Skytrust Closing the Loop 2024

Chief Executive Officer and Chief Officer of the South Australian State Emergency Service (SASES) since October 2010, Chris is responsible for leading the SASES, Volunteer Marine Rescue, and associated parts of the State’s emergency management systems.

Chris has overseen the South Australia’s response to a number major emergencies caused by storms, floods and heatwaves including the January 2014 & 2015 Heatwaves, 2016 Floods and Statewide System Black event, 2018 & 2019 Heatwaves, the 2022 Outback Flood and 2022/23 River Murray Flood. Chris has various statutory roles, including being a member of the South Australian Fire and Emergency Services Commission Board and the State Emergency Management Committee. He also participates in South Australia’s Emergency Services Leadership Group, Public Safety Communications Executive, and the Torrens Resilience Institute Advisory Board.

At the national level, Chris represents South Australia as a member of the Australasian Fire and Emergency Services Authorities Council (AFAC) and the Commissioners and Chief Officers Strategic Committee. He also serves on the Natural Hazards Research Australia End User Advisory Panel and the AFAC Research Committee. In addition, Chris is the State’s representative and inaugural chair of the National Heatwave Working Group.

Named Australian of the Year in 2023, Taryn Brumfitt is an award-winning filmmaker, bestselling author and internationally sought-after keynote speaker. She is a fiercely passionate advocate for social change whose message has reached more than 200 million people across the globe.

Taryn is the co-executive Director of The Embrace Collective, founder of the Body Image Movement, director of the EMBRACE and EMBRACE KIDS films and author of five books. Her global crusade to help people embrace their bodies has seen her recognised by UN Women, Amy Poehler’s Smart Girls, and the Geena Davis Institute.

Taryn has taken her message around the world, from some of the most remote Australian communities all the way to the White House, and everywhere in between. She has delivered more than 250 keynote addresses, presenting at the National Press Club, SXSW and Harvard University, while her talk at Google HQ in Silicon Valley was live-streamed to every Google office worldwide.

In 2018, she was recognised in the Australian Financial Review 100 Women of Influence awards and received the SA Award for Excellence in Women's Leadership from Women and Leadership Australia. She was also crowned EY Entrepreneur of the Year, South Australia, and was named as General Electric’s highest-rated speaker.

With a powerful, universal message and unwavering commitment to her cause, Taryn Brumfitt is a true force to be reckoned with.

Chief Mental Health Officer, Westpac Group, David is also a SafeWork NSW Mentally Healthy Workplaces Ambassador and has been working internationally in the area of workplace mental health for over 20 years.

As a workplace psychologist, David collaborates with leading researchers and practitioners across workplace culture and behaviour, psychosocial risk management, and integrated approaches to Psychological Health and Safety.

Outside of Westpac, David is Principal Psychologist and Director of Australian Psychological Services, a specialist psychological health and safety company advising and supporting several of Australia’s largest and most complex organisations from Board through to operational levels.

Principal of Mediation and Employment Relations Services (MERS) since 2001, Chas has conducted about 1,500 mediations over 25 years and was one of the first Mediators in SA for workers compensation claims. He specialises in:

• Mediation and Dispute Resolution.
• Investigations into allegation of workplace harassment.
• Preparation and negotiation of Enterprise Agreements.
• Appearances in the Fair Work Commission; SAET for unfair dismissals, monetary claims,
• Providing advice and audits for industrial relations, workers compensation and workplace health and safety practices.

Chas is a Nationally Accredited Mediator and a Panel Member of the:

• Return to Work SA Mediator Panel
• Resolution Institute Panel of Accredited Workplace Mediators
• Courts Referred Mediations Panel.

He is a member of:

• Australian Labour & Employment Relations Association South Australia (Committee Member).
• Australian Rehabilitation Providers Association.
• Resolution Institute.

Leader, Self-Insured Services Regulation, ReturntoWorkSA, Nathan Conroy is a leader in personal injury and claims management, with over 15 years of industry experience. He has held senior positions at EML, Wesfarmers, the CTP Regulator, and currently serves at ReturnToWorkSA.

Nathan earned a Bachelor of Science from The University of Adelaide and a Master of Business Administration (Personal Injury) through PIEF and Griffith University.

As the Leader of Self-Insured Services at ReturnToWorkSA, he oversees the performance and regulation of private and crown self-insurers, ensuring efficient and effective compliance and support activities. 

Jane Doyle is one of Australia’s most experienced media presenters.

A highly respected journalist with more than 40 years’ experience across print, radio and television, Jane spent more than 33 years as presenter of Seven News Adelaide.  She’s also renowned as an MC, facilitator and interviewer. Jane has served many community organisations as Patron or Ambassador, was a member of the Judging Board for the Walkley Awards and in 2021 completed nine years as Chair of Carclew, SA’s peak youth arts organisation.

In 2022 Jane joined the Board of State Opera of South Australia and is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

James is the Executive Leader, Regulation, with overall responsibility for the regulation of self-insured employers, service providers and registered employers. Within this role, James also has responsibility for key areas of the Scheme, like complaints, the Impairment Assessment Guidelines, ReCONNECT and Scheme fraud and investigations.

During his career James has been a strong advocate for the value of self-insurance, when performed well and understands its importance for employers, the well-being and productivity of their employees and the overall effectiveness of a workers compensation Scheme.

Professor of Psychopharmacology and Academic Director of the Lambert Initiative for Cannabinoid Therapeutics in the Brain and Mind Centre at the University of Sydney, Australia.

Iain's research is focused on the discovery and development of new medications for the treatment of disease. Iain has more than 300 peer-reviewed publications and multiple patents. The discoveries of his team around the use of oxytocin-like small molecules to treat addiction and social withdrawal led to the successful spinoff company Kinoxis Therapeutics.

The Lambert Initiative for Cannabinoid Therapeutics which was formed in 2015 with a gift of unprecedented generosity from the Lambert family to the University of Sydney. The Lambert Initiative, under Iain’s leadership, conducts world-leading research into the therapeutic benefits of cannabinoids in epilepsy, pain, cancer, addictions and mental health conditions. In April 2024, Iain received an award from the International Alliance for Cannabinoid Medicines (IACM) for his outstanding clinical research into cannabis and the cannabinoids.

Recently Iain and his team have diversified into psychedelic research and are currently implementing a new research program around plant-based psychedelic drug discovery including a recently-established clinical trial of psilocybin in the treatment of eating disorders.

Kevin is committed to creating safe places so everyone can bring their authentic self to work and celebrate diversity and equality in an inclusive workplace.

• Co-Chair ISS Global Pride Employee Representative Group
• Member ISS Asia Pacific Diversity Inclusion Council
• Co-Captain ISS Pacific Pride Employee Representative Group

As an advocate for Queer people, a purpose led culture can only be successful when all levels of management understand and embrace diversity.

“Be comfortable with being uncomfortable” is a phrase Kevin uses to challenge thought and unconscious bias.

Theresa is a dedicated professional with extensive experience in corporate industry and is passionate to help prevent and end family domestic violence.   

She brings a proven track record of adaptability, excelling in swiftly acclimating to new systems and processes while continuously striving for personal and professional growth. 

Her strong communication and interpersonal skills enable her to thrive in fast-paced environments, effectively solving problems and collaborating with colleagues. 

Additionally, her experience in managing client relationships, resolving issues efficiently, and maintaining meticulous attention to detail ensures that she consistently delivers high-quality results. 

Theresa's commitment to her work and her dedication to making a positive impact in the community making her an invaluable asset to White Ribbon Australia.

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I play a vital role within all sectors across the nation to help workplaces understand our Product Suite and to address individual workplace needs. 

This includes workplace understanding their role in address Men's Violence Against Women.

Chief Executive Officer, Australian Institute of Management WA since 2012. AIM WA is an organisation which aims to inspire better workplaces through training, recognition of workplace excellence, and through leading conversations about key workplace challenges.

As a workplace and social trends specialist, he takes an active interest in issues within work environments but also in broader societal trends. He examines topics such as generational shifts in values and attitudes, the intersection of technology and social behaviour, changing patterns in consumer preferences, and the impact of globalization on communities and cultures.

Gary is a regular columnist in a variety of newspapers and magazines across Australia and internationally, including The Adelaide Advertiser, The West Australian, The Daily Telegraph (Sydney), The Courier Mail (Brisbane), The New Zealand Herald and Forbes South Africa.

He is currently a Director of Volunteering WA and was a  former Chair of Telethon Speech and Hearing (TSH) in Perth from 2016-2020.  Gary previously served on the boards of Study Perth and the Council for the Ageing in Western Australia (COTA WA).

Kellie is experienced in managing the unique situations encountered when performing trauma and crime scene clean-up,  including procedures and precautions for working at a trauma/crime scene. Among her skills is inspecting and investigating human blood and other potentially infectious materials contamination to establish hazard assessments, work plans, and procedures for cleaning and safe transportation of contaminated material programs and with additional on-the-job training and field experience, she can safely perform this work.

Kellie has a long and diverse list of experience and training including:

• Over 1000 forensic cleaning jobs completed since Feb 2017 
• Complete Trauma Scene Clean up course
• Registered NDIS provider – NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission
• Registered Hoarding Specialist
• Hoarder Property Cleanup 
• Meth Lab Decontamination
• Odour Control training
• Certificate IV in Workplace Training and Assessment
• CTS Decon Specialist (BBPs, Respiratory Protection, Hazard communication, PPE, confined space and Fall protection
• Institute of Inspection Cleaning and Restoration Certification 
• Experienced commercial duct and kitchen cleaning
• Pest Control/Carpet Cleaning

Senior Consultant, Shopov Giourgas Lawyers As a consultant with SG Lawyers, Chris Sargent brings with him a broad range of legal and public service experience that he uses to offer incredibly rounded representation within the firm. After graduating from the Adelaide University Law School in 1977, Chris pursued a career in the State Public Service, undertaking various statutory positions, including that of Deputy Registrar of the District Court and a Review Officer on the Workers Compensation Review Panel. Later, he was admitted to the Supreme Court as a solicitor with Elston Gilchrist Lawyers. In his career, Chris has succeeded as a partner with both Donalson Walsh Lawyers and Thomson Playford Lawyers, and, after a short period at the Crown Law Office as a Senior Legal Practitioner, he worked with Sparke Helmore Lawyers for 16 years as a consultant. Chris now consults in SG Lawyers for employers and self-insurers as a solicitor and counsel before the various Tribunals vested with the workers' compensation jurisdiction, conducts various training sessions for his clients, and has attained a Certificate IV in Workplace Training to complement his extensive legal knowledge.

James is one of the owners of The Second Visit, an international teaching and mentoring company

He consults as well at Physiowest in Adelaide.

He is a lecturer in Sports and Orthopaedic Medicine at the School of Medicine at the University of Adelaide.

He was also Director of Back in Motion Campbelltown and Valley View for 25 years.

He is an Expert Advisor to AHPRA (Australian Health Professional Registration Authority) and has been the National Chairman of MPA (Musculoskeletal Physiotherapy Australia).

He was a lecturer and clinical supervisor at the School of Physiotherapy for 11 years at the University of SA in both the postgraduate and undergraduate programs, and has been a guest lecturer at the School of Physiotherapy at Flinders University

He was also a Clinical Supervisor for the Musculoskeletal Master’s program at Latrobe University.

He was the Physiotherapy Advisor for Workcover SA for 8 years.

AFL great Rory Sloane was drafted to the Adelaide Crows in 2008 and has been a fan favourite ever since, winning numerous Adelaide FC and AFL wide awards. 

Rory had an injury-interrupted 2018 and in 2019, was appointed co-captain alongside Taylor Walker and produced an impressive campaign on the way to a second-place finish in the best and fairest. He then became sole captain of the Club in 2020 until the end of 2022.

Rory's career came to a premature end earlier this year due to the most recent of a number of well documented eye injuries. 

If you are interested in:

• discipline required to achieve excellence in your chosen field
• injury recovery and management
• overcoming adversity
• participating in and leading high performance teams
• the effect of career ending injuries

then attending Rory's session during the breakfast is a must do. 

Will Snow is an employment lawyer who has worked across Australia in large firms and in-house roles but now focuses most of his work in SA and the NT. He heads up employment law specialists Snow Legal, which started 12 months ago and was promptly recognised by Best Lawyers as Tier 1 for Labour and Employment Law in Adelaide. He works alongside fellow specialists Molly Shanahan and Brenna Mackay and the team mainly acts for employers with a diverse range of advisory and litigation support.

Dr. Mark van Rijmenam is a strategic futurist known as The Digital Speaker. He stands at the forefront of the digital age and lives and breathes cutting-edge technologies to inspire Fortune 500 companies and governments worldwide. As an optimistic dystopian, he has a deep understanding of AI, blockchain, the metaverse, and other emerging technologies, and he blends academic rigour with technological innovation.

His pioneering efforts include the world’s first TEDx Talk in VR in 2020. In 2023, he further pushed boundaries when he delivered a TEDx talk in Athens with his digital twin, delving into the complex interplay of AI and our perception of reality. In 2024, he launched a digital twin of himself offering interactive, on-demand conversations via text, audio or video in 29 languages, thereby bridging the gap between the digital and physical worlds – another world’s first.

As a distinguished 5-time author and corporate educator, Dr Van Rijmenam is celebrated for his candid, independent, and balanced insights. He is also the founder of Futurwise, which focuses on elevating global digital awareness for a responsible and thriving digital future.

Gina co-founded PeopleVision Workplace Consultants in 2009 and brings over 27 years of experience in workers' compensation, injury prevention, and dispute resolution. She leads a team of specialist consultants dedicated to transforming workplaces into safer, more productive environments through tailored, integrated solutions in self-insurance, work health & safety, and injury management.

Gina’s expertise spans multiple roles, including workplace lawyer, senior positions with a national insurer, and extensive experience as a consultant. She holds a Bachelor of Laws, a Master of Business Administration, and is a qualified Lead Auditor and Nationally Accredited Mediator. Additionally, Gina serves as a Commissioner with the South Australia Employment Tribunal, where she facilitates the resolution of return-to-work disputes.