Announcing the speaker lineup for our Leading at the Edge Symposium this September in Hobart.

For nearly a decade, our annual Leadership Symposium has been highly regarded for convening nationally and globally recognised thought leaders. This year features another outstanding group of expert speakers for thought provoking and practical presentations, conversations and panels to help you lead in an era of constraints.

Come to refresh your practice with new tools or to gain a powerful step up if you are early in your leadership journey. Proudly presented by Tasmanian Leaders, the powerhouse behind the acclaimed Tasmanian Leaders Program, the Leading at the Edge Symposium delivers a world-class leadership experience to your doorstep.

a photo of Benny Callaghan squatting down in a garden setting. He is bald, wears horn rimmed glasses and wears a brightly coloured shirt under a blue suit jacket and grey pants.

Benny Callaghan

Master of Ceremonies

Benny is passionate about helping people collaborate across silos, sectors, jurisdictions and difference to create outcomes that matter. He is Founder and Chief Collaborator at Systems Collaboration Partners, a boutique consulting firm supporting organizations to navigate high-stakes complex change. With over twenty years’ experience across government, industry, and communities, Benny creates brave spaces for people to creatively address important issues. His work weaves together leadership development, systems facilitation, collaborative strategy and social innovation.

Systems Collaboration Partners
Portrait photo of Dr Alis Anagnostakis with a bright white background. She wears a white and blue floral shirt and has bright red hair cut into a bob.

Dr Alis Anagnostakis

Keynote Speaker

Alis is a leadership development researcher, executive coach, and founder of the Vertical Development Institute. With two decades of experience across industries and continents, she helps senior leaders grow into deeper levels of psychological maturity. Her research highlights how transformative leadership is shaped by emotion and supported by wise program design. Alis is also a trusted mentor to coaches and a thought leader in adult development through her blog and podcast.

Vertical Development Institute
A portrait photo of Jack Manning Bancroft sitting in a wooden chair wearing a multicoloured hoodie, short spikey blonde hair with a beard and earring. He looks directly at the camera.

Jack Manning Bancroft

Keynote Speaker

Jack Manning Bancroft is the CEO and Founder of AIME (Australian Indigenous Mentoring Experience) and IMAGI-NATION, and author of Hoodie Economics. Founding AIME in 2005 to alleviate inequity, he has led a twenty-year movement to establish a global network that centres imagination, mentoring and custodianship for all of humankind. The goal? To solve the systemic challenges we’ve inherited and create a healthier life for all species on earth.

AIME
A portrait photo of Simon Fieldhouse. He sits in front of a green and blue wall. He has short spikey hair and wears a blue woollen jumper. He smiles directly at the camera.

Simon Fieldhouse

Speaker

Simon is a dynamic facilitator and coach with deep experience in leadership, change, culture and sensemaking complexity. He leverages his lived experience to help people see the world differently and liberate themselves, especially in points of transition and transformation. With a mix of wit, humour, authenticity and compassion he creates the space for people to build the flexibility needed to navigate their contexts.

Adaptive Cultures
A portrait photo of Polly McGee. They stand against a stone wall and wears glasses, a yellow beanie, thick gold chain and blue denim shirt. Visible tattoos on neck.

Dr Polly McGee

Speaker

Polly is a trauma-trained neuro-leadership consultant, psychotherapist, author and speaker. They work with organisations to build trauma-responsive leadership and psychologically safe, high-performing cultures. With experience in start-ups, innovation, digital strategy and executive leadership, Polly brings an intersectional lens and a passion for human flourishing. Their speciality is making the neuroscience of leadership practical, engaging and actionable — helping individuals and organisations thrive in times of change and complexity.

DISCO Consulting
Portrait photo of Simon Tyrrell wearing a checked black and white shirt, with short dark hair and smiling directly at the camera.

Simon Tyrrell

Speaker

Simon is a technology and innovation expert with over eighteen years’ experience. He has held senior roles including Chief Product Officer and Head of Strategy and Innovation for a global software company. Simon led the development of one of the world’s first business-focused chatbots and now supports organisations to explore and apply Generative AI. Known for making complex technology accessible, he is a sought-after advisor and facilitator across a wide range of industries.

Humaie
A portrait photo of Trent Henderson in a running singlet standing against a green hedge. He has blonde curly hair, tattoos down his left arm and smiles at the camera.

Trent Henderson

Speaker

Trent is a passionate mental health advocate who ran 110 marathons in 110 days, raising over $59,000 for SPEAK UP! Stay ChatTY. Balancing full-time work as a truck driver, he covered more than 4,600 kilometres to promote suicide prevention. His efforts gained national attention and earned him a semi-finalist spot in the 2025 Young Achiever Awards. Trent continues to push limits, recently completing a 100km ultra-marathon to champion resilience, connection and hope.

110 Marathon Challenge
A portrait photo of Dr Rebecca Chabot. She stands against a light pink background and wears a sleeveless black dress with long curly blonde hair and smiles directly at camera.

Dr Rebecca Chabot

Speaker

With almost thirty years in the field of wellness and a PhD in science, Rebecca provides a scientific approach to restoring balance to the mind, body, and emotions through evidence-based wellness. Through workshops and keynote presentations, Rebecca equips individuals and teams with science-backed strategies to build confidence, strengthen relationships, adjust mindset and achieve a more productive, balanced, and stress-free life.

Pure Wellness Tasmania
A portrait photo of Professor Richard Eccleston. He is outside with short dark hair, a purple shirt and blue jumper and black framed glasses. Green foliage background.

Prof. Richard Eccleston

Panel Facilitator

Richard is Professor of Political Science and Director of the Tasmanian Policy Exchange at the University of Tasmania. A Fulbright Senior Scholar, he has led applied policy research with industry and government on the future of work, democracy, local government, and Tasmania’s decarbonisation potential. He serves on the Premier’s Health and Wellbeing Advisory Council, the Tasmanian Government’s Climate Action Reference Group, and chaired the Independent Review of Tasmania’s Voluntary Assisted Dying Legislation.

Tasmanian Policy Exchange
A portrait photo of Panellist Anika Baset wearing a long sleeve mustard shirt, long black hair. She is looking intently at the camera.

Anika Baset

Panellist

Anika Baset is a Senior Manager at the Centre for Public Impact, leading programmes and research on the future of government and democracy. She works with organisations and policymakers to address complex social challenges. A lawyer by training, Anika has worked on human rights issues in Australia, the UK, South East Asia, and the Middle East. She holds a Master of Laws from the University of Melbourne and a Bachelor of Laws and Science from Monash University.

Centre for Public Impact
A portrait image of Panellist Julia Curtis. She has short straight hair and wears a brightly coloured aqua scarf and green shirt. She looks directly at the camera and smiles.

Julia Curtis

Panellist

Julia is a systems specialist with over twenty years of experience in reform, data strategy, and cross-sector collaboration. She has held roles including National Data Director for Empowered Communities and has worked with a number of federal agencies. For the past decade, Julia has supported organisations and communities in navigating complexity through storytelling, data, and visualisation. She holds a Master’s in International Development from the University of New Hampshire and a B.Ag.Sc. from UTAS.

Julia Curtis - The Social Alchemist
A close up selfie photo of Nick Haddow and a brown cow. Their head are touching and Nick is making kiss lips.

Nick Haddow GTLP

Panellist

Nick Haddow is a cheesemaker, entrepreneur, and champion of Tasmanian food culture. Founder of the award-winning Bruny Island Cheese Co., his work has gained national and global recognition, including Telstra Australian Business of the Year and back-to-back World Cheese Awards. A James Beard Award–winning author and media personality, Nick is also a Churchill Fellow and Tasmanian Leaders graduate. He continues to shape Tasmania’s food and visitor economy through influential board roles and industry leadership.

Bruny Island Cheese Co.

2025 Leading at the Edge Symposium Program - Out Now

We are delighted to release the full program for our Leading at the Edge Symposium in September. 

This year, we’ve brought together an outstanding group of expert speakers for thought provoking and practical presentations, conversations and panels to help you lead in an era of constraints.

Don’t miss Tasmania’s premier annual leadership event.

Download the Program
a photo of two panellists engaging with the facilitator behind a lectern on stage at the Symposium. smiling and listening to the facilitator.
A landscape photo of a man playing hand drums on stage in front of members of the Symposium audience. There are Tasmanian Leaders banners and a lectern in the background.

Will we see you at the Edge?

Your Investment:

  • Symposium + Breakfast $1,005 inc. GST
    Price includes attendance at this full day symposium and networking event
    PLUS breakfast on 12 September with all catering provided.
  • Symposium only $920 inc. GST
    Price includes attendance at this full day symposium and networking event with all catering provided.

Concession rates are available for financial members of Tasmanian Leaders and for group bookings of 3+.  Contact us for more package options for your team today.

Book your place today