Speakers — Corporate Kindness Awards

A one day conference like no other…

The beautiful thing about this conference is that you will get to pick your learning journey in this interactive day. There will be a variety of topics covered by keynote speakers and breakout workshops, so your team can pick accordingly to match their learning objectives and interests.

Here are a few of our speakers below… watch this space as more to be announced very soon!

Emcee of Awards

**Marcus Pearce** is magnificently obsessed with helping people create their exceptional life. A former smoking, binge-drinking journalist, radio and television producer, Marcus’s media career included time at Leader newspapers, Sport 927 and SEN 1116 before concluding at Channel Nine and The AFL Footy Show in 2006. His switch from sports media to health, wellness and personal growth media was seven years in the making. In 2014 Marcus created an online program called the Exceptional Life Blueprint framework, through which he began sharing his insights and trainings both digitally and in-person.

Welcome to Country

Aunty Margret was born at sunset on the bend along the Macleay River and raised at Burnt Bridge in Dunghutti Country, “Muughi” (meaning Margret). Now the sole survivor of her family of 8 siblings Margret’s life mission is to build a legacy for all children to see and inherit an Australian landscape as rich in the Dreamtime as it has always been and will always be.

Keynote Speakers

Christo Brand’s early years were spent on a small farm outside Stanford. The farm was called “Goedvertrouw” – a Dutch word meaning “Good trust”.

Rather than join the army for National Service as was compulsory for every white male, Christo decided to join the prison service. After training for a year in Kroonstad, he applied for a post on Robben Island because he wanted to be close to home. His application was successful and at the age of 19 he was sent to work on Robben Island in 1978.

That was when Christo first came across Nelson Mandela who at that time was 60 years old.

This was where they formed a relationship which was to become so much more. A close friendship built on trust and mutual respect for each other.

In 2014 Christo wrote his book “Doing Life with Mandela – My Prisoner, My Friend”, with co-author Barbara Jones.

Randa & Richard .png — **Randa Habelrih** is the CEO and Founder of **Autism Mates**. Passionate about changing the standards of social inclusion for our young people on
the spectrum, Randa
takes her message of inclusion and of
making a difference, all over the world.
Richard Habelrih is a public speaker who
incorporates storytelling and puppets into his
presentation. Richard is in his 20’s; he lives in
Sydney with his family and has a diagnosis of
autism and intellectual disability. By sharing his story he advocates for a more
inclusive world. He has an ability to relate to his
audience and deliver a powerful message which
stays with his audience long after his
presentation.

Anna Sheppard Keynote Speaker.png — **Anna Sheppard** is an inspirational keynote speaker and the founder and CEO of **Bambuddha Group**. Bambuddha is a network for dedicated learners who want to make an exceptional impact through leadership in business. Membership provides access to an evidence-based leadership framework that offers industry-leading coaches, community and the resources you need to be the change you want to see in the world. Why? Because Anna believes in a future where every leader is committed to creating a sustainable world of equality and opportunity for everyone.

Kindness to People

Kylie Owen Speaker.png — **Kylie Owen** is a Leader within the People and Culture space at **Cisco** and heads a Disability Hiring program - Diverse Abilities. She has developed and deployed a global Diverse Ability program at Cisco as well as leading GPTW efforts in 38+ countries. Twice awarded IT Manager of the Year for nurturing talent, and trusted advisor to the C-Level executives using a highly collaborative approach to deliver lasting results.

**Isabella Rigg** is Strategy & Response Manager at **Pedestrian Group**.

**Whitney Meldrum-Hanna** is Head of Strategy & Response at **Pedestrian Group**. She runs Strategy & Response at Pedestrian Group, leading a team of ideators who help the world's biggest brands connect with youth culture across Pedestrian.TV, VICE, Refinery29, Business Insider, Gizmodo, Lifehacker & Kotaku.

Mike Symons.png — **Mike Symonds** is the Chief Funergizer at **Interactive Events** and has been the ‘spark’ for thousands of teams around Australia to build better connections, boost morale and have more fun with the people they work with. Funergizers has bought joy, laughter and happiness to thousands of people, from small business right through to some of the biggest companies around the world.

So hold on, buckle up and enjoy! It’s time to #GetFunergized.

**Danny Mayson-Kinder** is the mother of 2 beautiful girls. The youngest, Billie was killed in a tragic horse accident in 2016. Danny’s is now CEO and founder of the **flyhighbillie** charity that spreads her daughter’s kindness and inspiring legacy. Billie’s empowering poems, stories and artworks have been designed into unique, positive, tangible kindness resources for primary school children. These resources are having a substantial impact on children’s wellbeing reducing mental health issues, bullying and suicide. The charity’s “b kinder initiatives” remind us all that our actions do matter and that we each have the power to make a difference.

**John Carroll** is an ex-CEO and Managing Director who grew up surrounded by wildlife through the Rhodesian Civil War in southern Africa. He’s lived on three continents, founded his own successful advertising agency from which not one staff member resigned in 7 years, and recently led a large human services company through the merging of 12 separate organisations in four years to achieve global top-tier staff satisfaction and engagement ratings just one year after the main merger.
With degrees in business and psychology, John is the author of two books and numerous articles, and has appeared on national radio and television.
He now runs his speaking brand, **Leadership Safaris**, exploring and teaching the human skills of leadership through African animal fables.

Kindness to Community

**Kelly Hyland** is the head of People & Culture at **Blooms The Chemist**. An experienced manager with over 15 years’ experience in Learning & Development and Human Resources.
Key strengths include strategy design, facilitation, coaching, influencing, project management, instructional design and delivering a blended framework that offers effective solutions to meet business needs.

Manisha Amin.png — **Dr Manisha Amin** is the CEO of the **Centre for Inclusive Design** (CfID), a social enterprise leading the conversation in the power of thinking from the edge. Manisha has over 20 yrs experience in strategic marketing, communication, transforming cultures and creativity. As the real and the digital worlds collide CfID helps people to build and design products, services and policies that are as inclusive and useful for as many people as possible. Manisha is also on the Board of ADHD Australia and is a published novelist. Manisha will be holding an inclusive leaders masterclass.

Sharon Gray Speaker.png — **Sharon Gray** is a Group Manager for Indigenous and Social Inclusion at **CPB Contractors**.
A dynamic, collaborative and passionate professional, Sharon Gray provides the critical link between today’s corporates, as they construct and progress cities and towns, and the cultural heritage and landscapes of the current and past indigenous communities. Ms Gray has dedicated 25-plus years of her professional career to supporting Aboriginal heritage, culture and communities across multiple sectors of construction, education, welfare.

**Rebecca Dean** is Community and Stakeholder Liaison Manager focused on Social Sustainability at Lendlease. Rebecca is also on the Bambuddha Group Programs Committee and is a talented community engagement and social sustainability professional with over 25 years’ experience in the Not for Profit, Non-Government, Government and Corporate Sector.
Rebecca is the Community and Stakeholder Liaison Manager, Social Sustainability. Prior to joining Lendlease Rebecca has worked in community services, strategic business development, marketing and brand management. Her most recent focus has been in Sustainability and First Nations for NSW Government.

Kindness to Environment

Max Van Biene.png — **Max Van Biene**, Sustainability Strategist at **Edge Environment** is a strategic advisor, facilitator and passionate environmentalist who uses strategic planning and management consulting tools to help organisations deliver profit and purpose. With over 8 years consulting experience across strategic communications, corporate sustainability and strategic planning, Max now spends his time collaborating with individuals and organisations across all sectors to tackle some of our most complex social and environmental challenges.

For the past 21 years, **Natalie Simmons** has worked for Flight Centre Travel Group driving the strategic growth of cievents, their award winning specialised meetings & events business.
Under her leadership, cievents grew from being Australian based to a global business, employing over 400 people in 7 countries across 75 operational hubs to become one of the top 3 agencies in Asia Pacific (over a period of 10 years and top 10 in the UK market.
Natalie continues to be sought after by organisations for her thought leadership in in innovation, creative solutions, strategy.

**Chrisanta Muli** is the feminist pr academic and Chief Executive Officer at **One Girl Australia**, an organization that works with and for young women and girls to break down the barriers that they face in accessing opportunities to quality education. Chrisanta is passionate about gender equality and social justice issues that affect women and girls, and has experience working in the international development with and for communities and partners across Africa and Asia-Pacific regions. Chrisanta also has extensive experience as a senior lecturer at a couple of Australia-based universities.

**Leigh Mathews** is the Director of Impact at **Caritas Australia**, and has over 17 years experience in the international development, philanthropic and corporate social responsibility sectors. She is the founder of Alto, hosts The Good Problem Podcast, and is a published author.
Leigh is currently working on her forthcoming book - an exploration of the industry of doing good. Leigh sits on numerous boards and committees and is the recipient of the Victorian Young Australian of the Year Award 2009, the Australian Leadership Award 2009, and the JCI Ten Outstanding Young Persons of the World Award and is an alumni of the AsiaLink Leaders Program and the Cranlana Centre for Ethical Leadership

Kindness to Customers

Annette Densham Speaker.png — **Annette Densham** is an award-winning PR specialist and co-founder of **The Audacious Agency**. With a background in print journalism and corporate communications, she uses these skills to work with small businesses and entrepreneurs, sharing their stories and building rock solid profiles. Annette audaciously challenges anyone in small business to cast aside modesty, embrace their genius and share their stories.

**Sharon Fitter** is **Chief Revenue Officer at** **Australian Community Media** and **Marshall Goldsmith** **Executive Coach.** Sharon is an established Commercial business leader, mentor and coach with a diverse range of skills. With over 20 years Leadership experience and 4 years consulting experience she has held both frontline Commercial and Executive leadership positions. Sharon is currently specialising in establishing high performing sales cultures at scale and Sales Leadership Coaching.

Speaker Tiles for Website (32).png — A passionate change manager, **Venessa Hunt**, General Manager of **Think Premium Digital**, is highly skilled in launching and developing new businesses, nurturing key relationships and driving change. Venessa is a strategy professional with broad experience across multiple media disciplines.

Breakfast & Lunch Wellbeing Sessions

Mental Health & Wellbeing Panel

Entertainment

With The Age Melbourne referring to her compositions as “inspired” and Sydney Sentinel celebrating her “extraordinary vocals in various styles” Christine Ibrahim is in possession of an arsenal of abilities ranging from Composition, powerhouse vocals, piano and aerial acrobatics making the Cirque Songstress is a force to be reckoned.

Copy of Speaker Tiles for Website.jpg — Born in Bangkok Thailand, Zeadala is a mixed-race singer-songwriter and spoken word artist settled in Sydney, Australia (unceded Eora Nation). Having also grown up in Auckland, New Zealand (Aotearoa) and with a Thai Mother and Iraqi Father, she often sings of the importance of connection to land, empowerment, as well as justice for the world she lives in.