Speaker Profiles

ITAC SPEAKER PROFILES

Arron Wood, MC

Named in the top ten education leaders nationally as part of The Weekend Australian Magazine, Prime Minister’s Environmentalist of the Year Award-winner Arron Wood grew up in Mildura, Victoria spending his early years campaigning to save the River Murray. Rather aptly titled his autobiography ‘Billabong Boy’ was inspired by those early years. Arron is the Deputy Lord Mayor of Melbourne and an expert in sustainability. His company won the Victorian Telstra News Ltd Micro Business of the Year. He is founder of the award-winning education program Kids Teaching Kids that has seen over 135,000 students participate in the peer education model since 1999 and was the 3AW environment reporter for many years.

Arron received The Centenary Medal for outstanding contribution to conservation, awarded by the Governor-General and completed a Churchill Fellowship to New York with the United Nations. As a past winner of the United Nations Individual Award for Outstanding Service to the Environment Arron was also the 2001 Young Australian of the Year for the environment. He is currently on the board of South East Water, was the youngest Board Member of the Port Phillip and Westernport Catchment Management Authority, Sustainability Victoria Board Member and a Councillor for City of Melbourne. In what was a huge career highlight Arron’s commitment to the environment was covered on ABC’s Australian Story. From a boy who was told to regularly ‘be quiet’ in school to someone who now uses his voice to inspire others.

PLENARY SPEAKERS

	Clive Bailey, Head of IT, New Horizons IClive has over 30 years' experience in IT both overseas and in Australia. His experience has covered: Insurance, Financial services, Banking, Property and Not for Profit sectors in executive and C-level positions with organisations such as Hansard International, Perpetual, Flexigroup, OneVue, Dexus, Sunnyfield and now New Horizons. He has led major change initiatives across infrastructure and software implementation and remediation, with the primary objective to deliver business outcomes and bottom-line value whilst improving customer and employee experience. The rollout of the NDIS has allowed Clive to bring his considerable corporate experience to the Not for Profit sector, transforming IT strategy and operations to meet the needs of the organisation, its people and its clients by implementing innovative and sector-leading initiatives. This is especially the case at New Horizons where the organisation is working with Deloitte Consulting to deliver a complete Digital Transformation program of work that is designed to completely reinvent the way that services are delivered to its clients.”
	Michael Burke, Managing Director, Liquid Interactive Michael is the Managing Director and co-founder of Liquid Interactive one of Australia’s leading digital design agencies and he has been a leader in Australia’s online industry for over 20 years. Liquid’s recent success includes recognition from the digital industry’s own AMY Awards, Good Design Australia and the Digital Transformation Agency - for their work with the Commonwealth Department of Health and Australian Public Service Commission. The company’s work is recognised widely for designing and delivering Australia’s Digital Mental Health Gateway – Head to Health, a high-performance workplace culture improvement App called Ripple and most recently, the newly redeveloped and improved, My Aged Care Website. Michael is creator and a disruptor, a business leader and mentor; collaborating with industry, academics, Government, end users and service providers to improve online experiences that address digital service and communication challenges the world over.
	Lee Davis, CDO, Anglicare Southern Queensland Lee Davis is the CDO of Anglicare SQ. Lee has over 20 years experience in senior leadership positions across a number of sectors including Health and Aged Care, Financial services, Telecommunications and Oil & gas in both Australia and the UK. Lee has extensive experience in strategy development, enterprise architecture, service oriented architecture and business transformation.
	Michael Donnelly, Head of Aged & Disability, Telstra Health Michael’s responsibilities focus on supporting a team across Australia to deliver Aged and Disabilities’ product and people strategy to drive continued growth of the division. Michael is proud to lead a driven, hardworking team that are dedicated to delivering best of breed clinical, medication, workforce and client management software.Prior to joining Telstra Health, Michael was Head of Clients and Growth at iCareHealth and a shareholder in that business. iCareHealth Australia became a fully owned subsidiary of Telstra Health in November 2014. Before iCareHealth, Michael led the New Zealand division of APS for three years. APS provides accounting software to the chartered accounting profession across Australia and New Zealand.Michael is passionate about empowering organisations with technology that can help to deliver superior care, reduce compliance risks, optimise funding, and improve productivity.
	Justin Dry, Co-Founder & CEO, Vinomofo A multi award winning entrepreneur, Justin is a vibrant and inspirational speaker. He shares the many lessons he has learned in the building of Vinomofo. Launched in April 2011 from a little garage in Adelaide, Vinomofo has grown quickly and profitably to a run rate of over $50m revenue, 500,000 members, and a team of 100. Justin is passionate about providing his team with a great working environment. He is experienced in cultivating positive workplace cultures and management strategies, based around the driving principals of being human. He is also a strong believer in the importance of outstanding customer service and harnessing the power of your customer base to promote your product, by developing your consumers into a community of prosumers.
	Kevin Fernandez, Advisory Services Lead, Novigi Kevin heads up Novigi’s Advisory Services practice. He is a key contributor to the ongoing cycle of research and innovation that drives Novigi’s overarching vision and service offering. Kevin’s passion lies in taking a thorough and evidence-based approach to the problems faced by our clients. His goal is to work with all our clients to make the best possible use of modern techniques and technology with the aim of setting them up to thrive in a data-driven and increasingly automated future.
	Malcolm Fisk, Senior Lecturer, De Montfort University, UK Dr Malcolm Fisk is Senior Lecturer in Information Systems at De Montfort University and has recently led two €1million EU funded projects, respectively on telehealth and ICT standards for ‘active ageing’ (see www.progressivestandards.org). Currently he is a Digital Health Expert for the WHO; represents consumers (for ANEC) on the CEN standards committee for the ‘Quality of Services for Older People’; and an expert on a National Institute for Care and Health Excellence (UK) standards committee. Previously he was Chair of Age Cymru (Wales’ main charity of and for older people) and of the National Partnership for Older People in Wales.
	Chris Gray, Founder, iCare Chris Gray is an Australian business mentor, company director and investor. Chris has more than 20 years’ experience in technology, private equity and investment in Australia and the UK. Chris’ co-founded iCareHealth, the leading clinical care and medication management software for aged care providers in Australia and the UK. Chris was part of the 2001 management buyout of D&B Australia and New Zealand. Chris now focuses on mentoring, and investing in, early stage commercialisation technology businesses, which have a positive social impact.
	Nick Hartland, First Assistant Secretary in Home Aged Care Division, Department of Health Nick’s key focus is supporting greater independence and wellness for Older Australians, including entry-level aged care assistance at home (Commonwealth Home Support Programme) and assistance for older Australians with more complex care needs (Home Care Packages Program). Previous roles Nick has held include: Aged Care Policy Principle Advisor, Chief of Staff to the Hon Ken Wyatt, AM, MP, Minister for Seniors and Aged Care and Minister for Indigenous Affairs, other Executive roles within the Department of Health. Nick has a PhD in Criminology from Melbourne University and a Bachelor Degree in Political Science.
	Emma Hossack, CEO, Medical Software Industry Association, MSIA Emma is the CEO of the Medical Software Industry Association and was previously its President for 4 years. Emma is a Director of the Australian Digital Health Agency and previously ran her own software companies. Emma practised as a lawyer before doing her masters of Law in privacy and sharing of health information.
	Caroline Lee, Chief Executive Officer, Leecare Solutions Since 1997, Dr Caroline Lee has been CEO of software company Leecare, Australia’s agedcare software pioneer, with organisation across the world using Leecare’s Platinum 5 system – installed in Singapore, China, United Kingdom, Zimbabwe and New Zealand. She was National President of the Aged Care IT Vendor Association, 2009 -2014, present on the NEHTA CCA committee for the PCEHR, was listed as an Australian Government Nurse Advisor from the 1990’s – 2015 and now heads a senior development team along with the more than 60 Leecare staff who support the sector.
	Cassie Mason, Director, Office for Ageing Well, SA Health Cassie Mason is the Director of the Office for Ageing Well in SA Health, focused on developing and implementing dynamic and innovative social policies and programs to support older South Australians to age well. She currently has portfolio responsibility for state ageing policy, SA Government aged care strategy, retirement villages, Seniors Card, ageing community grants and South Australia’s new Adult Safeguarding Unit, established under landmark legislation. Cassie is also currently leading an Australian-first CCTV pilot project, to explore whether this type of audio-visual surveillance technology has a place in aged care facilities to improve the safety and wellbeing of residents.
	Michael Parer, Consumer Expert 86, 4 kids 22 progeny 8 support workers on self-managed MAC packages Catholic priest turned cognitive psychologist at Indians university grandson and great granddaughter on NDIS with NFM type 1 neurofibromatosis and intent to remain at home 3 acres in Gippsland. for another 13 years with wife of 50 years Pioneer in Open eLearning grasps the power and limitations of IT, set up course at Medical Faculty UniMelb a lifetime of research and Development in Aboriginal Health and pedagogy and an DCD OeL Institute in Cambodia to keep alive Khmer traditions in architecture.
	Glenn Payne, CIO, Feros Care Firstly, Glenn is the father to Spiderman and the husband to Wonder Woman. Secondly, what gets Glenn out of bed each day and coming to an industry that he enjoys is the passion for building a technology-driven aged care that he will be proud to one day consume.
	Gihan Perera, Technology Futurist, Strategic Adviser on Strategizing for our Technology Futures Gihan Perera is a futurist, conference speaker, author and consultant who gives you a glimpse into what’s ahead – and how you can become fit for the future, in your professional and personal life. He has always taken the lead in embracing emerging technologies and trends, from his university thesis in robotics and artificial intelligence, to leading a software development team building the infrastructure for the early Internet, founding one of Australia’s first Web development companies in 1996, teaching thought leaders how to engage in e-learning platforms, and helping business leaders build their personal brand and online inﬂuence. Because innovation is everybody’s business, and the best ideas can come from anywhere, he has worked with a number of industries – including healthcare, financial services, mining and resources, property, local government, education, and technology. Website: http://gihanperera.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gihanperera Twitter: http://twitter.com/gihanperera (or @gihanperera)
	John Perkins, Founder & CEO, CheckedIn Care John is regarded as one of the more successful serial entrepreneurs in the Australian IT market has successfully started and built over 7 organisations in the last 25 years. John is an owner of Ethan Group, Australia’s largest privately owned IT Company, with revenues exceeding $200Million per annum. Ethan Group is one of Australia’s leading Cloud Managed Services Providers. In 2015, John established Checked in Care, which focusses on connecting the aged care ecosystem into a single app, connecting seniors, families, staff and allied health professionals through a simple, easy to use app. John’s passion is to reduce the impacts of social isolation on the ageing. The app platform has won numerous awards and Government acclamations.
	Kane Sajdak, Co-Founder & CEO HomeGuardian Kane Sajdak is a career technologist and 3x Young Entrepreneur of the Year award winner. His passion for practical implementation of technology has given birth to technology enterprises BITS Technology Group and Cloud Torque, and most recently - HomeGuardian.ai - an AI Driven behavioral analysis device that is changing the way care is provided across the world. With a passion for solving real world problems with technology, Kane will demonstrate how HomeGuardian.ai will solve issues with Staffing, Level of Care, Elder Abuse, Unseen Falls, and even provide predictive and proactive care.
	Dr Mark Staples, Senior Principal Researcher, Data 61 (CSIRO) Mark Staples is a Senior Principal Researcher at CSIRO’s Data61 and a Conjoint Associate Professor at UNSW. He has held software and systems engineering management roles, in industries including industrial control, electronic payments, and medical devices. His research is in blockchain, regtech, software architecture, software engineering, and philosophy of engineering. He is on the international committee for the standardisation of blockchain and distributed ledger technology, and the OECD’s blockchain expert policy advisory board. He has degrees in computer science and cognitive science from the University of Queensland, and a PhD in computer science from the University of Cambridge.
	Miranda Starke, Head of The Plug-in, COTA SA Miranda is part of the leadership team at COTA SA, the peak body for older people in South Australia. She is Head of The Plug-in, COTA SA’s social enterprise and specialist market insights operation which connects older people with business, industry and researchers using targeted engagement, qualitative research and co-design methods. Miranda has a Master of Marketing, is a Graduate Member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and has more than 17 years’ experience in not for profit leadership roles for organisations with diverse stakeholder communities across education, the arts and the social sector.
	Brent Suhr, Service Design Implementation Partner,* Endeavour Foundation* Brent Suhr Service Design Implementation Partner Endeavour Foundation Delivering outstanding service experiences for customers, carers and staff is a key motivator for Brent. With over 20 years in corporate product development focused on designing, implementing and embedding commercially viable products and services Brent is now actively adopting human centred design principles to enable delivery of outstanding service experiences for Endeavour Foundation customers, carers and staff. One of his famous quotes is “Building an exceptional customer experience does not happen by accident. It happens by robust design.”
	Lauren Todorovic, CEO, CarePage Lauren has worked in the healthcare industry for over 15 years from clinical to senior managerial roles across acute, palliative care and aged care services. A highlight of her career was setting up a community dementia care service at one of the leading private hospitals in Victoria. Lauren has established the CarePage and HelloCare to drive improved quality of care for the elderly through data collection and analytics tools in the aged care and retirement village sector. She founded Aged Care Report Card Pty Ltd back in 2014 that was the genesis of the innovation that is shaping the market today.