Small Business (SME) Speakers

Amanda Johnstone

As one of Australia's most globally acknowledged AI technologists and technology communicators, Amanda's contributions have been celebrated by TIME as a Next Generation Leader and by The CEO Magazine with the Start-up Executive of the Year award. In 2023, LinkedIn awarded her as a Top Voice in Artificial Intelligence.

Recognised as a subject matter expert in both emerging technology and modern leadership, Amanda lends her insights to organisations including YPO, Zoom, The Australian Digital Health Agency, Allianz, Kellogg's, Universal, Stanford, Optus, ADMA and Google Cloud.

Amantha Imber

Dr. Amantha Imber is an organizational psychologist, keynote speaker, and founder of behaviour change consultancy Inventium. She has helped companies like Google, Apple, Disney, and LEGO reinvent their approach to work. Host of the How I Work podcast with over 5 million downloads, Amantha was named one of AFR's 100 Women of Influence and won the Thinkers50 Innovation Award. A bestselling author, her books include Time Wise and The Health Habit. Known for her engaging and science-backed presentations, she speaks globally on innovation, productivity, AI-powered efficiency, and behavioural change, equipping audiences with actionable strategies to drive transformation and success.

Andrew Griffiths

Known for his ability to entertain, to inspire and to energise, Andrew Griffiths has become a highly sought after keynote speaker. Widely acknowledged as Australia's #1 Business Author, Andrew has ten books that are now sold in over fifty countries around the world. He is published by Allen & Unwin and Simon & Schuster, two of the biggest names in the publishing industry. Andrew is also an energetic and engaging presenter. His life story is one built around overcoming adversity in many forms. Today he provides profoundly simple insights that are changing the way tens of thousands of people think about their business and their life.

Bastien Treptel

Bastien Treptel is a former black-hat hacker turned leading cybersecurity expert. At 16, he infiltrated a major Australian bank-now he helps organisations defend against digital threats. Founder of CTRL: Cyber (valued at over $100 million) and Ironclad ID, Bastien delivers fast-paced, practical keynotes revealing how hackers think and how leaders can outsmart cybercrime.

Bedi Othow

Billy Tucker

Billy Tucker is the past CEO of Cudo Australia and was the Chairman of Cudo New Zealand. Previously Billy worked for Microsoft where he helped launch the Xbox business in London, before leading the Bing Search business across Asia. Most recently he ran Consumer strategy and Business Development for Microsoft here in Australia. Billy served on the Board of the Internet Industry Association from 3 years. Recently Billy was appointed Special Advisor to ICOMP (Initiative for a Competitive Online Marketplace) Australia. ICOMP is an industry initiative for businesses and organisations and promotes a healthy online marketplace.

Bronwyn Reid

Bronwyn Reid specialises in navigating the The GAP Effect commonly caused by of miscommunication between large companies and small businesses who want to do better business with each other. Her expertise is transformative when it comes to fully understanding the sometimes complex and disparate languages each uses. A multi award-winning best-selling author and business woman from Regional Queensland, she is a regular featured writer, guest presenter and thought leader. She is the founder of the Small Company, Big Business program, focused on Supply Chain and ESG complexities.

Carlii Lyon

Carlii Lyon is one of Australia's leading experts in personal branding. As a former international personal publicist, she represented Miranda Kerr, New York Times bestselling authors and pioneers in personal development. Today, as a speaker and executive brand coach, she helps executives and teams raise their profile, build influence and find the courage to be visible. She is the author of Courage to Be, a Forbes Australia contributor, and has spoken to teams at Top 50 ASX companies and global brands including Microsoft, L'Oréal, Spotify and McDonald's.

Effie Zahos

Effie Zahos is the editor of Money, with over 15 years' experience in the finance industry. Starting from the ground up, as a graduate trainee for one of Australia's major banks, she moved from corporate to TV, kick-starting her career in journalism as head researcher for Channel Nine's successful Money program. She now writes for Money magazine, specialising in consumer banking issues. Her articles have also been published in several lifestyle magazines including Real Living and Qantas. Effie is also has an array of broadcast experience, including a regular appearance on Channel 9's Mornings with Kerri-Anne as the personal finance editor. Other shows include Channel 9's A Current Affair and Today. Effie is also a regular on radio stations across Australia including the ABC network and the author of Getting Rich, Staying Rich.

 

Emma Welsh & Tom Griffith

Co Founders of Emma & Tom's juices, Emma Welsh & Tom Griffiths have been mates for more than 25 years, meeting in the late 70s at swimming lessons. After successful careers in Melbourne and London for the UN and NAB, the two used their accumulated savings to fulfil an all-encompassing desire to bring Australians super premium whole fruit smoothies. The unique ingredients and fresh taste have aided Emma & Tom's success in outlets such as Thomas Dux, Villa & Hut and David Jones as well as in the high end route trade, achieving distribution in Australia's top 2,000 cafes and delis' no mean feat considering it's all managed through in-house sales reps! Emma & Tom's brand philosophy, Look After Yourself, runs throughout the business, as they are committed to helping Australians to look after themselves, by offering nutritious vitamin-rich whole fruit smoothies - that taste great too! Each year, Emma & Tom's donates more than $100,000 worth of juice to community groups, fundraising events and charities such as the National Breast Cancer Foundation, Second Bite and the Prahran and St Kilda Missions. They are committed to preserving the Earth for their kids by considering the environment, community and the wellbeing of their customers in everything they do.