VIC State Forum

Alicia represented Collingwood in the first-ever NAB AFL Women’s season where she was vice-captain and finished second in the Best and Fairest. After being traded to the GIANTS, Alicia was named vice-captain for the 2018 season and had an outstanding year – named in the 2018 All Australian team and winning the GIANTS’ club champion. Alicia was named just the second GIANTS AFLW captain ahead of the 2020 season and will captain the GIANTS again in the 2024 season. Alicia is also a highly regarded coach and continues to work in the club’s Academy, VFL and AFL Men’s programs.

Anne is responsible for championing financial advice, financial literacy and education across ART, seeking to influence and shape the advice industry and ensure financial advice is accessible for all members.

Anne has been leading the advice business, first at Sunsuper and now ART since 2015 and has sat on multiple boards and external advisory committees throughout her 25-year career. Anne has worked in senior roles at leading financial institutions including the Association of Financial Advisers (AFA) ING Australia and Bankers Trust.

Anne is also a non-executive director on the board of Teachers Union Health. She is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and holds an Advanced Diploma of Financial Services (Financial Planning) and a Bachelor of Arts.

Bec Wilson is a leading voice in retirement strategy, renowned for her bestselling book “How to Have an Epic Retirement” and her influential weekly column in the SMH/Age Money Section. As a podcaster, she extends her expertise to a wider audience, offering insights into the financial, physical, and emotional aspects of retirement planning.

Her approach to retirement goes beyond traditional financial advice, advocating for a holistic strategy that encompasses all facets of well-being. This perspective has not only shaped her writing and speaking engagements but also positioned her as a pivotal figure for those navigating the complexities of retirement.

Bec’s expertise is rooted in her ability to blend comprehensive research with practical experience, making her advice both accessible and actionable. Her sessions are celebrated for their engaging delivery and the tangible value they offer, making her a sought-after speaker for anyone looking to rethink retirement planning.

Bec brings invaluable insights to the table, driven by her commitment to helping individuals achieve a fulfilling retirement. Her work, characterized by its depth and accessibility, has made a significant impact on the field, inspiring a new generation to approach retirement with confidence and clarity.

Derek Bopping is the Head of the Australian Signals Directorate’s (ASD) Melbourne State Office. Previously, he led ASD’s Cyber Engagement and Strategy Division, where he oversaw ASD’s cybersecurity partnerships with industry, the media, and other government stakeholders.

Derek was formerly the Deputy Counter-Terrorism Coordinator, overseeing the design and implementation of Australia’s federal counter-terrorism laws, and has worked as an independent consultant focusing on the insurance and business interruption aspects of cyber risk.

Derek holds a PhD in social psychology from the Australian National University.

Don O’Sullivan is a full professor at Melbourne Business School. Don joined MBS in 2008 and has been a visiting scholar at various universities in the United States, Europe and Asia.

Don’s principal academic interest is how executives make decisions about their demand-side capabilities and opportunities. His research has been published in leading international journals including Journal of Marketing, International Journal of Research in Marketing, Sloan Management Review, Journal of the Academy of Marketing Science, Strategic Management Journal, Journal of Management and Journal of Business Ethics, and among others.

Don is a highly sought after consultant and executive educator. He has worked with organisations across a range of sectors in Australia and in the wider region.

Previously, Don was Client Services Director at TecBrand – a marketing services agency targeting the European technology sector. In this role, he was responsible for developing numerous international award-winning demand-side strategies and campaigns for clients including Microsoft, Siemens and Hewlett-Packard.

Don taches on Melbourne Business School’s MBA, Executive MBA and Senior Executive MBA programs.

Jo Reilly is the Head of Member Growth & Marketing at AustralianSuper, where she is accountable for how the Fund places and promotes its products to attract and retain members. This involves positioning the Fund’s brand as a market leader in achieving retirement outcomes for members. The role also encompasses the Fund’s communications direct to more than 3.3 million members.

Jo has worked at AustralianSuper for more than a decade as the Fund has grown to be over $315bn and the nation’s biggest pension fund. Prior to joining AustralianSuper in 2012, Jo led marketing and growth teams across government, hospitality, childcare and hardware industries.

She holds a Bachelor of Arts (Public Relations) and a Master of Marketing.

A lawyer specialising in commercial, risk, and regulatory advisory for trustees of APRA regulated superannuation funds.

Jonathan advises trustees of industry, retail, corporate, and public sector superannuation funds on matters including successor fund transfers, material outsourcing contracts, legislative and regulatory change, and financial product disclosure.

He is an active member of the Association of Superannuation Funds of Australia (ASFA), chairing and participating in several policy and event committees over the past decade.

Jonathan holds a Juris Doctor with Distinction from the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology, a Bachelor of Arts from Macquarie University, and a Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice from the Australian National University. He is admitted to practice in the Supreme Court of Victoria and High Court of Australia.

Joshua is responsible for overseeing the development and delivery of ART’s education strategy to members, employer representatives, advisers and other representative bodies.

Joshua is passionate about empowering individuals through effective, tangible, and engaging experiences, while also bringing a desire to create stronger advocacy to improve the financial wellbeing of all Australians.

Joshua has 30 years’ extensive experience within Financial Services, Education and Media organisations, holding roles in management, content development and education delivery – including in the building of adviser expertise in Self-Managed Superannuation, Managed Investment and retirement products.

Ken Roberts has been advocating and applying state of the art marketing science techniques for 30+ years. He is the founder and executive chairman of marketing science consultancy Forethought Pty Ltd and Forethought USA LLC, highly regarded for the ability to interpret and resolve services marketing challenges.

Personally driven to share his career-honed marketing expertise, Ken actively contributes at industry forums, and has featured in multiple publications including in the World Advertising Research Centre publications and top quartile academic journals.

Additional industry accolades include Australian Marketing Institute Marketer of the Year and the Advertising Research Foundation, Gold David Ogilvy Award for Research in Communications. He is a member of the ARF Creative Council and has been awarded a Monash University Fellowship. He is a member of the MBS Centre For Business Analytics Advisory Board.

Ken is the author of popular insights blog https://www.greenbook.org/insights/customer-acquisition-retention

Liberty is an accomplished Information Security professional and cybersecurity subject matter expert with over 7 years of experience in cyber risk management. He is passionate about simplifying cyber risk communication to help business leaders make effective decisions. His expertise lies in information technology governance, risk management principles, information security audit, cyber risk quantification, and incident management.

Liberty has supported Australian and global organisations with Cyber transformation programs and regulatory compliance assessments, including APRA’s CPS 234 assessments for Australian local and global banks, insurance companies, and wealth & asset management organisations.

Liberty holds a Postgraduate Diploma in Computer Science (Cybersecurity), Certified Information Security Manager (CISM) and Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) certifications, and a Bachelor of Commerce with a double major in Accounting and Finance. He has also completed the Cyber Leadership Program and Executive Leadership Program.

Dr. Michael G. Kollo is an accomplished executive leader and educator on the importance of artificial intelligence in business strategy and products across financial services, technology and public services.

As an executive, Michael has held leadership positions at large institutional investors as Blackrock, Fidelity, Renaissance Asset Management, Axa Investment Managers and HESTA. As a board member, he holds a non-executive directorship for ASX listed entity Clime Investment Managers.

Today Michael is the CEO of Evolved AI, A Generative AI research and development focused on helping Australian firms navigate the AI landscape for a safe and sustainable AI adoption.

Peter Hogg is the General Manager of Guidance & Advice at Aware Super. He has over 15 years’ experience working as an Advice leader within profit for member superannuation funds which includes leading significant transformation programs and embedding regulatory change in practice. After 20 years, he remains a licensed financial planner who is a known advocate for the value of advice and role it plays in improving retirement outcomes for members.

Over a long career in media and marketing,  Russel has been one of the most prominent voices on the cultural and economic importance of advertising, particularly through his role as a panellist on the ABC’s Gruen program and host of ABC documentary How Australia Got Its Mojo.

Howcroft co-hosts 3AW Breakfast with Ross & Russel – the #1 breakfast radio show in Melbourne. He has also recently launched advertising podcast AdMission which he co-hosts with industry up-and-comer Freddie Young (co-founder, Good One), in partnership with 9Podcasts. AdMission delves into untold stories behind the world’s most talked-about brands, as well as exploring the latest in advertising news, creative ideas and business.

Howcroft has held multiple senior roles across the industry having served as PwC’s first Chief Creative Officer, Executive General Manager at Network 10, and CEO of one of Australia’s leading agency groups, Y&R Brands – where he was also a member of the global management team.

Russel has had board involvement at a number of prominent organisations and is currently serving as Chair of the Jim Stynes Foundation. Previous positions include the inaugural ThinkTV Chair, Australian Film Television and Radio School (AFTRS) Council Chair, AFI/AACTA board member, Screen Forever Advisory Board Member, Enero (ASX: EGG) board member and Advertising Federation of Australia Chair.

Howcroft has written or co-written three best-selling books, with his most recent book Right Brain Workout II currently published throughout the world. He is a founding partner and Brand Design Advisor at Sayers Group. He continues to be actively involved in the advertising industry via investments including marketing software platform Mutinex, and in particular, the young creative agency Good One.

In 2023, Russel was inducted to the Advertising Hall of Fame – recognising his long career and impactful role in shaping the industry.

Sarah Abood is Chief Executive Officer of the Financial Advice Association of Australia (FAAA). The FAAA was formed in April 2023 from the merger of the Association of Financial Advisers (AFA) and the Financial Planning Association (FPA), and is Australia’s leading professional association for financial planners and advisers.

Sarah has over 25 years’ experience working in the financial services sector and she is a passionate advocate for financial planning. She has a deep understanding of the profession, and the demands of running an advice practice, gained from her nine years as CEO of a privately-owned and self-licensed financial planning firm.

Prior to commencing as FAAA CEO, Ms Abood held the position of chief operating officer at the for-purpose fund manager HOPE Housing. She has also worked in senior leadership, change and transformation, and marketing roles for some of Australia’s leading financial institutions including Fidelity International, CFS, BT, Westpac, Rothschild and AMP. Sarah holds a BA from the University of Sydney, an MBA from Macquarie University (MGSM) and is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (GAICD).

Shae Keenan was appointed Chief Marketing Officer of Visit Victoria in 2021.

She has an extensive marketing career spanning two decades at Visit Victoria and Tourism Victoria. She brings a deep understanding of the travel and tourism industries, marketing practice and trends and an absolute passion for Melbourne and the Victorian tourism industry.

Overseeing a team of exceptional marketers Shae is spearheading Visit Victoria’s global marketing strategy and the ongoing development of the Victoria destination brand. In 2024 she led the team in delivering Victoria’s new global brand ‘Every bit different’ uniting Visit Victoria marketing communications under a single platform.

To support the industry she initiated the development and delivery of the ‘Click for Vic’, ‘Stay close, go further’ and ‘Get Set’ campaigns, in response to challenges brought about by the 2019/20 summer bushfires in regional Victoria and the coronavirus pandemic.

In 2022, she was named as one of CMO Australia’s top 50 Marketers.

Shae has held senior leadership positions at Visit Victoria including Head of Marketing Communication and Customer Experience (2018-20).

Shae holds a Bachelor of Business Marketing from Monash University and is a member of the Australian Marketing Institute.

Sophie is an emerging industry leader with a diversity of experience across a range of industries. She has always brought an unbridled enthusiasm and a thirst for knowledge to her work, which prior to superannuation saw her contributing to fields as varied as heritage restoration and social housing strategy.

As an analyst in Novigi’s Market Strategy and Propositions team, Sophie plays a key role in shaping Novigi’s product and service offering. She is heavily involved in Novigi’s thought leadership content, such as the Quarterly Report, to which she contributes content and oversees delivery. Prior to joining the Market Strategy and Propositions team, Sophie was instrumental in the delivery of several large engagements for Novigi, including the transition of BT Super to Mercer Super. She’s also passionate about diversity, equality, and inclusion, and has been pivotal in related initiatives at Novigi.

Sophie graduated with a degree in construction project management with first class honours from the University of Technology Sydney and is currently completing a Master of Business Administration at The University of Sydney.