Adam is an expert commentator and consultant specialising in partnership development and network building in and around schools. Adam is a Board Member of the Australian Council for Educational Research (ACER), regular Education Analyst for Channel 10's 'The Project' and a contributor for the Australian Financial Review. As former CEO of the Foundation for Young Australians and Education Foundatio ...
The 2026 Australians of the Year have just been announced, and what a lineup it truly is. From an astronaut opening pathways for Australia and women in STEM, to an ultra-marathoner running across Australia for change, to doctors transforming rural healthcare, and young leaders reshaping how we support grassroots communities. These are the individuals whose stories, experiences, and drive to change the status quo can inspire your next big audience.
Blak Douglas is a distinguished keynote speaker and artist who captivates audiences with engaging talks and performances that challenge perceptions and inspire a collective path forward. Born Adam Douglas Hill in 1970 in Blacktown, NSW, he was raised in a culturally rich environment with a Dhungatti father and a Caucasian mother, boasting a heritage that includes English, German, Irish, and Scottish ancestry. In 2014, he adopted the moniker 'Blak Douglas' to honor his diverse genealogies.
About Carolyn Tate In 2001, I made the shift to self-employment, after more than 20 years at Westpac and Merrill Lynch. In 2010, after 9 years as a small business-marketing expert, I decided the profession of marketing had lost its way. So I gave it all up and took my 12 year-old son, Billy on an extended sabbatical to Aix en Provence, France. On returning to Melbourne in 2011, I spent my hi ...
Chris Gardner is an Entrepreneur, Author, Philanthropist, and single parent whose work has been recognized by many esteemed organization. Gardner is the author of the autobiography, The Pursuit of Happyness, a New York Times and Washington Post #1 bestseller that has been translated into over forty languages. Gardner is also the inspiration for the acclaimed movie “The Pursuit of Happynessâ ...
Deng is a self-made man, a living example of Australian values such as multiculturalism and a ‘fair go’. After starting his adult life working in factories, pulling the night shift in a petrol station and catching live chickens for slaughter, Deng now holds a Master’s Degree in Law and practices as a criminal lawyer.
Soon after featuring in the Western Sydney University’s award-winning ‘Unlimited’ marketing campaign, viewed millions of times around the world, Deng was invited to give the 2016 Australia Day address. The public further got to know Deng through his highly-acclaimed biography, Songs of a War Boy, co-written with Ben Mckelvey.
Dr Joy Townsend is a Sociologist and gender and sexualities expert. Joy speaks and writes extensively on complex issues such as sexual consent, pleasure and agency, and is the Founder and CEO of Learning Consent.
Fred Chaney AO is a former Western Australian politician who, until April 2007, held the position of deputy chairman of the Australian Native Title Tribunal and is Chair of Desert Knowledge Australia and on the Board of Directors of Reconciliation Australia. Chaney was born in Perth, Western Australia and educated at the University of Western Australia. He practised law and was admitted as a ba ...
Academy Award winner Geena Davis is one of Hollywood's most respected actors, appearing in several roles that became cultural landmarks. Earning the 2006 Golden Globe Award for Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series, Drama, Davis broke ground in her portrayal of the first female President of the United States in ABC's hit show Commander in Chief. Few have achieved such remarkable s ...
Geoffrey Robertson AO QC is a barrister, author and one-time host of “Geoffrey Robertson’s Hypotheticals” on the ABC. He is founder and head of Doughty Street Chambers; now the largest human rights practice in Europe; where he has been mentor to Amal Clooney, Jen Robinson, Keir Starmer and others.
