MEET OUR SPEAKERS

Todd Sampson

AWARD-WINNING DOCUMENTARY-MAKER & BUSINESSMAN

Todd Sampson is an adventurer, award-winning documentary-maker, and businessman.

He’s the former CEO of Leo Burnett Australia and co-creator of Earth Hour, one of the largest environmental movements in history.

 

The Financial Review has ranked him among the country’s most influential executives.

 

He’s best known as the breakout star of the ABC hit show Gruen and as the writer, producer and host of the award-winning documentaries Redesign My Brain, Life on the Line, BodyHack and Mirror Mirror.

 

His latest series, WHY?, is currently on ABC.

 

Away from the screen, Todd enjoys mountaineering and has climbed to the top of Mount Everest, unguided.

DOM THURBON

CHANGE & INNOVATION SPEAKER

Dom is an internationally engaged speaker and facilitator who helps individuals and organisations drive behaviour change in the face of external disruption.


Dom has authored and researched best-sellers published in over 15 countries, on subjects as diverse as generational change, business strategy, purpose-driven leadership, the future of work and education, and disruption.


He has over 17 years’ experience as a successful senior executive and entrepreneur. At just 23, he was founder and Chief Creative Officer at Karrikins Group, a behaviour change agency he grew to over 150 staff across Australia, New Zealand and Norh America (acquired by EY in 2019). He was also founder and director at Educator Impact, a technology company providing on-demand teacher quality and student wellbeing solutions (acquired by Qoria in 2022).


Dom has been architect of multiple-award winning behaviour change programs that reach over 500,000 people per year. Over his career, Dom has spoken to a combined audience numbering in the tens of thousands across Australasia, Europe and North America, with clients spanning financial and professional services, technology, FMCG, pharmaceutical and automotive industries, as well as working extensively in education, Government and not-for-profit sectors.


His publications include (as author) Matter: Rising Above the Competition to Become the Obvious Choice, Purpose-Driven Leadership, and Talent Magnets: Attracting Top Staff; (as lead researcher) Flip: How counter-intuitive thinking is changing everything and Game On: How video games change work.


Dom is also a previous world top-10 debater, Tottenham Hotspur tragic, and hasn’t quite given up the dream of becoming a rockstar with his band The Glorious Fourth.

DR EMILY HEATH

BEHAVIOURAL NEUROSCIENTIST

Dr Emily Heath is an in-demand keynote speaker and behavioural neuroscientist who brings brain science to life for organisations navigating change and complexity. Through engaging, evidence-based presentations, she translates neuroscience and behavioural economics into practical strategies that drive measurable behaviour change. With senior leadership experience in global organisations, including EY, she combines academic rigour with real-world business insight to help leaders improve decision making, performance, culture, and customer outcomes. Emily has spoken globally across public, private, and NGO sectors, delivering clear, actionable ideas that make change achievable, relevant, and sustainable long after the keynote ends.

HON MATTHEW SWINBOURN MLC

WESTERN AUSTRALIAN MINISTER FOR THE ENVIRONMENT

Born in Middle Swan, Matthew spent his early years in South Australia before returning to Perth in 1983. After high school, he worked various jobs and briefly trained with the Navy before resuming his education at Canning College. He earned a Bachelor of Arts and a Bachelor of Laws from the University of Western Australia, balancing his studies with work as a commercial milkman. Matthew first joined the Labor Party while at UWA.

Admitted as a lawyer in 2014, Matthew worked extensively for trade unions as a senior lawyer and industrial officer. He also lectured in industrial relations at the University of Notre Dame. In 2017, he was elected to the Western Australian Legislative Council, representing the East Metropolitan Region. Re-elected in 2021, he held various Parliamentary Secretary roles, including to the Attorney General, as well as Mines and Petroleum, Energy, Industrial Relations, and Training and Workforce Development. He is a strong advocate for rare diseases, founding the Parliamentary Friends of People with Rare and Undiagnosed Diseases in 2021.

Matthew lives in Perth with his wife, Glenda, and their three adult children. He is an avid Collingwood supporter.

More speakers to be announced soon.