Liam Scott manages the technology portfolio at New Zealand’s National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA). With a background in Defence and over a decade of experience in operational systems, Liam has led key projects enhancing operational and emergency response capabilities across the public sector. His expertise includes finding practical, resourceful solutions using available tools and ingenuity to improve situational awareness, communication, and coordination during critical incidents. Passionate about building resilient communities, Liam brings a strategic, people-focused approach to emergency management. He is committed to leveraging technology to empower the emergency management sector to ensure the most vulnerable are supported on their worst day.

Jane joined QFD in 2022 after 20 years with the Australian Government delivering scientific products and advice to support the government’s policies in disaster resilience, national security and science and innovation. Jane was responsible for delivering national natural hazard assessments, providing advice to national committees and forums, and collaborating with local and state government to translate national data for local application. Since joining QFD, Jane has been involved in a range of disaster risk management activities including local, state and national exercises, state-wide hazard and risk assessments and impact forecasting tools across multiple hazards.

Matt Shaw (MBCI) has worked as Business Continuity and Emergency Management professional for over 17 years in some of New Zealand's largest central government departments. In addition to his day job building BC and resilience at MBIE, he is the Chair of the Government Continuity Reference Group and is leading system continuity level work across NZ's central government. This is all in aid of helping the NZ government continue to function and deliver critical services in disruptions and particularly in a catastrophic-level event.

Chiana Sherwood is the Emergency Planning Manager for Auckland Airport. Across this environment and previous roles, Chiana has supported emergency response for:
• Cyclone event, April 2018 (Auckland Emergency Management Welfare desk)
• Bomb threat, 2019 (EOC)
• Covid Response 2020-2022 (Recovery team)
• Flood event, January 2023 (Crisis management team & Recovery team)
Chiana contributed to the temporary redesign of Auckland Airport in 2020 to establish a ‘red zone’. This initiative assisted border agencies in managing wider community risk for New Zealand during the Pandemic.
Chiana’s passion is design and delivery of emergency training and exercises to the wider Airport precinct to ensure that everyone is “match fit”.

Graeme served with Victoria Police for 27 years with highlights being an investigator with the Homicide and Armed Robbery Squads.

In 2009 he moved to the Northeast of Victoria as the Officer in
Charge, Wodonga Detectives where he later resigned in
2021.

Graeme is the recipient of the NEM (Black Saturday), NM, NPSM and VPESM. He has a Bachelor of
Policing (Investigations) and Certificate
in Fire Investigations from CSU.

After an esteemed policing, Graeme went on to establish Peregrine Consultancy in 2021 and is also the Lead Investigator for the smash hit Channel 10 reality TV show, Hunted Australia!

Grant Stevens APM LEM, Commissioner of Police since 2015, leads South Australia Police, the government agency responsible for the safety and security of 1.8 million South Australians, across an area of over one million square kilometres.

Commissioner Stevens is committed to technological transformation across all aspects of police service delivery, supports legislative reform to improve public safety; and has well established credentials in state and national leadership roles addressing organised crime, terrorism, cybercrime, family and domestic violence, sexual crime (including child exploitation), and road safety. He is a member of national policing boards and is the Chair of the Australia New Zealand Policing Advisory Agency.

Jem Stone is a Bundjalung woman, Wayapa Wuurrk training manager, cultural consultant, and We Al-li lead facilitator specialising in trauma recovery through Earth connection, Indigenous knowledge systems, and culturally informed trauma healing. Jem has supported survivors of Victorian and NSW climate disasters and is a therapist on the first disaster recovery psychedelic-assisted therapy trial at Southern Cross University. She is part of a climate anxiety community of practice with the University of Sydney and has two publications in Explorations Climate Psychology Journal and contributed to research and development for Melbourne University’s climate anxiety and ecological distress project.

Melissa is an experienced registered nurse, academic and researcher focused on older persons, and ageing. She engages with community in translation research that seeks practical solutions to everyday problems. My research focus seeks to improve systems and process that improve care to community through workforce directions, health literacy and policy change. Melissa is proficient in qualitative and mixed methodology. She leads the West Moreton Older Persons Care Collaboratives at UniSQ working with local Councils, health services and organisations to improve translation of preparedness processes in the local community.

Christopher Tylor is the Managing Director of exci pty ltd, an Australian company pioneering AI-driven early wildfire detection. With decades of international business experience, he co-founded exci in 2019 with Gabrielle Tylor to combat the growing threat of wildfires. Under his leadership, exci developed an advanced AI-powered system that detects fires within minutes, helping protect communities and the environment. His commitment to innovation has positioned exci as a leader in wildfire detection, providing real-time alerts that enable rapid response and mitigation. Christopher is dedicated to leveraging technology to enhance fire prevention and disaster management worldwide.