Professor Hurriyet Babacan has a distinguished career over the last 25 years with a proven track record of achievement in senior leadership and strategic management roles. She has a distinguished record in scholarship in research, teaching and learning and community and professional service. She has held senior roles in higher education, public administration, and research and training such as Pro Vice Chancellor (Academic and Research), Dean, Head of School and Director of research Institutes. She was the Foundation Director of the Cairns Institute (2009-2012) and Director of the Institute for Community, Engagement and Policy Alternatives at Victoria University. In the public sector she has held roles such as Victorian Manager, Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet, Executive Director Community Outcomes Branch in the Department of Premier and Cabinet, Commissioner with the inaugural Multicultural Commission and CEO of Tablelands Regional Council. Professor Babacan brings extensive track record of leading multidisciplinary research in Australia and the Asia Pacific. Hurriyet has published widely in national and international publications relating to economic and social development including two publications for UNESCO. She has delivered keynote presentations at numerous national and international conferences. She has been Convenor or Steering Committee member of numerous high level conferences including the United Nations- Queensland Government Conference on Engaging Communities. Professor Babacan has been an expert member on numerous departmental and international working parties including the Council of Europe/OECD working party on wellbeing and Ministerial or Premier’s advisory committees relating to women, immigration and settlement, child protection, economic development, employment and education, multiculturalism, equal opportunity and regional development. Professor Babacan is a reviewer for the Australian Research Council. She is also editorial board member or reviewer for numerous international journals. Professor Babacan has been recognised for her work through a number of awards including the Order of Australia 2014 (AM) for outstanding contribution, as academic and author, and for furthering multicultural community, education and social policy development; Bi-Centenary Medal awarded by the Prime Minister, 2002 and the Multicultural Services Award by the Premier of Queensland. Hurriyet was the Queensland State Finalist in the Telstra Business Women’s Award in the for Community and Public Service category in 2003. Professor Babacan name has been listed in the Australian Women’s Archives as recognition of women who have contributed to Australia

Dr John Coyne is Head of the Northern Australia Strategic Policy Centre and Head of Strategic Policing and Law Enforcement at ASPI. He is an award-winning author who has published widely on policing, national security, northern Australia and organised crime. John has worked in intelligence and national security for over 25 years. He has been an intelligence professional at tactical, operational, and strategic levels across military, regulatory, national security and law enforcement organisations. He has been a Winston Churchill Fellow and a Vincent Fairfax Fellow.

Professor Biman Prasad is a prominent figure in Fijian politics and academia, serving as the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance since December 2022. With a deep-rooted passion for democracy, good governance, rule of law, human rights, media freedom, inclusive development and social justice, Professor Prasad has dedicated his whole life to bring positive political and socio-economic change to Fiji. Professor Prasad pursued his academic journey, achieving remarkable success both locally and internationally. He holds a PhD in Economics, from the University of Queensland in Australia and rose through the ranks to become a Professor of Economics at an early age and the Dean of the Business and Economics Faculty at the University of the South Pacific. He currently holds the Adjunct Professorship at the James Cook University and Adjunct Research Professor at the Monash University in Australia. He has written several books and articles during his academic career and continues to take keen interest in research and publication. As the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance, Professor Biman Prasad continues to lead with integrity, vision, and compassion. His steadfast commitment to democracy, good governance, and social justice serves as a beacon of hope for his fellow Fijians, as he endeavours to build a prosperous nation that upholds the rights and well-being of its citizens. He is a fiscal disciplinarian focussed on improving public finance management, promoting value for money, bringing fiscal transparency, tackling corruption, championing good governance and ensuring debt sustainability. Professor Prasad's dedication to social justice is unwavering. He promotes initiatives that seek to bridge the socio-economic gap within Fiji with progressive policies to uplift marginalized communities, including provision of quality education, social protection, and better healthcare services. His goal is to create an inclusive society where everyone has equal access to opportunities and enjoy a decent standard of living. Professor Prasad hails from a rice farming community in Dreketi on the Island of Vanua Levu, in the second largest island of Fiji, and is married to Dr Rajni Chand and has 2 children.

The Hon. Don Punch MLA is the Minister for Regional Development; Disability Services; Fisheries; Seniors and Ageing; and Volunteering. He has been a member of the Western Australian Legislative Assembly since 2017, representing the seat of Bunbury. Don migrated to Australia from Manchester in 1971, attending high school in Manjimup and Collie. Prior to entering politics, Don studied psychology and social work at the University of Western Australia, and later completed an MBA at Edith Cowan University. He has worked throughout regional Western Australia as a social worker and as a Senior Executive in the public sector. In 1998, Don became CEO of the South West Development and assumed responsibility for many aspects of the South West region’s social and economic development. Key projects included the renewal of the Manjimup town centre with an emphasis on food based tourism, the renewal of the Bunbury water front and the redevelopment of Busselton airport. He continued in this role until resigning to contest the seat of Bunbury for WA Labor in 2016. After being elected in 2017, Don was appointed to the WA Methamphetamine Task Force and the Community Development and Justice Standing Committee. Upon re-election in 2021 he was appointed to the second McGowan Ministry. His passion for blending social and economic development and commitment to creative design and emerging technologies characterised his work in the south west, and will continue to guide his Ministerial agenda.