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Her Excellency Ms Quentin Bryce, AC Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia BA. LLB (Qld). Hon LLD (Macquarie). Hon DLitt (Charles Sturt). Hon DUniv (Griffith). Hon DU (QUT). Hon LLD (Qld) Quentin Bryce was born in Brisbane in 1942 and spent her early years in Ilfracombe, a small town in Central Western Queensland. In 1965, she graduated with the degrees of Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Laws from The University of Queensland and, in the same year, was admitted to the Queensland Bar. She has since enjoyed a rich and distinguished career as an academic, lawyer, community and human rights advocate, senior public officer, university college principal, and vice-regal representative in Queensland, and now Australia. Ms Bryce’s former roles – some, among firsts for women in this country – include: • Lecturer and Tutor in Law, The University of Queensland, 1968-1983 • Convenor, National Women’s Advisory Council, 1982-1984 • Inaugural Director, Queensland Women’s Information Service, Office of the Status of Women, Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet, 1984-1987 • Director, Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission, Queensland, 1987-1988 • Federal Sex Discrimination Commissioner, Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission, 1988-1993 • founding Chair and CEO, National Childcare Accreditation Council, 1993-1996 • Principal and CEO, The Women's College, University of Sydney, 1997-2003 • Governor of Queensland, 2003-2008 Quentin Bryce’s contribution to advancing human rights and equality, the rights of women and children, and the welfare of the family was recognised in her appointment as an Officer of the Order of Australia in 1988 and a Companion of the Order of Australia in 2003. Also in 2003, she was invested as a Dame of Grace of the Most Venerable Order of the Hospital of St John of Jerusalem. Ms Bryce was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Laws by Macquarie University (New South Wales) in 1998, an Honorary Doctorate of Letters by Charles Sturt University (New South Wales) in 2002, and an Honorary Doctorate of Laws by The University of Queensland in 2006. She was conferred with the degrees of Honorary Doctor of the University by Griffith University (Queensland) in 2003, and Queensland University of Technology in 2004. In her civic role as Governor of Queensland, Ms Bryce continued her work with women, families and young people while extending her influence across the State’s broad and diverse spectrum, including the rural, regional, aged, indigenous, migrant, and disability sectors. As a mother and grandmother, Quentin is a role model and mentor to women at every stage of their lives. She values and encourages women’s capacity to form strong and enduring bonds of friendship, intellectual and emotional enrichment, and mutual support in their roles within the family, workplace and community. On 5 September 2008 Quentin Bryce was sworn in as Australia’s twenty-fifth Governor-General. As the first woman to take up the office, she remains a pioneer in contemporary Australian society, and yet one who brings more than forty years of experience in reform, community building and leadership to the role. Quentin Bryce and her husband, Michael, were married in 1964. They have two daughters and three sons, and six grandchildren.

Robyn Pulman - MC   Robyn Pulman has extensive experience in national and international management and marketing. Following a short-lived teaching career, she moved to Europe where for twelve years Robyn held senior marketing positions with the Ritz, London; Hyatt Hotels Europe, Middle East and Africa and then on to Marriott Hotels, Europe, Middle East and Africa. During that period, she returned to Australia for two years, 1981/2, during which time she worked for Spectator Sports Marketing, Sydney where she handled the sports marketing accounts for both McDonald's and Coca-Cola. In 1988, she chose to return permanently to her homeland of Australia to take up a position as Director of Marketing for Mirage Resorts, both here and in the USA. This role required her to direct and co-ordinate the marketing efforts of the hotels, shopping centres, marinas, sports clubs and residential real estate. Today Robyn runs her own consultancy, Creating Winning Habits, as an organisational and personal coach specialising in leadership, personal development and customer service. Robyn’s message is clear, concise and irrefutable. Winning is a habit, so is losing – in whatever area of our life we look at – relationships, work, business, health. Daily our habits express our effectiveness or ineffectiveness and make a clear statement about our values and character. Much of her work has revolved around education in both the public and private sector, in both urban and rural / remote Australia and you can be assured she will be an engaging, informed, polished, poised and cheeky MC .

Steve Francis (Dip T., BEd., MScM) Steve understands the challenges and demands of being a Principal having led a number of Queensland schools from a one teacher school through to a large Metropolitan primary school. After 18 years of successful Principalship with Education Queensland, Steve ventured with his wife and two primary age children to Hong Kong as the Principal of an international school for four great years. His experience in Hong Kong, leading a primary school of 900 middle class Chinese and Indian children, teaching the UK National Curriculum and implementing the International Baccalaureate’s Primary Years Program, convinced him that schools are more alike than different.        “It is the differences that make it interesting!” He recently returned to Queensland and works as a Professional Speaker, Trainer and Executive Coach to support leaders to reach their potential. Steve is passionate about work – life satisfaction and has written two books, “A Gr8 Life…Live it now!” and “Time Management For Teachers”.  He has also developed the Gr8 People range of educational resources and the popular time management program for school leaders, “Get a Life”. His enthusiasm, down to earth understanding of the real issues and challenges of leading schools and ability to simplify complex issues are highly regarded.

Dr Michael Bernard Michael E. Bernard, Ph.D. is an international consultant to universities, educational authorities, organisations, and government as well as a Professor at the University of Melbourne, Melbourne Graduate School of Education.   After receiving his doctorate in educational psychology from the University of Wisconsin, Madison, he worked for 18 years in the College of Education, University of Melbourne, Australia. In 1983, he was appointed as Reader and Coordinator of the Master of Educational Psychology Program. From 1995-2005, he was a tenured professor in the Department of Educational Psychology, Administration and Counseling, College of Education, at California State University, Long Beach. Professor Bernard has worked as a consultant school psychologist helping families and schools address the educational and mental health needs of school-age children. He has spent extensive time counselling children with emotional, behavioural, or academic difficulties.   Professor Bernard is a co-founder of the Australian Institute for Rational Emotive Behaviour Therapy and is the author of many books on REBT. For eight years, he was the editor-in-chief of the Journal of Rational-Emotive and Cognitive-Behaviour Therapy. He is the author of over 50 books, 15 book chapters, and 30 journal articles in the area of children’s early childhood development, learning and social-emotional well-being, as well as parent education, teacher professional development, and school improvement.   He is the Founder of You Can Do It! Education, a program for promoting student social-emotional well-being and achievement that is being used in over 6,000 schools in Australia, New Zealand, England, and North America. Professor Bernard is a licensed psychologist (Victorian Psychological Council).

Adam Elliott Academy Award ® winning director, Adam Elliot, has become one of the worlds most celebrated animators. For almost a decade, his films, UNCLE, COUSIN, BROTHER and HARVIE KRUMPET, have been viewed by millions of people around the world and have participated in over five hundred film festivals. They have won over one hundred awards, and in 2003, HARVIE KRUMPET, won the Oscar ® for Best Animated Short Film, eclipsing the work of the Disney, Pixar and Fox studios. All his films have been eligible for Academy Award ® consideration, and in total have won five Australian Film Institute Awards from six nominations - more AFI Awards than any other Australian director. In total, the films have accumulated over $200,000.00 in prizes and have been translated, sold and distributed to broadcasters, airlines and theatres around the globe. The DVD of his films has been released in Europe, Asia and America, with sales of over 40,000 copies in Australia alone. In 1999 he was made Young Victorian of the Year and has been honoured with many industry distinctions. Adam Elliot has been made an ambassador and patron for various institutions and charities and is a voting member of the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences. Adam Elliot also travels the world as a juror at international film festivals and is in constant demand as a public and corporate speaker. The appeal of his films is universal. Infused with a balance of humour and pathos, his simple and endearing characters touch a nerve with so many people from all walks of life. Adam has a passion for human observation and his films are highly personal and detailed explorations of the human spirit.

Mark McCrindle Mark McCrindle MA, BSc. (Psychology), QPMR Mark McCrindle was trained as a Psychologist and his research into the emerging global generations is now recognised internationally. Mark is a Social Researcher and he is accredited with the Industry’s highest accreditation: Qualified Practising Market Researcher. He is the principal of McCrindle Research which counts amongst its clients over 50 multinational organisations and 100 of Australia’s largest corporations. His highly regarded research and reports into the changing times and emerging trends have developed his reputation as a futurist, demographer and a social commentator. Some of his recent clients include: Pepsico, Oracle, McDonalds, Cadbury Schweppes, Telstra, Fairfax, DaimlerChrysler, ExxonMobil, NAB, Goldwell, ASIC, Time Inc, Fitness First, ATO, Westpac, Red Rooster, American Express, AXA, Tyco, and BlueScope Steel.

Stefania Giamminuti Stefania is an Early Childhood educator from Rome, Italy. She has several years of experience teaching with young children and their families in an International School in Rome. She is an avid reader, learner, and researcher, having obtained two Advanced Diplomas (in Child Development and Language and Literacy) and a Masters degree in Education before embarking on her PhD, supported by a full scholarship awarded her by the University of Western Australia in 2005. Stefania is currently a Lecturer in Early Childhood Education in the School of Education, Curtin University of Technology (Perth, Western Australia), and is completing her PhD. A recipient of the prestigious Creswick Foundation Fellowship for 2006, Stefania was granted the unique opportunity to engage in PhD research in the world-renowned municipal infant-toddler centres and schools of the city of Reggio Emilia, Italy. She spent six months in Reggio Emilia, investigating research questions in dialogue with educators, children, and families. Stefania’s study engages with questions of quality, values, culture, relationships, and community; she observed how culture is created and learning communities are built through processes of pedagogical documentation. Her research, which also involved a case study at Bold Park Community School in Western Australia, explores relationships between Reggio Emilia and Australia. Stefania’s rigorous, timely, and engaging research has enjoyed the recognition and appreciation of educators, academics and researchers internationally. Her stories of environments, beauty, relationships and learning resonate with and inspire those who engage with children from birth: carers and educators, academics, researchers, policy makers, administrators. Stefania is interested in socio-constructivist research, theory and practice, and in the implications of reflecting on the Reggio Emilia educational project in other cultural contexts. Hailing from a mixture of cultural backgrounds and experiences (Italy, U.S.A., Australia), bilingual in Italian and English, she is challenged to reflect on the role of relationships, listening, research, values, diversity, culture, and context in teaching and learning with young children and families. Stefania is a skilled and engaging speaker; she is in demand nationally and internationally as a keynote speaker at large conferences and smaller gatherings of educators and academics. Stefania speaks to those who believe in possibilities and she advocates for the rights of all children, educators, and families.

Rev Wally Dethlefs - Panel Member   Rev Wally Dethlefs, a Catholic Priest, has worked with homeless and disadvantaged young people since 1973. In 1973 – 1979, he established and lived in Kedron Lodge, one of the first youth hostels for homeless young people in Brisbane. From 1983 to 1986, Wally assisted in establishing a number of local community responses to at risk and homeless young people. In 1996, he established Homebase a community placement model for secondary students on the Gold Coast at risk of homelessness and dropping out of school. A feature of his work has been a strong justice/advocacy approach together with an emphasis on the community prevention of homelessness, juvenile crime and youth suicide. Wally works out of a community development framework. Wally was a commissioner in the first Federal Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Inquiry into ‘Homeless Children and Young People’. This Inquiry sat in every State and Territory and met numerous homeless and/or disadvantaged young people as well as youth workers, parents and academics. In 2003 -2004 Wally conducted research into the nature, extent and needs of students who were out-of-home, marginalised and disengaged across primary schools and secondary colleges in the Catholic Archdiocese of Brisbane. The results to this research are contained in two reports: Making Room for Us (Secondary Colleges) and ‘Little’ people have problems (Primary schools). Since then Wally has been implementing the recommendations from these reports including establishing a website: Marginalised Students: Believe in Us. In 2007 – 2008 he was a commissioner on another national inquiry into homeless youth. The report from this inquiry, Australia’s Homeless Youth was released in April 2008. His current duties include: > Working for Brisbane Catholic Education implementing recommendations from research reports he wrote on out-of-home and marginalised primary and secondary students who attend Catholic schools in the Archdiocese of Brisbane. > Continuing to develop the Marginalised Students: Believe in Us website to assist school staff as they work with marginalised students and their parents/carers. > Member of a Reference Group for a Community Partnerships program at a primary school with a majority of marginalised students > chaplain to young people and staff at the Brisbane Youth Detention Centre working on housing, education and juvenile justice policies and legislation.

Tim Baker Tim is a former editor of Tracks and Surfing Life magazines, and author of four best-selling books on surfing. Tim's books include "Bustin' Down The Door," the biography of Wayne "Rabbit" Bartholomew (Harper Collins, 1996), and "Occy - the rise and fall and rise of Mark Occhilupo," (Random House, 2008). He also edited the anthology of Australian surf writing, "Waves - Great Stories From The Surf," (Harper Collins, 2005). "High Surf," profiles the world's most inspiring surfers (Harper Collins, 2007) and explores the life lessons to be gained from surfing and the ocean. Tim's work has appeared in Rolling Stone, GQ, The Australian Financial Review, Inside Sport, The Sydney Morning Herald, The Bulletin, The Australian Way, Playboy, as well as surfing magazines around the world. He has twice received the Australian Surfing Hall of Fame Media/Culture Award and been nominated for the CUB Australian Sports Writing Awards. VOICE OF THE WAVE Could surfing hold the key to good health, mental clarity, maintaining balance in turbulent times, tapping into instinct and intuition? Acclaimed surfing writer Tim Baker believes so . In fact, he suggests, surfing has risen from a fringe pursuit regarded with suspicion or scorn, to mainstream acceptance and universal appeal, precisely because it holds lessons sorely needed in an uncertain age. Riding waves teaches humility in the face of a greater power, patience, balance, an ability to read nature’s signs, and respect for nature’s rhythms. As an “active” form of meditation, it absolutely requires total presence in the moment and provides lessons that can greatly enhance our lives on land.

Prof Tim Sharpe Prof Sharp is one of Australia's leaders in the exciting new science of positive psychology and happiness. In short, he is one of this country's leading Executive Coaches, a highly qualified consultant on matters relating to human behaviour and psychology (particularly the application of positive psychology principles within organisations and teams) and a popular and sought after public/corporate speaker. Prof Sharp completed a B.Sc. (Hons), a Masters degree in Clinical Psychology and a Ph.D., before working for many years as a clinical and academic psychologist. He is highly regarded in the academic world as well as among his practitioner peers. Having taught at all the major universities in NSW he was, in early 2008, appointed as an Adjunct Professor (Positive Psychology) in the Faculty of Management, Shool of Business at UTS (one of Australia's leading business schools) and later in the same year he was also appointed Adjunct Professor at RMIT University within the School of Health Sciences (where he's developed a Positive Psychology subject for the exciting new Wellness degree). 2008 was a big year because in addition to these academic acknowledgements Prof Sharp received a Future Leadership Award from the Australian Davos Connection which provides the opportunity "for outstanding leaders of our generation to be recognised for their achievements and to contribute to a vision for Australia's future". Prof Sharp has also developed a strong standing in the business community after successfully building his clinical psychology practice, Prof Timothy Sharp & Associates, in to Sydney's largest (an achievement for which he was named as a finalist in the prestigious 2003 Telstra Business Awards). This practice, which continues to grow, has also forged an exciting path in to cyberspace by conducting some of the first research, and by delivering some of the most comprehensive services, in the world of online therapy. In addition to his clinical and academic achievements Prof Sharp is a published author having written several self-help books including the best selling "The Good Sleep Guide", published by Penguin Australia in 2001, and "The Happiness Handbook" (Finch, 2005). The former is now in its third print run and the rights have been sold in about 10 countries around the world (including translations in to Chinese, Japanese and Arabic). His next book, "100 Ways to Happiness - a guide for busy people" is due out in August 2008 (Penguin Australia). Further, he has contributed to a number of other publications including "Emotional Fitness", "Don't eat your feelings" and "When your Mr. Right is Mr. Wrong" (in press). Over the last decade, Prof Sharp's passion and energy has shifted away from traditional, clinical psychology and toward "positive psychology", one of the most exciting areas of contemporary mental health and an amazingly powerful approach to well-being. Although he and his team continue to treat people with common problems such as depression, anxiety and relationship difficulties, their focus is increasingly on helping people identify and work with their strengths with a view to fostering and bolstering authentic happiness.

Miriam Rose Ungunmerr-Baumann Miriam Rose Ungunmerr-Baumann was born in the bush near Daly River in 1950. While Miriam Rose is a member of the Ngangiwumirr language group she also speaks four other local languages. When Miriam Rose was about five years old she was placed in the care of her aunt Nellie and uncle Attawoomba Joe, a legendary police tracker. Miriam Rose subsequently moved with her aunt and uncle to live at police stations at Adelaide River, Pine Creek and Mataranka, where she attended government schools. While maintaining her traditional cultural education, Miriam Rose learned to "read the country" as well as the pages of her text books. When she was aged about fourteen, Miriam Rose returned to Daly River and continued her education at the mission school. In 1965, Miriam Rose was baptised a Catholic. In 1968, Miriam Rose undertook a Teaching Assistants course at Kormilda College in Darwin, and subsequently became a teacher's aide at the St. Francis Xavier mission school at Daly River. She returned to Kormilda for further study in 1971. It was during this time that she became keenly interested in painting. Miriam Rose developed a unique imagery characterised in her acclaimed series of paintings, Australian Stations of the Cross. Early recognition of her work was also given when she was asked to illustrate Alan Marshall's book "People of the Dreaming". As Miriam Rose's interest in painting grew, she used art increasingly as a means of encouraging children to express themselves. In 1974, the Commonwealth Government sponsored a secondment to Victoria, enabling her to work with art teachers in schools. In 1975, Miriam Rose again returned to Daly River as the Territory's first fully qualified Aboriginal teacher and for many years held the position of Art Consultant with the Professional Services Branch of the Northern Territory Department of Education. During this time she visited schools throughout the Territory thus gaining the opportunity to advance her commitment to the inclusion of visual art as a part of every child's education. On her return to the Daly River School in 1982, Miriam Rose was convinced that there was a need for more Aboriginal teachers to work among non-Aboriginal school children. She became deeply committed to ensuring that Aboriginal people had the opportunity to become qualified teachers and to manage their own schools. Miriam Rose continues to advocate that education is a matter for the whole community, and must be adapted to suit contemporary Aboriginal needs. She has shown great leadership and perseverance in meeting these objectives. For example, she encouraged other women from Daly River to study to become teachers and she initiated a very successful remote area, teaching education program. St. Francis Xavier School is now completely staffed and managed by Aboriginal people. Her commitment to the community is demonstrated by her role in creating the Merrepin Arts Centre, which fosters adult education with a focus on the visual arts. In 1988 Miriam Rose was awarded the degree of Bachelor of Arts by Deakin University, through Batchelor College. Two years later, she began training as a school principal, and in 1993 was appointed to the position of Principal at the St. Francis Xavier School at Daly River. Miriam Rose was awarded a Bachelor of Education degree in 1993 by Deakin University, and in 1999 gained her Master of Education Degree, with High Distinction. The focus of her work for this degree was the integration of traditional and western education for Aboriginal children and adults. In 1998, Miriam Rose was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia, for her services to Aboriginal education and art, and for services to the Nauiyu community having been for many years a member of the local community council, often in the role of President. In recognition of her outstanding service and contribution to the Northern Territory, in acknowledgment of her leadership and example in the fields of Aboriginal education and the visual arts, and for her contribution to the general community Miriam Rose was awarded an honorary doctorate from Northern Territory University. In 2004, Miriam Rose was appointed to the National Indigenous Council, the Federal Government's advisory body that replaced ATSIC.

Sam Bailey Sam Bailey is one of those. A farmer, a pilot, husband and now bestselling author, he has achieved all of those from a wheelchair. It’s a rollercoaster ride that promises to make people laugh, cry, appreciate what they’ve got and realise that nothing is impossible. Sam tells his story in his own down-to-earth laconic style that captures the great Australian spirit of ‘having a go’ and he’s changing the lives of people of all ages, from all walks of life. He chronicles his life, from childhood growing up wanting to be a farmer just like his dad, through to the day his life changed forever at the fork in a road in the Northern Territory and its aftermath. The road accident turned the school boy sporting hero and outback jackaroo into a quadriplegic. Sam’s story is not of sadness rather of triumph. You will hear how he turned tragedy into hope and how he beat the odds to fulfill his life-long dream of being a farmer. The next big goal for Sam is to become the first quadriplegic in the world to fly a helicopter and ultimately flying into schools to speak to students and inspire them to fulfill their own dreams in life.