Speakers
Paul Teys
Chairman, NSW Combined Independent Schools Sports Council
Dr Paul Teys is an experienced Principal and CEO, having led large independent P–12 schools in Australia for more than two decades. With over 25 years of executive leadership and more than a decade of governance experience, he has guided organisations through significant growth, cultural renewal, and strategic change. Paul is currently the Board Chair of NSW Combined Independent Schools Sports Council, where he oversaw the association’s separate incorporation in 2017. Through paulteys.com, his consultancy, he now partners with boards, executives, and emerging leaders across Australia and internationally, focusing on governance, strategy, and leadership development. An accomplished author, Paul has written two widely read books on educational leadership – So You Want to Be a Principal and Now You Are a Principal. He also facilitates national leadership programs for principals, business managers, and executive leaders. Paul’s work is grounded in practical experience, research, and a commitment to building strong, sustainable leadership and governance models.
Paul Mondo
President, Australian Childcare Alliance
With over 20 years of experience as an early learning service provider, Paul has developed a strong understanding of the challenges facing owner/operators in an ever-changing, highly-regulated early learning landscape. This wealth of experience, coupled with a passion for the benefits of early learning, inspired Paul to take a leadership role in the advocacy space. As President of the Australian Childcare Alliance (ACA) for over 9 years, Paul plays a key role in advocating with impact for the interests of ACA members and the early learning sector at the Federal Government level. Primarily, Paul is dedicated to ensuring that all children have access to high-quality, affordable early learning services in Australia and therefore have the best start in life.
Peter Kaye
National Chief Executive Officer, The Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award – Australia, Timor-Leste, Solomon Islands, and Papua New Guinea
Peter Kaye is the National CEO for the Duke of Ed in Australia and formerly Managing Director of Consultgroup, a specialist international corporate governance consultancy. A volunteer leader with the Duke of Ed since 1976, he is a current member of the International Council and has undergone a very extensive and successful governance, product and operations restructure based on taking a new and ambitious market position. Since commencing as CEO, he has implemented a demanding strategic plan resulting in a near doubling of Duke of Ed users and achieving 100% financial sustainability. Peter has over 49 years of SES volunteer service, is former Chair of the Red Nose Foundation, and has pioneered hundreds of micro-finance organisations across the Pacific. He is a Fellow of AICD and RSA, a JP since 1977, and was appointed AM (2014) and awarded the ESM (2021).
Katrina Jojkity
Chief Executive Officer, International Specialised Skills Institute
Dr Katrina Jojkity is Chief Executive Officer of the International Specialised Skills Institute (ISSI), a not-for-profit organisation dedicated to fostering innovation and skills development across Australia’s workforce. With a background in research, policy, and strategic leadership, Katrina has led initiatives that support knowledge exchange and international collaboration across diverse sectors. Her work champions inclusive and future-focused approaches to workforce development, with a strong emphasis on community impact and practitioner-led innovation. With a PhD in Media and Communication and a background in creative industries, Katrina combines academic insight with hands-on leadership. She has successfully led large teams and managed complex projects across education and business, always focused on building strong partnerships and creating opportunities for communities to thrive.
Melissa Brown
Chief Executive Officer, Australian Business Events Association
Melissa Brown is the inaugural CEO of the Australian Business Events Association. She is a business development and marketing specialist with over 20 years of experience driving results for multinationals, not-for-profits, SMEs, and start-ups across industries and geographies, including the UK, USA, and Hong Kong. She has worked with leading organisations such as the Australian Chamber of Commerce in London, Australian Associated Press, Telstra and Talent International.Brown holds key advisory roles, including being a member of the ACCI Tourism Committee; a Tourism SWAG Member for Service and Creative Skills Australia (SaCSA); an Advisory Panellist for Curtin University Tourism, Hospitality, Events Discipline & Tourism Research Cluster; and on the Advisory Committee for the Hospitality, Tourism, and Travel Employment and Skills Platform Project (eeger). She is also a Global Ambassador for the University of Technology, Sydney.
Julie Allen
Head of Events, Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy
Julie is a highly accomplished executive with over 35 years of experience in Business Events and Corporate Communications. Her extensive career includes pivotal roles in high-profile projects, such as the Qantas Float, the Ampol/Caltex merger, and the launch of Optus and Optus Vision, as well as numerous strategic programs for major corporations including Arnott’s, Telecom New Zealand, and Volkswagen. Julie has a vast global reach, having led teams and delivered events across Asia, the Pacific region, North America, and Africa. She owned and managed her own PCO business, focusing on transforming associations into financially sustainable models. In her current role at AusIMM, Julie provides strategic leadership for the conferences portfolio within the resources sector, managing professional development delivery and overseeing an in-house PCO team. She is a proven leader in change management, process implementation, and building high-performing teams, with a core focus on organizational strategy and fostering successful financial and cultural entities.
Zara Bryan
Communications and Marketing Manager, Ports Australia
Zara Bryan leads the communications, marketing and media strategy for Ports Australia. With a background in journalism and professional writing, she brings experience across local and state government and industry peak bodies. Zara began her career in the nfp sector at Associations Forum and continues to be deeply passionate about the vital role associations play in shaping Australia’s critical infrastructure. She is also passionate about digital storytelling.
Kelly Chan
Special Projects Manager, Liver Foundation
John Peacock AM
Chief Executive Officer, Associations Forum
John is one of Australia’s most experienced advisors to associations and charities and is a thought leader for the associations sector. He is a regular presenter, both nationally and internationally, on matters essential to the governance and operations of associations, charities and other mutual bodies. Since 2000, John has trained and consulted to hundreds of associations and charities, large and small, on strategic planning, governance, Board effectiveness, operations, restructuring, financial issues and external reviews. John’s work with associations was recognised in the 2021 Australia Day Honours List with his appointment as a Member (AM) of the Order of Australia (General Division) for significant service to the associations and not-for-profit sectors through a range of initiatives.
Kathy Nguyen
Senior Lawyer, Governology
Kathy Nguyen has extensive experience working with associations both nationally and in the Asia-Pacific, on association structure, operations and governance. She has reviewed hundreds of constitutions, and regularly presents to organisations on membership, governance and events. Kathy has worked for Associations Forum, the Governance Institute of Australia, Ernst & Young, the Trade Association Forum in London and for the Royal Australasian College of Physicians. Kathy holds Bachelors of Laws & Business.
Michael Bell
Senior Associations Advisor, Associations Forum
Michael is a Chartered Accountant, Fellow of the Governance Institute and Graduate of the Institute of Company Directors. He has worked in chartered accounting practices and the banking and finance industry holding General Manager roles in Finance, Strategy and Operations. More recently he has consulted in governance, financial control and risk management to a range of organisations. He has been an active Committee Member in several Not for Profits and joined the board of Coeliac NSW&ACT before becoming President of Coeliac Australia in 2016. During his time as President he successfully transformed the organisation from a federated to a national company limited by guarantee. Michael brings a broad governance, finance, project management and risk perspective to his roles ensuring this works in a positive way to achieving strategic goals.
Andrew Gosbell
Associations Advisor, Associations Forum
Andrew Gosbell (PhD, GAICD, BAppSc) is based in Melbourne and provides a range of advisory services for Associations Forum based on his broad experience in governance, change management, leadership development, government relations and policy development, risk management, strategic planning, negotiation and partnership development. Andrew has over 15 years senior executive experience working in medical colleges and associations, including successful tenures as CEO of General Practice Registrars Australia and Deputy CEO at the Australasian College for Emergency Medicine. He has a track record of working collaboratively with volunteers, association members and office bearers, and professional staff to successfully deliver a range of strategic initiatives at both national and state levels. He has well-developed networks in the health and associations sectors. Andrew also has governance experience as a non-executive director and currently holds a number of Board and Committee positions in the NFP and tertiary-education sectors.
Claire Hewat
Associations Advisor, Associations Forum
Claire has over 20 years’ experience in senior executive positions including two successful roles as a CEO at Dietitians Australia and Allied Health Professions Australia. Claire has also had substantial non-executive governance experience on five national and one international board. She has extensive experience in professional self-regulation and is currently chair of the Conduct and Complaints Board for an Australian allied health profession. Claire has used her experience to provide support and mentoring to other NFP CEOs and boards in areas of governance, strategic planning, advocacy, complaints and disciplinary processes, change management and more.
Tony Gleeson
Associations Advisor, Associations Forum
Tony Gleeson MBA GAICD is Associations Advisor at Associations Forum. He has over 30 years of experience in the fields of association management and governance, leadership, project and change management, organisational integration and talent development. Tony has been Chief Executive of Australian Institute of Refrigeration Air-conditioning and Heating (AIRAH) and the Australian Institute of Management (AIM), and was an Executive General Manager with CPA Australia. Prior to his roles with membership associations, he held senior consulting roles in strategy, process re-engineering and change management with PwC, Deloitte and Terra Firma Consulting. Tony is an innovative and energetic leader, skilled communicator / team builder, and adept negotiator. He has significant experience in providing support and guidance to CEOs and boards in areas of governance, strategic planning, change management and more.