Founder and Director of Igniting Change, Jane is an innovator with a global reputation for inspiring individuals and organisations to work together for positive social change. She is ever curious and drawn to the humanity and courage of people doing it tough. To date, Jane has founded five charities, all of which are flourishing today. She is known for lateral thinking and creative initiatives including Comic Relief (Red Nose Day) in the UK, which has raised over a billion pounds and best-selling books including Dying to Know – bringing death to life.

Why Jane?

Considered one of the most thought provoking, powerful and life affirming speakers in Australia, Gill Hicks’ determination to triumph over tragedy is nothing but inspirational. A survivor of the 2005 London terrorist bombings, she founded M.A.D For Peace; before this she was a successful design curator and publisher. With her unique understanding of business and formidable ability to navigate extreme change, Gill will speak on Choose Choice – the greatest power we have is the power to choose how we want to respond and react to every single moment of our lives.

Why Gill?

Tim Gard has been on a life-long quest for laughter and discovered along his journey that we all smile and laugh in the same language. Laughter unites us and creates a common bond that transcends potential barriers and boundaries. Babies don’t need to learn to laugh but adults need to be reminded of the importance of positive laughter and the power it can have in our personal and professional life. As an internationally recognised authority on stress reduction through humor and conflict resolution, Tim has spoken at over 2000 events globally from Texas to Tasmania. Tim says that stress isn’t what happens to us, stress is based on our perception of what happens to us. Laugh and learn with Tim how to actively, positively change your perception to create your own reality and fight stress with humor. Anyone can harness the power of laughter as a skill using Tim’s shortcuts, tips and easy to remember and hard to forget techniques.

Why Tim?

With a Bachelor of International Communication from Macquarie University held in her hand, Stephanie Lorenzo didn’t start her career planning to start a charity. It was a chance encounter with a book about sex trafficking, and a life-changing trip to Cambodia that left her asking ‘how could this be real’?

In that moment Stephanie decided to unlock purpose, and play a bigger game. That game was to create a movement that would help facilitate the end of global human trafficking and slavery. For many combatting the worlds third largest crime is a mountain to big to climb. For Stephanie, that mountain was too big to Ignore. In 2009 fusing a passionate vision, with a purpose driven action plan, Stephanie founded a non-for profit organisation called Project Futures.

Why Stephanie?

Mike Worsman has risked his life in warzones, quit his job, sold his house and invested every ounce of his time and money to inspire people to find and pursue what makes them smile. Why? He believes if every person were to concentrate on what truly makes them happy, then many of the problems we face would disappear. From poverty and war, to climate change and family breakdown, Mike says these are merely an indication that our current focus and reality needs re-directing. In 2012, Mike founded ‘A Million Smiles’, an organisation dedicated to sharing stories about people, places and ideas that can inspire people to be truly happy.

Why Mike?

Katrina Webb is recognised and acknowledged for her unique athleticism and outstanding success as a Paralympic athlete. She has won Gold, Silver and Bronze medals in athletics at three Paralympic Games. She was the first torch bearer to enter the Olympic Stadium for the Opening Ceremony of the Sydney 2000 Paralympic Games and in 2006 Katrina was selected to present on behalf of the International Paralympic Committee to the United Nations in New York. To add to this she has walked the Kokoda track and has trekked to Basecamp Everest. In 2012 & 2016, Katrina was selected as one of two Paralympians Ambassadors for the International Paralympic Committee at the London & Rio Paralympic Games. Due to her own experience in dealing with a disability and a desire to help others, Katrina is a passionate humanitarian. She currently organises leadership treks to Nepal including Everest Basecamp, raising funds for the health, education and protection of children in Nepal. Katrina Webb is also the founder and director of newday.

www.katrinawebb.com.au