Jo Scard is a commentator on politics and work/life balance – and co-authored the successful book, The Working Mother’s Survival Guide. A recent senior Federal Labor strategist Jo understands the Federal parliament like few others. Jo founded http://www.joscardagency.com a Canberra based political consultancy and works from her farm just outside Canberra.

Karen Pickering is the host of Cherchez la Femme, a monthly digest of current affairs and popular culture from a feminist perspective. In her spare time she teaches. With Clem Bastow, she founded The Dawn Conspiracy, an annual celebration of feminist culture to coincide with International Womens Day. Obviously, she hates men, is unfunny/angry, and cannot bake.

Jennifer Mills is the author of the novels Gone and The Diamond Anchor, as well as numerous award-winning short stories, poems and essays. A passionate, politically engaged writer and traveller, she lives in Alice Springs.

Think, Create, Communicate and Change are Leslie’s bywords. Original thinker, award-winning author of 2 non-fiction books and a new novel, The Book of Rachael, Leslie is a Sun-Herald columnist and familiar radio, TV and social media commentator on ethics, work and life. Leslie takes the pulse of the audience to deliver a combination of clear & informed thinking and table-thumping passion that enthuses and inspires. She’s a good listener, too.

Marie Coleman is an activist in local planning and social justice issues, especially but not exclusively focussing on matters affecting women and girls. Her working career has spanned social page reporter to head of two Commonwealth statutory authorities, radio script-writer and broadcaster, newspaper columnist,social policy adviser. She has been awarded the Centenary Medal, the Public Service Medal, and is ACT Senior Australian of the Year 2011.

Maria Deveson Crabbe is CEO of not-for-profit organisation Marie Stopes International Australia, a domestic and international sexual and reproductive health provider. Maria has been at the cutting edge of health and nutrition, dedicating herself to the field for almost two decades. In 2011 Maria led Marie Stopes International Australia to increase its Australian centres by five.

Emily Maguire is the author of three novels and two non-fiction books. Her articles and essays on sex, religion and culture have been published widely including in The Sydney Morning Herald, The Monthly and The Age. She is the recipient of the 2007 Edna Ryan Award for writing about women’s issues and in 2010 was named as a Sydney Morning Herald Young Novelist of the Year.

Sheryl Nussbaum-Beach has been in education for over 20 years as a classroom teacher, technology coach, charter school principal, district administrator, university instructor and digital learning consultant. She is a sought after presenter at national and international events on topics of 21st Century reform, teacher and educational leadership, community building, issues impacting marginalized populations and gender diversity. Through the Powerful Learning Practice Network, she works with educators from around the world on shift:turning classrooms into learning communities.

Nell is a NIDA graduate who, since 1997, has worked as a television presenter with Showtime. She is one of Al Gore’s Climate Project presenters and was a 2010 City of Sydney Cycling Ambassador. She is a founding member of the Running Stream Water Users Association and was Vice President of the Bondi Girls Surf Riders. Nell starred in ‘Puberty Blues’.

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A panelist on the Gruen Transfer and The Perrett Report, Dee is a political and social commentator and an award winning Creative Director. She speaks with intelligence and humour on advertising, politics and social issues, and can facilitate forums/group activities.
Two of her kids are still in nappies. She loves wine. These things are not unrelated.

Kate is passionate about the economic empowerment of women globally. She runs Optimiss Consulting working to increase the number of women in big business. She has been a finalist for the Deloitte Business Woman of the Year 2008/9 and been appointed to Deloitte’s Emerging Leaders Council. She has also been on the Board of UN Women (previously UNIFEM) Australia.

Karen’s corporate gigs and stand-up routines combine learning, laughing and a measure of slightly contentious ethical viewpoints, plus bracing observations on social and political goings on in Australia and internationally.

She’s well-spoken, natural and unaffected, and her business credentials unquestionable. She’s a qualified trainer, a successful business woman and has a thirst for commerce and humour – what a fabulous combination!

Adjunct Associate Professor Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, Monash University. Research focussing on women doctors, gender and the creation of medical knowledge, financial elder abuse. With late husband, Dr Bertram Wainer, established Australia’s first abortion clinic in 1972. Part of the team that achieved decriminalisation of abortion in Victoria in 2008. Working toward bringing forward the feminine for the 21st century. Quirky, brave, loquacious. Member of the Order of Australia, member of the Victorian Honour Roll of Women, member of the Australian Women’s Hall of Fame, former Chair of the Board of Women’s Health Victoria. Member of Women’s Electoral Lobby and Women’s Health Victoria.

Angela is well known as the former sports presenter on ABC TV News Victoria. She is the author of “The Goddess Advantage – One Year in the Life of a Football Worshipper, which is as much about stuffed tomatoes as it is about AFL. Angela has an Honours degree in Politics and in 2007 she turned down an offer by the ALP to run for the seat of Williamstown.

At 14 Barbara’s grandmother sold her to a paedophile; at 16 she was in a psyche hospital; at 18 she was a prostitute in Japan; at 19 she escaped Cambodia weeks before it fell to the Khmer Rouge; at 21 she caused national headlines and received death threats; at 30 she became a journalist. By 40 Barbara was a property millionaire. A social entrepreneur with a bed bug patent, 75 per cent of Barbara’s profits go to her charity the Social Change Foundation

Rebecca is the author of four books including “The Girl Most Likely”, which is in development as a feature film and “Find Your Tribe (and 9 other things I wish I’d known in high school)”. Rebecca is a newspaper columnist but spends most of her time in schools speaking to teenage girls about resilience, bullying, body-image and the importance of “finding your tribe”.

Clare has worked as a political speechwriter, university lecturer, historical consultant and radio and television broadcaster. In 2005, she was named as one of Australia’s top 20 public intellectuals. Clare is currently a freelance historian, writing a book about women’s role at the Eureka Stockade and making a documentary for ABC1 about how women got the vote in Australia.

Kate is a radio journalist and producer for http://www.tunefm.net, as well as a writer for http://www.thescavenger.net on youth, technology, politics & media affairs. As a young Transwoman, Kate also offers a unique perspective on issues such as Human and LGBT rights, workplace equality and social diversity. She currently resides within the New England region of New South Wales.

Nelly Thomas is a highly sought-after comedian, speaker and MC. She has been described as one of Australia’s most intelligent performers and has appeared in dozens of festivals around the world. Nelly also does regular media appearances, has released a sexual health DVD and is writing her first book with Random House. And she was once an under-13s BMX champion.

Catherine is the host of Radio Adelaide’s Breakfast program. She is also an event co-ordinator, media advisor, activist, social connector, climate change campaigner, fashionista…

Working for the union movement, and running art exhibitions are just some of the other things Catherine has turned her hand to, but the common thread has always been connecting with people in the community.

Kellie is managing partner of Mills-Eaton Training, formerly of Port Macquarie now based in Newcastle. Kellie is passionate about working with women and is a coach & mentor, trainer, creative thinker and leader. Kellie is highly utilised by business and government organisations across Australia. She is sought after as a commentator and speaker on issues relating to women, leadership, communication.

Indigo Willing was adopted from Vietnam to Australia. She is passionate about promoting adoptee and Asian Australian perspectives. She has authored a number of book chapters and articles on adoption, and is also a key organizer of community projects and films festivals focused on exploring adoptee and Asian Australian experiences.

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Sonja Bernhardt, an Australian ICT identity, is CEO of software development firm ThoughtWare.

Her passion for technology and encouraging people to take up technology careers is globally recognized. Sonja’s philosophy of life is firmly reality and reason based and she presents in this style, simplifying the message by pointing out facts and realities then reasoning through what can be done.