KEYNOTES

Gus Balbontin

Former Executive Director & CTO - Lonely Planet

Learn more at: gusbalbontin.com

We are super excited to bring back one of our most popular keynote speakers, Gus Balbontin, Former Executive Director & CTO - Lonely Planet to join us once again on the Gold Coast this May, to take a deep dive into the conference theme with his keynote - Unlocking Agility & Adaptability.

With his infectious energy Gus will share his insights on:

The challenges of corporate momentum and how to break traditional, repetitive business processes in favor of agile and more entrepreneurial models
How to create structures and systems capable of supporting established AND emerging business models simultaneously
Transforming industries, businesses, departments, teams and individuals to become more adaptable and succeed in rapid changing markets

Gus is an investor, advisor and Director at Neu21 which keeps him close to large corporate challenges and also sits on the board of Startup Victoria and runs NOW to stay close to small business and startup puzzles.

He will make you laugh hard and equally think deeply about the puzzles of running a business irrespective of size.

Cameron Mitchell

Head of Geopolitical Risk

Cameron Mitchell joined ANZ in March 2021 to set up and manage the bank’s geopolitical risk function. In this role he coordinates the production of tailored geopolitical risk assessments and advises management and clients. He supports portfolio and exposure reviews, stress tests, and crisis and response planning, as well as developing and employing tools to enhance ANZ strategic risk management.Cameron was previously based in London as HSBC’s Global Head of Geopolitical Risk, which followed a stint in Hong Kong looking after Asia Pacific Geopolitical Risk.

Cameron is a former Australian public servant and Australian Defence Force Reserve Officer, where he worked on defence and security issues. He also served on operational deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan where he provided intelligence support to operational-level commanders and supported national-level agencies from within the Middle East Theatre of Operations.Cameron was born in Surrey, UK and grew up in Nigeria and Brunei before completing secondary school in Australia. He has completed a Master of Studies in International Relations at the University of Cambridge, a Master of Arts by research in Political Science from the University of New South Wales, and a Bachelor of Arts majoring in Political Science and History from the University of Sydney.He is the author of articles and a book about the Russian defence industry, published through the UK International Institute for Strategic Studies and the Australian Strategic and Defence Studies Centre.

Stephen Halmarick

Chief Economist & Head of Global Economic & Markets Research - Commonwealth Bank of Australia
CBA is the largest financial services company in Australia. He was appointed to the Chief Economist role in April 2020 - having been the Head of the Global Economic & Markets Research team since January 2018. As Chief Economist and Head of Global Economic & Markets Research, Stephen is responsible for the team of economists that cover Australian Economics, International Economics, Foreign Exchange, Commodities and Sustainable Economics research. Stephen and his team work to ensure that customers and clients are well informed and have a strong understanding of key macroeconomic factors in Australia and globally and their impact on select financial markets.

Stephen is also the key spokesperson to clients and media on macroeconomic themes and a broad range of financial market issues. The Global Economic & Markets Research team produces a number of economic publications. These include short research notes on economic and market developments, presentation packs, longer thought leadership pieces on key structural issues, and a number of regular reports on key countries and regions of the global economy. The team also regularly appears in public forums and holds meeting with key clients both in Australia and globally. Publishing research on key Sustainable Economic issues in to is increasingly an area of focus. Stephen has over 35 years’ experience as a financial markets economist and is widely regarded as one of the best economic communicators and presenters in Australia. Prior to his role in CBA, Stephen was Chief Economist for Colonial First State Global Asset Management from March 2009 to September 2017. Earlier in his career, Stephen worked for Westpac, SBC Australia, the Nomura Research Institute and from 19942009 the Salomon Smith Barney Citibank group, where he held the title of Managing Director and Co-Head of Economic and Market Analysis. Stephen holds a Bachelor of Economics from Macquarie University, a graduate diploma from the Securities Institute of Australia (SIA) and is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (AICD). Stephen was Chairman of the Australian Business Economists (ABE) the peak professional body for financial market economists in Australia from 2008-2017 and he was on the ABE Executive Committee for over 20 years. He is a Life Member of the ABE. In March 2016 Stephen was elected as a Member Director on the Commonwealth Bank Group Staff Superannuation Fund Board. He was re-elected to this position in November 2019. Stephen lives in Sydney with his wife – and their ‘blended’ family of six children.

Mark Visser

Big Wave Surfer | Mindset Coach

CBA Breakfast Keynote

Mark Visser is an Australian big wave surfer, author and ocean adventurer. He spends his time tracking down some of the biggest waves on the planet utilising innovative technology and pioneers’ unique ways to surf them.

Marks feats are not only about surfing, but adventure, exploration and staying alive in situations that some consider impossible.

On the 20th of January, 2011, Mark made history by achieving a night ride on 30-40ft waves at the infamous Jaws break in Maui. This was a true world first, known globally as ‘Night Rider’. This night ride was the start of an upcoming adventure documentary called ‘Nine Lives’. If riding huge waves at night wasn’t enough, Marks second project, ‘Operation Deep Blue’, follows Visser and his team as they parachute out of a specialized aircraft with their jet skis and surfboards into storm swells miles out to sea in search of ‘freak’ waves. No athlete has ever gone to these lengths to find them, let alone surf them. The nature of the remaining projects for the ‘Nine Lives’ documentary involve never before seen technology and breath-taking feats of human strength and endurance.

KEYNOTES

Gus Balbontin

Cameron Mitchell

Mark Visser

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