communicable conditions and nutrition at the World Health Organization, and CEO of the EAT Foundation; the science-based, global platform for food systems transformation where he oversaw the global launch of the EAT-Lancet Commission. Sandro is a member of the Nutrition Strategy Advisory Board, for Pictet Group in Switzerland.

In his pro bono work, Dr Demaio co-founded NCDFREE, a global social movement against chronic disease which reached more than 2.5 million young people in its first 18 months. In 2015, he founded festival21, assembling and leading a team of experts in staging an unprecedented free celebration of community, food, culture and the SDGs in his hometown of Melbourne. Then in 2018, he established an independent, not-for-profit foundation focused on improving the health and nutrition of young Australians.

Bero Nornie

Nornie Bero

Keynote Speaker (Day 2)

Nornie Bero is an Island girl - from the Komet Tribe of the Meriam people of Mer Island, she was raised in the Torres Strait.

As a professional chef for over 20 years in Melbourne and London, Bero is passionate about sharing the food culture she grew up with on the Islands. She is the owner and executive chef of Mabu Mabu, a hospitality and food business in Melbourne that celebrates the fantastic Indigenous produce and flavours from across this big Island now known as Australia.

Through her retail products, recently published cookbook, and flagship restaurant Big Esso at Federation Square, Bero is on a mission to get native herbs, spices, fruits, vegetables, and sustainable meats in every Australian kitchen pantry.

AJ Kulatunga

AJ Kulatunga

Keynote Speaker (Day 2)

AJ Kulatunga is a Business Strategist and Global Keynote Speaker who specialises in Business Creativity and Humanising Innovation. Leveraging experiences from a 20-year entrepreneurial career in business and technology, AJ’s unique perspective and Get It Done™ methodology are empowering leaders around the world with clarity and confidence to transcend disruptive change and lead boldly into the future.

As a former Young Achiever of the Year, AJ believes we have the power to make tomorrow better than today. His presentations and programs challenge conventional business-as-usual thinking and inspire leaders and teams to reimagine how things get done inside their organisations. His captivating energy will leave you feeling like you can overcome the toughest challenges and achieve the impossible.

When he’s not on stage, AJ enjoys stand-up comedy, 4WDriving and attempting to play guitar like Ed Sheeran.

Jessica Christiansen-Franck

Jessica Christiansen-Franck

Panellist (Day 1)

Jessica Christiansen-Franks is an award-winning technology leader, unlocking the power of big data and social analytics to transform cities around the world.

As CEO and Founding Director of urban analytics company Neighbourlytics, Jess has combined cutting-edge data science with decades of experience in urban design, to reimagine the future of city-making and property development.

Matt Walton profile. Matt is wearing a light grey suit jacket with a blue shirt.

Matt Walton

Panellist (Day 1)

Matt Walton is the CEO of technology consulting company, Dog and Bone, who provide independent advice to not-for-profit organisations on how to leverage technology. He has been involved in the community sector for 30 years, starting as a volunteer youth worker at the YMCA, working his way up the organisation, which saw him managing IT for YMCA nationally.

For the past 10 years, Matt has been working with the not-for-profit sector to help them with various technology initiatives, all with the underlying goal of making technology work for organisations that improve the world.

Portrait of Craig Connelly, who is wearing a dark suit jacket with a purple striped shirt and blue tie.

Craig Connolly

Panellist (Day 1)

Spanning approximately 30 years, Craig’s experience affords him a unique perspective when considering community and social investment in his current role as a Partner in the Community Social and ESG Investing division at Perpetual Private.

Having joined Perpetual in March 2023, Craig is working to assist Perpetual’s philanthropic and not-for-profit clients think deeply about effective philanthropy, social impact, values and investment alignment and the role Perpetual can play to amplify social impact and social outcomes that benefits both its clients and Australian society more broadly.

Profile of Gill Whelan, who is wearing a grey blazer with a black t-shirt.

Gill Whelan

Panellist (Day 1)

Gill Whelan is the General Manager of DECJUBA Foundation, the philanthropic arm of leading fashion retailer, DECJUBA. Working closely with DECJUBA Owner & CEO, Tania Austin, Gill is establishing and steering partnerships with local and international charity organisations with the aim of positively impacting 25 million lives by 2025. Gill is also GM of TANK Foundation (Tania Austin’s family foundation).

Gill’s previous role was Senior Partnerships & Public Relations Manager at not-for-profit organisation, St Kilda Mums. She brings insights from her experience in fundraising to her approach to philanthropy, with a preference for untied funding, capacity building and longer term partnerships.

Portrait of Lyndon Galea, who is wearing a pale blue collared shirt in front of a grey background.

Lyndon Galea

Panellist (Day 1)

Lyndon believes that no child should go hungry at school in a country as fortunate as Australia. He strives to ensure that children who would otherwise be too hungry to learn are provided a well rounded lunch, and ultimately the opportunity to enjoy their time at school and fully leverage the power of a great education.

As Founder of Eat Up Australia, Lyndon has led the growth of a free national lunch program for disadvantaged school children who would otherwise go without. Starting in his hometown of Shepparton in 2013 on his Mum's kitchen table to help 2 local schools, to today supporting over 650 schools nationally, and having delivered over 3 million lunches.

Lyndon has seen first-hand the generosity of the Australian community to volunteer their time to make a difference in the lives of hungry kids. He is inspired by the possibilities for wide reaching positive change that this enormously powerful contribution brings into view, and is working to facilitate additional opportunities to leverage this massive public potential.

Hassan Noura

Hassan Noura

Panellist (Day 2)

Hassan is an independent strategic advisor, economist and management consultant who is passionate about helping leaders build inclusive economies and social systems that empower people. He is also the Founder and Director of boutique consulting firm People Economics.

Hassan has 20 years of experience advising ministers, senior officials and CEOs across Australia, South-East Asia & the Pacific, and the Middle East. He has held senior executive roles at the Australian National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) and consulting firm McKinsey & Company. He has also worked at the Australian Department of the Treasury and at the World Bank.

Rob Jackson

Rob Jackson

Workshop Presenter

Rob Jackson is Director of Rob Jackson Consulting Ltd, a consultancy and training company that helps engage and inspire people to bring about change.

Rob has almost 30 years experience working in the voluntary and community sector, holding a variety of strategic development and senior management roles that have focused on leading and engaging volunteers.

Rob has run his company since 2011 working with a wide range of clients in the UK, Australia, New Zealand, Europe, the USA and Canada.

Rob is co-author of The Complete Volunteer Management Handbook (DSC, 2012 and 2019) and From The Top Down - UK Edition (Energize Inc., 2015).

Sponsors

Polaron Language Services logo
Volunteer West and Australian Multicultural Community Services logos
Good Human logo
VicHealth logo
EV Strengthening Communities logo
EV Volunteering logo

Interested in becoming a conference sponsor?
See more information below.

Sponsorship Guide

Exhibitors

Better Impact logo
CrimCheck logo
Polaron Language Services logo

Interested in exhibiting at the conference?
See more information below.

Exhibitors' GuideDownload Exhibitor Form