Meet the Speakers
Callum Benson
Monash Innovation
Callum is passionate about innovation and building great companies. He has broad experience across technology sectors and stages, developing commercialisation strategies, spinning out companies and securing investment needed to take technologies to market.
Catriona Dixon
Toothless Parrot Communications
Catriona is committed to empowering the nation’s business, community and sporting leaders with the tools needed to become exceptional communicators. Her experience includes communication for leadership, media training, public speaking, story-telling, strategic media issues and crisis management.
Clare Birch
Blackbird
Clare Birch is an Associate and Scientist in Residence at Blackbird, where she runs Blackbird’s Foundry and focuses on deep tech. She was previously the first employee and Programs Coordinator at DeadlyScience, an Australian nonprofit that provides STEM learning resources to remote and Indigenous communities.
Clare John Fairfield
Concerto Venture Partners & Venture Capital Institute
Clare John Fairfield is a Managing Director of Concerto Venture Partners, a specialised, diversified early-stage venture investment and advisory firm. In addition, Clare is Chairman of the Venture Capital Institute, a global venture capital and innovation development organisation.
Dr George Feast
SME Connect CSIRO
Dr George Feast is the Deputy Director of the CSIRO SME Connect team and is based in Melbourne. George currently leads delivery of the CSIRO SME Collaboration Initiative which aims to double the number of SMEs that engage with publicly-funded research, by increasing facilitation and reducing the barriers for interactions with universities and CSIRO.
Helen Souris
CardiHab
Helen is a strong advocate for evidence-based digital health innovations that support the growth of the digital health ecosystem. As Cardihab CEO, Helen has led Cardihab’s transformation from a CSIRO concept technology to a commercially successful digital therapeutic in Australia.
Dr Joni Sytsma
iLAuNCH
Dr. Joni Sytsma is an aerospace engineer originating from the USA. Her current role is Chief Technology Officer of the iLAuNCH program, Australia’s $180M space program. Joni’s 17 year career has educated her in the successful research, development and commercialisation of extremely complex aerospace systems where combined interactions of hardware, software and physics are the defining value-add.
Luli Adeyemo
TechDiversity & Best Case Scenario
Luli Adeyemo is the Executive Director at TechDiversity and Founder/Director of Sydney-based integrated marketing and events agency Best Case Scenario. Luli has spent the last 30 years curating content for thought leadership conversations and campaigns for the technology sector.
Louise Brown
HydGene Renewables
Louise Brown is the co-founder and CEO of HydGene Renewables, a deep-tech synthetic biology startup founded in 2020. Louise has over two decades in bioengineering complex protein systems, and previously held an academic role at Macquarie University.
Sandra Roussel
Department of Industry, Science and Resources
Sandra Roussel is the General Manager of the Venture Capital and Entrepreneurship Branch in the Department and Industry, Science and Resources. The Branch works to foster strong stakeholder partnerships across industry and the public sector, and manage policies, programs and research in the areas of commercialisation, intellectual property and early-stage finance (including venture capital).
Scott Allen
Nallawilli
Scott Allen is a highly accomplished professional who has made remarkable contributions to Nallawilli Pty Ltd, a leading company in the field of Technology, Finance, Workplace Supplies and Digital Twins. With his deep respect for First Nations heritage and unwavering commitment to community empowerment, Scott has played an instrumental role in driving the company’s success.
Dr Silvia Pfeiffer
COVIU
Silvia is Director and Co-Founder of Coviu, a telehealth software company that has helped thousands of healthcare businesses offer video consultations during the COVID19 crisis.
Dr Thomas Ting
Australia’s Economic Accelerator Program
Dr Thomas Ting is the Executive Director for Australia’s Economic Accelerator Program (AEA), a $1.6B AUD 10year competitive grant program to fund research translation and commercialisation projects and opportunities from Australian Universities.
Meet the Moderators and Presenters
Chris Krishna-Pillay
CSIRO
As ON Core’s official MC, Chris has a background in science education, organisational development and stakeholder engagement, as well as extensive experience in theatre and the performing arts, and has worked at CSIRO for more than 30 years.
Dr Jill Freyne
CSIRO
Dr Jill Freyne is Deputy Chief Scientist at CSIRO, Australia’s national science agency. CSIRO solves the greatest challenges through innovative science and technology.
Tennille Eyre
CSIRO
As the Executive Manager of Innovation Programs at CSIRO, Tennille is dedicated to supporting research translation through innovative pathways.
Phoebe Jackson Morison
CSIRO
As Manager of the ON Innovation Program, Phoebe is most energised when supporting the deep tech community to navigate the provocative realms of innovation and research translation.
Torres Webb
CSIRO
Torres Webb is an environmental scientist, published author and advocate of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander innovation and knowledge systems.