CEO Summit 2025

With extensive global experience spanning hospitality, market research, technology software, and social sustainability, Anne is the ultimate professional — demonstrating an exceptional ability to adapt and thrive in diverse environments.

Anne's career journey features roles such as board chair, CEO, entrepreneur, executive coach, business developer, and public speaker. Anne exemplifies the essence of career adaptability, making her an asset in any professional landscape.

Anne's career highlights are impressive, including stints as a Global Executive with Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide in the USA and as Managing Director with Communispace Corporation in Asia Pacific. After leaving the corporate world, she decided to diversify strategically, balancing her time between corporate roles and for purpose organisations. Now, as a sought-after executive coach, chair, board member and public speaker, she shares her wealth of experience with passion and insights.

Cindy Hook is the CEO of the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Organising Committee, responsible for leading all aspect of organising the Games to create an outstanding experience for the athletes and spectators and leave a positive legacy for Brisbane, Queensland, and Australia.

Cindy has more than 35 years of global leadership experience across three continents with Deloitte, including being CEO of Deloitte Asia Pacific, and CEO of Deloitte Australia.

Cindy currently serves on the board of Great Barrier Reef Foundation (GBRF) and is Chair of GBRF USA. Cindy has previously held positions on Chief Executive Women (Australia), the Economic Development Board of Singapore and the Asia Corporate Leadership Council.

Cindy has lived and worked in locations around the world, including Australia, Singapore and the United States. In her free time, Cindy enjoys spending time outdoors and is the proud Mum to two awesome young men, Bryan and Justin.

Kieren Perkins OAM is regarded as one of the world’s greatest distance swimmers having won four Olympic medals for Australia. He broke 11 world records and is the first person in history to hold the Olympic, world, Commonwealth and Pan Pacific titles simultaneously. Kieren retired from swimming in 2000 after claiming a silver medal in the 1500m freestyle at his home Olympics. This performance made him the first person in history to win three consecutive Olympic medals in the 1500m.

Kieren transferred his knowledge and experience to build a successful career across the consulting and banking sectors, including 10 years at National Australia Bank (NAB) before taking on the Chief Executive Officer role at Australian Unity’s retail banking unit in 2021. Having seen sport from all angles over four decades, Kieren is passionate about the whole sports sector, from grassroots to high performance. Kieren was President of Swimming Australia until he took on the role of Chief Executive Officer of the Australian Sports Commission in March 2022. His focus in this new role is to ensure sport has a place for everyone and delivers results that make Australia proud.

Sandy Hollway AO was Chief Executive of the Organising Committee for the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games. Sandy has been a valued adviser to many other major events and holds the event industry's Lifetime Achievement Award. 

Sandy has worked extensively in the international arena as an Australian diplomat, a Special Envoy and as a promoter of Australian products to world markets. Sandy has wide Board experience and was the head of two major government departments as well as Chief of Staff to Prime Minister Bob Hawke. Sandy's work in the private, public and community sectors covers an extraordinary range from technology innovation to natural disaster recovery to indigenous education. Sandy is a strong supporter of the CEO Institute, and chaired syndicates in NSW for over 10 years.

Simon Kuestenmacher is a Director and Co-founder of The Demographics Group based in Melbourne, Australia. Simon holds degrees in geography from leading universities in Berlin and Melbourne and worked for several years as a business consultant with KPMG Australia.

In 2017 Simon, together with Bernard Salt, co-founded The Demographics Group. The group provides specialist advice on demographic, consumer and social trends for business. Simon has presented to corporate, government and industry groups across Australia on demographic trends, consumer insights and cultural change in Australia. 

Jameson is an Economist at the Westpac Group where he specialises in the Australian economy and global financial markets.

He is highly regarded for his extensive experience presenting and speaking to clients on complex economic issues.

Jameson holds a Bachelor of Economics with First Class Honours from the University of Technology, Sydney and previously worked in the insolvency and restructuring industry.

Chad has several decades of experience in the IT and Retail sectors with a deep understanding of the business and technology drivers of Australian organisations, across a wide variety of industries. He leverages his experience in marketing, product development and customer engagement to provide a fresh perspective on critical business issues – including how to drive innovation and leverage new technology to increase revenue and growth."

Tim entered the financial services profession in 2005. He has extensive experience in developing financial planning strategies to grow and protect your financial assets. Tim partners with you through all stages of life from wealth accumulation and retirement planning, including self-managed superannuation funds and investment portfolio management.

As an experienced financial adviser, Tim specialises in managing investments on behalf of wholesale clients, with a particular niche in alternative investment strategies. With over 19 years of expertise in the financial advice industry, Tim is dedicated to helping clients achieve their financial goals and building long term generational wealth through a mix of traditional and innovative investment solutions supported by strategic planning.

With more than 25 years of experience in business and People & Culture across multiple industries, Carole Cooper is one of Australia’s leading experts in culture transformation, specifically in creating a commercial culture. Having led the People and Culture function for Flight Centre, a high performing global organisation in the ASX, Carole shares deep expertise and a pragmatic approach to cultural transformation to drive growth.

Carole speaks at conferences and events, advises and mentors CEO’s and HR Practitioners across Australia and globally. She also facilitates programs for executive leaders and across business teams.

Nigel Fischer has had a distinguished career advising private clients on their financial and tax affairs. He served as the Managing Partner of Pitcher Partners Brisbane from 2011 to 2024 and is currently the Chairman of Partners. Nigel has become a trusted adviser to many of Queensland's leading private enterprises and high net worth family business owners. He works closely with business owners, senior management, and family groups, providing financial and taxation direction at both the family and corporate levels. His experience spans various industries, including food production, construction, civil engineering, manufacturing, professional services, and property development.

Nigel's areas of expertise include corporatisation, structuring, wealth management, accounting, and taxation. He is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in Australia, registered taxation agent and a ASIC licenced representative.  Nigel serves as Chairman of National Retail Food Group, Chairman of an Ultra High Net Worth family office, Strategic Advisory Council member to QUT’s Faculty of Business and Law,  director and investment committee member of two Australian Financial Services Licencees.

Outside of business, Nigel is a proud father of 4 teenage children and an active volunteer surf lifesaver.

Linda is a Board Member, Certified Chair and approved Advisor with the Advisory Board Centre. She has leadership experience, including at CEO level, and has held senior executive roles of ASX listed and multinational companies.

For more than 20 years Linda has been helping businesses discover and launch new strategic initiatives to remain relevant and competitive in rapidly changing marketplaces.

Linda has also owned her own management consulting business since 2011. Her specialisms are innovation, market research and go-to-market strategy.