Summit presenters & guests
Paul Girrawah House - Ngambri-Kamberri & Ngunnawal Custodian |
Paul Girrawah House has multiple First Nation ancestries from the South-East Canberra region, including the Ngambri-Ngurmal (Walgalu), Pajong (Gundungurra), Wallaballooa (Ngunnawal) and Erambie/Brungle (Wiradyuri) family groups. Paul acknowledges his diverse First Nation history, he particularly identifies as a descendant of Onyong aka Jindoomang from Weereewaa (Lake George) and Henry ‘Black Harry’ Williams from Namadgi who were both multilingual, essentially Walgalu-Ngunnawal-Wiradjuri speaking warriors and Ngunnawal–Wallaballooa man William Lane aka ‘Billy the Bull’ - Murrjinille. Paul was born at the old Canberra hospital in the centre of his ancestral country and strongly acknowledges his First Nation matriarch ancestors, in particular his mother Dr Aunty Matilda House-Williams and grandmother, Ms Pearl Simpson-Wedge. Paul completed a Bachelor of Community Management from Macquarie University, and Graduate Certificate in Wiradjuri Language, Culture and Heritage and Management from CSU. Paul provided the Welcome to Country for the 47th Opening of Federal Parliament in 2022. Paul is Board Director, Ngambri Local Aboriginal Land Council, Member Indigenous Reference Group, National Museum of Australia and Australian Government Voice Referendum Engagement Group. Paul works on country with the ANU, First Nations Portfolio as a Senior Community Engagement Officer.
MC - Virginia Haussegger AM |
Virginia Haussegger AM is an award-winning broadcast journalist and communication specialist with unique expertise in leading powerful conversations with the nation's top thinkers, leaders and legislators.
Over three decades Virginia has reported from around the globe for Channel 9, the Seven Network and the ABC, and anchored primetime national news and current affairs programs, including 15 years presenting ABC TV News in Canberra.
Widely published across Australian media, Virginia is a regular contributor to The Canberra Times, the Sydney Morning Herald and The Age, and a leading media educator in gender responsive journalism. She is Deputy Chair of the media think-tank PIJI, the Public Interest Journalism Initiative.
Virginia is an ANZSOG Fellow and sessional Lecturer in the Public Policy Program at the University of Canberra, where she is an Adjunct Professor.
In 2019, Virginia was named ACT Australian of the Year, in recognition of her community leadership and women's rights advocacy.
Lisa George, Co-Chair, Philanthropy Australia |
Lisa George is the Global Head of the Macquarie Group Foundation and Executive Director, Macquarie Group.
Lisa joined Macquarie Group in 2010 and is the Global Head of the Macquarie Group Foundation. The Foundation is Macquarie Group's philanthropic arm and is one of the largest corporate benefactors in Australia.
Macquarie staff engagement in their local communities is the founding principle of the Foundation. Since its inception in 1985, the Foundation has donated more than $520 million to community organisations around the world. The Foundation also focuses on capacity building within the community sector, impact investing and increasing social and economic mobility.
Prior to this role, Lisa worked for Social Ventures Australia providing strategic support to non-profit organisations. She is currently also Director at For Purpose Investment Partners, and Chair of the Harvard Club of Australia Ferris Family Non-Profit Fellowship, which awards 2 scholarships annually to Australian non-profit CEOs to study at Harvard Business School. Lisa has a Master of Public Policy from Harvard University.
The Hon Dr Andrew Leigh – Member of the Australian House of Representatives, Assistant Minister for Competition, Charities and Treasury |
Andrew Leigh is the Assistant Minister for Competition, Charities and Treasury, and Federal Member for Fenner in the ACT. Prior to being elected in 2010, Andrew was a professor of economics at the Australian National University. He holds a PhD in Public Policy from Harvard, having graduated from the University of Sydney with first class honours in Arts and Law. Andrew is a past recipient of the Economic Society of Australia's Young Economist Award and a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Social Sciences. He has published multiple books, including Reconnected: A Community Builder’s Handbook (with Nick Terrell) (2020).
The Hon Kristina Keneally, CEO, Sydney Children's Hospitals Foundation |
Kristina is a respected Australian leader, having served as Premier of New South Wales, an Australian Senator, and CEO of Basketball Australia.
In both her NSW and federal parliamentary service, Kristina held several front bench portfolios, including Home Affairs, Immigration, Planning, Disability Services, and Ageing.
Kristina began her career in the Not-For-Profit sector as the NSW Youth Coordinator for the Society of St Vincent de Paul. Between her state and federal parliamentary service, Kristina worked as the Director of Gender Inclusion/Adjunct Professor at the Macquarie Graduate School of Management. She also anchored several shows on Sky News Australia and was part of the Sky News team that won a Walkley Award for its live coverage of the 2016 federal election campaign.
Kristina served as Chairman of Souths Cares, a Board Member of the United States Studies Centre, and Ambassador for Opportunity Australia International. She was appointed by then Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull to the Referendum Council, which recommended the Uluru Statement and a Voice to Parliament to recognise Indigenous Australians in the Constitution.
Kristina is married and the mother of two grown sons and a daughter, Caroline, who was stillborn. Kristina was Patron of Stillbirth Foundation Australia for many years and is well-known for her advocacy to reduce stillbirth in Australia.
Jack Heath, Chief Executive Officer, Philanthropy Australia |
Jack sees philanthropy as a driving force for good in a time of diminished trust in institutions and huge societal challenges. He advocates for a philanthropy that is big-hearted, clear-headed and joyful.
After graduating from the University of Melbourne in Honours Arts and Law, he served in government as a diplomat, speechwriter and senior adviser to federal ministers including Prime Minister Paul Keating. Then, following the suicide of his young cousin, Jack led the establishment of the ReachOut youth mental health organisation in Australia, Ireland and the USA before serving as CEO at SANE Australia for over 8 years.
He has sat on a number of advisory boards and committees and received awards for his contribution in mental health, including a Centenary Medal.
Jack lives in Sydney with his publisher wife Catherine Milne and they have 2 adult children, Lucy and James, and a dog Fred.
Dr Alex Robson, Productivity Commissioner on the Philanthropy Inquiry |
Alex Robson commenced a 5 year term as a full time Commissioner and Deputy Chair of the Productivity Commission in March 2022. Alex is currently acting Chair of the Productivity Commission until the commencement of incoming Chair Danielle Wood. Professor Robson has a broad range of experience in academia and the public and private sectors, most recently as Associate Partner at EY (Ernst and Young). Prior to that, Professor Robson served as Australia’s Ambassador to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).
He also served as Senior Economic Adviser and Chief Economist to the former Australian Prime Minister, the Hon Malcolm Turnbull, and has held a number of other positions, including Managing Director at FTI Consulting; Director at Deloitte Access Economics; Director of the Economic Policy Analysis Program at Griffith University; Lecturer in Economics at the Australian National University; and as a graduate economist at the Commonwealth Treasury in Canberra.
Professor Robson’s teaching and research has been in the fields of advanced microeconomics, game theory, public economics and public choice, law and economics, and macroeconomics.
Professor Robson holds a Bachelor of Arts (First Class Honours) from James Cook University and a Master of Arts and PhD in Economics from the University of California, Irvine, USA. His research has been published in several international journals, including Economic Theory, Public Choice, the Geneva Papers on Risk and Insurance, and Economic Modelling. His law and economics book, Law and Markets, was published by Palgrave Macmillan in 2012.
In addition to his role of Deputy Chair, Professor Robson is also working on the Philanthropy inquiry.
Krystian Seibert, Productivity Commissioner on the Philanthropy Inquiry |
Krystian Seibert was appointed as an Associate Commissioner with the Productivity Commission in February 2023 to work on the Philanthropy inquiry. Krystian has worked across government, academia and the not-for-profit sector. He has particular expertise in relation to the policy and regulatory frameworks that apply to the not-for-profit sector, with extensive experience shaping reforms in these areas.
Krystian was previously an Industry Fellow at the Centre for Social Impact at Swinburne University of Technology. He has also worked as the Advocacy and Insight Manager and the Policy and Regulatory Specialist at Philanthropy Australia.
In his role as an adviser to a former Assistant Treasurer in the Australian Government, Krystian managed the delivery of major reforms focused on the not-for-profit sector, including the establishment of Australia’s charities regulator, the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission (ACNC), and the passage of Australia’s first statutory definition of charity, the Charities Act 2013.
In addition to his role with the Commission, Krystian serves as Chair of Mental Health First Aid Australia, and is an Adjunct Industry Fellow at the Centre for Social Impact at Swinburne University of Technology. He is also a member of a number of Australian and international advisory boards.
Krystian has completed a Master’s degree from the London School of Economics and Political Science focused on regulatory policy, and a Bachelor of Laws and a Bachelor of Commerce (Economics) from Deakin University.
Senator Dean Smith MP – Shadow Assistant Minister for Competition, Charities and Treasury Senator for Western Australia |
Dean Smith has been a Liberal Senator for Western Australia since May 2012. In June 2022, he was appointed to the Coalition’s Shadow Economics Team as Shadow Assistant Minister for Competition, Charities and Treasury.
Dean was previously a member of the Coalition Government’s Senate Leadership Team – having been elected Chief Government Whip in the Senate by his Liberal Senate colleagues in January 2019.
Dean was awarded the McKinnon Prize in Political Leadership in 2018 by a panel of eminent Australians, including John Howard and Julia Gillard.
Prior to entering the Senate, he held senior executive roles at Insurance Australia Group and SingTel Optus. Dean brings to his Senate role extensive policy experience, having worked as Policy Adviser to both Western Australian Premier Richard Court and Prime Minister John Howard.
His Parliamentary Committee obligations include Chair of the Senate Scrutiny of Bills Committee and Deputy Chair of the Joint Standing Committee on the Implementation of the National Redress Scheme. Dean was previously Chair of the Joint Parliamentary Committee on Public Accounts and Audit and the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Human Rights, among others.
He was appointed to the National Archives of Australia Advisory Council in July 2022.
Senator Peter Whish-Wilson - Australian Greens |
Senator Peter Whish-Wilson, Australian Greens Senator for lutruwita/Tasmania
Peter made the transition from being a community leader campaigning to protect Tasmania’s forests and oceans to Greens Senator for lutruwita/Tasmania in 2012 when he replaced Bob Brown in the Senate.
He is an economist by training and taught finance and economics at the University of Tasmania whilst building a small family agricultural and wine business.
Since entering parliament over a decade ago, he has held many portfolios for the Greens, including Treasury, Small Business, Finance, Defense, Agriculture and Waste & Recycling. As the longstanding Australian Greens Healthy Oceans spokesperson, he has fought tirelessly to protect our oceans and wild places and for real action on climate change.
Ms Allegra Spender MP - Independent Member for Wentworth |
Allegra Spender is the Independent Member for Wentworth. She was elected in May 2022 on a platform climate action, political integrity, future-focused economic reform, gender equity and decency.
Allegra went to Ascham School in Edgecliff, has an Economics degree from Cambridge University, an MSc from the University of London, and has completed business courses at Harvard and Dartmouth College. Before parliament, Allegra worked as a business analyst at McKinsey, a policy analyst with UK Treasury and was later the Managing Director at Carla Zampatti Pty Ltd. Allegra was also the chair of the Sydney Renewable Power Company and CEO of the Australian Business and Community Network, which addresses educational disadvantage by partnering low socio-economic schools with leading Australian businesses.
As an MP, Allegra has taken a leading role within the crossbench on climate action. This has included through the legislation of targets for reducing Australia's CO2 emissions, strengthened reforms to the safeguard mechanism, and investment in electrifying and decarbonizing households. Allegra has also been driving future-focused economic reform, by initiating her own tax review process and putting forward a citizens’ assembly to break the political impasse on housing policy. Allegra has also successfully advocated for the establishment of a National Anti-Corruption Commission, greater investment in women’s economic empowerment, and a more humane approach to the treatment of refugees and people seeking asylum.
Allegra is a member of the House Standing Committee on Economics and the Joint Standing Committee on Migration. She is also co-chair of the Parliamentary Friends of Uluru Statement from the Heart, the Parliamentary Friends of Entrepreneurs, Small and Medium Business, and the Parliamentary Friends of International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA).
Allegra is married with three children and in her spare time is a keen runner.
The Hon Amanda Rishworth MP - Minister for Social Services |
In 2007 Amanda was elected as the Member for Kingston at 29 years of age.
Amanda is a member of Federal Labor’s Cabinet as Minister for Social Services. Amanda was previously Shadow Minister for Early Childhood Education and Development and Shadow Minister for Youth. Prior to that she was Shadow Minister for Veterans’ Affairs and Defence Personnel. Amanda was educated at state schools in Adelaide and was a volunteer swimming instructor and surf life saver.
During her university studies, Amanda worked as a sales assistant and developed a strong interest in workplace fairness. Amanda followed this passion to work in the trade union movement, both as a union representative and an occupational health and safety trainer. Amanda graduated with a Bachelor of Psychology Honours from Flinders University and a Masters Degree in Psychology from Adelaide University.
After graduating, Amanda practised as a psychologist working with General Practitioners in the delivery of mental health care to the community. Amanda lives in Hallett Cove with her husband and their two young sons.
Matthew Cox, Executive
Director, The Bryan Foundation |
Matthew joined The Bryan Foundation in February 2022 following six years as founding Executive Director of one of Australia’s largest child development programs, Logan Together.
Widely regarded for pioneering the use of collective impact approaches to make large-scale community change, Matthew established Logan Together after spending over a decade leading the Red Cross’ human services program in Queensland.
He currently serves on the boards of several child development programs and social change initiatives around Australia and is also Co-chair of the Early Years Initiative in Western Australia.
Bernadette Black AM, Social Economic Ambassador, CEO of SEED and Founding Director Brave Foundation |
Bernadette Black is a systems expert and social architect. She has the vision to see a 'primary prevention portfolio' mobilised in Australia, and a ten year road map to get there. This emerging sector will liberate new ways of thinking, through designing policy, environmental conditions and funding architecture, that meets the needs of our nation's most at-risk families through life stage moments and early intervention. An important part of this is revisioning Centrelink by 2033, through a One Door approach, for all Families across the first 1000 days by 2033. Bernadette believes Australia can lead the way in transforming our traditional government systems, if we keep our dialogue open and intentional around our people.
From her own humble beginnings as a 16-year-old mother to founding and leading the Brave Foundation as its inaugural CEO, to being appointed its Social Economic Empowerment Ambassador (SEEA) in 2021 to lead SEED, Bernadette has gained a deep understanding as an expert on issues facing our most disadvantaged youth and families.
Bernadette Black Chairs the Social Economic Empowerment Advisory Council and with central agencies of Government mobilises coalitions to advocate for wider systems change, that alleviates disadvantage for future generations, socially and economically. She is a member of the University of Sydney's Policy Lab Advisory. Alongside her international study on public leadership and policy, she has been awarded the Australian Tasmanian of the Year and included in the top 100 Australian Financial Review's Women of Influence for her pioneering leadership and impact.
Bernadette is married to Steven, they have three children Damien, Baeleigh, and Flynn. Damien is married to Rebecca, and they have a little girl, Bernadette is Nanna BB to her first grandchild, Juliette. Bernadette lives in Hobart, Tasmania.
Danielle Wood, CEO of Grattan |
Danielle Wood is CEO of the Grattan Institute where she heads a team of leading policy thinkers, researching and advocating policy to improve the lives of Australians.
Danielle also leads Grattan’s Budgets and Government Program and has published extensively on economic reform priorities, budgets, tax reform, women’s workforce participation, generational inequality and reforming political institutions. She is a sought-after media commentator and speaker on policy issues.
Danielle was previously Principal Economist and Director of Merger investigations at the ACCC, a Senior Economist at NERA Economic Consulting and Senior Research Economist the Productivity Commission. She holds an Honours degree in Economics from the University of Adelaide and two Masters degrees, one in Economics and one in Competition Law, from the University of Melbourne.
Danielle is a member of the Australian Government’s Women’s Economic Equality Taskforce, the Parliamentary Budget Office Expert Advisory Committee and the Commonwealth Bank CEO Advisory Council.
Danielle is an Honorary Fellow and former President of the Economic Society of Australia and a Research Fellow of the Women’s Leadership Institute. She is also a passionate advocate for women in economics and was the co-founder and first Chair of the Women in Economics Network. In November she will commence her new role as Chair of the Productivity Commission.
Kosmos Samaras, Director of Strategy and Analytics – Redbridge Group |
Kos has over 25 years of experience in advertising and politics.
From 2005 to 2019, Kos served as Labor’s Victorian Deputy Campaign Director. During his 14 year experience in this role, he developed and implemented campaign strategies for Labor’s Victorian state and federal election campaigns. This includes four Victorian state elections, four federal elections and countless by-elections. He was one of the longest serving and most experienced campaign strategists in the Australian Labor Party history.
Kos specialises in combining research, analysis and marketing to maximise influence within the broader community, whilst utilising the best persuasion tools applicable to any given project and campaign.
25 years of political experience has also enabled him to develop an extensive knowledge on how governments and political parties function and what drives them. This knowledge means Kos is well positioned to advise on government engagement strategies.
Kos is also an Advisory Board member for the John Curtin Research Centre.
Michael Daddo, Managing Partner, The Shannon Group |
Michael is the Managing Director and Partner of The Shannon Company, a specialist behaviour change communications company.
He has more than 30 years’ experience in Australia and internationally in marketing and communications across corporate, government, political, and not-for-profit sectors.
Michael has played a leading role in the Industry Super Funds campaigns that has shaped the now $3 trillion dollar sector; Homestretch in changing government support for foster care from 18 to 21; the prevention of violence programs for Respect Victoria; Worksafe Victoria’s development and Homecomings campaign; and several State ALP Elections, including this years’ successful NSW election. He was instrumental in the establishment of BehaviourWorks at Monash University and sits on the Advisory Board.
He is a Director of Independence Australia, whose surplus from $280m turnover goes back into activities that help people living with a disability live an independent life. He was founding Managing Director M&C Saatchi Melbourne and National Partner, Trustee of Victorian Arts Centre, Director of Richmond Football Club and member of WEHI's Advocacy and Support Board Committee.
Dr Georgie McClean, Executive Director Development and Partnerships - Creative Australia |
Dr Georgie McClean is a media/arts professional with more than 20 years’ experience in public policy and programs. She previously ran her own consultancy in strategy, policy, research and communications – The Gist: Strategy and Engagement, working with clients such as The Australia Council for the Arts, Screen Australia and Portable. She was Acting CEO of the Australian Film, Television and Radio School (AFTRS) where she had led Strategy and Governance. She headed up Strategy and Communications at Screen Australia, and prior to that, was Manager of Policy and Research at SBS. She is currently on the Board of Diversity Arts Australia and the Advisory Board of Western Sydney University Centre for Culture and Society as well as the DMRC’s External Advisory Committee. With an applied research Doctorate of Cultural Research and strong practical knowledge of the screen and media industries, Georgie is particularly interested in translating between ideas, research and practice for the benefit of creative work, public policy and audiences. Georgie was born in Canada, raised in Indonesia and has lived in Argentina and Japan.
Dr Angela Jackson, Lead Economist, Impact Economics and Policy |
Dr Angela Jackson is the Lead Economist at Impact Economics and Policy.
Starting her career as an economist at the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet, Angela has worked across tax, fiscal and social policy. As the Deputy Chief of Staff to the Australian Finance Minister, Angela was responsible for providing policy advice across fiscal policy and all areas of social policy, including National Health Reform. Angela has authored a number of high-profile reports on health, aged care, disability, housing and gender policy. She’s recently been appointed as part of a three-person panel of eminent experts to lead the Commonwealth Government’s Covid-19 Response Inquiry.
Angela is a part-time Commissioner at the Commonwealth Grants Commission, Chair of the Victorian National Heart Foundation Advisory Board, member of the interim Economic Inclusion Advisory Committee and National Chair of the Women in Economics Network. Previously she was a Board Member and Chair of the Finance Committee at Royal Melbourne Hospital from 2015-2021.
Angela holds a Masters in International Health Policy (Health Economics) with Distinction from the London School of Economics and Political Science, a Bachelor of Commerce (Hons) from the University of Melbourne and a Bachelor of Economics from the University of Tasmania. In 2021, Angela was awarded her PhD on the Economics of Disability in Australia from Monash University.
She has published articles in peer reviewed journals and major Australian newspapers and appears regularly in the media providing economic commentary.
Dr Emily Millane, Lead Economic Security and Governance |
Emily is a policy analyst, lawyer and adviser with expertise in superannuation and tax policy. Her focus is economic security and good governance, bringing a historical and contextual lens to current policy.
Emily has worked in public policy research and analysis at the Commonwealth Treasury, the ANU’s Tax and Transfer Policy Institute, for Grattan Institute and the Per Capita think tank. She has also worked as an adviser to now Treasurer, Dr Jim Chalmers MP.
Most recently, Emily has advised senior executives and boards in the superannuation industry and government sectors. Emily was Manager, Strategy and Government Relations at ASIC, where she also led the agency’s work on the Your Future, Your Super reforms.
Emily is a Senior Fellow at the University of Melbourne Law School, where she teaches in the Melbourne Law Masters. She commenced her career at Maddocks Lawyers in the commercial team.
Emily’s PhD (ANU, 2020) examined the history of Australia’s superannuation system. She holds degrees in Arts (Hons) and Law from the University of Melbourne.
Ian Bird OLY, Incoming Chief Executive Officer – Community Foundations Australia |
Ian is a seasoned executive in the community foundation sector and innovator in the field of collective action and network leadership, largely exercised during his tenure as CEO at Community Foundations of Canada and Chair of the Global Fund for Community Foundations. He is a former sport advocate and Olympian in hockey, having represented Canada at the Summer Olympics in Sydney (2000) and Seoul (1988). Ian’s civic engagements currently include contributions as a member of the Wasan Network, co-founder of the Chelsea Commons, past chair of the Child and Nature Alliance and as a director of the Community Forward Fund. A Vancouver native and student at the University of British Columbia, he and his partner, Kristin, raised three children in the Gatineau Hills and will be relocating to Melbourne, Victoria.
Most recently, Ian has been advising impact focused companies, foundations and initiatives, such as the Foundation for Black Communities and Indigenous Peoples Resilience Fund, where he worked alongside the founders during their formative phase and successful capitalization efforts.
In the decade prior, Ian led Community Foundations of Canada and fostered an approach of shared leadership amongst Canada’s movement of community foundations. This took shape by aligning diverse stakeholders, growing the capacity and resources at CFC itself, and instilling an ethos of reciprocity and partnership.
At the invitation of the Governor General and as approved by the CFC Board, Ian also led the incubation of the Rideau Hall Foundation taking this new Canadian institution through a lean start up strategy and developing the governance and operational capabilities of the foundation itself.
Prior to Ian’s work in the community philanthropy field, Ian led the Sport Matters Group, a platform for Canadian sport leaders to exercise their collective leadership. This saw the development of a robust innovation, advocacy and policy coalition at the federal level. Collectively, the SMG shaped the first Canadian Sport Policy and Legislation, new federal budget commitments for sport, and system level changes repositioning good sport as a tool for development, inclusion, reconciliation and equality. Not surprisingly, Ian’s Olympic hockey experience and years with Canada’s national team led to opportunities off the pitch for athlete advocacy with AthletesCAN and Motivate Canada, a Fellowship hosted by the True Sport Foundation, and years of grassroots community sport involvement and club development. Commendation in Service to the Governor General in 2015, the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal in 2013, and the Canadian Sport Awards Athlete Leader of the Year in 2001 reflect his commitment to service and community.
Georgina Byron AM, Chief Executive Officer, The Snow Foundation |
Georgina was appointed CEO of The Snow Foundation in 2006 and has significantly grown its reach and impact ever since. As the Foundation increased in capacity, it deepened its commitment to the local Canberra region and stepped outside to back dynamic start-up social entrepreneurs with bold national agendas. Over the last ten years, Georgina has led the further expansion and its commitment to social justice and backed some major social change projects; marriage equality, Raise the Rate campaign, and the elimination of rheumatic heart disease and crusted scabies in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.
Georgina is passionate about creating social change to improve the lives of Australians, especially women and girls and First Australians. She is a Deputy Chair of Sydney Community Foundation and Chair of Sydney Women’s Community Fund Advisory Council and is a previous director of Good360 and Chair of Philanthropy Australia’s Family Foundation Network. She has also served as a director for the Australian Women Donors Network, and Hands Across Canberra Community Foundation. Collaboration is central to the Foundation and Georgina has led several co-funding initiatives and brought innovative programs to the ACT.
Before her roles in philanthropy, Georgina had 13 years in the corporate sector holding senior executive positions at David Jones and AMP. She is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, holds a Bachelor of Business Degree, major in Marketing and a Graduate Diploma in Applied Finance & Investment. Georgina lives in Sydney with her husband and four daughters.
Rona Glynn-McDonald - Founding Chief Executive Officer of Common Ground |
Rona is a Kaytetye woman who grew up in Mparntwe on Arrernte Country. With ties to storytelling, economics and narrative change, Rona works with First Nations organisations to shape future systems that centre First Nations people, knowledge and solutions. Rona is the founding CEO of Common Ground and Director of First Nations Futures. Through her work with First Nations communities across Australia, Rona aims to create future systems that centre First Nations people, knowledge and cultures.
Adrian Appo OAM - Lead, First Nations Investment Strategy at a private philanthropic trust |
Adrian Appo is a Gooreng Gooreng man from South East Queensland. He joined Yajilarra Trust in 2021 and works on their First Nations investment and 10 year spend down strategy.
Previously, Adrian was founding Chief Executive Officer of Ganbina (an Indigenous school-to-work transition program); founding Co-Chair of First Australians Capital; founding Board member of Children’s Ground and founding Board member of the Australian Centre for Rural Entrepreneurship (ACRE). He also holds a number of board positions.