The Minds of Think 3000

Vasso Apostolopoulos globally recognised immunologist and translational researcher, leading the Immunology & Translational Research Group.  

Vasso is the Head of the Healthy Lifespan and Chronic Diseases Program within the School of Health and Biomedical Sciences at RMIT University, Australia. She is a Distinguished Professor and is a Professor of Immunology. Her expertise spans multiple disciplines, with extensive experience in immunology, x-ray crystallography, medicinal chemistry, cellular biology, and clinical & translational research. 

A pioneer in immunotherapy, her work has driven 25+ clinical trials in cancer vaccines and treatments for MS, diabetes, and infectious diseases. With 500+ publications, 20 patents, and $63.5M+ in research funding, she continues to advance global health innovation.

Tara Anderson is the CEO of Social Traders, a leading industry body for social enterprise and social performance established since 2008. Social Traders certify and support social enterprises to increase trade revenue while also supporting businesses to deliver and report on social performance, the “S” in ESG. Tara has international experience across social enterprise, charities, social innovation and for-purpose intermediaries in the UK, Europe and Australia. 

She has led large scale collaborations, designed and implemented strategies for growth and diversification, and repositioned brands for increased impact. Her career has spanned strategy, business development, innovation, marketing, social impact and cross-sector collaboration at executive and Board level. She’s passionate about seeing more businesses embed purpose and drive more social impact – to create a fairer, more equitable and sustainable world, for all of us.

Joe Ball was appointed as the new Victorian Commissioner for LGBTIQA+ Communities in September 2024 for a three-year term. Commissioner Ball (he/him) is a proud transgender man. The Commissioner advocates for the rights, safety and wellbeing of LGBTIQA+ communities. He is a longstanding LGBTIQA+ advocate and former CEO of Switchboard Victoria, with a 25-year career in disability, housing and homelessness, and social services. 

Tom Bentley is the Vice President of Strategy and Community Impact and Vice-Chancellor’s Innovation Professor at RMIT University.

He is also Asia Pacific President for the International Association Science Parks and Areas of Innovation (IASP).

From 2007-2013 he was Deputy Chief of Staff and senior adviser to Julia Gillard, Prime Minister of Australia (2010-2013) and Deputy Prime Minister and Minister Education and Employment (2007-2010).

From 1999-2006, he was Director of Demos,

an independent think tank based in London.

Tom has also worked as an expert adviser for a range of institutions including NESTA, the OECD, the Gates Foundation, the UK Education Secretary, the Australia and New Zealand School of Government and the Copenhagen Business School.

Sebastian Brash is a Talent and Skills Policy Manager at the Tech Council of Australia, shaping policies to grow Australia’s tech workforce. With extensive public policy experience, he has advised on industry, science, and technology at the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet and the Department of Industry, Science, and Resources. 

Professor Linda Brennan is based in the School of Media and Communication at RMIT University in Melbourne. In the lead up to becoming a full time academic, Dr Brennan had an active consulting practice in marketing and strategic research. Her clients include government, not for profit and educational institutions. Her research interests are social and government marketing and especially the influence of marketing communications and advertising on behaviour.

Sally Caruana – Founder & CEO of Sheforce, driving diversity and inclusion in the construction industry through strategic workforce solutions. With a background in marketing, finance, and workforce development, she builds strong industry relationships to create opportunities for women and men in trades. Passionate about mentorship, workplace safety, and financial empowerment, she is committed to fostering long-term career growth in construction. 

Jeanette Cheah is the founder and CEO of HEX, an award-winning and impact-focused education technology company that grows the exponential intelligence of the future workforce through skills and mindset-based programs. Founded in Melbourne, HEX now operates in Vietnam, Singapore, New Zealand, the US and more. Twice listed as one of Australia’s Top 100 Innovators, she is also a regular guest lecturer, keynote speaker, and passionate advocate for tech inclusion and diversity in business. Jeanette has represented Australia at the G20 Young Entrepreneurs Alliance in Argentina, was a Telstra Business Women’s Awards finalist, and in 2021 was named a 40 Under 40 Most Influential Asian-Australian, winning the category for Entrepreneurship.

Hayley Clarke is the co-founder of CandleXchange, a home fragrance brand focused on the circular economy. Previously, she designed One P, a sustainable fashion brand. Hayley holds an MBA in Circular Economy at the University of Bradford, in partnership with the Ellen MacArthur Foundation. She holds a Bachelor of Design from the Whitehouse Institute of Design and is a board director for A.H. Beard, a leading Australian bedding manufacturer. Hayley’s career began in marketing at an IT startup before transitioning into senior and C Suite positions with global tech companies like IBM, Optus and SAI Global.

Christina Chun – Founder & CEO of 1Scope, dedicated to combating inequity through data-driven solutions and strategic partnerships. A recognised leader in the social enterprise sector, she has been featured in Forbes 30 Under 30 (Asia) and Westpac’s Top 200 Businesses of Tomorrow while serving on multiple advisory boards driving sustainable impact. 

Professor Melanie Davern – Expert in public health and urban planning at RMIT, leading the Australian Urban Observatory to translate research into real-world policy impact. Her work focuses on liveability, using data to improve city planning and drive social, economic, and environmental benefits at local, national, and global levels. 

Maria Dimopoulos AM – A leading human rights advocate and expert in diversity and gender equality, specialising in migrant and refugee women’s rights. A key contributor to national policy on family violence prevention and system reform, she has held advisory roles across government and justice sectors, shaping inclusion strategies at state and federal levels. 

Lenny de Vries - Library Business Partner for RMIT’s College of Business & Law. In 2022, as a disabled person who lives with chronic pain, she founded and now leads RMIT’s first ever Disability & Neurodiversity Staff Network. 

A former filmmaker and production manager and archives producer at the ABC, she worked on James Cameron’s feature documentary film Deepsea Challenge 3D.

Cameron Duff is a Professor of Social and Political Theory at the Centre for Organisations and Social Change in the College of Business and Law at RMIT University in Melbourne where he works with colleagues on projects exploring the politics of social innovation and social change.

Bernardo Figueiredo is a Professor at RMIT University and an award-winning researcher and educator dedicated to fostering positive change through collaboration with industry, government, and communities. He specialises in consumer behaviour, customer experience design, and social innovation, with a particular focus on the intersection of technology and ageing. Bernardo leads initiatives like Shaping Connections and Pathways for Healthy Ageing, applying co-design and sociocultural methodologies to enhance digital inclusion and consumer wellbeing. His innovative work bridges academic insight with practical impact, equipping organisations and communities with strategies, toolkits, and actionable frameworks to drive meaningful transformation in diverse contexts.

Lorraine Finlay – Human Rights Commissioner at the Australian Human Rights Commission, specialising in human rights, constitutional law, and public policy. A former prosecutor and academic, she has led initiatives on modern slavery, justice reform, and international human rights. 

Dr Ancy Gamage is a researcher and academic with extensive experience in research, grant applications, academic leadership, and industry engagement. Her research focuses on building resilience and inclusion in Australia and internationally. Her research career is guided by a commitment to diversity, inclusion, wellbeing, and sustainability. She has secured research funding of more than AU$1 million, and successfully managed and/or contributed to the implementation of various funded research projects to completion, including in Fiji and Indonesia. Ancy has published in high-quality journals and produced several technical and policy reports. Her research and teaching excellence has been recognized through multiple awards. Ancy also serves on the board of ‘Africause’, a not-for-profit organization looking after the welfare of African and other Culturally and Linguistically Diverse communities.

Derek Gascoigne – State Manager for UniSuper Advice in Victoria and Tasmania, with over 20 years of experience in financial services. He provides strategic financial advice, helping clients make informed decisions and feel confident about their financial future. 

Kyriakos Gold is the Founder and CEO of Just Gold, Australia’s first accredited social enterprise management consultancy, and the Chair and Founder of the Aurum Foundation. With over 30 years of experience in media, communications, and social impact, Kyriakos has led transformative initiatives across public, private, and non-profit sectors.He previously served as the Head of Communications for the Victorian Department of Premier’s Multicultural Portfolio, where he spearheaded inclusive strategies and programs. Kyriakos’s career also includes award-winning work with SBS and a strong foundation in law and business, holding a Juris Doctor and Executive MBA from RMIT.A recognised leader in diversity, equity, and inclusion, Kyriakos has built Just Gold into a trusted partner for governments, businesses, and non-profits, delivering ethical consulting and creative solutions. Through the Aurum Foundation, he continues to champion intersectional approaches to equality, fostering collaboration to drive sustainable, meaningful change.

Roo Harris is co-owner of Scale Investors, an emerging fund manager that invests into women led startups. Roo found her path to investing on the road less traveled, leaving her legal career in Australia at Allens Arthur Robinson (now Allens Linklaters) to move to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and ultimately Qatar, where she advised some of the world’s biggest investors, and spent three years working for the ruling family of Qatar. Roo believes in ’conscious capital’ and a model of capitalism that is relational, human-centered, service oriented and sustainable for the planet. Her love of venture capital and its potential to drive positive change, led her to Scale Investors. Her mission there is to create top quartile returns for investors while making positive social and economic impact. Beyond her professional accomplishments, Roo is a dedicated advocate for the neurodivergent and disability communities, having held board positions with Aspergers Victoria and currently with Autistic Pride Day. She also sits on the EDI Advisory Committee of the Tech Council of Australia. She holds a BA/LLB and a Master's Degree in Commercial Law from The University of Melbourne. She is currently undertaking a second Master's in Entrepreneurship and Innovation.

Anthea Hancocks – CEO of the Scanlon Foundation Research Institute, with extensive leadership experience across private, government, and non-profit sectors. Specialising in strategic planning, community service, and inclusion, she also chairs the Monash Migration and Inclusion Centre and serves on multiple advisory boards. 

Dr. Margaret Heffernan OAM is a transformative leader with nearly 30 years of experience in higher education, public health, and community development. Renowned for addressing socio-cultural inequities, she applies a socio-ecological approach to leadership, research, and teaching to deliver sustainable outcomes for vulnerable communities.Dr. Heffernan has driven impactful initiatives, including securing $1 million to establish the National Centre for Gynaecological Cancers and raising over $7 million for health projects, such as the $3 million redevelopment of the Royal Women’s Hospital cancer ward. Her work has benefitted over 18,000 women, including Indigenous women in remote areas.A trusted advocate for social justice, she has led cross-sector collaborations with CALD and Indigenous communities, delivering health resources, mobile health services, and policy reforms. Dr. Heffernan’s innovative leadership continues to empower communities and create lasting change.

Gina Kenah –  Architect with over 20 years’ experience across a range of project typologies and sectors in Australia and the UK, including residential at a range of scales, commercial, mixed use, education, and animal rehabilitation/zoology. 

She completed her Architecture degrees in New Zealand and Australia, and she is passionate about championing good design and building healthy, robust communities.

Nadia Mecoli is the Director of RMIT's Strategy Office and responsible for strategy and strategy execution across the university. Through her role at RMIT, she has developed a keen professional interest the role universities play in place and community. She has worked to establish the City North Precinct as test bed for social innovation bringing together universities, government, community and other institutions. Prior to RMIT, she worked with governments, government owned enterprises and educational institutions in a variety of strategy, consultancy, project management and stakeholder engagement roles.

Tim O'Neill  co-founded a successful digital agency in 1997, and after 18 years it grew to be one of the largest privately owned digital agencies in Australia and was acquired by Accenture Interactive. After the acquisition Tim worked as a Managing Director at Accenture Interactive for 3 years, and then started an online automotive startup called Summon. In early 2023 co-founded Time Under Tension, an agency focused 100% on generative AI, who are helping businesses to understand the potential of this new fast changing technology.

Dr Jason Pallant is a Marketing Pracademic at RMIT, where he is a frequently published expert on the impact of emerging technologies on consumer behaviour. He is the only Australian academic named to Re:Think Retail’s list of Global Top Retail Experts in 2023 and 2024, and is a judge for multiple national retail awards, alongside his academic and consulting work.

Associate Professor Lukas Parker is based in the School of Media and Communication at RMIT University, where he leads 3C (Communication Change Co-Lab). He is a prominent scholar in social marketing and advertising, specialising in behaviour change, health communication and digital advertising. With over 80 peer-reviewed publications, including influential books, his research addresses critical health and sustainability issues. His applied work has shaped social behaviour change campaigns and informed policies, collaborating with partners such as Sustainability Victoria, End Food Waste Australia and VicHealth.

Georgie Prattis is the Managing Director and Principal Consultant at Myriad Kofkin Global, with nearly 30 years of experience delivering equality and inclusion reforms across public, corporate, and non-profit sectors in Australia. As a Director of the Aurum Foundation, Georgie champions intersectionality and co-design, ensuring marginalised voices shape impactful policies and programs.

A recognised leader in diversity and inclusion, Georgie is celebrated for her strategic vision and ability to dismantle systemic barriers, fostering equitable and inclusive outcomes. Her work spans human rights advocacy, organisational reform, and community empowerment, leaving a lasting legacy across sectors and communities.

Jason Potts is a Distinguished Professor of Economics at RMIT University.

He is also a chief investigator on the ARC Centre of Excellence for Automated Decision-Making and Society.

His work is broadly centred about the study of the creation and use of new knowledge (i.e. technological change) and its institutional context as the core explanation of long run economic transformation. His work is highly interdisciplinary, extensively collaborative, mixed methods, and draws together several distinct themes about the dynamics of, and interaction between, technological, institutional and cultural change.

Professor Chris Speed – Professor of Design for Regenerative Futures at RMIT, specialising in data-driven design, digital economies, and social impact. With a background in leading major R&D partnerships, he has worked across academia, industry, and government to explore AI, blockchain, and decentralised platforms that shape the future of work, creativity, and value exchange. 

Dr Amanda Spry is a Senior Lecturer of Marketing at RMIT University, Australia. She is a branding researcher, with a focus on brand activism and purpose, transformative branding and brand equity. Amanda’s scholarship has been published in leading journals such as the European Journal of Marketing, Journal of Public Policy and Marketing and Industrial Marketing Management. She contributes to The Conversation and local and international media outlets as a branding expert.

Dr. Judy Tang is a Clinical Neuropsychologist and Director at Invictus Health, specializing in brain well-being, neuropsychological assessments, and mental health advocacy. With over a decade of experience, she has worked across government, legal, and community sectors, contributing to aged care research and neuropsychological services.

A published researcher and sought-after speaker on ageing, dementia, and intersectionality, Dr. Tang is a Board Director at the Victorian Pride Centre and a Multicultural Commissioner for Victoria.

Dr Melissa Wheeler is a Senior Lecturer of Business Administration at RMIT University. As Program Director of the Executive MBA, she plays an exciting role in shaping Australia’s emerging leaders. Melissa is an academic working at the nexus of business and psychology, with a passion for social impact and helping others to find and act on their purpose. She is internationally recognised as a thought leader on the topics of leadership strategy, applied ethics, and the future of work, as demonstrated in her columns in Forbes and Psychology Today. Melissa's research has been published in top tier journals, including Leadership Quarterly and Journal of Business Ethics.

Adrian Yong – Founder-in-Residence at Antler Australia, exploring innovative ventures in space technology commercialization. Former Director of Deloitte Space and Satellite Strategy Lead at Gilmour Space, he has driven strategic growth in Defence, aerospace, and emerging space industries. An experienced entrepreneur, he previously founded a multi-million-dollar prop-tech startup, bringing disruptive solutions to market. 

Alex Young is a visionary Strategy and Innovation Leader with over 20 years of experience transforming industries like healthcare, telecommunications, and digital products. As Head of Business Growth & Innovation at Australian Red Cross Lifeblood, Alex shaped the organisation’s transformative four-year strategy and built its innovation capability.

Alex led the launch of the groundbreaking digital eye-care platform Oculo, acquired for AU$18.5M, and pioneered Medibank’s HealthLab concept, integrating health tech into partnerships like Coles Flybuys.

Passionate about solving complex problems and mentoring future innovators, Alex also co-hosts the Snooze StrategistYouTube channel, helping individuals optimise energy and focus to achieve their goals.