Simon Olsen is the CEO and Co-Founder of Arkeus, where he leads the company’s mission to build autonomous optical technologies that deliver instant, actionable intelligence. With over 15 years’ experience in the defence industry and deep expertise in autonomous optical systems, Simon has established Arkeus as a trusted partner to Defence organisations and industry primes worldwide.
Prior to founding Arkeus, Simon spent more than a decade as Director of Business Development, Strategy and Partnerships at Sentient Vision Systems, a leading provider of ISR software to the Australian Department of Defence and allied forces. He also served on the Board of the Australian Association for Uncrewed Systems, strengthening ties across Defence, industry, and international partners. Since co-founding Arkeus in 2020, Simon has guided the company from concept to global scale, securing contracts with the US Marine Corps, Australian Army, Royal Australian Navy, and Royal Australian Air Force. Under his leadership, Arkeus has built a reputation for delivering disruptive ISR innovation and forging enduring partnerships with Defence customers across the United States, Europe, and Asia.
Co-Founder and CEO | Greenroom Robotics
Co-Founder and CEO | Greenroom Robotics
James Keane is the Co-Founder and CEO of Greenroom Robotics, an advanced maritime autonomy software company operating across Australia, USA, and the UK.
A defence engineer by training, James spent nine years across Navy and ADF before founding Greenroom Robotics to advance sovereign maritime autonomy capability for both defence and commercial markets.
As a commercially qualified mariner and expedition leader with over two years offshore directing deep-sea Autonomous Underwater Vehicle operations, James co-led the mission that located the USS Edsall. Missing with her crew since WWII, the US naval vessel was the fifth deepest shipwreck ever discovered. James also served as a mission specialist on the Explorers Club's 2019 Marianas Trench expedition.
At Greenroom Robotics, James leads a strategy anchored in the USA-Australia Alliance. Greenroom partners with shipbuilders and operators in region, together deploying autonomous systems and smart-ships vital for modern maritime operations.
James holds four degrees spanning naval architecture, systems engineering, business, and philosophy and has published five peer-reviewed papers in maritime autonomy, cyber, and, test and evaluation.
Outside work, James surfs and sails - including three Sydney to Hobart Yacht Races with the Happy Wanderers, raising funds and awareness for Veterans and the Wandering Warriors Charity.
Founding Director | EPIWATCH Global
Founding Director | EPIWATCH Global
Professor Raina MacIntyre (MBBS Hons 1, M App Epid, PhD, FRACP, FAFPHM) is Founding Director of EPIWATCH® Global Pty Ltd, and Head of the Biosecurity Program at the Kirby Institute, UNSW. She leads research on prevention of serious epidemic infections. She has over 510 peer reviewed publications. She developed EPIWATCH, an AI-driven epidemic observatory for early warning of serious outbreaks, which has won an AusInnovation award and was a finalist in the 2025 AmCham Alliance Awards.
Developed as university research, in 2025, EPIWATCH® was commercialized. She has worked with US INDOPACOM to support biothreat wargames using EPIWATCH® as a central tool. She has received many awards including the Eureka Prize for Leadership and Innovation in Science and the Sir Henry Wellcome Medal and Prize from the Association of Military Surgeons of the US. She is on the editorial boards of BMJ Open and Epidemiology & Infection. She has been on expert committees for the US National Academies of Science, Engineering and Medicine, the World Organisation for Animal Health and the WHO, including the COVID-19 Vaccine Composition Technical Advisory group and the WHO SAGE Smallpox and monkeypox working group. She has published two books, Dark Winter (2022) and Vaccine Nation (2025).
Head of IT & Cybersecurity | Hypersonix Launch Systems
Head of IT & Cybersecurity | Hypersonix Launch Systems
Christian Kissane is the Head of IT and Cybersecurity at Hypersonix Launch Systems, a Brisbane-based company developing hydrogen-powered hypersonic vehicles for Australian and U.S. defence and space programs. He leads the company’s technology and security function, which he built largely from the ground up, helping transform a fast-moving aerospace startup into an organisation capable of meeting the standards required to work with controlled defence technology alongside U.S. partners.
Christian holds both CISM and CISSP certifications and is currently completing a Master of Information Technology at Queensland University of Technology (QUT). His focus is on making defence-grade cybersecurity practical and affordable for small businesses, enabling Australian innovators to compete internationally without compromising agility or growth.
Earlier in his career, Christian led the security recovery of an organisation following a major ransomware attack—an experience he now shares publicly to help other Australian businesses strengthen their cyber resilience. He believes that effective security is not a barrier to ambitious innovation, but rather the foundation that makes it possible.
CEO & Founder | MyVenue
CEO & Founder | MyVenue
Tim Stollznow is the Founder and CEO of MyVenue, an Adelaide-based global sports and entertainment FinTech company that develops cloud-based point-of-sale (POS) solutions for some of the world’s most high-profile venues.
With a career spanning software development, venue operations, entrepreneurship, and multinational corporate leadership, Tim has successfully built, scaled, and led multiple technology companies across international markets. His diverse experience has enabled him to drive innovation and operational excellence in the sports and entertainment technology sector.
Today, Tim leads a global team of more than 100 employees across Australia, North America, and the United Kingdom. MyVenue’s technology is used by hundreds of stadiums, arenas, racetracks, cultural institutions, and hospitality venues worldwide. Its client portfolio includes venues associated with major sporting and entertainment organisations such as the FIFA World Cup, NASCAR, the Dallas Cowboys, Las Vegas Sphere, the Los Angeles Dodgers, the Boston Celtics, and the LA Memorial Coliseum.
Under Tim’s leadership, MyVenue has grown from a South Australian startup into one of Australia’s most successful sports technology exporters. In recognition of his entrepreneurial achievements and contribution to the technology sector, he was named the South Australian Pearcey Entrepreneur of the Year in 2025.
Tim has also led and scaled two multi-million-dollar mergers and acquisitions involving global Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) companies, demonstrating his expertise in business growth, strategic expansion, and corporate leadership.
In addition to his executive responsibilities, Tim serves as a Governor of AmCham Australia. He holds an Honours Degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of Adelaide and is a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (AICD).
Through his leadership, innovation, and global perspective, Tim continues to play a significant role in advancing Australian technology on the world stage while shaping the future of digital solutions in the sports and entertainment industries.
Chief Executive Officer and Founder Empathetic AI
Founder | HD Hybrids
Mike O’Hanlon is Founder and co-inventor of HD Hybrids and Managing Director of Switch Technologies – a Western Australian engineering consultancy working in electrification and system integration. He has a passion for brining real-world engineering solutions to the market, working in partnership with industry. His experience ranges across a number of industries, with a focus on start-up enterprises and electrification. This includes the founding an electric motorcycle racing team which won the 700V Australian superbike series in 2014 and 2015. Mike holds Bachelor of Engineering degree from the University of Western Australia, with a Honors in Mechanical Engineering.
Founder & CEO | Create Medicines
Founder & CEO | Create Medicines
Dr Daniel Getts is an Australian scientist-entrepreneur and global leader in RNA therapeutics, immune engineering and drug translation. Born in southern Sydney, he earned a PhD in Medicine from the University of Sydney and an MBA from Western Michigan University. He is CEO, Co-founder and Board Director of CREATE Medicines, a Cambridge-based clinical-stage biotechnology company pioneering RNA-lipid nanoparticle in vivo immune programming to create scalable, repeat-dose, off-the-shelf therapies for cancer and autoimmune disease. In 2026, CREATE raised US$122 million to advance its in vivo CAR pipeline and has treated more than 50 patients across clinical programs.
Dr Getts is also Founder and Chair of Aurora Biosynthetics, which, with the NSW Government, operates Australia’s RNA Research and Manufacturing Facility in Sydney, integrating plasmid DNA, RNA drug substance, lipid nanoparticle formulation and fill-finish to accelerate translation from discovery to clinical product.
Across his career, Dr Getts has founded biotech ventures that have generated more than US$2 billion in value and advanced 11 novel therapies into clinical trials. He has authored more than 50 publications, is credited on more than 250 patents and patent applications, advised governments and spoken at the World Economic Forum and World Government Summit.
National Director |American Australian Association
National Director | American Australian Association
Libbi Swan is a corporate affairs, government and philanthropy professional who has dedicated her career to strengthening the US-Australia relationship across government, business, education, the arts and the broader community.
As National Director, Programs & Philanthropy Australia at the American Australian Association, Libbi leads the Association’s philanthropic programmes, strategic partnerships and fundraising nationally. Over eight years with the Association, she has held senior roles spanning government relations, operations, programming and philanthropy, including Chief Operating Officer in New York.
A defining achievement was leading the project to establish the American Australian Association’s Murdoch Center in New York City, a permanent home for the Australian American community. Today, the Center remains a vibrant hub for cultural, educational, business and community programming.
A significant focus of Libbi’s work has been strengthening the people-to-people foundations of the Alliance through education and scholarships. She has helped develop programmes enabling Australians and Americans to study, exchange knowledge and ideas, and build professional connections in each other’s countries. This work has built an alumni community of more than 1200 whose ongoing exchange of expertise, perspectives and relationships continues to strengthen the Alliance and create opportunities for future generations
Director, Jeff Bleich Centre for Democracy and Disruptive Technologies | Flinders University
Director, Jeff Bleich Centre for Democracy and Disruptive Technologies | Flinders University
Professor Rodrigo Praino is Professor of Politics and Public Policy and Director of the Jeff Bleich Centre for Democracy and Disruptive Technologies at Flinders University.
He holds a PhD in Political Science and has received numerous honours, including a Fulbright Scholarship. In 2018, he became the first political scientist to win a Tall Poppy Science Award for excellence in research and communication, and in 2026 he was named Executive of the Year – Academia at the Australian Space Awards.
Professor Praino is one of the only scholars in Australia working on space politics and policy, analysing the importance of space assets for defence, economic development and international relations.
He is co-author of Power, State and Space (Springer, 2023) and lead author of the Department of Defence report Protecting Australia: Counterspace Technologies and National Security Threats (2026). His research has attracted funding from the ARC, SmartSat CRC, Defence and UNICEF, and has been featured in the Washington Post, Politico, The Guardian, the Pew Research Center and FiveThirtyEight.
Through the Jeff Bleich Centre, he co-convenes the Australian Space Cyber Forum, hosts the Fulbright Don DeBats Distinguished Chair, and oversees the Washington Internship Program, which since 2000 has placed more than 150 Australian students inside the US Congress.
Co-Founder and CEO | HEO
Co-Founder and CEO | HEO
Dr William (Will) Crowe is Co-Founder and CEO of HEO, a Sydney-based company that provides commercial, resolved non-Earth imaging services through proprietary software by acquiring satellite imagery from space-based sensors.
Will founded HEO in 2016, while completing his PhD in astrodynamics from the University of New South Wales, Australia. His research focused on the dynamics of spacecraft swarms around asteroids and included a prize-winning paper on satellite missions to asteroids passing through Earth orbit. After earning his PhD in 2018, Will began applying the principles developed during his research to his business.
Will quickly discovered that his research could be applied to urgent applications in space debris management and inspecting damaged satellites. Today, he leads a rapidly growing team dedicated to helping satellite operators and governments monitor their assets in space, ensuring Earth and space safety.
HEO is engaged globally and has a US-based employees today as well.
