Speaker

Mark started his career as a pilot in the Royal Australian Air Force. Over his nearly 12 years in the RAAF he flew several aircraft types and was involved in many operations supporting Australian defence interests, including humanitarian relief, search and rescue operations and domestic and overseas military operations, including areas of military and civil conflict.

In 1998, he joined the family business, Bernie Lewis Home Loans, started by his father Bernie in 1987, one of the first mortgage brokers in Australia and the first to pioneer mortgage broking in South Australia.

In 2003, Mark was appointed Managing Director of Bernie Lewis Home Loans.

From 2003 to 2005 he was the South Australian State President of the Mortgage & Finance Association of Australia and subsequently National President and Chairman of the Association from 2005 to 2007.

Over the years Bernie Lewis Home Loans has won many industry awards including best mortgage broking business in Australia for three consecutive years.

In 2009 Mark was part of a consortium of investors who rescued the Adelaide 36’ers NBL Basketball team from bankruptcy and ensured the viability of professional basketball in Australia. He was the club’s Chairman for nearly three years whilst the club’s foundation was rebuilt to ensure a strong future.

In 2005, Bernie and his wife Christine were tragically killed in an aircraft accident whilst on holiday in New Zealand. As Executor of their estate, Mark’s job of dealing with their estate was made easier by the existence of the Green Box that Bernie had created, which contained all the documentation and information needed to make finalising their estate as easy as possible.

After nearly 24 years, Mark sold Bernie Lewis Home Loans and now spends his time consulting to small business, various board positions and presenting about the importance of the Green Box and the peace of mind it can provide to families after personal tragedy.

His personal passion project is to spread the word about the Green Box, what was in the Green Box, the importance of the Green Box and encourage every Australian family to have their own Green Box to provide security and peace of mind for families when the worst happens.

Rabia Siddique is an Australian criminal and human rights lawyer, retired British Army officer, former terrorism and war crimes prosecutor, international humanitarian, hostage survivor, professional speaker, advocate and published author.

Rabia has undertaken human rights and community aid work in the Middle East, South America, the United Kingdom and Australia, receiving numerous awards including a Queen’s commendation in 2006 for her work in Iraq, Runner Up for Australian Woman of the Year UK in 2009, Australian Business Woman of the Year Finalist and being named one of Australia’s Top 100 Women of Influence.

Rabia was also selected as a State finalist in the 2016 Australian of the Year Awards and has been appointed as a Director of the International Foundation for Non-Violence and the Museum of Freedom and Tolerance WA.

Having earned an international reputation as a powerful, transformative, inspirational and unforgettable speaker Rabia is in demand to address audiences around the globe. In October 2014 Rabia received a standing ovation from 1700 people at her TEDx talk titled ‘Courage Under Fire’ where she spoke about the power we all have to create the change in the world we wish to see.

In March 2015, Rabia was nominated for the Woman Lawyer of the Year Award and cited as a case study at the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women in New York. In 2017 Rabia was named by PSA as Breakthrough Keynote Speaker of the Year and has been nominated this year for the Keynote Speaker of the Year Award.

Rabia’s best selling memoir, “Equal Justice’ was published in Australia and New Zealand in 2013 and is now in its tenth reprint. Her book will soon be published in North America and Europe and a feature film based on Rabia’s incredible life is currently being developed.

Leading with professionalism, integrity, ethics and compassion, Rabia, who speaks English, French, Spanish and Arabic, is committed to peace, diversity, inclusion and education. This is evidenced in her philanthropic work and dedication to inspiring others to find their voice and embrace their capacity to create ripples of change.

Rabia has run the London marathon and a double marathon in Australia for charity. She is a Mother to young triplet boys, her biggest and most rewarding challenge yet.

Rabia’s life purpose is to tell, teach and curate impactful stories for global change.

Put simply, to inspire, empower and transform!

Having a background in both lending and Aggregation, Steve joined Loan Market in 2010. Since this time he has held various positions within Loan Market Australia including roles as Chief Operating Officer and Chief Commercial Officer.

Following Loan Market’s acquisition of Plan, Choice and FAST, Steve stepped into the role of Head of Northern Region for FAST, whilst retaining responsibilities for Asset Finance and Commercial within Loan Market Australia. Following the group realignment towards the end of 2021, Steve was appointed to the role of Group Executive, Commercial and Asset Finance and now leads a team dedicated to improving brokers capabilities in the Commercial and Asset Finance space.

Jakob was appointed Chief Technology Office in 2020.

Previously, Jakob has held senior roles in IT in multiple different industries from health care to government to financial services for the last 20 years. He has worked in both Europe as well as Australia.

Jakob’s role is to continuously challenge, improve, build solutions and manage the way Loan Market Group delivers the most high performing technology platform to allow brokers to operate effectively and efficiently.

Mike Felton is CEO of the Mortgage & Finance Association of Australia (MFAA).

Mike joined the MFAA in 2016, bringing more than 35 years’ experience in financial services to the role, having held a range of senior positions in financial markets, treasury, auto and asset finance, and project management.

Over the course of his career, Mike has held transformational roles in high profile, dynamic environments in Australia and abroad, which have shaped his approach to guiding both the MFAA and the mortgage broking industry through a period of unparalleled scrutiny and change.

During his time with the MFAA, Mike has unrelentingly championed the association’s advocacy efforts on behalf of brokers and the industry, which has not only had a significant influence on policy outcomes for the benefit of 17,000 broker businesses and the communities they serve, but also allowed the industry to lean into scrutiny and thrive in a sustainable manner.

Mike holds a Masters in Business Administration and a Bachelor of Commerce Degree.

Associate Professor, Dr Catherine Ball is a scientific futurist, speaker, advisor, author, founder, executive producer, executive director, company and director working across global projects where emerging technologies meet humanitarian, education and environmental needs. Catherine also likes to create businesses and champion movements, collaborate with peers, and advise game-changers.

A sought-after voice across the start-up, futurist and tech world, Catherine works globally across a wide range of projects from creating documentaries and world leading conferences and events, to advising on the use of novel approaches (e.g. drones) across environmental and humanitarian projects. Catherine is a proponent of community engagement with STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics), and likes to demystify emerging tech.

Having been called a ‘social architect’, Catherine likes to connect people from different backgrounds across common themes. A champion of diversity and inclusion, Catherine believes we need points of difference to truly innovate and curate the changes we want to see in the world. Working to protect the natural environment and empowering all members of society through mutual education are core aspects of the projects Catherine chooses to spend her time and energy on.

Catherine continues to support Australia as being the world leader in the advancement of ethically driven technological applications. Industry 5.0 is emerging; with society and community at the heart of how we operate and curate emerging trends and capabilities.

Catherine is the only Australian on the International Advisory Board of the Schmidt Ocean Institute, which follows her work as a judge on the Ocean Discovery XPrize. A proud #SheFlies ambassador for Girl Geek Academy, and a mentor and advisor to the CEO of Women Who Drone, and a regular mentor to many rising stars across the STEM fields in Australia and abroad, Catherine believes in actively paying it forward.

An Associate Professor at the Australian National University and Honorary Associate Professor at the 3AI Institute; Catherine is leading national conversations around technology and its place in the current and future challenges in Australia and the Asia-Pacific region.

Catherine’s latest business ventures include the internationally renowned World of Drones and Robotics Congress, established in Brisbane in 2017 and the free community resources of World of Drones Education, established in 2018.

Catherine is a board director for Aviation Australia; and is on the international advisory board for the Ocean Impact Org, a not-for-profit ecosystem for businesses working towards a healthier ocean.

Catherine holds a BSc Honours (Environmental Protection) and a PhD (Spatial Ecology, Descriptive and Predictive Statistics) from the University of Newcastleupon-Tyne in the United Kingdom. Catherine lives in Queensland with her husband and two sons.