Walter Mikac's story touched the world. His wife and two little girls were amongst 35 people shot dead at Australia's worst ever massacre at Port Arthur, Tasmania in 1996. Walter's courage and dignity in the face of unimaginable strength and courage, played out under the unrelenting glare of the media spot-light. His desire to create something positive from the devastation won him universal acclaim and led to extraordinary outcomes, including:

The Hon Dr Gary Johns is the Commissioner of the Australian Charities and Not-for-Profit Commission (ACNC).

Dr Johns has previously held roles as a Director of the Australian Institute for Progress, and an Adjunct Professor at the Queensland University of Technology Business School.

He has served as a member of the Prime Minister’s Community Business Partnership, and has wide-ranging experience in regulation, public service and policy, serving as an Associate Commissioner of the Productivity Commission and representing the electorate of Petrie in the Federal Government from 1987 to 1996, and as minister in the Keating government. Dr Johns was also a columnist for The Australian, and has authored a number of books on charities and the not-for-profit sector.

Janie began her career analysing serious crime in the UK. After spending a few years working with data to identify serial killers and rapists, Janie felt a deep desire to use her skills to bring hope directly to people in need. She moved to the not-for-profit sector as a database analyst for Latin Link and soon integrated her role within the fundraising and communications team to create strategic fundraising campaigns. Janie saw the importance of online communications and project managed the creation of a multilingual website and email campaigns. Over 4 years she grew to leading the Development and Communications team ans sat on the leadership team of the charity contributing to the overall strategy. 

On arriving in Melbourne she heard that Global Interaction was looking for a Communications and Partnership Manager and offered to help for a few months. This quickly became over 5 years. In that time she took them through a comprehensive rebrand including creating a new website with online donation functionality linked with the database and integrated multichannel communications. As well as managing the creation of all publications and fundraising campaigns she grew passionate about providing a seamless donor experience and making sure the simple act of thanking people was not missed.

Most recently Janie worked for Heartburst Digital creating an online donation platform called Generous.

Kim is a trainer, coach and facilitator who specialises in the frontlines of the not for profit sector; fundraising, community engagement and volunteer programs. She is passionate about bringing out the best in purpose driven people and guiding them to excel in their chosen cause while making a huge positive impact on the world.

Building big capacity and raising millions of dollars across the globe, Kim has worked in leadership roles in more than 25 countries, building powerful, innovative programs that make a difference in the lives of both the communities they serve, and the staff and volunteers who work within them. Kim's fundraising career has seen her raise more than 15 million dollars from small donor acquisition, recruit more than 8500 volunteers and train and coach over 750 new and emerging not for profit leaders.

Kim is the founder of The Forever Agenda, where she offers services and innovative programs developed to elevate those who work for a better forever.

Bianca Crocker, aka The Fish Chick, is the woman behind Fish Community Solutions; a business that works with small or emerging non-profit organisations to build sustainable funding models so they can create positive change in our world. She was awarded FIA’s Young Fundraiser of the Year and was a finalist in the Global Fundraiser of the Year.

Ryk heads up the Audit division of Collins & Co. Collins & Co is the largest accounting firm in the Western Suburbs. Drawing on over 64 years' experience advising businesses across various industries, the firm has extensive expertise in working with Not-for-Profit organisations. The firm's approach is to place an emphasis on systems, risk exposure, accounting policies, governance issues and understanding the client's objectives.

Ryk specialises in the areas of audit and business services and has extensive experience advising and auditing Not-for-Profit organisations including dealing with compliance and corporate governance. His

involvement in these organisations enables management to focus their time where it should be spent on achieving the organisation's objective of making a valuable contribution to the wider community.

Ryk is a Registered Company Auditor, a registered SMSF Auditor, has a Bachelor of Accounting and an Honours Degree in Accounting and is a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants Australia. He also serves as a Director on the Board of the AIOH Foundation and is a former Director of the I CAN Network Limited.

Raphael is the Managing Director of Better Boards. He has spent a decade working closely with, and curating educational programs for, NFP directors, boards and executives. Raphael has a deep interest in the intersection of technology, decision making, investment and behavioural economics. He regularly writes and speaks on technology in the boardroom, decision making and biases, governance, leadership and related NFP matters. 

in Australia and for the second time was appointed an Ambassador for the World Masters Games Auckland 2017.

"Give a man a fish and he eats 🐟, teach a man to fish and he may not". Steve Hubbard is the Certified Practicing Marketer & Founder of Dify Social - a ‘do it for you’ social media marketing consultancy based in Melbourne, Australia.

Steve is arguably Australia’s best ‘local social media marketer’ having provided social media marketing account set-ups, planning and marketing management for hundreds of businesses and enterprises since 2013. These include and have included, many well known franchise & independent brands, public listed companies, branches of a major bank, a National sporting team, a Federal political party and the Footscray Traders Association - where Steve is the VP.

Steve and Dify Social's mission is to 'protect, build and grow' businesses on and using social media marketing. His purpose being to gain competitive advantages for businesses using social media marketing tactics that include Facebook advertising, to attract and retain them more customers.

Steve's own social time is spent with family, playing with his three year old toddler (Oliver), keeping the MCG arena safe & secure and/or 'digging, setting & spiking' a beach volleyball. 

Gordon Jenkins, The Visible Guy™, is the straight-talking authority on Networking. He is an accomplished entrepreneur, professional speaker, mentor, coach and advisor. He is the international author of Network with Purpose – Transform your skills in 4 simple steps.

He has been described as ‘a first-class operator due to his strategic approach, natural relationship-building, commercial expertise, and proven methodologies delivering business and personal growth. A consummate networker constantly using his connections and networks to benefit others’

His ability to connect with diverse groups of people is compelling. The Visible Guy has spent over 25 years enabling others to navigate, commit to and action change. He supports, helps and guides his audiences through the maze of self-belief breaking down barriers, encouraging self-driven accountability and celebrating success.

The Visible Guy is living proof that no matter what the challenge, you can transform the situation and position yourself for success. The biggest cap on your growth is you.

His keynote presentation ‘Who’s on your plane?’ has garnered significant growth outcomes across a diverse range of industries including Not for Profit. Please take your seats ready for takeoff.

Pamela is a Senior Consultant with fundraising consultancy, AskRIGHT specialising in providing strategic fundraising advice to NFPs, charities, universities and schools.  Pamela was recognized as a Telstra Business award winner (Community & Government) in 2006 for her work with Plan International and the Melbourne 2006 Commonwealth Games. With Zoos Victoria she successfully designed and completed a $20million capital raising campaign for Zoos Victoria, the most successful in Melbourne Zoo’s 153-year history. Pamela serves on a number of NFP boards including BirdLife and Seddon Community Bank.  She is accredited as a Certified Fundraising Executive (CFRE) with CFRE International and holds a Master of Business Administration

Michael has worked with small businesses and for purpose organisations since 2005. In 2011 he joined a small consulting firm working with for purpose organisations on a range of projects including value proposition and brand development, social enterprise feasibility and planning. In this role, he worked with a wide range of organisations including youth, disability and indigenous organisations.  In 2103, he joined social enterprise design studio, skysdesign as Business Development Manager and has steered the organisation to have a dedicated focus on social purpose organisation needs.

Michael is now the Senior Manager, Social Enterprise Development at St Kilda Community Housing and combines his skysdesign responsibilities with this role.

He is also the chair of a small charity in St Kilda. 

Derek Mortimer is principal of DF Mortimer & Associates, a Melbourne based boutique law firm practising exclusively in not-for-profit and charity law. The firm’s clients include private and public charitable foundations, trader associations, and religious institutions. 

Derek commenced his legal career with a 1993 study tour of affordable housing trusts and micro finance loan funds in the USA. His firm recently provided background legal advice for preparation of the University of Western Sydney publication “The Australian Community Land Trust Manual” (2013).