Speakers
Sarah Zeljko
Board Member and Chair, Energy Queensland
Sarah Zeljko is the Chair of both Energy Queensland and Stockyard Beef, and is a Non-Executive Director of Unitywater, Verbrec, Intellidesign and Venlo. She has extensive executive, operational, governance and advisory experience across large ASX listed, government and private corporations and has led a range of boards, committees and executives through strategic and operational challenges.
She is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (GAICD), a Graduate of the Australian Superannuation Trustees (GAIST) and an admitted Legal Practitioner in the NSW and QLD Supreme Courts. She is a Governance Consultant, professional mentor and has previously held roles as General Counsel and Company Secretary for G8 Education an ASX200 listed entity, the Wiggins Island Coal Export Terminal (WICET), and Cement Australia.
Tony Schiffmann
Chief Executive Partner, BDO Australia
As Chief Executive Partner in Australia, Tony leads a team of more than 200 partners across BDO’s three business units of audit, tax and advisory services. His focus is the continued growth of BDO in Australia as well as driving excellence in client service, by positioning BDO as a trusted adviser of choice.
Tony is also dedicated to ensuring the firm retains its culture and common goal of being an employer of choice. He is active on issues relevant to the profession and public interest – both in Australia and globally – and empowers his fellow leaders to also have a strong voice in the market.
Prior to this appointment, Tony was the Office Managing Partner of BDO’s Brisbane Office for 20 years. Admitted as a partner in 1987, Tony has more than 30 years’ experience advising a broad range of businesses on their growth agendas.
Elizabeth Jameson
Board Member and Chair, Queensland Theatre
In 2002, after almost 15 years as a corporate/commercial lawyer, including as a partner of a leading Australian law firm and 10 years as a practising director, Elizabeth founded Board Matters and its associated governance legal practice, Board Matters Legal. Today, over 18 years later, she is the Founder Consultant, working with a team of specialist governance, legal and strategy consultants.
Drawing together the strands of her career, Elizabeth has provided corporate legal and governance assistance and advice, with a real-life ‘practising director’ perspective, to a large range of companies, organisations, and industries for well over 20 years. This has included listed, private, public sector and not-for-profit boards.
Adrian Carson
Chief Executive Officer, Institute of Urban Indigenous Health
Adrian Carson has over 28 years’ experience working in the Indigenous Health sector, working within government and non-government organisations. As CEO of the Institute for Urban Indigenous Health (IUIH) Ltd, Adrian leads the development and integration of health and wellbeing services to Australia’s largest and fastest growing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population in South East Queensland.
Adrian has served as Chief Executive Officer of the Queensland Aboriginal and Islander Health Council (QAIHC), the Queensland peak body for Community Controlled Health Services, and held senior positions in Queensland Health and the Commonwealth Department of Health & Ageing.
Heidi Cooper
Chief Executive Officer, Business Chamber Queensland
With more than 20 years’ experience in law, corporate affairs and policy making, Heidi is focused on driving business growth, creating jobs, leading industry reform, implementing sustainable business practices and fostering community relationships. She has held senior executive roles at major ASX companies, including Origin Energy and Transurban, and has also held board positions across a range of sectors including infrastructure, energy, education and training, agriculture, and not-for-profit.
