Katherine Squire has over 25 years experience in the technology industry leading both the Product and Engineering functions.  She has spent many years architecting and building algorithmic trading systems and has worked for Macquarie Bank, IRESS, ASX, Nasdaq and Culture Amp.  Her experience encompasses both vendor and client side which enables her to have a unique perspective on the challenges of building and buying software solutions. 

Josh Doolan is Endava’s Managing Director for APAC, leading regional growth and partnering with clients and strategic alliances to modernize core systems, harness AI and agentic AI, and unlock new opportunities for growth, performance and customer innovation through world-class engineering and deep industry expertise.

He founded Mudbath in 2014, growing it into one of Australia’s leading digital design and engineering consultancies before its acquisition by Endava in 2024. He is a regular speaker on digital transformation, AI adoption and the future of enterprise technology.

Andrew Cresp is the Chief Information Officer at Newcastle Greater Mutual Bank, where he leads the bank’s technology strategy, digital transformation, and cyber resilience agenda. Prior to joining Newcastle Greater Mutual, Andrew was Chief Information Officer at Bendigo and Adelaide Bank, where he drove large‑scale modernisation and simplification programs across core banking and digital platforms. Earlier in his career, he held senior technology leadership roles at National Australia Bank (NAB) and Insurance Australia Group (IAG), building deep expertise across core banking, payments, infrastructure, and enterprise transformation.

Matt is a consultant, software developer, speaker, trainer, author, and co-host of the Beer Driven Devs podcast.

Matt is engaged in diverse projects for a variety of organisations, including renowned national and multinational companies, peak bodies and the Australian government. With responsibilities including development and management of applications for mobile, desktop and cloud platforms, he has been a key contributor to several significant projects, such as a secure mobile app for regulated industries and a novel authentication solution for interactive classroom displays. He also maintains and contributes to open-source projects.

Matt’s passion for making technology accessible and enjoyable is central to his roles as author and regular speaker at industry events, as well as throughout his day-to-day work. Combining his academic background in science communication with industry expertise, he skilfully simplifies complex ideas and translates challenging technical concepts into easily digestible information.

He has a keen interest in health, the environment, and human and animal welfare, and actively champions initiatives aimed at making a positive and hopefully life-changing difference.

I am a highly motivated, results-driven and innovative Senior Technology Leader with proven technical skills, leadership and customer management skills gained through over 20 years of experience across E-Commerce, Media and Financial Services.

I have led the digital transformation and road map for large scale projects across multiple platforms, ensuring best practice, customer focus and robust solutions across B2B and B2C.

I enjoy working in agile environments and believe in highly productive, cross functional team, inspiring leadership by working with the people to ensure effective processes and tools are in place.

I have a passion for supporting diversity, equity and inclusion, challenging the status quo to deliver better outcomes.

Carolyn’s purpose is to empower organisations to drive inclusion and equality through technology and accessibility.

Carolyn Breeze, currently the CEO of Scalare Partners (ASX:SCP), is a distinguished leader in the technology sector with over 25 years of experience in payments, fintech, e-commerce, and telecommunications. She has held significant roles at renowned companies such as Zepto, GoCardless, PayPal, Braintree, and eBay.

Carolyn is celebrated for her vibrant personality and is a sought-after NED and keynote speaker, recognised for her contributions to the industry with accolades like CEO Magazine’s IT and Telecommunications Executive of the Year in 2018 and being named one of Business Insider’s top 20 Women in Fintech. In 2021, she was awarded ‘Fintech Leader of the Year’ at the Women in Finance Awards in 2023.

Leveraging her background and passion for continuous development, Carolyn partners with her clients across corporate, entrepreneurial and not-for-profit organisations. Complementing this work Carolyn provides advisory services in payments, open data, fintech, automation, and commercialisation strategies. Additionally, she conducts public speaking engagements and is seen as a thought leader within the startup, payments and tech sectors.

Carolyn’s dedication to the principle of lifelong learning, and generosity in sharing her expansive leadership and commercial aptitude make her a sought-after and invaluable resource, both in Australia and internationally.

My leadership philosophy centers on fostering psychological safety and cultivating a culture of continuous improvement. I believe that empowering teams through trust and open communication is fundamental to driving sustainable innovation and organizational efficiency.

Over the years, I’ve led teams and departments ranging from 20-150 people, across BPO sourcing, IT Sourcing, Digital Workplace, Digital Customer Experience, IT Support, Service Management, and Service Delivery within financial services, insurance, and logistics sectors.

What drives me is not only delivering service excellence, but coaching and leading teams to thrive. My colleagues often describe me as a visionary leader, someone who empowers without micromanaging while remaining actively engaged and present.

I’m also passionate about mentoring and advocating for greater diversity and inclusion in the technology industry.

Dr Jacqueline D. Bailey is a Lecturer in Computing and Information Technology at the University of Newcastle and a passionate advocate for inclusive, industry-relevant tech education. She teaches across mobile app development, web programming, and game design, with a strong focus on helping students build real-world skills through authentic, hands-on projects.

Her research focuses on human-centred computing, particularly user experience, accessibility, and designing technologies that better support diverse users. She collaborates on interdisciplinary projects and is interested in how thoughtful design can improve engagement and outcomes for different communities.

Representing HunterWiSE, Jacqueline is committed to supporting and empowering women in STEM. She leads initiatives that connect students with industry, fosters inclusive communities in computing, and actively contributes to outreach programs that inspire the next generation of women in technology.

Nick is a principal engineer and consultant with delivery experience across the UK, Europe, and Australia. He has led complex projects ranging from embedded systems in warehousing and logistics to the design and development of the UK government’s largest data platform.

In recent years, Nick has focused on platform engineering and architecture — helping organisations build the paved roads, automated guardrails, and secure-by-design foundations that enable teams to deliver faster without sacrificing governance. As AI reshapes how software is built and operated, his work increasingly sits at the intersection of platform maturity and AI readiness.

More than two decades ago, Maria Padisetti co-founded Digital Armour from her kitchen table with one bold idea: that technology should serve people, not overwhelm them.

Today, she leads one of Australia’s most dynamic technology companies – a next-generation TSP that proves care, innovation, and commercial excellence can co-exist.

Her leadership is defined by clarity, compassion, and courage, the belief that technology, when led with heart and purpose, can create prosperity for people, businesses, and communities.