The Queensland Workforce Summit 2022 brought together international and Queensland based industry and economic experts, thought leaders and change makers.
Together with representatives from industry, small business, universities, the training sector, unions and government, Summit delegates will address workforce challenges with innovative solutions to ensure Queensland has the workforce needed for now and in future.
Ellen Fanning
Master of Ceremonies
Brisbane-born Ellen Fanning is an award-winning current affairs journalist and an exceptional MC, moderator and facilitator.
With a wealth of experience in communications, politics, social, cultural and business issues, some of Ellen's journalistic experience includes: AM and PM (Radio National), Sunday, 60 Minutes and A Current Affair (all the Nine Network), The 7.30 Report, and most recently, The Drum (both the ABC).
Dr Pradeep Philip
Keynote Speaker
Pradeep is the Lead Partner for Deloitte Access Economics. He has had a long and successful career in public policy, with deep expertise in economics and proven leadership experience. Pradeep has been a senior bureaucrat, working at the highest levels of public policy, across 3 jurisdictions in Australia.
Pradeep's experience includes: Director of Policy in the Prime Minister's office, Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services in Victoria, CEO of LaunchVic – a company established by the Victorian Government to promote start-ups and entrepreneurship – and Associate Director-General of the Department of the Premier and Cabinet in Queensland. He holds a PhD in Economics and Bachelor of Economics (Hons) from the University of Queensland.
Dr David Rock
Dr David Rock coined the term neuroleadership and is the co-founder and CEO of the NeuroLeadership Institute (NLI).
Dr Rock has authored 4 successful books including Your Brain at Work, a business best-seller, and has written for and been quoted in hundreds of articles about leadership, organisational effectiveness, and the brain which can be found in Harvard Business Review, The New York Times and more.
Dr Rock is Australian, however has been based in the United States since 2010. He holds a professional doctorate in the Neuroscience of Leadership from Middlesex University in the UK.
Sally McManus
Sally has an extensive career as an Australian trade unionist, feminist and political activist. She was appointed the Secretary of the Australian Council of Trade Unions in 2017 and is the tenth secretary and the first woman to hold the position in the union's 90 year history.
Throughout her career, Sally has led many campaigns in the private, public and community sectors, including the equal pay campaign for community workers. This campaign spanned 7 years and delivered pay increases of between 18 and 40% for all workers, the vast majority of which were women.
Dr Sally Pitkin AO
Dr Sally Pitkin AO has over 25 years of experience as a Chair and Non-Executive Director and board member across diverse industries and sectors.
Dr Pitkin is the Chair of Super Retail Group, a Queensland headquartered company that employs over 14,000 people across Australia and New Zealand, and a Non-Executive Director of Link Group and Star Entertainment Group. She is a Senator of The University of Queensland and a Trustee of Queensland Performing Arts Centre.
Dr Pitkin was made an Officer in the 2021 Australia Day Honours for distinguished service to business, to corporate governance standards and performance, to the arts and to the advancement of women.
Thérèse Rein
Thérèse Rein is a social entrepreneur who has taken psychological theory into the practice of helping people change their lives for the better on an international scale.
Since graduating with Honours in Psychology from the Australian National University (ANU), Thérèse has been awarded Honorary Doctorates from ANU, Griffith and the University of Western Sydney, as well as the 2010 Australian Human Rights Medal in recognition of her work, and the work of her colleagues at Ingeus.
Therese founded Ingeus, an employment services and workplace rehabilitation provider in Brisbane in 1989. The company now has more than 6,000 colleagues in 10 countries serving half a million people at any one time. Ingeus was the first employment services provider invited into the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, where female Saudi colleagues could help other women into sustained employment, often for the first time in their families' histories.
Heidi Cooper
Heidi Cooper is the Chief Executive Officer of Chamber and Commerce and Industry Queensland and a Jobs Queensland board member. Heidi is a passionate advocate for Queensland's strategic growth and business sector and has dedicated her career to the advancement of business in Queensland.
As a qualified solicitor and corporate affairs professional, Heidi has specialised in leading strategy in major companies with strong growth agendas and significant customer and community relationships. She has held board positions and senior roles in infrastructure, energy, education and training, agriculture, and not-for-profit sectors. Heidi is also a member of the Brisbane Festival Giving Committee.
Wayne Gerard
Brisbane tech superstar, Wayne Gerard is Queensland's fourth Chief Entrepreneur. As the CEO and co-founder of global company RedEye, he is a leader in Queensland's innovation ecosystem.
Wayne is passionate about cementing the value of a competitive and sustainable innovation ecosystem in Queensland. In 2015, he was named Queensland Entrepreneur of the Year and is currently a member on several boards, including StartUpAus and the Premier's Business Advisory Council.
Together with the Innovation Advisory Council, Wayne will focus on opening doors to the expertise and networks the innovation community needs to succeed in the new economy.
Last updated 6 September 2023
