Ben Roche thrives on bringing people together to solve complex challenges. As Pro Vice-Chancellor (Research and Education Impact) at Southern Cross University, he connects researchers, industry partners and communities to create real-world impact. 

Ben champions participatory approaches that strengthen resilience, build capacity, and drive innovation. From pioneering community-led flood recovery initiatives to co-designing programs that have been nationally awarded and generated millions in economic value for regional Australia, Ben’s work reflects his commitment to strategic collaborations and authentic impact.

James O’Loghlin is one of Australia’s most respected media personalities, and an experienced and highly skilled keynote speaker, facilitator, and MC. James is perhaps best known for his 15 years presenting witty and entertaining programs on ABC Local Radio, and as the host of over 300 episodes of the much loved "The New Inventors" on ABC-TV . It was this role that fuelled James’ passion for practical innovation.

James has been delighting corporate audiences with his unique brand of corporate insight and comedy for over a decade, and is equally at home giving keynotes, acting as MC for conferences and awards nights, and facilitating panel discussions. He is a favourite with Australian audiences and event planners, and a true industry professional with hundreds of successful live events to his credit.

James is the author of 12 books, including ‘Innovation is a State of Mind’, and, with Prof Ian Hickie, the bestselling mental health book ‘Minding Your Mind’. Prof Hickie and James’s mental health podcast, ‘Minding Your Mind’, has been listened to over a quarter of a million times.

James speaks on the topics of Innovation, where he shares practical strategies to help people identify opportunities for innovation in their business and take advantage of them, Mental Health, where he shares evidence based strategies to help people maintain and improve their mental health, and Persuasion and Influence, where he shares practical strategies to help people to become more persuasive and influential.

Rod McGeoch AO is one of Australia’s most respected leaders in major events, business, sport and international engagement. He was Chief Executive Officer of Sydney’s successful bid for the 2000 Olympic Games and went on to advise on other major international bids, including Athens 2004, London 2012 and New Zealand’s successful Rugby World Cup 2011 bid. Rod was appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia in 2013 for distinguished service to the community and to sport, particularly through his leadership in securing the Sydney Olympic Games.

Across his career, Rod has held senior roles across tourism, major events, property, infrastructure, airports, finance, entertainment and business, including chairing Australian Pacific Airports Corporation and serving as a Director of Destination NSW. 

For Northern Rivers CATALYST, Rod brings a powerful perspective on how major events can become catalysts for investment, visitor economy growth, business participation, regional confidence and long-term legacy.

Nicole Reeve

Michael Thurston

Jack WIlliamson

Dean Cooper

Lucinda is an urban futurist, keynote speaker and serial founder, named as one of the Australian Financial Review’s 100 Most Influential Women.

Lucinda builds the tools and ideas reshaping how we live in cities. She helped create the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals for cities and shaped urban development projects for Google. Lucinda is currently the co-founder of Zeroo, a 0% deposit mortgage solution tackling Australia’s housing affordability crisis. She also recently released her first book - Finding Home - a practical guide to making conscious property choices and living intentionally.

Before Zeroo, she co-founded Neighbourlytics, a global urban analytics company now used across 10 countries, and placemaking consultancy CoDesign Studio.

A sought-after keynote speaker, Lucinda helps leaders and organisations build the entrepreneurial mindsets needed to thrive in the future of work and cities

James Foster

Luke Elias

Dr Ken Henry is  currently, Chair of the Australian Climate and Biodiversity Foundation, Nature Finance Council, and Wildlife Recovery Australia, and a non-executive director of Accounting for Nature Ltd and the Digital Finance CRC.  

Dr Henry served as the Secretary to the Treasury from 2001 to 2011. He chaired the Howard Government’s tax review taskforce in 1997-98, the Rudd Government’s tax review published in 2010, and the Gillard Government’s White Paper on Australia in the Asian Century (2011 and 2012).  In 2022-23, he led the independent statutory review of the Biodiversity Conservation Act (NSW).  

Dr Henry was the Chair of National Australia Bank from 2015 to 2019 (non-executive director from 2011 to 2019) and a non-executive director of the ASX and affiliated entities from 2012 to 2022.

Dr Henry is a recipient of the Centenary Medal and was made a Companion of the Order of Australia in 2007.  He is a Fellow of the Academy of Social Sciences Australia, the Australian Institute of International Affairs, and the Australia New Zealand School of Government.

Dr Henry was awarded a PhD in Economics from the University of Canterbury in 1983.  He has been awarded an honorary Doctor of Business from the University of New South Wales and an honorary Doctor of Laws from the ANU.

Tim Jack Adams is an international keynote speaker, facilitator and author of Energised, recognised as a thought leader in Connected Leadership, Sustainable Wellbeing and human performance.

As the founder of GreenX7, Tim helps leaders, teams and organisations thrive sustainably by reconnecting to their energy, purpose, people and what matters most. His work is grounded in the belief that real success is not just measured by outcomes, but by the energy, connection and culture that drive them.

Tim is the creator of the Battery Check framework, a simple yet powerful tool used by leaders and teams to measure, understand and improve their energy, wellbeing and performance in real time. Through practical, science-backed tools and deeply human conversations, he helps organisations make wellbeing measurable, relatable and actionable.

His work has supported global brands and high-performance environments including Fujifilm, Accor, Six Senses, Red Bull, the Australian Defence Force, Olympians and leading organisations across Australia and internationally.

Through Energised, Tim shares sustainable daily practices that help people build focus, motivation and resilience, deepen their connection to themselves, others and nature, and create positive ripple effects in their teams, families and communities.