Charlie Bass, Founder and Executive Chairman, CERI
Charlie Bass is the proud Founder and Executive Chairman of the Centre for Entrepreneurial Research and Innovation (CERI).
When he founded CERI in 2015, Charlie became a mentor for hundreds of start-ups and a powerful supporter of innovation and sustainability in Western Australia.
To date, CERI has provided over 600 aspiring entrepreneurs with the tools, mentorship and support needed to turn their ideas into successful businesses – including raising over $7.5 million in funds. CERI also facilitates research commercialisation, particularly in medical technology and biotech.
Originally from the United States, Charlie has called Perth home for more than four decades and is an experienced founder and business executive with vast experience in Western Australia’s mining industry.
Cath Petsos, State Manager WA & NT, Starlight Children’s Foundation
Focused on strategic partnerships in the for-purpose and corporate sectors for more than two decades Cath has developed expert skills and experience in the stewardship of integral partners, procurement of new business and delivery of large-scale fundraising events.
For the past 9 years Cath has been with the Starlight Children’s Foundation, more specifically, a member of the WA Partnerships team, taking the State Manager WA/NT mantle in 2020.
Mutually agreed objectives structured around funding to support Starlight’s mission – to brighten the lives of seriously ill children and young people – is at the core of Starlight’s Partnership team outcomes. In conjunction with the development of state and national strategic direction for partnerships, Cath has facilitated Starlight’s ‘fewer greater’ strategy to positive effect and is optimistic as to the potential for Starlight to expand the significant, and passionate, supporter network into 2024 to help make a difference to sick children, together.
Dr Tony Worby, Chief Scientist, Minderoo Foundation
Tony Worby was appointed as Minderoo Foundation’s inaugural Chief Scientist in November 2023, and has the responsibility of ensuring the Foundation’s advocacy is evidence-based and has a sharp focus on climate change issues. Prior to this appointment, Tony was Executive Director of the Foundation’s Oceans focus area and led the development of the teams addressing the critical issues of plastic pollution, over-fishing and habitat loss.
Before moving to Perth in 2020, Tony was the Director of the Oceans & Atmosphere Division at CSIRO, leading a team of around 600 staff across climate and ocean modelling, fisheries and technology development. Tony’s own research career was focused on the Antarctic, completing a PhD in Antarctic glaciology in 1999 and visiting Antarctica 17 times to explore and understand the role of sea ice in the climate system.
He was a Postdoctoral Scholar at NASA Goddard Space Flight Centre in the USA in 2000 and was appointed CEO of the Antarctic Climate Research Centre in Hobart in 2014.
Megan Wynne, Founder and Executive Chair, APM
Megan is Founder and Executive Chair of APM, a global health and human services provider which was established in 1994 and has been listed on the Australian Securities Exchange since November 2021.
Each financial year, APM supports more than 2.1 million people of all ages and stages of life through its service offerings including assessments; allied health and psychological intervention; medical, psycho-social and vocational rehabilitation; vocational training and employment assistance; and community-based support services.
With over 1,700 sites spanning 11 countries (Australia, United Kingdom, Canada, United States of America, New Zealand, Germany, Switzerland, Sweden, Spain, Singapore, and South Korea), APM’s more than 14,750 team members work to enhance community health and wellbeing, delivering services to clients across the early childhood, youth, employment, insurance, justice, veterans, disability, and aged care sectors.
Megan holds a Master of Science (Rehabilitation), a Post Graduate Diploma (Health Sciences), and a Bachelor of Applied Science (Occupational Therapy), Curtin University.