Speaker bio notes

Professor Adam Dunn - The University of Sydney
Adam Dunn is Professor of Biomedical Informatics in the Sydney School of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health at the University of Sydney.

His research focuses on the application of artificial intelligence in health, spanning clinical AI using routinely collected health data, public health applications involving the health information people encounter online and in communities, and AI methods for synthesising evidence from clinical trials and research registries.

Adam has worked in health informatics and digital health for around 20 years, with expertise across computer science, data science, clinical epidemiology, public health, and computational social science.

His research has been supported by major funders including the NHMRC, AHRQ, NLM/NIH, and WHO and he has a publication record of more than 180 research outputs. He is a Fellow of the Australasian Institute of Digital Health, Editor-in-Chief of npj Digital Public Health, Deputy Editor of npj Digital Medicine, and Program Lead for Data Solutions in the Care Economy Cooperative Research Centre.

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Dr Alan Finkel - Proudly Human
Dr Alan Finkel AC founded biotech company Axon Instruments and edtech company Stile Education, each of which was acquired by US-based companies.  He co-founded Cosmos Magazine and has written two books, Getting to Zero, and Powering Up.

Former roles include President of the Australian Academy of Engineering, Chancellor of Monash University and Australia’s Chief Scientist. Alan recently founded Proudly Human to verify the human authorship of creative works and issue a globally recognised certification mark.

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Alexander (Alex) Needs - Media executive
Alexander Needs is an accomplished media executive and Non-Executive Director of the Kennedy Foundation, having recently been appointed to the board to help sharpen its digital media focus and champion outstanding Australian journalism.

With a career forged at the cutting edge of the media's digital transformation, Alex has spent decades navigating a rapidly evolving information landscape. He began his career in magazine publishing with ACP Magazines before moving into live television and digital content with Nine Entertainment Co., where he later served as the Director of Video Content, Partnerships and Growth. During his extensive tenure at Nine, he worked across flagship news and current affairs programs—including 9News, A Current Affair, and Today—spearheading the modernisation of daily news delivery across video and social media platforms.

A passionate advocate for information integrity, Alex brings a deep practical understanding of how traditional storytelling intersects with algorithmic disruption. He previously served on the board of the AusSMC from 2020–2024 where he championed the crucial role evidence-based information has in modern newsrooms. Today, Alex leverages his cross-platform expertise to help different sectors safely navigate the attention economy while partnering with emerging technological advances.

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Anna-Maria Arabia - Scientia Advisory
Anna-Maria Arabia OAM is a science executive and strategic leader with over 25 years' experience at the intersection of research, policy, government, and global affairs.

As CEO of the Australian Academy of Science for a decade, she shaped national decision-making, advanced science diplomacy from the Asia-Pacific to the UN, and ensured science remained influential in Australia's most consequential policy debates.

A former neuroscientist, her career spans the public service, politics, senior executive leadership, whilst serving on a number of boards. Anna-Maria combines intellectual depth with practical judgement and has fluency across government, business, philanthropy, the media, and the research sector.

She was awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia and the Order of the Star of Italy for her contributions to science and society. In 2026 she founded Scientia Advisory, continuing to place knowledge and knowhow in the rooms that matter.

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Anne Kruger - The University of Queensland / WhatIF Lab
Anne is a leader and pioneer in pre-emptive, evidence-based practice to empower multi-stakeholders to address dis- and misinformation and inform regulatory responses. Anne is an Adjunct Assistant Professor at the University of Hong Kong where she began her academic career in 2013 after a career in media in Asia and Australia. She is currently the Convenor of the Bachelor of Journalism and Journalism/Mass Communications programs at the University of Queensland. At UQ she leads an AI Community of Practice and is an AI Working Party member for the School of Communication and Arts. Previously Anne was APAC director for global NGO online OSINT and verification experts First Draft News for four years.

Anne sits on the governance boards for Australia's first misinformation and disinformation regulatory Code of Practice and was contracted by peak body DIGI as co-chief investigator during the code's design and development. She is also an independent member of Australia's national media ethics board.

Anne was an anchor at CNN Hong Kong during SARS, and later a finance reporter at Bloomberg. She was an Assistant Professor of Practice and Head of Broadcast at the University of Hong Kong. She established a verification lab at the University of Hong Kong in 2014, collaborating with technologists Meedan, and led media literacy projects with UNESCO throughout APAC. She previously held senior editorial and presenter positions with ABC Australia including Landline presenter for four years, 7pm news presenter, fill in ABC News Breakfast host and Chief of Staff roles.

Anne has a PhD in social media verification education from the University of Hong Kong.

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Professor Brett Sutton - CSIRO
Professor Brett Sutton is a Director at CSIRO, Australia’s national science agency, leading the Health & Biosecurity Research Unit, comprising over 350 researchers and support staff in areas of digital health, human health and plant, animal and environmental biosecurity.

A qualified public health physician, he brings extensive experience and clinical expertise in public health and communicable diseases, developed through roles in government, emergency medicine, and international fieldwork.

Before joining CSIRO, Brett served as Victoria’s Chief Health Officer and Chief Human Biosecurity Officer, heading the Health Protection Branch within the Victorian Department of Health.

With specialist knowledge in tropical medicine and infectious diseases, Brett has worked extensively in lower-middle-income countries and complex humanitarian settings, including in Afghanistan, Ethiopia, Kenya, Timor-Leste, and Fiji.

Brett’s career reflects his passion and commitment to advancing health outcomes in Australia and globally.

Professor Sutton is a Fellow of the Royal Society for Public Health, a Fellow of the Australasian College of Tropical Medicine, and a Fellow of the Australasian Faculty of Public Health Medicine (AFPHM). He is also a member of the Faculty of Travel Medicine.

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Bryce Corbett - Squiz Kids
Bryce Corbett is the creator of ‘Newshounds’ - the free digital literacy program for primary school kids currently in over 5,000 classrooms around the country.

‘Newshounds’ teaches kids to Stop, Think & Check before believing everything they see online. It’s a plug + play resource endorsed by ACARA and independently assessed by the Queensland University of Technology - teaching kids vital critical thinking skills to help them tell online fact from fiction.

Bryce is a journalist of some 30 years experience. He began his journalism career as a cadet newspaper reporter in Sydney, before moving to London to work at The Times and the Mail On Sunday.

He spent ten years living and working in Paris before returning to Australia to become deputy editor of the Australian Women’s Weekly. Stints at the Australian Financial Review, 60 Minutes and the ABC followed - before Bryce worked with colleagues on the founding of The Squiz - now one of Australia’s leading independent digital publishers.

Squiz Kids, a daily news podcast for kids, is listened to by over 160,000 kids and their families every day - including in some 5,000 primary school classrooms.

Bryce is also the author of four best-selling books, including the biographies of Rosie Batty and Turia Pitt. He lives in Brisbane with his wife and two kids .

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Dr Cathy Foley - ATSE
Dr Cathy Foley AO FTSE FAA PSM was Australia’s ninth Chief Scientist from January 2021 until 2024.

Prior to this Dr Foley had a long career at Australia’s national science agency, the CSIRO, including as the agency’s Chief Scientist.

Dr Foley is an internationally recognised physicist with major research achievements in superconductors and sensors which led to the development of the LANDTEM sensor system to locate valuable deposits of minerals deep underground.

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Professor Crystal Abidin - Curtin University
Professor Crystal Abidin is a digital anthropologist and ethnographer of vernacular internet cultures. She researches internet celebrity, influencer cultures, and social media pop cultures especially in the Asia Pacific region.

Crystal works as Professor of Internet Studies at Curtin University; Director of the Influencer Ethnography Research Lab; Associate Investigator at the ARC Centre of Excellence for the Digital Child; Co-investigator at the Korea Research & Engagement Centre; and Programme Lead of Social Media Pop Cultures at the Centre for Culture and Technology. She is also the Founder of the TikTok Cultures Research Network; and Affiliate Researcher with the Media Management and Transformation Centre at Jönköping University. She was formerly Editor-in-Chief of Media International Australia.

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Dr Danie Nilsson - CSIRO
Dr Danie Nilsson is a behavioural scientist specialising in the application of social psychology to sustainability challenges. She holds a PhD in Conservation Psychology and is motivated by the goal of reconnecting people with nature through evidence based communication and real world action.

At CSIRO, Danie leads a pioneering research stream at the intersection of behavioural science, mass media, and impact production. Her work focuses on how people engage with complex environmental issues and how storytelling, entertainment, and large scale communication can be designed to shift social norms, support informed decision making, and drive environmental outcomes. She works closely with government, industry, and the creative sector to translate behavioural insights into practical interventions that operate at scale.

Danie’s research spans sustainable housing, energy efficiency, home retrofits, biodiversity protection, conservation, and sustainable lifestyles. Across these domains, she is passionate about bridging people and nature by making environmental solutions meaningful, accessible, and actionable in everyday life. Her work has contributed to award winning national television programs, secured major cross sector partnerships, and delivered high profile research that informs both policy and practice.

Through combining behavioural science with innovative communication, Danie’s work supports Australia’s transition toward more sustainable, inclusive, and nature positive futures.

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Denby Weller - Swinburne University of Technology
Denby Weller is a filmmaker, interactive storyteller, and ex-journalist. She's also a practice-based researcher and a lecturer at Swinburne University of Technology in Melbourne, Australia.

Her work is about navigating a course through controversial public conversations, and creating digital experiences that bring us together. Denby's research combines Open Space New Media Documentary approaches with science and technology studies and poststructuralist theory.

She teaches digital screen production techniques that focus on innovation and the affordances of technology. Her work is underpinned by a deep love for storytelling, and sprinkled with wild enthusiasm for emerging technologies. Denby also enjoys writing about herself in the third person.

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Devi Mallal - ABC
Devi Mallal is a Researcher at ABC NEWS Verify and an affiliate of the ARC Centre of Excellence for Automated Decision Making and Society (ADM+s) where she co-hosts the Fact Check Research cluster and is a PhD candidate.

Her research draws on 12 years of strategic and operational experience in the field of verification and fact-checking to understand the inter-relationship of technology, platforms and people in the spread of misinformation online and the capacity of technical solutions to mitigate it.

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Dr Elizabeth Finkel - Journalist and author
Elizabeth Finkel is an award-winning journalist, former editor and cofounder of Cosmos magazine and author of several books, including her most recent one called “Prove It!” about how we understand (and often misunderstand) evidence.  She regularly writes for the American magazine Science, The Monthly and contributes to the ABC Science Show. Elizabeth has a PhD in biochemistry and worked for 10 years as a research scientist before becoming a science journalist.

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Professor Eryn Newman - The University of Waikato
Eryn Newman is a Professor in Psychology at The University of Waikato, New Zealand and an Honorary Scholar at The Australian National University. She is a Fellow of the Psychonomic Society and Research Fellow of the Mind and Society Centre at the University of Southern California.

Her expertise is in cognitive psychology, with a focus on memory and belief formation. In her research she focuses on understanding cognitive mechanisms contributing to memory errors and various biases in decision-making.

Her work extends to applied domains including misinformation, science communication and understanding bias in judgements within criminal justice contexts.

Her research has been supported by Marsden, Fulbright New Zealand, the Australian Research Council and the Australian National Health and Medical Research Council.

Beyond publishing in academic outlets, she has worked on publishing open access resources for journalists, policy makers and other stakeholders. Most recently, she led a report for the Australian National Science and Technology Council on information resilience—a framework for misinformation interventions.

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Dr Ivan Oransky - Retraction Watch
Ivan Oransky is co-founder of Retraction Watch and executive director of its parent nonprofit, The Center For Scientific Integrity. He is also editor in chief of The Transmitter and distinguished journalist in residence at New York University's Arthur Carter Journalism Institute.

Ivan previously was president of the Association of Health Care Journalists and vice president of editorial at Medscape.

He has also held editorial leadership positions at MedPage Today, Reuters Health, Scientific American and The Scientist.

He has received numerous awards for his work, including the 2015 John P. McGovern Medal for excellence in biomedical communication from the American Medical Writers Association, and in 2020 the Council of Science Editors gave Retraction Watch the Award for Meritorious Achievement, their highest honour.

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Dr Jade Hutchinson - The Australian National University
Dr Jade Hutchinson is a Research Fellow at the School of Regulation and Global Governance at the Australian National University, a Research Fellow of Radicalisation and Violent Extremism at the University of New England (Australia), and an internationally recognised expert on online extremism and youth radicalisation.

He also currently serves as Principal Investigator on a PRIMUS grant administered by Charles University (Czech Republic). Holding a Cotutelle (Double) Doctorate from Macquarie University (Australia) and the University of Groningen (The Netherlands), Jade's research focuses on the intersections of extremism, sociotechnical systems, and socioemotional harm.
His work examines how digital media platforms shape the pathways through which young people – particularly boys and men – engage with online extremist content, and how these platforms facilitate grievance-based, misogynist, or conspiratorial ideologies.

Jade has advised governments, educators, and companies on countering violent extremism and has led major research projects on online extremist communities, platform and algorithmic influence, and youth radicalisation in Australia, Canada, and across Europe.

His approach integrates digital media analysis, behavioural science, and socioecological and developmental frameworks to inform evidence-based, multi-stakeholder strategies for addressing online harms and promoting digital media resilience.

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Dr Jason Signolet - Fivecast
Jason is Associate Director of Data Science at Fivecast, a global provider of AI-enabled open-source intelligence solutions. He leads the development of advanced AI and machine learning capabilities that enable organisations to extract actionable insights from large-scale online data.

His work focuses on the practical application of machine learning and generative AI in complex, high-risk environments, including digital footprinting, automated analysis, and AI-assisted investigative workflows. He has been instrumental in embedding practices that ensure AI systems are trustworthy, measurable, and aligned with operational requirements.

Jason is particularly interested in the role of AI in detecting and countering misinformation, influence operations, and emerging online threats. He regularly contributes to industry discussions through presentations, workshops, and collaboration with government and academic partners.

He holds a PhD from the University of Cambridge, where his research focused on modelling stem cell gene regulatory networks.

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Jennifer Mulveny - Adobe
Jennifer Mulveny is Adobe’s Director of Government Relations for Asia Pacific based in Sydney.  She is responsible for all public policy issues that impact Adobe’s regional business, including artificial intelligence, data, international trade, privacy, cybersecurity and intellectual property. She manages Australia, China, India, Japan, Korea and Southeast Asia.

Before joining Adobe in 2017 Jennifer was Director of Policy for Australia, New Zealand and Southeast Asia at Intel Corporation. She served as Intel’s U.S. Senate Republican liaison in Washington, D.C. where she lived for almost 20 years before moving to Australia in 2014.

During her time in Washington Jennifer also served as Director of Global Trade Policy at Hewlett Packard. She also was a political appointee under President George W. Bush serving as Deputy Assistant for Congressional Affairs at the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative.  She has worked in the U.S. Congress in both the House and the Senate.

Jennifer has held several advisory roles within government and business, specialising in matters of international trade and technology policy. She also has advised non-government and charitable organizations focused on mental health and youth wellness.  She sits on the board of Stepping Stone House in Australia, a charity focused on eradicating youth homelessness.

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Jenny Duxbury - Digital Industray Group Inc. (DIGI)
Jenny leads the work of the Digital Industry Group Inc in online safety and mis- and disinformation including the development of the Australian Code of Practice for Disinformation and Misinformation and the Consolidated Industry Codes of Practice for the Online Industry which regulate seriously harmful online materials such as child sexual abuse and pro-terror materials.

She has deep experience in policy and regulatory affairs in the fields of media and technology, holding senior executive roles at Reuters, Lonely Planet and Nine. She has a PhD in public policy which examines the role of legal expertise in value-laden policy controversies.

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Associate Professor Jeremy Brownlie  - Griffith University
Jeremy Brownlie is the Director of Engagement for the Science Faculty at Griffith University, Brisbane.  His research  explores human evolution  and  applies  genetic tools to repatriate ancestorial Indigenous remains to communities.

As a member of the Prime Minister’s National Science and Technology Council, Jeremy was the lead sponsor of four reports  that explored misinformation’s impact on Australian society and  what might be done to mitigate it.

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John Gregory - NewsGuard
John Gregory is Health Editor for NewsGuard, leading the news organization's efforts reporting on false health claims circulating online. He has worked at NewsGuard since 2018. He previously served as a senior reporter for TriMed Media’s HealthExec.com, covering health care policy, regulation and business. Prior to his work at TriMed Media, Gregory was a state politics and government reporter for the Illinois Radio Network’s Chicago bureau.

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Dr John Cook - The University of Melbourne
John Cook is a cognitive scientist, researching how to use critical thinking to counter misinformation. In 2007, he founded Skeptical Science, a website that won the 2011 Australia Museum Eureka Prize for the Advancement of Climate Change Knowledge.

In 2013, he published an award-winning paper quantifying the 97% scientific consensus on climate change which was highlighted by President Obama and UK Prime Minister David Cameron.

In 2015 at the University of Queensland, he led the development of a Massive Open Online Course on climate science denial that has received 40,000+ enrollments from over 185 countries.

He co-authored the college textbooks Climate Change: Examining the Facts and Climate Change Science: A Modern Synthesis , as well as the book Climate Change Denial: Heads in the Sand.

He wrote and illustrated the book Cranky Uncle vs. Climate Change , followed by development of the Cranky Uncle game, which combines critical thinking, cartoons, and gamification to build resilience against misinformation.

He has worked with organisations such as Facebook, NASA, the Sabin Vaccine Institute, and UNICEF to develop evidence-based responses to misinformation.

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Dr Justine Lacey - CSIRO
Dr Justine Lacey is a senior research leader at CSIRO with recognised expertise in responsible innovation, trust in science, and public engagement. She formerly led CSIRO’s Responsible Innovation Future Science Platform (RI FSP), an eight year program that contributed to embedding ethical and social considerations into the organisation’s approach to emerging science and technology. The RI FSP strengthened capability across CSIRO and supported the development of responsible and socially aligned innovation practices.

With a background in philosophy, Justine’s research spans the social foundations of innovation, including social licence to operate, public trust, and the ways communities and industries adapt to technological and environmental change. Her work has informed responsible approaches in the minerals sector and across other resource and environmental domains.

Today, Justine continues to focus on strengthening trust in science, supporting meaningful engagement, and ensuring that research and innovation remain responsive to societal values and expectations. She works across disciplines and sectors to help shape future focused, socially aligned pathways for Australian science and technology.

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Professor Kerrie Wilson - Queensland Government
Professor Kerrie Wilson commenced her role as Queensland Chief Scientist on 1 November 2023. She is responsible for supporting the generation and translation of globally significant science to ensure sustainable economic growth in Queensland.

With a distinguished career in academia and conservation, Professor Wilson has held prominent positions at Queensland University of Technology (QUT), including Pro Vice-Chancellor (Sustainability and Research Integrity) and Executive Director of the QUT Institute for Future Environments. Her previous leadership roles include Director of the ARC Centre of Excellence for Environmental Decisions, Director of Conservation for The Nature Conservancy Australia, and she currently serves as a natural sciences expert on the Australian Heritage Council.

Professor Wilson holds a Bachelor of Environmental Science (First Class Honours) from The University of Queensland and a PhD from The University of Melbourne, completed in collaboration with the UN Environment Programme’s World Conservation Monitoring Centre in Cambridge, UK.

Outside of her professional commitments, Professor Wilson is an avid outdoor enthusiast, regularly exploring Queensland’s national parks with her family.

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Lyndal Byford - Australian Science Media Centre
Lyndal Byford joined the Australian Science Media Centre (AusSMC) in 2007 after a stint at the UK Science Media Centre.

Lyndal holds an Honours degree in Biotechnology from Flinders University and a Graduate Diploma in Science Communication from the Australian National University. She specialises in translating complex science for news audiences and has extensive experience working in science journalism, across roles in Australia and the UK.

She oversees the AusSMC news portal Scimex.org and has regular slots presenting science news on ABC radio. Her journalism and commentary have been published by outlets including Crikey, Cosmos, the ABC, and News Corp Australia. She holds a Visiting Associate position at Adelaide University and is a judge for the Eureka Prize for Science Journalism.

Lyndal has advised the Australian government as a member of Inspiring Australia’s Science and the Media Expert Working Group. In recognition of her contribution to science journalism and communication, she was awarded the 2023 Unsung Hero of Science Communication by Australian Science Communicators.

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Dr Marian-Andrei Rizoiu - University of Technology Sydney (UTS)
Dr Marian-Andrei Rizoiu is an Associate Professor at UTS, leading the Behavioral Data Science lab, and the Director of the Defence Innovation Network. His research detects and counters state-sponsored information operations and misinformation through behavioural pattern analysis—an approach that works across languages and platforms.

He leads major research projects for Commonwealth agencies including Defence and Home Affairs, securing $12M+ in funding. His research directly informs national communication campaigns against toxic masculinity and youth radicalisation, with tools and findings implemented in government policy.

His contributions have been recognised through two consecutive finalist nominations for the Australian Museum Eureka Prize for Outstanding Science in Safeguarding Australia (2024, 2025), the Excellence Award and Academic of the Year at the 2023 Australian Defence Industry Awards, and Best Paper Award at The Web Conference 2025. He regularly engages with government agencies and the public to translate complex research into actionable policy on misinformation and information integrity.

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Dr Michelle Wong - Lab Muffin
Dr Michelle Wong is a science communicator with a background in science education. In 2011, she started Lab Muffin Beauty Science to explain cosmetic science and debunk myths for a general audience, through her website, YouTube and social media. Her book The Science of Beauty was released in 2024. She also co-founded Beauty SciComm, a social enterprise to improve the accuracy of beauty science content.

Michelle has delivered invited talks on science communication at the APAC Trusted Media Summit, 6th International Conference on Ultraviolet Radiation and Skin Cancer Prevention, and the Skin Cancer Congress. Her scicomm work has been profiled in publications including Wired, New York Times, ABC News, Chemistry & Engineering News and Well+Good. She has co-authored articles clarifying cosmetic science topics in medical journals.

She holds a bachelor of advanced science (Honours Class 1 with university medal), organic chemistry PhD (medicinal and supramolecular) and a cosmetic formulation diploma.

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Associate Professor Micah Goldwater - The University of Sydney
Micah B. Goldwater is an Associate Professor of Psychology at The University of Sydney and lead of the Charles Perkins Centre Research Node “Fighting Truth Decay.”  Before joining the University of Sydney, he completed his PhD at The University of Texas at Austin and held a research fellowship at Northwestern University, both in the USA.

His research takes an inter-disciplinary cognitive science approach to understand what makes humans the most intelligent species on the planet, and yet so cognitively vulnerable at the same time. This understanding is then applied to develop evidence-based strategies to improve how we think, strengthen resistance to disinformation, and support better decision-making in everyday life.

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Peter Yates - Australian Science Media Centre
Peter Yates is Chairman of AIA Australia and a Non-Executive Director and Chair-Elect of Regal Partners, a Non-Executive Director of Mutual Trust and of the Australian Japan Business Co-operation Committee (AJBCC).  He is Chairman of the Royal Institution of Australia, the Australian Science Media Centre, the Shared Value Project and a member of the Advisory Board of the Australian American Leadership Dialogue (AALD).

Peter was CEO of Oceania Capital Partners and held the position of Chief Executive Officer of Publishing and Broadcasting Limited from 2001-2004.  He worked in the Investment Banking industry including 15 years with Macquarie Bank.  He began his career in the Tokyo Office of Booz, Allen and Hamilton.  He holds an Honorary Doctorate from Murdoch University, a Masters from Stanford University and a Commerce degree from Melbourne University.  He speaks Japanese, having studied at Keio University in Tokyo and Yamate High School in Yokohama.

Peter was Chairman of the Faculty of Business and Economics at Melbourne University, ARC Centre of Excellence for Quantum Computation and Communication at UNSW, the Royal Children’s Hospital Foundation, Deputy Chairman of The Myer Family Investments and Asialink, and a Director of Linfox Australia, the Australian Chamber Orchestra, Crown Ltd, Foxtel Ltd, The Nine Network, the National Portrait Gallery, The Centre for Independent Studies and the Australia-Japan Foundation.

In the June 2011 Queen’s Birthday Honours, Peter was awarded a Member of the Order of Australia. He is a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Technology and Engineering (ATSE) and the AICD. In 2019 he was awarded the Australian Academy of Science Medal.

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Dr Rachel Stephens - Adelaide University
Dr Rachel Stephens is a Cognitive Scientist and Director of the Reasoning and Decisions Lab at Adelaide University. Her research investigates the cognitive processes behind human reasoning and decision-making, asking: how do people draw conclusions and make judgements based on new and existing knowledge? Her work explores both the strengths of human thinking and the factors that lead to errors or biases, with the goal of developing practical interventions such as reasoning aids, digital tools, and training programs.

A key focus of her research is testing whether reasoning is based on distinct “fast” intuitive processes and “slow” deliberative processes, or a single underlying system. She examines these questions across contexts such as time pressure, cognitive load, and development over the lifespan.

Dr Stephens also studies how people navigate online information environments, including social media, exploring how beliefs are shaped, consensus is perceived, and misinformation spreads. Working with industry and defence partners, she aims to translate cognitive science insights into practical solutions that support critical thinking, better decision-making, and resilience in complex information landscapes.

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Rachel Lord - YouTube
Rachel Lord is YouTube’s Government Affairs and Public Policy lead in Australia and New Zealand, a qualified lawyer and former government official with extensive experience in international law, human rights and foreign policy.

Since 2022, Rachel has managed YouTube’s regulatory strategy in Australia and leads YouTube’s contribution to local policy discussions.

Before joining Google, Rachel worked across the Commonwealth and NSW governments, including the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and NSW Department of Premier and Cabinet, and as an advisor to then-Attorney-General Philip Ruddock.

Rachel holds a Master of International Law from the University of Nottingham, attending as a Chevening Scholar, and undergraduate qualifications in Law and Arts from QUT.

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Rae Johnston - Science and technology journalist
Rae Johnston is a multi-award-winning STEM journalist and Broadcaster, the host of ABC Radio National’s Download This Show, ABC Radio Sydney’s Saturday Mornings (broadcasting state-wide) and iHeartRadio’s Weird Tech podcast. She also travels the country as a TV host on NITV’s Going Places with Ernie Dingo, ABC’s Back Roads and SBS’ The Secret DNA Of Us.

Rae currently serves on the boards of both the Telstra Foundation and Swinburne University of Technology.

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Sarah Wyse - Matterworks
Sarah Wyse is the co-founder and CEO of Matterworks, a health media business dedicated to bridging the gap between science and the public. With a career spanning digital media, technology and entertainment, Sarah brings a rare cross-disciplinary lens to one of the most pressing challenges of our time: making trusted health information not just accessible, but compelling enough to compete for attention in today's crowded content economy.

At Matterworks, Sarah has built the content operation and media infrastructure that is purpose-built to turn peer-reviewed research into engaging, evidence-based media, at scale — work that sits at the intersection of storytelling, science and public health. Her conviction is simple but urgent: in a digital landscape defined by fragmented platforms and a rising tide of health misinformation, how we communicate science matters as much as the science itself.

Her background in digital media gives her a practical understanding of how content is distributed, discovered and consumed in the digital era — and why reach and impact are as important as the quality of the story itself.

She speaks on storytelling in science, digital content strategy, and how smarter communication can be a frontline defence against misinformation and its very real consequences for public health.

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Susan Allison - Springer Nature Journals
After completing an honours degree in Biochemistry at the University of Otago, New Zealand, Susan moved to Sydney to take up a PhD position at the Garvan Institute of Medical Research, investigating the mechanisms of anabolic bone formation.

Susan then moved to Sweden to undertake postdoctoral research at the Stem Cell Institute at Lund University.

She left the bench to enter a career in scientific publishing in 2008, first joining Nature Reviews Gastroenterology & Hepatology as an Associate Editor before being appointed Chief Editor of Nature Reviews Nephrology in 2009.

In June 2020 Susan took on an expanded role as a Consulting Editor on the biological sciences team of Nature. She relocated from London back to Sydney in September 2022.

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Dr Susannah Eliott - Australian Science Media Centre
With over 30 years of experience, Susannah has dedicated her career to bridging the gap between science and the public. She has been the CEO of the Australian Science Media Centre since its establishment in 2005.

Her journey began as a research scientist, studying the fascinating soil creatures known as slime moulds at Macquarie and Stanford Universities. Following her PhD, she transitioned to science communication, studying journalism and leading the UTS Centre for Science Communication in the 1990s. In the early noughties, she moved with family to Sweden to become Director of Communications for IGBP, a global research organisation focused on environmental change.

Susannah has a PhD in cell and developmental biology from Macquarie University, a Graduate Diploma in Journalism from the University of Technology Sydney (UTS) and an honorary doctorate in science communication from the University of Adelaide. In 2023 she was elected as a fellow of the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering (ATSE).

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Professor Toby Walsh - UNSW Sydney
Toby Walsh is an ARC Laureate Fellow and Scientia Professor of AI at UNSW Sydney.

He is Chief Scientist of UNSW.AI, UNSW's campus wide AI Institute. He is a strong advocate for limits to ensure AI is used to improve our lives, having spoken at the UN, and to heads of state, parliamentary bodies, company boards and many others on this topic.

This advocacy has led to him being "banned indefinitely" from Russia. He is a Fellow of the Australia Academy of Science, and was named on the international "Who's Who in AI " list of influencers. He has written five books on AI for a general audience, the most recent is "The Shortest History of AI: six ideas are all you need to know".

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Tory Maguire - Nine Entertainment
In 2024 Tory Maguire was appointed Managing Director – Publishing at Nine Entertainment, assuming management responsibility for Nine’s publishing assets including metro mastheads and The Australian Financial Review.

Prior to this, Tory was the Executive Editor of The Sydney Morning Herald, The Age, Brisbane Times and WAToday – a role she held from July 2021. A highly-experienced editor and journalist, she led the transformation of the newsrooms of the mastheads and saw significant growth in all areas of her remit.

Maguire previously held senior editorial roles at News Corp and The Huffington Post as well as National Editor at Nine’s metro mastheads.