Speaker Profiles
Virginia Trioli
Virginia Trioli is a journalist, commentator and author. She has worked as a reporter, feature writer, assistant editor and columnist with The Age, writer for The Bulletin, and is the author of Generation F: Sex, Power and the Young Feminist. Virginia has presented on ABC Local Radio in both Melbourne and Sydney, as well as on ABC’s News Breakfast and Artscape television programs. She has also been a regular panellist on ABC’s Insiders. A two-time winner of Australian journalism’s highest honour, the Walkley Award, Virginia has also received Melbourne Press Club’s Best Columnist award, The Quill.
Fabian Dattner
Fabian Dattner is a well-known media commentator, contributor and author on leadership issues, corporate ethics, organisational culture, and women in leadership, and is a partner at consulting firm Dattner Grant. She has been cited by The Bulletin as one of Australia's top 100 contributors, has twice been a runner-up in the state Telstra Businesswomen's Awards, and was in the Australia Day Ambassador Program from 2001 to 2004. She is also a much sought-after public speaker, having worked with and spoken for over 500 organisations include ANZ, 20th Century Fox, and various other government, corporate, and not-for-profit groups.
Dr Sally Cockburn
Also known as ‘Dr Feelgood’, Dr Sally Cockburn is a GP with over 25 years experience and a media commentator of 20 years on TV, radio and in print. As Dr Feelgood, she hosted the nationally-syndicated sex and relationship radio talkback program Pillowtalk, and now hosts the Talking Health weekly radio program on 3AW and appears on Channel 7’s Morning Show. Sally is also passionate about patient and community health issues, policy, and education, and is a Lifetime Australia Day Ambassador, on the Victorian Honour Roll of Women, and a Monash University Distinguished Alumni. Sally has been involved in many charities and boards including as the Chair of Family Planning Victoria
and the co-Chair of the Vic Health Advisory Committee on Violence Against Women.
Beverly O’Connor (Moderator)
Beverly O’Connor is a Melbourne broadcaster and journalist with 20 years experience, focusing on economics and politics. As well as her radio work presenting on 774 ABC and Vega 91.5, she has appeared on both commercial and ABC television, including on the 7.30 Report and as host of ABC’s Weekend Sport. Beverly is currently a presenter on the ABC’s International Television Service in the Asia-Pacific. Outside of news media, she was the first female director of the Melbourne Football Club (including seven years as Vice-President) and a board director for six years at the Australian Drug Foundation. An Australia Day and Variety Children's Charity Ambassador, Beverly was included in the 2007 ‘Who's Who’ of Australian Woman.
Leila Gurruwiwi (MC)
Leila Gurruwiwi is a media commentator and television show producer. Originally from Arnhem Land in the Northern Territory, Leila started her media career as a radio reporter with 3KND, before becoming a reporter and panelist on the ABC’s much-acclaimed Marngrook Footy Show. Passionate about promoting Indigenous culture in the media, she is currently co-producing an Indigenous dance competition television show in Arnhem Land, which she hopes will showcase the community and its culture.
Stephen Mayne
Stephen Mayne is a shareholder activist, publisher, journalist, and local government councilor. Formerly a press secretary under former Victorian Premier Jeff Kennet, Stephen is perhaps best known for founding Crikey—an independent news and media service—and publishing The Mayne Report—a website and newsletter focused on corporate governance and shareholder advocacy. Stephen remains a regular contributor to the ABC and on Crikey. In 2012, Stephen was elected to the Melbourne City Council, having previously been a councilor for the Manningham City Council.
Peter Hollingworth
Peter Hollingworth AC OBE is a retired Anglican Bishop who has served as Archbishop of Brisbane, and as the Governor General of Australia, and in 1991 was the Australian of the Year. Described as ‘Australia’s foremost spokesman for social justice’, Peter advocate on issues such as poverty, youth unemployment, and Aboriginal welfare. For his services to the community and religion, he was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire in 1976 and an Officer of the Order of Australia in 1988 (since promoted to Companion of the Order of Australia). In 1997, he was listed as an Australian Living Treasure.
Graeme Wise
Graeme Wise is the Chairman of The Adidem Group, which comprises well known companies including The Body Shop and the Wise Foundation. A believer in the ‘humanising’ of business and ensuring businesses put back into the community, The Adidem Group operates various social projects revolving around principles of self-help and building skills to provide ongoing generation of economic opportunities. Graeme is also the Founder and Patron of The Big Issue street newspaper, Chairman of the Monash Institute of Medical Research Advisory Board, and past director of Indigenous Enterprise Partnerships, the Brotherhood of St Laurence, Prahran Mission and Philanthropy Australia.