Marie-Anne Keeffe (MAK) is a prominent figure in Western Australia's media landscape, boasting a rich career spanning 25 years at Channel 7 Perth. With expertise in storytelling and management across various media platforms, she excels in inspiring individuals and teams to achieve exceptional results. Passionate about making a difference, MAK has dedicated herself to philanthropy, notably serving as General Manager of Channel Seven Perth's Telethon, raising over $80 million for sick children in Western Australia. 

MAK's extensive experience extends to leadership roles in current affairs programming and consultancy, where she has provided strategic communications and crisis management services. Her involvement in community initiatives, including serving on the board of Breast Cancer Care WA and The State Library of WA, highlights her commitment to effecting positive change. 

Currently serving as Director of Communications for the Department of Education, MAK leads the largest communications team in the State Government. Her compelling life story, featured in the SBS series 'Every Family has a Secret,' reflects her resilience and determination in overcoming personal challenges.

Find out more by visiting the Conference Program

Marie-Anne Keeffe (MAK)

Director of Communications
Department of Education WA

Laura Lee

Architect, FAIA, Hon FRAIA,
Professor of Architecture
at Carnegie Mellon University

Laura is a licensed architect and Professor based in Europe. She advises, practices and speaks internationally as a strategic and systems transformation designer to address large-scale complex global challenges. Her work focuses on innovation and integrated design education, policy, practice and research between academic institutions, governments, industry and diverse organisations.

An Honorary Fellow of the Australian Institute of Architects, Laura was a "Thinker in Residence" in South Australia, a program inviting global experts to generate visionary and actionable recommendations for government. Focused on the value of design and the impact of the built environment on the quality of life, Laura published an "Integrated Design Strategy for South Australia - Building the Future.”

More recently, Laura was a Rockefeller Foundation Practitioner-in-Residence at the prestigious Bellagio Center in Italy to advance an opus magnum "From 1% to 10 Billion in 2050: An open source guide to collaborative innovation for collective action". This is the core of her current practice.

She has designed and developed regenerative design and urbanism curricula and programs worldwide, conducting projects, studios and workshops in over 25 countries. She has received several awards, grants and honours for advancing design education, practice and research in a multi-cultural context.

Find out more by visiting the Conference Program

Homa Tavangar is the co-founder and CEO of the Big Questions Institute, an organization that is trusted by leading companies, associations, and schools around the world to support strategic, experiential, and generative development through a lens of fearless inquiry and community engagement. She brings 30+ years’ experience advising diverse organizations and individuals on accountability for equity and cultural competence, leading through crisis and complex challenges, and strategic design, planning, and effective governance across five continents. A frequent keynote speaker, she has authored or co-authored seven books for educators, including best-selling Growing Up Global: Raising Children to Be At Home in the World (published by Random House) and Global Kids (Barefoot Books). Her most recent publication is 12 Big Questions Schools Must Answer to Create Irresistible Futures with Will Richardson (2025). 

A graduate of UCLA and Princeton University, Homa has lived on four continents, speaks four languages, and has heritage in four world religions. An active Board member and community volunteer, she also is a judge for the Templeton Prize, considered the “world’s most interesting prize” with a purse calibrated to exceed the Nobel Prize.

Find out more by visiting the Conference Program

Homa Tavangar

Co-Founder & CEO
Big Questions Institute

Damon Gameau

Australian Actor & Director

Damon Gameau is an Australian film director, speaker and author. As a director he wrote, directed, and performed vocals for the 2011 Tropfest-winning short film ‘Animal Beatbox’. In 2015 he turned to activism with his debut feature documentary ‘That Sugar Film’, which sold to 25 territories and received numerous awards, including the 2015 AACTA Award for Best Documentary. His campaign book ‘That Sugar Book’ was a bestseller in Australia and published in 20 countries and 8 languages. Damon then directed the climate solutions feature documentary ‘2040’ and authored an accompanying book ‘2040: a Handbook for the Regeneration’. Both films sit in the top 10 highest grossing Australian documentaries at the domestic box office. Damon then co-founded Regen Studios with Anna Kaplan where together they work with philanthropists and partners to build comprehensive impact campaigns for their films, raising money for ecological solutions and awareness in classrooms, boardrooms, and Parliaments around the world. Recent projects include ‘Regenerating Australia’ and the recently released ‘Future Council’. Damon’s TEDx Sydney talk is posted on the global TED platform and in 2020 he was nominated for NSW Australian of the Year.

Find out more by visiting the Conference Program

At just 16, Ruby Rodgers has given a Ted Talk, performed inside the United Nations, had her music played in Times Square, and is one of eight kids to have been cast for the ‘Future Council’ documentary film which was released in cinemas around Australia. She also released her debut EP ‘Crisis’ in May of 2025, including a cover of Coldplay’s Fix You which was used in the trailer of the Future Council Film.

Find out more by visiting the Conference Program

Ruby Rodgers

Singer