Speaker Biographies
Tanya Monro AC,
Chief Defence Scientist, Defence Science and Technology Group
As Chief Defence Scientist, Tanya is head of Defence Science and Technology Group (DSTG) and Capability Manager for Innovation, Science and Technology within the Australian Department of Defence.In June 2022, Professor Monro was awarded a Companion of the Order of Australia (AC) in for eminent service to scientific and technological development, to research and innovation, to tertiary education, particularly in the field of photonics, and to professional organisations. Other honours and awards include: South Australia winner of the Australian Award for Excellence in Women's Leadership (2019), Eureka Prize for Excellence in Interdisciplinary Scientific Research (2015), South Australia's Australian of the Year (2011), South Australian Scientist of the Year (2010), and the Prime Minister's Malcolm McIntosh Prize for Physical Scientist of the Year (2008). Professor Monro obtained her PhD in physics in 1998 from The University of Sydney, for which she was awarded the Bragg Gold Medal for the best Physics PhD in Australia. Her research in the field of photonics focusses on sensing, lasers and new classes of optical fibres. In 2000, she received a Royal Society University Research Fellowship at the Optoelectronics Research Centre at the University of Southampton in the UK, and is an inaugural Bragg Fellow of the Royal Institution of Australia (RiAus).- Professor Monro's previous roles include Deputy Vice Chancellor Research and Innovation and ARC Georgina Sweet Laureate Fellow at the University of South Australia; inaugural Director of the Institute for Photonics and Advanced Sensing (IPAS) from 2008 to 2014; and inaugural Director for the ARC Centre of Excellence for Nanoscale Bio Photonics (CNBP) at the University of Adelaide. Professor Monro is a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Science (AAS), the Australian Academy of Technology and Engineering (ATSE), the Optical Society of America (OSA) and the Australian Institute of Physics (AIP). She is a member of the Board of the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO).
Mark Skidmore AM
Chair, Skykraft
Air Vice-Marshal (retd) Mark Skidmore AM is Chairman of the Board of Skykraft, Chairman of Seitec, non-executive Director of QinetiQ Australia, Director of Swift Aerospace Consulting and provides support to the RAAF Reserves. Mark is also a Fellow of the RAeS and a past President of the Australian Division. Mark has more than 30 years’ experience in both civilian and military aviation. Mark had an outstanding military aviation career, beginning as a pilot in the Royal Australian Air Force in the early 1980s. A qualified test pilot, he led RAAF research and development squadrons and was promoted to Australia’s Air Commander, holding oversight for Australia’s air operations, and reached the rank of Air Vice Marshal before retiring in 2012. Mark has also worked in civilian aviation as Director of Aviation Safety and CEO, Civil Aviation Safety Authority, and as a test pilot and business development manager. He has led large teams of operational, technical and administrative support staff providing leadership for operational, training and support functions. In 2007 Mark was awarded a Commendation for Distinguished Service for distinguished performance of duties in warlike operations as the Director of the Coalition Combined Air Operations Centre in the Middle East Area of Operations. In 2010 Mark was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia in recognition of his exceptional service as the Air Commander Australia and in a range of other senior appointments. Today Mark is part of the general aviation community, owning and regularly flying a 1946 Globe Swift GC-1B aircraft and an ex-RAAF CT4A
Lucas Rutherford
General Manager, Digital Economy Branch Technology and Digital Division, Department Industry, Sciences and Resources
Lucas is currently General Manager of the Digital Economy Branch in the Department of Industry, Science and Resources (DISR). The Branch carries on the work of the former Digital Technologies Taskforce which was transferred from the Department of Prime Minister & Cabinet (PM&C) under machinery of government changes in 2022. The Branch has responsibility for whole of Government coordination on policy issues relating to the digitalisation of the economy. Prior to joining DISR and PM&C, Lucas worked for a number of years in the Treasury, with a particular focus on tax policy. Lucas has also had various economic policy roles in international settings, including roles in international organisations and in developing countries in Africa and the Pacific.
Kala Philip MAICD, GAICD
Chief Executive Officer, BSI Learning
Kala has been working in the L&D and vocational education industry since 2001, in a number of organisations across Asia, Middle East and Australia. As an executive and director, she has been leading operational teams to achieve high quality and innovative service delivery, building strategic partnerships with industry, and driving community engagement projects. She is passionate about upskilling Women in Leadership & Business, taking learning to the disadvantaged and ability challenged individuals in our community, and working with the incarcerated to help them rehabilitate successfully through new skills and employment. She is an expert in building learning solutions utilising the full spectrum of learning modalities and making use of the latest adult learning methods, leadership & governance frameworks from around the world.
MODERATOR - Lynne Duckham OAM
Senior Engagement Executive, SME Gateway Pty Ltd
Lynne comes from an extensive international and domestic leadership and advisory career in strategic stakeholder engagement, design thinking, multicultural communication, diversity inclusiveness, transformational change, and complex program management, evaluation and assessment. As the Senior Engagement Executive for SME Gateway, she has a key focus on the company's strategic direction and growth, and client and member relations. Building upon her psychology, geography and management qualifications, Lynne has worked for Australian Federal and State/Territory governments, and the governments of Canada and Papua New Guinea. She has extensive leadership experience working across Asia, the Pacific and the Middle East: where she has also coordinated and collaborated with, and advised, national and local governments, and worked with and in, global and national industry and industry associations, small and medium enterprises, non-government organisations, multi-lateral organisations, and communities. Lynne is a member of ASPI and the AIIA, and has worked with Defence in the field, and in the areas of leadership and language training. Lynne is a Fellow of the Institute of Managers and Leaders (Aus. &NZ), and has also applied her leadership skills to community and organization development, and in her roles in industry, education and NFP Boards. Lynne has been a member of public and private industry panel discussions, and a guest lecturer at various universities, including the Australian National University (ANU), the University of the South Pacific (USP), and the Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad, India.
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