Lydia Tesema is a Melbourne-born, Ethiopian Conversationalist, Multidisciplinary Creative, Community Leader and Founder of Below The Surface. Dedicated to carving out a unique and versatile career as Global Presenter, Host, MC, Panel Moderator, Program Facilitator, Cultural Consultant, Mentor and Event Curator, Lydia is deeply committed to community development and making sense of the world using connection, authentic conversation and diverse forms of creative expression. Co-host of the Voices of Australia podcast, Lydia joins Anthea Hancock (CEO of Scanlon Foundation Research Institute) in the exploration of what a socially cohesive society in Australia looks like from diverse perspectives. In August 2022, Lydia was positioned by global brand, Converse, to interview world-famous Tyler, The Creator in what has become a popular YouTube Converse Tyler Talks. Committed to being an example of someone who is courageous enough to build a dynamic career around their genuine interests, Lydia is a force to be reckoned with and never held back by standards or expectations

Dr Sarah Hanieh started her career as a paediatrician and has over 20 years of experience in clinical, research and policy work, at a global level. She has worked in many countries with organisations such as Medicins Sans Frontiers and WHO (World Health Organization). She is also the founder of The Tech-Balance Institute, an organisation dedicated to promoting a healthy technology balance for children and fostering critical thinking and problem-solving skills in young minds. Sarah is dedicated to empowering women from underrepresented backgrounds to chart their own course, regardless of external expectations. She also is a runner-up in the semi-finals of the World Championships of Public Speaking, an alumna of the Homeward Bound expedition to Antarctica, (a leadership, strategic, and science initiative that aims to empower women in STEMM) and was awarded a Strategic Grant for Outstanding Women from the University of Melbourne.

Tegan Miller is a proud Wiradjuri woman, living in Naarm on Bunurong, Boon Wurrung Country. She started her career in Communications, helping local communities across Australia through bushfires and the pandemic. Now she’s turned her passion for ensuring communities can thrive into transitioning the energy sector, to reconcile its history and work in partnership with First Peoples. She currently works at CitiPower, Powercor and United Energy to build mutually beneficial partnerships with Traditional Owners and First Peoples. Assisting the business on their reconciliation journey and building cultural safety, whilst improving social procurement opportunities for Aboriginal businesses and improving energy equity. She worked previously as an Aboriginal Energy Project Officer with the Victorian Governments Department of Energy, Environment, and Climate Action, on the Traditional Owner Renewable Energy Program (TOREP) and established the First Peoples Adoption of Renewable Energy Program.  

Dr Be Pannell is a leadership expert and academic who combines business experience in senior management with a deep understanding of psychology and neurobiology to facilitate the thinking required of future leaders. Be provides coaching and leadership development programs in Corporate, Government and Academic sectors. With expertise in senior management, academia, coaching psychology and applied neuroscience, she brings over 20 years of experience working with thousands of people in the field of adult leadership development.

Jonathan is a partner of leading Australian commercial law firm, Arnold Bloch Leibler. His legal expertise spans the breadth of commercial and corporate law, including mergers and acquisitions, corporate work, technology and financing. In 2021, Jonathan launched the All Things Equal café, which provides employment opportunities for people with disabilities (and offers some of the best coffee in Melbourne!). Jonathan is also on the Board of Giant Steps Melbourne, a specialist school for children with autism, and is a Board member of Allplay Sports, a venture established between the Australian Football League and Deakin University’s Child Study Centre to promote the inclusion of children with special needs in sport. Jonathan is also the current Chair of ASX-listed Probiotec Limited and a member of the advisory board of Pacific Group of Companies.