Neo Aplin, Head of AI at Inventium, has had a slightly unconventional career path. He studied economics, rarely used the degree directly, and started out as a developer working on emergency services and mission-critical communications systems.

Since then, he has worked across startups, consulting and large organisations in roles spanning product, technology, AI and transformation. Along the way he has helped launch startups, led digital products, advised banks on technology risk and regulation, worked on large-scale cloud transformation programs and now helps train thousands of professionals, executives and boards in practical AI adoption.

Neo describes himself as a generalist by design. His work spans technology, design, business, product, governance, communication and strategy, with a career built around connecting ideas, translating complexity and helping people navigate change. He has worked as a developer, CTO, consultant, founder, virtual CIO and product lead.

Today, Neo helps organisations use AI in ways that are practical, responsible and genuinely human-centred. His work ranges from universities and not-for-profits through to ASX-listed companies, with a focus on turning complex ideas into practical outcomes people can actually use.

What ties it all together is curiosity, learning and a willingness to keep reinventing himself. Neo’s career has never followed a straight line, and that is exactly the point.

Robert Brown AM BEc (Syd) FCA is a chartered accountant with many years’ experience in public practice, specialising in superannuation, taxation, financial advice and ethics. He writes and speaks extensively about the industry and has authored many technical papers and opinion pieces in professional journals, industry magazines and national newspapers. 

He is an Air Commodore in the Royal Australian Air Force and is an independent member of the Australian Defence Force Financial Services Consumer Centre which he helped to establish in 2006. The Centre’s activities include a wide range of independent financial education programs specifically designed for over 80,000 Australian Navy, Army and Air Force personnel.

Charlene Fernandez is the founder of Reign Salon & Retreat, a Melbourne-based salon and wellness space that reimagines the traditional hairdressing experience. With over 20 years in the industry, she is an award-winning stylist, educator, and mentor known for her intuitive approach to both hair and human connection. Coming from a culturally diverse background, Charlene’s journey has been shaped by resilience, identity, and a deep desire to create spaces where people feel seen, safe, and supported. She is passionate about empowering others to build aligned, sustainable careers while fostering a strong sense of community and belonging.

Shannon Lemanski is the Co-Founder and Managing Director of Aqua Ubique, a People and Planet First accredited social enterprise delivering clean drinking water across Australia. Using Atmospheric Water Generation technology, the company produces safe drinking water directly from air, enabling organisations to eliminate bottled water. 

Aqua Ubique’s origins trace back to an Army deployment to Papua New Guinea. During a routine rubbish run, locals implored Shannon’s unit not to crush their empty plastic bottles so they could be reused to collect rainwater for their children, reducing their reliance on a contaminated creek. It was a moment that fundamentally reshaped his understanding of water security. 

After transitioning to the private sector, Shannon discovered safe water access was a problem affecting more than just developing nations. Today, more than two million Australians live without reliable access to safe drinking water. Closing that gap became the core of Aqua Ubique’s mission. 

The company has since deployed over 35 systems across Queensland, working with a wide customer base including councils, Tier 1 construction firms, and regional organisations. Through its Drop 4 Drop program, every five customer installations fund a water system for a community facing water insecurity. 

Shannon’s work has been recognised nationally for innovation and social impact, including the Saab Australia Rising Star Award, the Veolia Sustainability Award, and Sunshine Coast Biosphere Business of the Year. He credits The King’s Trust Australia Enterprise programme with helping refine the company’s early strategy, build critical partnerships, and secure its first major client. 

Ikram Mahamed is a youth advocate passionate about community-led change. As the founder and project lead of The Beginning Project, Ikram supports young people from multicultural backgrounds to navigate early career pathways and claim space in systems not built for them. Through storytelling, mentorship and accessible resources, the project centres lived experience and empowers young people to reach their aspirations.

With a Bachelor of Public Health and experience across grassroots initiatives and youth leadership, Ikram brings an intersectional lens to every space she’s in. She also sits on the boards of YLab and CALM Youth, contributing lived experience and strategic insight to programs focused on equity, access and youth voice.

Drew Paten is a business leader and social impact practitioner based in Victoria, Australia. He is the founder of Talwali Coffee and Owner of Dhuwa Coffee & Tea – an FMCG brand stocked nationally, including long-term distribution through Woolworths and an upcoming launch into Coles.

Drew’s work sits at the intersection of business, community, and systems change. He is focused on building scalable supply chains that create economic opportunity while challenging traditional models of production and distribution. His current ventures extend beyond coffee into sustainability and innovation, including the development of Australian-grown coffee through controlled-environment agriculture and circular economy initiatives that repurpose coffee waste into new materials.

Alongside his commercial work, Drew has held leadership roles supporting entrepreneurship and enterprise development. As Interim CEO of Ngarrimili, he has worked directly with hundreds of founders, contributing to the delivery of mentoring, investment pathways, and business support programs across Victoria.

Drew’s approach is grounded in practical execution – bridging grassroots impact with commercially viable models that can scale. His work has contributed to over 400 businesses being supported and has helped direct significant investment into enterprise development.

Recognised as a 7NEWS Young Achiever of the Year for Victoria, Drew continues to focus on building strong economic ecosystems – with an emphasis on ownership, capability, and long-term sustainability.

Angie Saunders is the founder of Online Breathing Academy and creator of Behavioral Breathwork, an approach built on behavioral science and classic breathwork modalities. She’s here to help people understand what’s actually happening when they breathe, and how those patterns directly influence their health, their focus, and the way they move through daily life.

Her path started in Hollywood film production before a move to Australia, where she and her husband Shane developed the approach they’re known for today, drawn from more than a decade of experience in breathwork and behavioral science.
She’s an award-winning author, international speaker, and educator who has trained thousands of professionals and wellness practitioners worldwide. Her mission is to teach breathing as a skill, not a trend, so people can live better, not just breathe better.

Sara Singh Tak is the Founder and CEO of Humans of Australia, a fast-growing digital media platform shaping conversations around startups, talent, and news for Australia’s next generation. Through high-impact storytelling and editorial content, she has built an audience of over 40,000+ and driven millions of organic views monthly. Sara is also the force behind initiatives like Start-Up Tank and Humans Who Hire, connecting founders, investors, and talent through curated events and media. Her work focuses on bridging the gap between startups and the people around them, making the ecosystem more accessible, human, and visible.

Marcus Willis is the Founder and CEO of Kill Boring Dead, an award winning social-first creative agency in Melbourne. With over a decade building social and creative agencies, he leads a team known for work that earns attention rather than buying it. KBD partners with brands like Cathay Pacific, Red Rooster, Carman’s and Toyota.

Director of ACS Innovation Labs, working with companies from early-stage through to scale. Also an angel investor and founder, bringing experience across both building and backing companies.

A purpose-driven entrepreneur with experience across social impact and commercial ventures, including not-for-profit leadership, ecommerce and consulting.

An integral part of the Australian startup ecosystem for over a decade as a founder, investor, advisor and director. Co-founder of Skalata, responsible for fund strategy, portfolio construction and overall investment performance.

Anthony operates at the nexus of creativity, impact, innovation, insurance, investment and risk management. His life is built on the belief that collaborative creativity is the highest form of human expression. 

Anthony is passionate about finding innovative ways to solve big challenges that affect humanity. With a significant bias for action, his mission is to mobilise the financial and human resources needed for humanity to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals. 

As part entrepreneur, part diplomat, part creative and part crisis management leader, Anthony loves working with purpose-led teams to have global impact. He is a former Commando Captain in the Australian Special Forces, where he specialised in designing, planning and leading hostage rescue missions. 

A 15-year entrepreneurial journey saw him create, grow and sell a number of successful businesses. Yet it has been his failures where his real business and life lessons stem from. Anthony is most at home working as the architect of strategy and builder of high-performance team culture. 

Anthony is passionate about the positive role masculinity can play in the fight against gender-based violence. His mantra: we can’t fix the pain that men cause, until we fix the pain in men. 

Shannon Hennessy is the Founder and CEO of the Veterans, Emergency Services and Police Industry Institute of Australia (VESPIIA), Australia’s first professional body supporting those who work with veterans and first responders. 

She has led the development of national programs across research, policy, professional development, and recognition, including the Future Frontlines papers, national conference, and Awards for Excellence. 

Shannon has been recognised as a finalist in The King’s Trust Australia Rising Star Award (2025) and the Prime Minister’s Veteran Employment Awards (Partner Employee of the Year). 

Her work focuses on strengthening capability across the sector through clear standards, practical tools, and national coordination. Through this, she has developed a strong track record in award submissions, positioning, and using recognition to unlock partnerships, funding, and sector influence. 

Shannon Lemanski is the Co-Founder and Managing Director of Aqua Ubique, a People and Planet First accredited social enterprise delivering clean drinking water across Australia. Using Atmospheric Water Generation technology, the company produces safe drinking water directly from air, enabling organisations to eliminate bottled water. 

Aqua Ubique’s origins trace back to an Army deployment to Papua New Guinea. During a routine rubbish run, locals implored Shannon’s unit not to crush their empty plastic bottles so they could be reused to collect rainwater for their children, reducing their reliance on a contaminated creek. It was a moment that fundamentally reshaped his understanding of water security. 

After transitioning to the private sector, Shannon discovered safe water access was a problem affecting more than just developing nations. Today, more than two million Australians live without reliable access to safe drinking water. Closing that gap became the core of Aqua Ubique’s mission. 

The company has since deployed over 35 systems across Queensland, working with a wide customer base including councils, Tier 1 construction firms, and regional organisations. Through its Drop 4 Drop program, every five customer installations fund a water system for a community facing water insecurity. 

Shannon’s work has been recognised nationally for innovation and social impact, including the Saab Australia Rising Star Award, the Veolia Sustainability Award, and Sunshine Coast Biosphere Business of the Year. He credits The King’s Trust Australia Enterprise programme with helping refine the company’s early strategy, build critical partnerships, and secure its first major client. 

 Wing Commander Daniel Mendoza-Jones is a senior legal officer in the Royal Australian Air Force reserve. He is currently working with Air Warfare Centre and previously been posted to Surveillance & Response Group, Air Mobility Group, Headquarters Air Command and the Inspector General of the ADF. He advises commanders on a wide range of military legal matters. 

Daniel is the founder of Mendoza Legal & Consulting and is a corporate and commercial lawyer with broad experience in general business law as well as areas of specialisation. 

He began his legal career at Allens Arthur Robinson (now Allens Linklaters) where he gained experience in general corporate and commercial advice especially in the areas of technology, Defence industry and financial services. He has continued to practice corporate and commercial law and has become a trusted adviser to range of clients in fields such as aerospace, aviation, Defence industry, financial services and government. Having worked in private and government practice, Daniel’s commercial advice is often sought by government agencies and by small and large organisations doing business with government. 

Daniel is a non-executive director of several companies and not-for-profit organisations.  

Robert Brown AM BEc (Syd) FCA is a chartered accountant with many years’ experience in public practice, specialising in superannuation, taxation, financial advice and ethics. He writes and speaks extensively about the industry and has authored many technical papers and opinion pieces in professional journals, industry magazines and national newspapers. 

He is an Air Commodore in the Royal Australian Air Force and is an independent member of the Australian Defence Force Financial Services Consumer Centre which he helped to establish in 2006. The Centre’s activities include a wide range of independent financial education programs specifically designed for over 80,000 Australian Navy, Army and Air Force personnel.