2024 Keynote Speakers

Associate Professor Michelle Dickson is a Darkinjung/Ngarigo academic and Director of The Poche Centre for Indigenous Health, a research flagship centre in the Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney. She lives and works on Gadigal land (Sydney, New South Wales, Australia). A/Prof. Dickson has worked in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health and wellbeing service delivery and health professions education for over 30 years. She was formerly Deputy Head of School and previous Academic Program Director of the Graduate Diploma in Indigenous Health Promotion. In 2021 the Public Health Association of Australia (PHAA) awarded her for contribution to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Public Health. A/Prof. Dickson focuses on privileging Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander ways of knowing, being and doing in education, research, health and wellness. Her research partnerships include First Nations researchers and communities nationally and internationally.

Liza Noonan has over 20 years of experience in strategy, innovation management, ecosystem development and deep tech. Liza also has an extensive network across Australia’s Start-Up and Innovation Community. Liza is currently Executive Director of Fostering Innovation at Investment NSW. She was previously the Executive Director Tech Central, Westmead and Macquarie Park Innovation Districts with the Greater Cities Commission.
Liza has worked in various senior roles at Australia’s pre-eminent research organization - the CSIRO including 5 years working as the ASEAN Director and the Australian Science Counsellor to Singapore.

With a finger on the pulse of Australia’s STEM ecosystem, Dr Marguerite Evans-Galea AM is an influential leader change-making at the interface of industry, academia and government. She is Director of Australia’s Cell and Gene Catalyst, a joint venture of the industry peak bodies, AusBiotech and Medicines Australia. Dr Evans-Galea has led international research in cell and gene therapy for inherited diseases in the United States and Australia and established and led high-impact STEM policy and workforce initiatives with the Australian Learned Academies. Playing a pivotal role in elevating diversity and inclusion in Australian STEM to the national agenda, Dr Evans-Galea cofounded Women in STEMM Australia, and served on the Ministerial Council for Women’s Equality in Victoria and the SAGE Expert Advisory Group. She has received awards for her research and leadership and is an inductee of the Victorian Honour Roll of Women and a Member of the Order of Australia

David Thodey AO, FTSE became the 19th Chancellor of the University of Sydney on 1 July 2024. He is widely recognised for his contributions over 30 years to science and technology, business, public service and the community, with significant experience in driving innovation in start-ups, large companies and public sector bodies. An advocate for the real-world impact of research translation, David is known for prioritising people across all the fields he has worked in and is dedicated to delivering a great experience for our students and staff, and great partnerships beyond the University. In addition to his role as Chancellor, he is currently Chair of Xero, a global cloud-based accounting solution and Ramsay Health Care, a global hospital group. Prior to becoming Chancellor, he had been a member of Senate’s Finance Committee since 2022. He is passionate about environmental sustainability and co-chairs the Great Barrier Reef Foundation, an Australian non-profit established to help preserve the Great Barrier Reef. He is also co-chair of the Climate Leaders Coalition. Previous roles include serving as chief executive of IBM Australia and New Zealand (1999–2001) and Telstra (2009–15), and as chair of the CSIRO (2015–21). David is active in public policy and led an Independent Review of the Australian Public Service (APS). He also chaired a NSW Government-appointed panel to lead an independent review of Federal Financial Relations. Most recently, he led a user audit of the myGov government services digital portal. In 2020, he was Deputy Chair of the Federal Government’s National COVID-19 Coordination Commission (NCC) Advisory Board, supporting the Government to navigate the challenges faced during the early stages of the pandemic. David is an Officer (AO) in the General Division of the Order of Australia for ethical business leadership. He has been awarded an Honorary Doctorate in Science and Technology from Deakin University and an Honorary Doctor of Business from both University of Technology Sydney and the University of Sydney.