Robert Congoo is a proud Ngaro and Gia Traditional Owner, cultural practitioner, performer and community leader based in the Whitsundays. As the Director and Founder of Yooribaya Cultural Experiences, Robert delivers authentic cultural experiences that create meaningful connections to Country, culture and community. Yooribaya, meaning “strong” in the traditional language of the Ngaro People, was founded with a vision to support and enrich the community through traditional knowledge shared via workshops, activities, storytelling and cultural engagement. Through Yooribaya Cultural Experiences, Robert provides visitors the opportunity to experience ancient lands through ancient hands. Robert specialises in Welcome to Country and Smoking Ceremonies, cultural performances, storytelling and cultural education experiences across the Whitsunday region and beyond. Passionate about passing knowledge to the next generation, he continues to share and strengthen culture through tourism, events, schools and community programs throughout Queensland.

Varenya Mohan-Ram is the Chief Executive Officer of the Bus Industry Confederation (BIC). Varenya has over 30 years of strategic management, government and cross-sector experience, Varenya has made supporting industry the cornerstone of his career. He has been a member of various industry committees and boards, and headed up the NT Branch of the ALP as General Secretary.

David Speers is the ABC's National Political Lead and host of "Insiders" on Sunday mornings. He regularly interviews the nation's political leaders, decision makers, and leading analysts. Over more than two decades covering federal politics, David has hosted many Leaders' Debates, election nights and won a number of awards for his interviewing and journalism, including Walkley Awards and a Logie.

Tony Hopkins is the Chair of the Bus industry Confederation and Chief Executive Officer, Regional Australia Division of ComfortDelGro Corporation Australia (CDC), one of the country’s largest urban, school, and charter bus operators and part of the international ComfortDelGro group. A transport, tourism, and logistics expert and bus industry veteran of 40 years, Tony has delivered comprehensive passenger transport solutions for some of Australia’s most renowned bus brands including Greyhound and Buslink VIVO. He has served as a chair, president, vice president and committee member on the executive of various state and national industry associations for the past 14 years including the Bus Industry Confederation (BIC), Australian Public Transport Industry Association (APTIA), Queensland Bus Industry Council (QBIC) and the former National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR) Taskforce. Tony is an active contributor to the community and wider industry, lobbying state, and federal governments to create improvements for with various bus operators across the country. Tony’s lifetime commitment to the bus industry was recognised in 2021, when he was presented with QBIC’s Outstanding Achievement Award. The same year, his division was honoured with the QBIC Environmental/Innovation Award, as well as a High Commendation in the 2021 NSCA Foundation/GIO National Safety Awards of Excellence.

The Hon Catherine King MP, is the Federal Member for Ballarat and Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government. She was first elected in 2001, Catherine King represents the electorate of Ballarat in the Australian Parliament. Following the 2022 Election, Catherine was sworn in as the Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government – a key portfolio that reaches into the heart of every community across the country. Catherine held a similar portfolio in the previous term of opposition, as well as serving six years as Labor’s Shadow Minister for Health and Medicare. Catherine has previously held the Cabinet portfolio of Minister for Regional Australia, Local Government and Territories, as well as serving Minister for Regional Services, Local Communities and Territories, Minister for Road Safety, and before that as Parliamentary Secretary for Transport and Parliamentary Secretary for Health. Catherine holds Bachelor Degrees in Social Work and Laws and a Masters’ in Public Policy. Prior to entering Parliament, Catherine was a senior manager at KPMG’s Consulting Practice. As a regional MP, Catherine is a strong advocate for the seven million Australians who live outside our capital cities.

Nicole Rosie joined the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR) as Chief Executive Officer in June 2025 and brings over 20-years’ experience in Chief Executive and senior management roles across the public and private sector. Passionate about making a difference, Nicole has been drawn to roles that link economic success with care for people. As a natural system thinker and integrator, Nicole’s career has been focused on aligning interests across systems, organisations and the public and private sector to support a flourishing society that looks after all people now, and for future generations. Since moving to Australia in 2025, Nicole has joined the Queensland Ministerial Freight Council at the invitation of the Queensland Transport Minister and completed an AICD Company Director’s course. Prior to joining the NHVR, Nicole served as the Chief Executive of New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) Waka Kotahi. Nicole’s experience also includes three years as Chief Executive of WorkSafe, New Zealand (NZ National Health and Safety Regulator) and senior executive roles in Fonterra, KiwiRail/Toll NZ, Vector and Fletcher Challenge Forests. Over her five-year period in the NZTA role, NZ saw significant changes in transport priorities with three government policy statements on transport and significant pivots in transport priorities. Transformation changes were also made in the regulatory, safety and digital functions of NZTA with modern platforms put in place to manage pricing, tolling, public transport and network management and utilisation. Through her period in the role, NZ also saw improvements in transport safety and a reduction in national emissions transport emissions with NZTA leading the implementation of government transport decarbonisation initiatives such as the clean car scheme. Nicole has a Master of Public Health in law and public health from Harvard University, which she attended as a NZ Fulbright scholar. A Master of Law from Auckland university jointly supervised by the medical and law schools and Law and Arts degrees from Otago university.

Kurt Fearnley AO is a three-time Paralympic gold medalist, two-time Commonwealth Games gold medalist, and one of the world’s greatest wheelchair athletes, with over 40 marathon victories including New York, Chicago, and London, spanning a career of more than 20 years. Born without the lower portion of his spine in the small town of Carcoar, Kurt’s determination has defined his life—from backyard football to winning marathons, crewing a Sydney to Hobart yacht, and crawling the Kokoda Track in 2009 to raise awareness for men’s health. Kurt’s sporting career began with two silver medals at the 2000 Sydney Paralympics, before breakthrough golds in the 5000m and marathon at Athens 2004. He went on to claim seven world championships, more than 30 global marathon victories—including three consecutive New York Marathon titles in 2007—and Paralympic medals at Beijing, London, and Rio, finishing his Australian representative career with marathon gold at the 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games. Beyond sport, Kurt is a passionate disability advocate and community leader. He serves on the boards of the Australian Paralympic Committee, Newcastle Permanent Charitable Foundation, and the International Paralympic Committee’s Athlete Advisory Council, and was a founding member of the National Disability Insurance Scheme Advisory Council. His work has earned him numerous honours, including NSW Australian of the Year (2019), Officer of the Order of Australia (2018), NSW Young Australian of the Year (2009), and an Honorary Doctorate from Griffith University. Kurt is also an accomplished speaker, author and presenter, sharing stories of resilience, teamwork, leadership, and living with purpose.