PIEF Past Speakers | Conference Speakers & Industry Leaders

Past Speakers

Across the past four conferences (2022 – 2025), we have been lucky to have some exceptional voices appear at PIEF as keynote speakers and MCs. They have brought together an exceptional mix of voices – from futurists, doctors, scientists, engineers and inventors, to television personalities and comedians.

Together, they have shaped defining moments at each conference, blending insight with storytelling, expertise with perspective, and substance with energy. Each has played a central role in setting the tone, guiding conversations and creating shared experiences that resonate well beyond the event itself.

Lauren Parker | PIEF 2024 | Lauren Parker is an elite para-triathlete and cyclist. She is a 2020 Paralympic silver medallist, four-time para-triathlon world champion, Ironman 70.3 world champion, two-time Ironman world champion, and para-cycling time trial world champion. Prior to 2017 she was able-bodied professional athlete and had been an elite athlete most of her life, but her life changed in a split second when she was involved in a bike accident which left her instantly paralysed from the waist down and told that she would never walk again. Lauren made it possible to get back into triathlon and in under 11 months won a bronze medal at the Commonwealth Games. Her dream is to inspire as many people and kids out there to never give up. Anything is possible if you believe.

Prue Adams | PIEF 2022-23 | An accomplished and award-winning presenter, interviewer and television producer, she operates Prue Adams Media, and provides event MC services, debate facilitation, podcasts, voiceovers and video production. She has a special interest in agricultural journalism and rural/regional issues in Australia and globally and for more than three decades was a TV journalist at the Australian Broadcasting Corporation – mostly reporting for the flagship rural affairs program, Landline. Prue was named the World’s Best Agricultural Journalist in 2016 for a ground-breaking documentary on the disease Q-fever; it was a story that promoted positive change in the medical profession and Australian rural industries. In 2025 Prue became the Australian Council for Agricultural Journalists’ delegate to the International Federation of Agricultural Journalists and am Vice President of Rural Media and Communicators SA/NT.

Dr Nora Koslowski | PIEF 2025 | With expertise in both psychology and management, Nora brings a unique mix of academic depth and real-world business insight to the stage. Nora began her career as a researcher, exploring human-technology interaction and gendered career pathways, before moving into academic leadership – becoming a head of department before the age of 30. Since then, she has worked extensively with some of Australia’s most prominent organisations, including many ASX Top 100 companies, as a speaker, facilitator, and consultant. Her mission: to guide leaders through the complexities of an AI-driven world with clarity, purpose, and optimism. Her work in leadership, innovation, digital business, and workforce transformation has impacted thousands, through programs delivered across companies like Samsung, NBN, CBA, and Suncorp – a name close to home. As the inaugural Chief Learning Innovation Officer at Melbourne Business School, Nora led the creation of MBS Online, helping to digitally transform one of Australia’s most established education institutions. Her insights have been featured by the Australian Financial Review, the BBC, and 3AW.

Oleg Bilyanskiy | PIEF 2025 | Oleg is a leading Ukrainian physical therapy and rehabilitation expert with over two decades of academic, clinical, and leadership experience. A graduate and later associate professor at the Lviv State University of Physical Culture and the Ukrainian Catholic University, he has authored more than 65 scientific publications and trained hundreds of specialists. He has played a pivotal role in advancing rehabilitation in Ukraine, co-founding the All-Ukrainian Association of Physical Therapists, advising the Ministry of Health, and leading national and international training programs. Since 2023, Oleg has served as Head of the National Rehabilitation Center “Unbroken,” overseeing large-scale rehabilitation initiatives for war-affected populations, while continuing to shape national rehabilitation standards and education.

Dr Norman Swan | PIEF 2022 | Norman Swan is a Scottish-born Australian physician, journalist and broadcaster, and one of Australia’s most respected voices in health communication. Trained in medicine at the University of Aberdeen, he joined the ABC in 1982 and has been a central figure in Australian public broadcasting for four decades. He has presented The Health Report since its inception, co-hosted Life Matters, served as General Manager of ABC Radio National, and is a regular contributor to 7.30. During the COVID-19 pandemic, he co-hosted the widely followed podcast Coronacast. A four-time Walkley Award winner, including the Gold Walkley, Swan is also a bestselling author, with books including So You Think You Know What’s Good For You and So You Want to Live Younger Longer.

Prof Joel Pearson | PIEF 2025 | An internationally acclaimed neuroscientist, psychologist and author, Joel Pearson is at the forefront of research into the intersection of human cognition and artificial intelligence. As the Founder and Director of the Future Minds Lab at UNSW and a Professor in the School of Psychology, Joel’s work delves into the remarkable capabilities of the human mind -particularly around intuition, imagination, and decision-making in a rapidly evolving AI landscape. Originally trained in art and filmmaking before earning a PhD in neuroscience, he brings a rare perspective that blends analytical insight with storytelling flair. Joel’s insights have been sought after by some of the world’s most forward-thinking organisations, including Pixar, Google, KPMG, Lexus, and Macquarie Group. He also hosted The Brain Box on ABC Sydney, where he engaged listeners with accessible, compelling explorations of the mind. His latest book, The Intuition Toolkit: The New Science of Knowing What Without Knowing Why, has been praised by Pixar co-founder Ed Catmull as “inspiring and deeply original” – and is quickly becoming a must-read for leaders facing complex, high-stakes decisions.

Terry Bogyo – PIEF 2024 | Terry Bogyo is a researcher, speaker, and consultant specialising in workers’ compensation, disability management, and occupational safety and health. With over 30 years of experience in the field, Terry has held various key positions, ranging from vocational rehabilitation consultant to director-level roles in policy, research, and strategic planning. Terry is an adjunct faculty member and instructor at Pacific Coast University for Workplace Health Science and has served as a board member for several disability advocacy and prevention organisations. His presentations on topics such as changing workforce demographics, inter-jurisdictional comparisons, and the integration of artificial intelligence into his areas of focus have captivated audiences across Canada, the US, Australia, New Zealand.

Tina Altieri | PIEF 2024 | Channel 7’s Tina Altieri is one of Western Australia’s most sought after and established Master of Ceremonies and professional speakers. A passionate and engaging communicator, Tina has earned respect through her 30 years in the Australasian broadcast TV news business. She has worked as a journalist, TV news presenter, TV documentary associate producer and a radio broadcaster for media networks around Australia and the Southeast Asia region, including Sky News Australia. Apart from her role on the news desk at Channel 7 News and Sunrise, Tina relishes her work with entrepreneurs and business leaders seeking the skills, strategies and confidence to influence and communicate with conviction. She develops results-oriented public speaking programs that help mentor people in businesses large and small. Tina is also a passionate ambassador for Channel 7’s most loved children’s charity – Telethon.

Theo Venter | PIEF 2024 | Born and raised in South Africa before coming to Australia in 2005, Theo’s inspirational story takes you on a journey of hardship, adversity, resilience, and determination. Theo is a motivational speaker, dedicating his life to inspire others to learn from his mistakes and to save others from a journey so horrific. He is a workplace health and safety advocate, driving a culture that has greater awareness of workplace safety, injury treatment and prevention.

Mike Goldman | PIEF 2022 | Mike Goldman is an Australian actor, television and radio host and voice-over artist. He is best known for his involvement in Big Brother Australia, in narrating the Daily Hightlight episodes as well as hosting many of the companion shows – Including the live competition series Friday Night Live and the live late-night interactive series UpLate. He has also appeared in television roles, mini-series and films like Young Rock, The Wilds and A Place to Call Home.

Tetiana Stawnychy | PIEF 2025 | Tetiana is a Ukrainian-American leader with over three decades of experience in humanitarian, church, and development work in Eastern Europe. After earning an Economics degree from the University of Chicago, she contributed to early economic reform reporting in newly independent Ukraine. She later spent 15 years establishing the Patriarchal Curia of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, designing grant systems, and serving on its Strategic Planning team, while earning a Theology MA and Executive MBA. As Director at the USCCB, she oversaw aid to 28 post-Soviet countries before becoming President of Caritas Ukraine in 2021. Under her leadership, Caritas rapidly scaled its operations after the 2022 full-scale invasion, mobilising thousands of staff and volunteers, expanding its network from 20 to 50 local branches, and aiding over 2.5 million people with a focus on dignity, compassion, and professionalism.

Dr Hanh Nguyen | PIEF 2024 | Dr Hanh Nguyen graduated from the University of Western Australia with a Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) and completed advanced training in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. He became a Fellow of the Australasian College of Surgeons in 1999 and went on to complete a Fellowship in Hand Surgery in the United States of America. Dr Nguyen established RediMed in 2009. Dr Nguyen is now considered one of Australia’s leading Plastic Surgeons and has been involved in a number of research projects in Hand Surgery, Nerve Regeneration and Facial Anatomy.

Ross Wallman | PIEF 2024 | Ross is a media professional with around 20 years’ experience in radio and television and regularly appears on The Project, The TODAY show and various other TV roles. MC-wise he has hosted hundreds of events- from formal nights like the WA Tourism awards, the Toyota awards night and the Heartkids Gala Ball, to sporting events – like ground announcing at the Perth Scorchers and Perth Glory. He is an ambassador for Muscular Dystrophy WA, Toyota WA, HeartKids and works for several charities. He loves people and genuinely cares about the work he does.

Sammy J | PIEF 2025 | A master of satire, storytelling, and song, Sammy J is one of Australia’s most versatile and sharp-witted performers. He’s a comedian, author, composer, and broadcaster who has entertained audiences across the globe – from Netflix sitcoms to viral political sketches and everything in between. Whether you know him from his iconic man/puppet duo Sammy J & Randy, his award-winning solo shows like Hero Complex, or his five-year satirical run on ABC, one thing’s certain: Sammy brings energy, insight, and a serious amount of laughs wherever he goes. He’s had more career eras than Taylor Swift (and collectively, their tours have brought in over a billion dollars – not that we’re counting). From Melbourne Fringe to the ARIAs, from breakfast radio to Paramount+ specials – Sammy J’s comic timing and razor-sharp wit make him the perfect host to bring sparkle, sass, and surprise.

Past Speakers

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