Governing with impact in the new AI world

KEYNOTE - AI - Our future (today's) changed workforce 10:20am

Megan Motto OAM is an experienced executive, board director and governance leader with more than 25 years’ experience across professional associations, public policy and governance. Formerly CEO of the Governance Institute of Australia and Consult Australia, Megan has held influential leadership and advisory roles across Australia’s business and governance sectors. She is currently General Manager of the Ambulance Provident Fund, Principal of MottoAdvisory, Strategic Counsel for Codex Communications, and serves on the Nominations Committee of auDA. A Fellow of the AICD, GIA and CGI, Megan was awarded an OAM in 2025 for her outstanding contribution to business and governance.

KEYNOTE - What AI cannot fake: leading with character in a world of competent machines 11:15am

Adele Stowe-Lindner is Executive Director of Institute of Community Directors Australia, which delivers leadership and governance support to over 250,000 people in the for-purpose sector, annually, across Australia. Adele has worked over two decades across homelessness, refugee support and educational equity in London and Melbourne. She holds a Master’s in Community Work from the University of London and a Master’s in Leadership from Deakin University. Adele’s career centres on scaling for-purpose organisations for innovation and impact and she currently enjoys serving on three community sector boards.

SPEAKING: AI for Directors – You can use it but you can’t blame it - 3:00pm

Steven Bowman is Managing Director of Conscious Governance and brings a great depth of experience facilitating Board reviews and strategic planning processes. Steven has held numerous senior executive, CEO and Board positions in USA and Australia, as well as authoring and co-authoring over 14 books on governance, strategy, risk and executive leadership.

Q & A PANELIST: 1:30pm

Julie Garland McLellan is a governance expert and board-whisperer. With elite postgraduate qualifications and extensive practical experience serving on diverse boards, she combines academic rigor with real-world expertise. An accomplished author of six books on governance, Julie’s approach emphasizes strategic clarity, accountability, and sustainable success. Her masterclasses and keynotes empower leaders to foster responsible, ethical governance that builds trust and protects reputation. Grounded in her disciplined martial arts background and a deep understanding of organisational culture, Julie delivers actionable insights that inspire confident, principled board leadership in today’s complex business environment.

SPEAKING: Lead the Opportunity: How Directors Move from AI Anxiety to AI Advantage - 12:45pm

Alexie O’Brien is a seasoned Chair, Non-Executive Director, and AI transformation expert with a passion for integrating AI to enhance governance, productivity, and innovation.
As the founder of Leadership Academy.AI, Alexie helps boards and executive teams leverage AI to drive better decision-making and operational efficiency. Her leadership in AI stems from pioneering efforts in organisational transformation and executive coaching, and she continues to be a thought leader in using AI to unlock human potential and build future-ready organisations.

SPEAKING: Real-world adoption of AI for governance - 2:30pm

David Renwick is the product marketing manager at BoardPro, a SaaS board governance platform serving NFPs and businesses across New Zealand and Australia. He works closely with the product and marketing teams, leading positioning, GTM strategy, sales enablement and competitive intelligence.