Senator the Hon Bridget McKenzie was privileged to be sworn in a Minister of the Crown in July 2021. Born and raised in rural Victoria, Bridget was encouraged to be proud and passionate about regional Australia. A staunch supporter of the small business, agriculture, forestry, mining and manufacturing industries, she is looking forward to promoting and supporting safe and prosperous regional communities. Bridget firmly believes it is in the national interest for regional Australia to be strong and successful. She recognises the importance of jobs, education, a skilled workforce and self-sufficiency. Previously, Bridget McKenzie had the honour of serving as Deputy Leader of the Nationals (2017) and was appointed Australia’s first female Agriculture Minister (2019). It was during this time she introduced key policies such as the dairy code, as well as boosted biosecurity measures to help protect Australia’s primary industries. In addition to her current ministerial role, Bridget is also the Leader of the Nationals in the Senate and is the first woman to be elected to that position. In her role as Senator for Victoria, Bridget has chaired several committees including the Senate Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade committee as well as the committee for Joint Senate Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade committee. As Minister for Rural Health (2017), Bridget drove the establishment of the Murray Darling Medical School to increase the number of GP’s practicing in rural areas. During the 2019-20 bushfires, she advocated for the provision of emergency support and recovery projects to assist affected communities to recover. Among her other achievements, Bridget fought to achieve landmark legislation for cooperatives, including support for Australia Post to ensure its focus on rural and regional Australia and equitable local content in regional broadcasting. In 2019 she authored on contributions made to the nation by former Prime Minister and Country Party giant, Sir John ‘Black Jack’ McEwen.

Dr Juliette Tobias-Webb is a Chief Behavioural Scientist, Senior MBA Lecturer, one of 60 women in Australia nominated as a Superstar of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering & Maths) & soon to be a Homeward Bound (Antarctica) explorer. Dr Juliette is passionate about translating behavioural insights about how people think and act into practical tips that can help individuals, companies & governments tackle some of the most challenging work & societal issues. Dr Juliette has a PhD in Experimental Psychology from Cambridge University. She has worked for a range of leading government & corporate organisations to understand human decision-making & transform behaviour. In addition to running her behavioural science consultancy, Dr Juliette has been a Senior Manager in Behavioural Science for Commonwealth Bank, the Behaviour Change Lead for Ogilvy Australia, & a Research Fellow for the Behavioural Insights Team. She uses a scientifically proven approach & works closely with top academic experts in Australia & overseas to ensure companies receive the latest insights. Dr Juliette also has a range of academic experience publishing articles in many leading neuroscience & psychology journals such as Nature, & has featured in a range of media outlets such as Triple J Hack, the Australian Financial Review, and Dr Karl's Shirtloads of Science.

Nathalie Sassen has been working for Keolis for the past ten years. As Head of Customer Experience and Network Design her role is to deliver best-in-class mobility solutions to passengers and Public Transport Authorities. This has given her a very accurate understanding of the mobility needs in the different regions, each with its own regulatory and contractual framework, and an ability to innovate to meet their needs. Her expertise in network design and planning, customer experience and new mobilities, has been a real value for the development of Keolis in Europe and now in Australia. Nathalie is currently based in Sydney and now heads up Planning and Customer Experience in Keolis Downer’s Northern Beaches bus contract.

Russ Yell, Regional Director ANZ, Optibus Russ is a thought leader and influencer at the forefront of global mobility innovation. In his current role, he works with transport agencies and transport operators in ANZ to improve mobility outcomes through the Optibus platform and its ever-increasing suite of capabilities. During his 20 years in the transport and infrastructure industry, he has worked across the globe, and has always sought to challenge norms and find opportunities to improve outcomes through process redesign, user-centricity, and the adoption of innovative technologies.

Khoder Abdulrahman, widely known as Kaz, is a seasoned transportation professional with a distinguished career spanning over two decades. With his deep expertise in the bus industry, Kaz has become a driving force in implementing innovative solutions and driving impactful change. As the General Manager for Assets at CDC Victoria, he oversees the maintenance and management of CDC Victoria’s facilities and the entire fleet of buses and cars. Having been an integral part of the CDC group since 2015 in various capacities, Kaz brings a wealth of experience to the table. His comprehensive background in change management, creativity and execution has been instrumental in guiding organisations through transformative periods. His tenure as Service Delivery Manager at CDC Oakleigh showcased his exceptional ability to anticipate and manage the impact of changes on employees, especially bus drivers and mechanics. Before joining CDC, Kaz held key managerial roles at Toll Liquids Distribution. He is dedicated to empowering organisations to navigate the complexities of today's business world, ensuring they excel in a rapidly evolving environment.