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Speakers

17 October – 4 November

Speaker highlights

At CPA Congress you will gain key insights in leadership, technical, business and personal effectiveness topics presented by a powerful line-up of expert and industry speakers.

Official opening and welcome

  • The Hon. Gordon Kenneth Rich-Phillips MLC Assistant Treasurer; Minister for Technology; and Minister responsible for the Aviation Industry

Keynote speakers

Business breakfast and luncheon speakers

Community session speakers

  • The Hon. Kim Wells FCPA Victorian Treasurer
  • Annette Kimmitt Managing Partner Melbourne, Ernst & Young
  • Jason Cunningham FCPA Partner, The Practice
  • David Shafer Executive Director, Kogan

John Anderson John Anderson
Founder, Contiki Tours

Keynote 1
KN1: A blueprint – blue sky
Monday 17 October, 8.45 am – 9.40 am

At the age of 22, John left New Zealand for Europe to embark on a one-year trip. He returned 20 years later, having founded the international tourism business, Contiki Holidays. John built the company from a staff of one and a beaten-up minibus, to a market leader in vacations for 18 – 35 year-olds. Today John Anderson continues as a management consultant and entrepreneur.

Will Whitehorn Will Whitehorn
Chairman of Loewy Group and former President, Virgin Galactic

Keynote 2
KN2: Innovation in business – the Virgin and Virgin Galactic story
Monday 17 October, 4.25 pm – 5.20 pm

Will spent many years as Sir Richard Branson's right hand man, working on Virgin’s Pendolino train and Atlantic Global Flyer projects before leading their real breakthrough venture: space tourism. He steered Virgin Galactic to a position where daily flights to one hundred miles above the Earth's surface are a genuine possibility. Now on the Science & Technology Facilities Council, Will sees a distinction between invention and innovation – and believes that with the right incentives the private sector can create a whole new industrial revolution in space.

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Geoffrey RobertsonJustice Geoffrey Robertson QC
Doughty Street Chambers, London

Keynote 3 panelist
KN3: WikiLeaks, freedom and political sensitivities
Tuesday 18 October, 8.45 am – 9.55 am

Geoffrey Robertson QC has been counsel in many landmark cases. He frequently appears in the Privy Council and European Court of Human Rights, has served as a UN appeal judge at its war crimes court in Sierra Leone, and was appointed as a distinguished jurist of the UN’s Internal Justice Council. Robertson founded Doughty Street Chambers, the UK’s leading human rights practice and, is defending fellow Australian, WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange.

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The Hon. Michael Kirby AC CMG The Hon. Michael Kirby AC CMG
Former Judge of the High Court of Australia

Keynote 3 panelist
KN3: WikiLeaks, freedom and political sensitivities
Tuesday 18 October, 8.45 am – 9.55 am

When he retired from the High Court of Australia in 2009, Michael Kirby was Australia’s longest serving judge. In addition to his position at the Federal Court of Australia, he was the President of the New South Wales Court of Appeal and, concurrently, the Court of Appeal of Solomon Islands. His appointment to the High Court came in 1996 and he served 13 years. In later years, he was Acting Chief Justice of Australia twice.

The Hon. Philip Ruddock MP The Hon. Philip Ruddock MP
Shadow Cabinet Secretary

Keynote 3 panelist
KN3: WikiLeaks, freedom and political sensitivities
Tuesday 18 October, 8.45 am – 9.55 am

Philip Ruddock is the longest-serving member in the House of Representatives, having been the member for Berowra since 1993, and previously a member for Dundas and Parramatta. His significant portfolios have included Immigration and Multicultural Affairs, and he was Australia's Attorney General from 2003 – 2007. Mr Ruddock practised law before entering politics.

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Scott HaslemScott Haslem
Managing Director and Chief Economist, UBS Australasia

Keynote 4
KN4: Economic insights – the year in review and the year that will be
Tuesday 18 October, 10.25 am – 11.20 am

Scott Haslem is Managing Director and the Chief Economist for UBS in Australia. Fund managers and institutional clients have rated Scott the number-one economist for the five consecutive years (2005 through 2009) in the Australian BRW Equities Market Report. Scott heads the Australian economics team, which is consistently ranked top three by both equity and fixed income accounts. Prior to joining UBS, he spent seven years working for the Reserve Bank of Australia, primarily in the economic activity and forecasting section.

Dr Keith Suter Dr Keith Suter
Foreign & International Affairs Editor and Expert on Channel 7's Sunrise

Keynote 5
KN5: China – the new superpower?
Tuesday 18 October, 4.45 pm – 5.45 pm

Keith is a social commentator, writer and broadcaster. He presents the ‘Global Notebook’ segment on Sunrise and is a foreign affairs analyst for Sky TV Australia. He is a member of The Club of Rome, a global think tank on economic and environmental matters, as well as several committees including the International Law Association, the International Commission of Jurists, and the International Humanitarian Law Committee of the Australian Red Cross (NSW). He also lectures at Macquarie University.

Katie LaheyKatie Lahey
Managing Director, Australasia, Korn/Ferry International

Keynote 6
KN6: A conversation with Alex Malley – embarking on a new era of business
Wednesday 19 October, 9.00 am – 9.55 am

Before joining executive recruitment firm Korn/Ferry, Ms Lahey was CEO of the Business Council of Australia. She is a Director of David Jones, Chairman of Carnival Australia (part of the world’s largest cruise company) and Ambassador for the Australian Indigenous Education Foundation, and has also been Director of Australia Post. In 2003 she was awarded a Centenary Medal for her contribution to Australian Society in the area of Business Leadership.

Raymond Gunston FCPARaymond Gunston FCPA
Chief Financial Officer, Tatts Group

Keynote 7
KN7: CPA 125th anniversary: The CPA journey – triumphs and tribulations
Wednesday 19 October, 3.10 pm – 4.05 pm

Ray Gunston joined Tattersall’s as Chief Financial Officer in 2000. He is responsible for the financial management of Tattersall’s, as well as the human resources, property, procurement, investments, corporate strategy and planning, financial reporting and investor relations functions of Tattersall’s. Ray has extensive corporate and financial services experience in both the public and private sectors, specialising in finance, taxation and accounting. Ray has been the Chief Financial Officer of Tattersall’s through its listing in 2005, the merger with UNiTAB in 2006, and the acquisitions of TalariusPlc in the United Kingdom with Macquarie Bank, and of the Golden Casket Lottery Corporation in Queensland in 2007. Ray is currently a director of a number of Tattersall’s businesses including Bytecraft Systems, European Gaming in the United Kingdom, and Tensse in Sweden.

Professor Charles Sampford
Director, Institute for Ethics, Governance and LawFounder, Youth Off the Streets

Keynote 8
KN8: Financial integrity: Saving capitalism from itself 2.0
Wednesday 19 October, 4.35 pm – 5.30 pm

Professor Charles Sampford was appointed Foundation Director of the Key Centre for Ethics, Law, Justice and Governance in 1999. In September 2004, he became the Director of the Institute for Ethics, Governance and Law, a joint initiative of the United Nations University and Griffith. At the same time he took on the role of Convenor of the Australian Research Council funded Governance Research Network.

Charles has written over eighty articles and chapters in Australian and foreign journals and collections and has completed 21 books and edited collections for international publishers. His most recent monograph, Retrospectivity and the Rule of Law, was released in 2006. He is on the editorial boards of Legal Ethics and Public Integrity. Since October 2001, Charles has been President of the International Institute for Public Ethic and is also a boaqrd member of the Global Integrity Alliance. Charles was heavily involved in the anti-corruption reforms which inspired the Transparency International concept of a 'national integrity system'. In September 1998, he went to Indonesia on a special mission for the World Bank to advise the Indonesian government on governance reforms to deal with corruption. He also pursued a successful career as a part-time company director and chairman, gaining insights into the operation of Australian and international business.

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Jessica Rowe Jessica Rowe
Journalist and Author

Business luncheon 2
BL2: Balancing the work-life tightrope
Tuesday 18 October, 12.25 pm – 2.05 pm

Jessica is a mum, journalist and author and one of Australia’s best known television presenters. She is patron of the Mental Health Council of Australia and ambassador for beyondblue. With her mother, Penelope Rowe, Jessica wrote an account of her family’s experience of living with Penelope’s bipolar disorder, entitled The best of times, the worst of times.

Sandie de Wolf AM

Sandie de Wolf AM
CEO, Berry Street

Business luncheon 2
BL2: Balancing the work-life tightrope
Tuesday 18 October, 12.25 pm – 2.05 pm

Sandie was appointed CEO of Berry Street in 1994 when it merged with Sutherland Homes for Children, where she lead the successful amalgamation and expansion of Berry Street into new regional and practice areas. In 2011, Sandie was inducted into the Victorian Women’s Honour Roll which recognises the achievements of outstanding women from all walks of life.

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Bernard SaltBernard Salt
Partner, KPMG Australia

Business breakfast 1
BB1: Emerging trends – opportunities and challenges for business over the next ten years
Wednesday 19 October, 7.15 am – 8.50 am

Bernard Salt is one of Australia’s leading demographers and social commentators, discussing market trends and their implications on everything from beach houses to ageing to marriage. He has established an enviable reputation as an advisor to leading property investors and developers on matters relating to market demand. Bernard is also a columnist with The Australian and Property Australia.

James Brayshaw

James Brayshaw
Media Personality and Broadcaster

Business luncheon 3
BL3: New heights – the evolution of AFL
Wednesday 19 October, 12.25 pm – 2.05 pm

James Brayshaw is one of Australia's best loved television and radio personalities. Currently co-host of The Footy Show and a regular commentator on AFL and cricket, he is also the Chairman of the North Melbourne Football Club. A former state cricketer for South Australia and Western Australia, Brayshaw had a career spanning almost a decade. In addition to his television commitments, he works for radio station Triple M as a host and commentator of their AFL coverage, and has previously held the position of co-host on the breakfast show The Cage.

 

Kevin SheedyKevin Sheedy
Greater Western Sydney AFL Coach

Business luncheon 3
BL3: New heights – the evolution of AFL
Wednesday 19 October, 12.25 pm – 2.05 pm

Kevin Sheedy is one of the Australian Football League's most enduring figures. A player and coach over five decades, Kevin has an unsurpassed record of involvement in 1000 games and eight premierships. That involvement will be re-ignited in 2012 when he becomes the inaugural coach of the AFL's Western Sydney Football Club.
 He was the Skills Coach at Richmond when the club won the 1980 Premiership In 1981 he was appointed Senior Coach at the Essendon Football Club, where he coached for a record 635 games during 27 years of continuous coaching. In that time the club completed in 19 finals series. He has been inducted in to the AFL's Hall of Fame, made a Legend of the Essendon Football Club and nominated as The Australian Thinker of the Year. He was appointed to be an Ambassador for the AFL during the 150th anniversary celebrations of Australian football. In 2009, Kevin was awarded an honorary doctorate from the Australian Catholic University for his services to football, particularly the way he has encouraged Aboriginal footballers into the sport, and inducted into the Sports Australia Hall of Fame.

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Bachar Houli

Bachar Houli
AFL Player, Richmond Tigers

Business luncheon 3
BL3: New heights – the evolution of AFL
Wednesday 19 October, 12.25 pm – 2.05 pm

After four seasons with the Bombers, 2011 saw Houli make the move to the Tigers. Selected by Richmond with pick three in the 2010 NAB AFL Pre-Season draft, Houli played 26 games for Essendon and is a hard working and versatile player with an ability to play through the midfield., with kicking a real feature of his game. Houli is a devout Muslim and thought to be the first player of the Islamic faith to compete at the highest level.

Jason Cunningham FCPA

Jason Cunningham FCPA
Partner, The Practice

Community session 2
CS2: SME community session: Passion + Expertise = Success
Tuesday 18 October, 6.00 pm – 7.30 pm

Jason is a best-selling author and expert financial radio and media commentator. His passion is helping people achieve their full financial potential by encouraging and inspiring them to make positive life changes. Jason has a talent for conveying complex financial concepts simply. His company, The Practice, provides accounting, taxation, business consulting, financial planning and finance solutions to a wide range of clients and has grown to a $5.5m a year business employing 37 people. The Practice won the inaugural Victorian Small Business Champions award.

Ruslan Kogan

David Shafer
Executive Director, Kogan

Community session 2
CS2: SME community session: Passion + Expertise = Success
Tuesday 18 October, 6.00 pm – 7.30 pm

David Shafer is in charge or ensuring Kogan's continued growth and rapid expansion in Australia and globally. David has been a key advisor to Kogan since its foundation and, since becoming Executive Director in 2010, Kogan has expanded internationally, launched its world first dynamic pricing system called LivePrice, and undergone phenomenal growth. 

 

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