KEYNOTE SPEAKERS

Dr Beth-Sarah Wright

Author, Speaker and Co-Founder
Thrive With Dignity, LLC

Dr. Beth-Sarah Wright, an Atlanta-based author, dynamic speaker, and strategic thought partner, inspires and drives transformation in communities, institutions, and personal lives. Her impactful work addresses deep-rooted challenges, advocating for identity shifts and increased capacities to achieve lasting, meaningful change. Dr. Wright champions authenticity, striving to align aspirational identities with lived realities, all while centring human dignity. 

As the Co-Founder of Thrive With Dignity, LLC, Dr. Wright collaborates with organisations to foster authentic and thriving communities. She has authored seven influential books, on a range of topics from organisational integrity to depression and healing and spiritual growth, including a children’s book on celebrating human dignity through a child’s eyes. She invites readers to centre dignity, clarity of purpose, and authenticity in the pursuit of excellence and joy! 

Her book DIGNITY: Seven Strategies for Creating Authentic Community, chosen by the National Association of Episcopal Schools (NAES) as their featured book of the year in 2023, with its companion, the DIGNITY Lens Workbook, introduce her original creation, the Dignity Lens ©, a framework that offers a fresh perspective on leadership, organisational integrity, strategic decision-making, and creative problem-solving for adaptive challenges. 

Dr. Wright served for ten years as the director of enrolment management at Holy Innocents’ Episcopal School in Atlanta, GA, the largest parish Episcopal school in the USA. A former professor at NYU and Spelman College, she is currently an Adjunct Assistant Professor in Psychiatry at Emory School of Medicine. She holds a Ph.D. in Performance Studies from NYU, an MPhil in Anthropology from Cambridge University, and a BA in Sociology and Afro-American Studies from Princeton University. 

Originally from Jamaica, Dr. Wright has lived and studied globally. She is married to Robert C. Wright, the Episcopal Bishop of Atlanta, and they have five adult children.

Find out more by visiting the Conference Program.


Max Jeganathan is a Senior Research Fellow at the Centre for Public Christianity. He is a former lawyer and political adviser and has spoken at universities, churches, political institutions and businesses including Goldman Sachs, Lego, Samsung and Amazon. His writing and commentary has appeared in outlets including The Sydney Morning Herald, ABC's Religion & Ethics Report, The Canberra Times, The Guardian and The Economist. Max gave the keynote address at the 2024 National Prayer Breakfast at Parliament House, Canberra and his first book The Freedom Trap was released by Acorn Press in March 2025.

Find out more by visiting the Conference Program.

Priyan Max Jeganathan

Senior Research Fellow
Centre for Public Christianity


Dr Iain McGilchrist

Psychiatrist, Neuroscience Researcher
Philosopher and Literary Scholar

Dr Iain McGilchrist is a psychiatrist, neuroscience researcher, philosopher and literary scholar. He is a Quondam Fellow of All Souls College, Oxford, an Associate Fellow of Green Templeton College, Oxford, a Fellow of the Royal College of Psychiatrists, and former Consultant Psychiatrist and Clinical Director at the Bethlem Royal & Maudsley Hospital, London. He has been a Research Fellow in neuroimaging at Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore and a Fellow of the Institute of Advanced Studies in Stellenbosch. He has published original articles and research papers in a wide range of publications on topics in literature, philosophy, medicine and psychiatry. He is the author of a number of books but is best-known for The Master and his Emissary: The Divided Brain and the Making of the Western World (Yale 2009). In November 2021 his two-volume work The Matter with Things: Our Brains, Our Delusions, and the Unmaking of the World was published by Perspectiva Press.

Find out more by visiting the Conference Program.


Natalie Cook is a five-time Olympian, Gold and Bronze Medallist in beach volleyball. A passionate athlete advocate, she has always been a champion of the transformational power of sport and the life lessons learnt pursuing your dreams. Her trademark authenticity, energy and ease, combined with her success as both an elite athlete and influential business leader, make Nat a powerful motivational speaker and strategic sports and wellbeing advisor. Natalie is serving as a Director of Brisbane 2032, Olympic and Paralympic Games Organising Committee, and holds a position on the World Olympians Association Board.

Find out more by visiting the Conference Program.

Natalie Cook

Australian professional beach
volleyball player and
Olympic gold medallist


CONFERENCE REFLECTOR

Dom Fay

Faith and Spirituality Coordinator
Coomera Anglican College (QLD)

Dom Fay is a radio announcer, podcaster, and Head of Faith & Spirituality (Secondary) at Coomera Anglican College in Queensland. 

Alongside co-hosting the Zach & Dom show on the KIIS Network, Dom also hosts podcasts exploring two of his great passions - emergent spirituality (On The Way) & the Brisbane Lions (The Roar Deal).

Dom’s major passion lies in finding spaces of awe and wonder for the high schoolers he works with to discover the sacred heartbeat of life.

Find out more by visiting the Conference Program.


CONFERENCE DINNER SPEAKER

Geraldine Doogue is a renowned Australian journalist and broadcaster with experience in print, television and radio. While originally planning a career as a schoolteacher after completing her Arts degree, in 1972 Geraldine applied on an impulse for a journalism cadetship with The West Australian instead.

During her career with both the ABC and commercial media, she has won two Penguin Awards for excellence in broadcasting from the Television Society of Australia and a United Nations Media Peace Prize. In 2000 Geraldine was awarded a Churchill Fellowship for social and cultural reporting. In 2003, she was recognised with an Officer in the Order of Australia for services to the community and media. Geraldine tackles a wide range of subjects with rigour, optimism, humour and warmth.

Find out more by visiting the Conference Program.

Geraldine Doogue AO

Australian journalist & broadcaster


WORKSHOPS SESSION SPEAKERS

Dr Alex Abecina

Head of Ministry and Chaplain
Burgmann Anglican School
ACT

Mr Mark Balnaves

Chair of Council of Governors
St Peter's College
SA

Mr Tim Barrett

Head of the St Andrew's
Institute of Learning
St Andrew's Anglican College
QLD

The Reverend Thomas Bassett

Chaplain
St. Peter's Girls' School
SA

The Reverend Richard Browning

Chaplain
Emmanuel Anglican College
NSW

Mr Darren Cox

Principal
Marsden Park Anglican College
NSW

Ms Kellie Douglas

Head of Boarding
St Mary's Anglican Girls' School
WA

The Reverend Jazz Dow

Chaplain
St Margaret's Anglican Girls School
QLD

Mr Brad Evans

Principal
Georgiana Molloy Anglican School
WA

Ms Emily FitzSimons

Principal
Overnewton Anglican
Community College
VIC

Ms Leonie Harwood

Principal
Burgmann Anglican School
ACT

Mr Philip Heath AM

Head of College
Barker College
NSW

The Reverend Dr Jason Hobba

Director of Christian Community
School Chaplain
The King's School
NSW

Dr Fiona Isaacs

Chaplain
Tara Anglican School for Girls
NSW

The Reverend Peter Landry

Chaplain
Overnewton Anglican
Community College
VIC

The Reverend Daniel Lowe

Senior Chaplain
St Paul's Anglican Grammar School
VIC

The Reverend Dr Theo McCall

Chaplain
St Peter's College
SA

Mr Steven Morris

Principal
The Springfield Anglican College
QLD

Mr Jeremy Shultz

Member of Council of Governors
St Peter's Girls School
SA

Mr Jordan Smith

Principal
Esperance Anglican
Community School
WA

Ms Jenny Sonneman

Chaplain, Head of Religious Education
Ivanhoe Girls Grammar School
VIC

The Reverend Dan Talbot

Chaplain
Canterbury College
QLD

Mrs Judith Tudball

Principal
St Mary's Anglican Girls' School
WA

Mr Daniel Walker

Principal
Canterbury College
QLD

Ms Julia West

Head of Marri Mittigar Campus
Barker College

NSW

Mr Michael Willis

Chair of Council
The Springfield Anglican College
QLD

Mr Joe Wright

Principal
Fraser Coast Anglican College
QLD