Pushpa brings over 25 years has honed her skills on international stages in Government, Education and Multinational companies. Her Directorship and Governance strength has demonstrated her abilities developing industrial relations and long-term partnerships with associated projects. With know-how in compliance and sitting on various Boards both profit and non-profits, Pushpa reported to diverse Executive Committees, Council, Government and Stakeholders. As a Coach, Speaker, Author and Transformational Leader, Pushpa’s mission is to inspire, lead and transform organisations through their people. She provides mentoring in Entrepreneurial and Innovation Leadership to Corporates, SME’s, Professionals, Millennials, Women, and Individuals resulting countless successful outcomes.

Howard helps build sustainable businesses and communities and has designed and facilitated large scale national projects engaging multiple levels of industry, community and government. His approach is inclusive and optimistic and is underpinned by the most recent neuroscience and change management strategies. Howard has conducted review and development processes with government, business, educational institutions and communities. He has been both CEO and board chair of a national network of social enterprises and other community-owned businesses and has had a number of board membership roles. His work has been recognized by appointment as a Global Advisor to the United Nations Global Compact Cities Programme. 

Wilma has a passion for growing successful companies. She has over 20 years’ experience in understanding how great science and innovative technology need to be nurtured and translated into products and services. Wilma’s experience includes being CEO of Bravehearts, a national NFP leading Australia in the safety of children that exposed her to the community services sectors. She worked as a Senior Director, UniQuest (UQ’s commercialisation company) for nine years delivering 4,000 industry partnerships. Wilma is a Fellow of Governance Institute of Australia with 10 years of governance experience. 

Richard is a business executive with broad experience across large corporates, SME’s and start-ups. In addition to performing Chief Executive and Business Unit GM roles, Richard has held functional General Management roles in Operations, Sales and Finance. The majority of his experience relates to product development; however, he has also held senior positions within businesses serving agriculture, events, and sustainability markets. Richard is a customer-focused leader with excellent problem solving, communications and interpersonal skills. He has a passion for innovation and change and has led several major initiatives across these areas

Kellie has applied her highly regarded skills in business, technology, and innovation to supporting large infrastructure organisations, small and medium-sized businesses, academia, and other research centres. Working as the Adoption and Commercialisation Manager for a research-based organisation allowed Kellie to appreciate different commercialisation strategies. Kellie is a non-executive director of a financial services organisation and a national research organisation. She has been involved in a number of strategic projects, including launching spin-offs and re-branding and re-positioning other types of organisations. Kellie is a certified Innovation Facilitator and is both a graduate and a member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

Dr Tracy Stanley is a Social Scientist with expertise across intrapreneurship, organisational change and employee engagement. She has worked across Asia Pacific and Europe in consulting and senior human resources management roles. More recently she has been a mentor for Start-up Weekend at River City Labs and Women in Digital. Always keen to learn, she’s a speaker and participant in events within the Queensland innovation ecosystem and was chuffed to be a member of a winning team at the department of Transport and Main Roads, Bike Hackathon. She has a number of start-up projects and loves helping others to be successful with their entrepreneurial activities.

Lewe started his boundary-spanning career in FMCG operations, planning and research with Unifoods Australia. In 1993 he became Research and Information Services Manager for Australian Meat Technology Pty Ltd, a CSIRO technology start-up and management consulting company. He joined a team that started a new industry-owned innovation and marketing services company – Meat and Livestock Australia Ltd – where he has held several senior executive positions over the past 16 years. He works with clients all over Australia facilitating and consulting in Strategic Planning & Management, Innovation, Cross-boundary Collaboration and Research Leadership Development. Lewe has 30 years’ experience in knowledge production and transfers through both commercial and public-good innovation pathways to market.

Angus is passionate about supporting Australian business’ to thrive by implementing the best innovation and commercialisation practices. With experience leading the Australian egg industry’s R&D program and driving Australia’s food innovation initiatives while working with Food Innovation Australia (FIAL), Angus excels at developing leading-edge strategies that align with business objectives. Angus has also co-founded six start-up ventures in the biotechnology, services and digital space. His expertise and ability to influence has led to his appointment to a number of government and university economic development and innovation advisory committees and he has become a commercial advisor to a new digital medical platform start-up. He also is highly skilled at leveraging investments, stakeholder management and encouraging best practice design-led thinking in external organisations.