Virtual Session Speakers

Simon Mainwaring is the founder and CEO of We First, a strategic consultancy that accelerates growth and impact for purpose-driven brands. He is a member of the Steering Committee of Sustainable Brands, The Advisory Council of Conscious Capitalism LA, The Forbes Business Council and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts in London.

Simon is a Jury Member at the Cannes Lions Festival for the Sustainable Development Goals in 2021 and his company, We First, is included in Real Leaders list for the Top 100 Impact Companies in the US for 2021. He was a Jury Member of PRWeek’s ‘Purpose Awards’ in 2020, We First was included in Real Leaders list for the Top 100 Impact Companies in the United States for 2019 and was a B Corps ‘Best for The World’ Honoree. He was a Real Leaders Top 100 Visionary Leader in 2018, a finalist for the Conscious Company Leadership Awards in 2017, received the MAKE CHANGE, ‘Conscious Leadership’ Award for 2016, and was a finalist for Global Australian of the Year in 2015.

Simon’s book, We First: How brands and consumers use social media to build a better world is a New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and Amazon bestseller. It was named an Amazon Top Ten Business Book, 800CEORead Top Five Marketing Book, strategy+business named it the Best Business Marketing Book of the Year, and Sustainable Brands listed We First as one of their Top Sustainability Books of the decade. It has been translated into Russian, Chinese, Taiwanese and Korean.

Simon was named a Real Leaders ‘Top 50 Keynote Speakers in the World’ in 2020, included in the Top 10 Global Brand Guru’s in 2019, included on the Forbes/LinkedIn’s list of Social Influencers Impacting The World’s Most Influential CMOs in 2018, Richtopia’s ‘Top 200 Philanthropists and Social Entrepreneurs in 2017,’ a United Nations Foundation's 'Global Influencers to Follow' in 2016, Statsocial's Top 100 Social Media Power Influencers and YPO's Real Leaders '100 Visionary Leaders' for 2015. He’s been featured in BBC World News, The Guardian, Advertising Age, Inc., AMA, Fast Company, and GOOD Magazine.

Dr Catriona Wallace is an expert in the field of Artificial Intelligence and is an Adjunct Professor, keynote speaker, Chair of an AI VC fund and the Director of the Gradient Institute, a Responsible AI consultancy.

Catriona has been recognised by the Australian Financial Review as the Most Influential Woman in Business & Entrepreneurship.

As the founder of one of the first Artificial Intelligence companies to list on the Australian Securities Exchange, Catriona has truly lived the life of an entrepreneur and CEO in the emerging technologies field. Indeed, Flamingo AI was the second only woman-led (CEO & Chair) business ever to list on the Australian Stock Exchange.

Catriona’s rare experience as one of the first women leaders in advanced technology means that she is ideally suited to present on these important and highly topical subjects and does so in a way that is highly accessible and informative, non-technical, engaging and inclusive leading writer, speaker and advisor on responsible technology, ethics and the future of work

Sterling Hawkins is a business leader, entrepreneur and investor living and the intersection of in-store and online. Currently running operations and venture relations for CART, his legacy is that of a 5th generation retailer whose family name is synonymous with retail. He has worked with clients on best practices in consumer marketing, loyalty, and retail technology including Mitsubishi, M&M Meat Shop, Proctor & Gamble and many others. Through CART, he has partnered with universities including Stanford, Cornell and the University of Texas to incorporate the future of retail into their curricula.

In 2004, Sterling co-founded, launched and sold his first retail technology company, Convena. Since, he has been actively involved in the community speaking at business conferences around the world. He has been seen in ABC Money, Comstock, RetailWire and Forbes. Sterling lives in Los Angeles and spends his time mobilising a network of startups, investors and retailers to bring together online and in-store for the betterment of business, communities and the human condition.

Matt Church is a seeker of truth, sharing his learning through teaching and writing. As the founder of Thought Leaders and a highly respected conference presenter, he
communicates, connects and challenges audiences and himself to be the best version of themselves.
Matt invites all leaders to expand their view of what is and find true inspiration. Highly intuitive, Matt experiences much of life beyond the observable and explainable. His ability to make the complex simple and the way forward clear, has him speaking all over the world. Grounding big ideas in practical perspectives, the evolution of Matt’s thinking can be traced through the eleven books he has written.

Clear and focused, gentle and affirming. Unequivocal.

To follow Matt’s unfolding thinking, go to mattchurch.com

You can learn about Thought leaders at thoughtleaders.com.au