AITD 2023 Speakers

Keara is an experienced L&OD thought leader and coaching psychologist, who uses human-centred design to uplift people and customer experience. She has extensive experience and success working in complex organisations and transforming culture through developing people and capability.

Her experience spans across private, government and not-for-profit organisations across a range of sectors, including finance, health and customer experience. In her current role as Head of Leadership and Organisational Development, Keara is shaping a culture of learning to develop leaders using human centred design.

Think of someone connecting people, ideas and inspiration in the global L&D community and you've just created a good description of Ger Driesen. He is the learning innovation leader at aNewSpring: the Learning Journey Platform for Training Providers. In this role, he focusses on sharing the latest insights with L&D professionals to inspire them to design, developed and deliver learning the best way. He also works as a consultant at Challenge Leadership Development Academy, the company he co-founded.

Ger is known as 'the Dutch L&D trendcatcher' based on his articles, blogs and tweets on L&D trends and he is a regular speaker at international conferences.

Lindsey Leigh Hobson elevates forward-thinking organisations and their emerging leaders to create the ultimate next-generation of leadership.

She is an award-winning speaker, a qualified life coach and the founder of The Learning and Development Collective, where she leads a network of over 300 L&D professionals from some of Australia's biggest corporates.

Lindsey is also on the Victorian Leadership Team for Professional Speakers Australia.

With a PhD that explored the visualization of mathematics as interactive eLearning modules, learning design has long been Kuva’s passion.

Since then she has led teams to develop learning courses in a range of sectors such as marketing, transport and telecommunications.

As co-founder of Emergent Learning, Kuva’s goal is to create innovative and impactful learning that drives real business outcomes and engages learners in a way that is meaningful and relevant.

Liam Jurd is a learning and capability partner for Kmart Australia, specialising in large scale leadership development programs. Liam has a passionate focus on providing development opportunities that enable individuals to be the best versions of themselves every day. This is prominent through Liam’s focus on empowering Kmart leaders to become learning experts, creating a culture of development and growth within Kmart store leadership across Australia and New Zealand.

Liam began his career as a facilitator for a non-profit organisation, working with young people and corporate organisations, to build empathy and collaboration within community and corporations.

This human centred focus is at the core of Liam’s work today, developing learning programs that empower existing leaders in Kmart stores to create an award winning learning environment.

In his 4 years with Kmart Australia, Liam has designed, developed and delivered award-winning learning and talent programs, maintaining a keen focus on providing low-cost, high-impact learning solutions for Kmart Australia.

A 1981 U.S. Naval Academy graduate, Rear Adm. “Peg” Klein became the first woman Commandant of Midshipmen at the U.S. Naval Academy and was responsible for 4,400 Navy and Marine Corps officer candidates. A designated naval flight officer, she qualified as mission commander and airborne communications officer in the EC-130Q in 1983.

During her career, she served as the Secretary of Defense’s Advisor for Military Professionalism, Chief of Staff for U.S. Cyber Command and as director of operations for the Navy’s Network Warfare Command. In 2011, she commanded an American military force of five ships, 30 aircraft and more than 3,300 Sailors and Marines in combat operations in the Mediterranean Sea. Klein also commanded an aviation squadron and air wing.

She retired from the Navy in 2017 with 35 years of service. She now serves as the Dean of Leadership and Ethics at the Naval War College (2021).

Claire Madden is a leading voice internationally on Generation Z. As an author, social researcher, keynote speaker, and media commentator, Claire is in high demand as an expert in interpreting social trends, demographics, and implications of generational change. Claire is the author of Hello Gen Z: Engaging the Generation of Post-Millennials.

Claire is highly regarded for her dynamic and engaging presentations where she translates robust, research-based content into strategic applications for educators, managers, and business leaders. Claire is commissioned by some of the nation’s largest companies and leading brands to interpret the changing landscape and communicate the implications for business and society.

As a media commentator, Claire is regularly interviewed on prominent television programs including ABC News Tonight, The Drum, The Today Show, SkyNews, Sunrise and The Morning Show, as well as on the radio and in print media. Claire is also a PhD candidate, studying the impact of Gen Z and work. Claire is also the Founder and Director of the research based strategy and communications agency, Hello Clarity

Denise Meyerson is a renowned expert in adult education, innovation, and people and culture strategy with over 30 years of experience. She is the founder of MCI, an award-winning education and training company dedicated to making a real difference in the lives of students and job seekers. MCI provides high-impact learning solutions for corporates and individuals seeking to grow in their careers.

With a PhD in English, Denise has built and grown highly successful education businesses and has served on several corporate, advisory, and government boards. Her strong global perspective in Edtech has led her to spearhead efforts to transform education in Australia, Africa, and Asia.

Denise has been recognized with several major business awards for her trailblazing contributions to education and her passionate support for driving change through the power of learning. MCI is part of APM, Australia’s largest human services provider with a global presence across Europe, Asia, the UK, and Canada.

Nigel Paine is a change-focused leader with a worldwide reputation and a unique grasp of media, learning and development in the public, private and academic sectors.

He has extensive experience in leadership and consultancy with public service broadcasters, SMEs, global industry players, government and education institutions.

Chemène is the founder and principal at Blackwater Projects, an independent Australian-based practice that provides advice, products and services that focus on learning for improved performance.

With a background in elite sport coaching and school teaching, Chemène delivers training and assessment qualifications, helps experienced facilitators and assessors get better at what they do, and has supported numerous organisations to design and implement learning experiences that improve on-the-job performance.

She is also an accomplished writer, with more than 100 organisations using learning and assessment materials she has written.

Doug Taylor was appointed CEO of The Smith Family in August 2021. Doug has built a 25-year career in the social sector with national and international experience in leading innovative social impact initiatives in partnership with the not-for-profit, government, philanthropic and corporate sectors.

Prior to joining The Smith Family, Doug was the Deputy Executive Director at Uniting NSW and ACT. He has considerable operational experience in managing large and complex organisations serving people experiencing disadvantage, including delivering disability, community care, early learning and education services.

Doug’s passion for the sector is evident through his Board appointments which include Director of the Australian Centre for Social Innovation and Chair of Warakirri College – a school for disengaged young people in Western Sydney. Doug is also a member of the Centre for Social Impact Advisory Board and is a Community Fellow with Western Sydney University.

Doug has attended the Stanford Executive Non-Profit Leadership Program and is a graduate of the Australian Institute for Company Directors.