The CEO Summit 2026

Kendall Gilding is an Australian journalist and media personality. Her high profile television career has spanned more than 15 years, with coveted roles for 7NEWS and now as a regular on Channel 9’s Today Show, and a column in Queensland’s Courier Mail.

Kendall is also a board director with Hockey Queensland, a speaker and MC. She’s hosted some of Queensland’s largest corporate and charity events with clients including UN Women, Brisbane Lions, Sony Foundation and Redkite.

Away from work she is the proud wife of Timothy and happy mum to Olive, 6, and Moses, 3.

Adelaide Timbrell is a senior economist at ANZ, whose role is to research, analyse and communicate changes across a wide range of topics in the Australian economy. She has extensive knowledge on Australian household finances and spending, housing, property and private sector credit.

Adelaide is regularly called on to share her insights at conferences and on most free-to-air TV channels, radio and written media. She believes that communicating complex topics in a digestible way is critical to translating economic information into real impact.

Adelaide has worked with ANZ Research since 2019, and previously in the consulting and property industries from 2014. Adelaide’s qualifications include a Master of Economics from Purdue University and a Bachelor of Economics from the University of Queensland.

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.

Anthony Ryan is the CEO of BEDA and a recognised ‘Queensland Great,’ known for his passion, entrepreneurial spirit and strong community leadership.

Anthony leads BEDA in driving sustainable economic growth for Brisbane, strengthening global reputation, boosting visitation, and attracting investment and talent, while preparing for opportunities linked to the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

An accomplished leader with a record of delivering strategic outcomes and powerful partnerships, Anthony previously served as CEO of Youngcare, where he transformed the organisation into an innovative, nationally recognised provider supporting young people with high physical care needs.

Jamie is an electric experience-design leader with 15 years of expertise in customer strategy, innovation, transformation, and service design. She is driven by a belief that meaningful progress happens when organisations design for humans, with humans. In a world increasingly shaped by AI, Jamie champions the qualities that machines cannot replicate—empathy, emotional intelligence, intuition, and the ability to connect deeply with people and their lived experiences. Her work blends creative problem-solving with behavioural insight, ensuring that technology and innovation enhance, rather than erode, what makes us human.

Across senior roles in management consulting, health and wellbeing, edtech, and R&D, Jamie has helped organisations around the world solve complex challenges in more imaginative and human-centred ways. She has led multi-million-dollar programs across the US, Southeast Asia, the Middle East, India, and Australia, earning two Good Design Awards for customer-led business models. Her personal mission is to elevate the human experience—ensuring that even as digital ecosystems accelerate, the heart of every strategy, service, and system remains profoundly human.

Jacqui leads Pronto iQ, a team of dedicated Business Intelligence specialists, responsible for leading and delivering Pronto Software's Business Intelligence solutions. Jacqui also heads up Pronto’s AI Focus Group, ensuring practical solutions to improve business agility for our customers.

Added to her deep domain expertise in analytics and big data, Jacqui has completed an MBA, graduating with distinction, from Queensland University of Technology, as well as completing the MIT Sloan Immersion Program. 

Bonnie Hancock is the youngest and fastest person to paddle around Australia, overcoming sharks, crocodiles and extreme conditions—but it was the mental challenges that shaped her most.

A former professional ironwoman, she channels the resilience and discipline of elite sport into breaking multiple Guinness World Records. Bonnie has written a bestselling HarperCollins book, produced a documentary for Fox and Kayo, and delivered a TED Talk on lessons from nature. As an engaging and candid storyteller, she inspires audiences to pursue bold goals and ask “Why not?”

Bonnie has presented to organisations including Sunglasses Hut, Queensland Rail, the Gold Coast Suns, Channel 7 and Body Science.

Matt Kratiuk is the Chief Growth Officer at TACTIC, one of Australia’s fastest-growing workplace services firms.

With more than a decade in executive roles across leading organisations, including an ASX Top 200 company, he also founded a highly successful digital start-up. Now in his seventh year as National Brand Ambassador for the Vinnies CEO Sleepout, Matt is the event’s highest-ever team fundraiser, raising over $1.88 million to support Australians experiencing homelessness.

Matt's journey from 15 years of addiction and homelessness to corporate leadership and social impact is a powerful example of resilience, purpose, and transformational change.

Ross Sardi combines deep technical expertise with a clear, pragmatic leadership style – and always, a culture-first mindset. At the heart of Ross’s philosophy is a simple belief: culture is the true differentiator. He literally wrote the book on company culture, and whether he’s growing through acquisition, building offshore teams, or scaling organically, his first question is always: how do we align people and values alongside systems and strategy?

Ross doesn’t deal in hype. His sessions are practical, direct, and focused on outcomes leaders can measure. Expect to leave with frameworks that make sense in the real world – the kind you can take back to your business tomorrow.

Ross began in a cupboard-sized office running the WA branch of First Focus and grew into the CEO role by turning small wins into sustained growth. From offshore operations in the Philippines to multiple acquisitions across Australia, that hands-on journey shapes every lesson he shares.

Jackie Youngblutt is General Manager for Programs, Fundraising, Marketing & Communication at St Vincent de Paul Society QLD.

Jackie is a transformative leader with nearly 25 years of experience in the human services sector, specialising in not-for-profit management and service delivery reform. She combines strategic vision with hands-on operational expertise to drive impactful change.

As a champion for social justice, she oversees Vinnies QLD’s frontline efforts, delivering vital services across homelessness, child and family support, domestic violence intervention, refugee assistance, and more. Her collaborative leadership and commitment to innovation ensure lasting, positive outcomes for those in need.