Annabel Brown

Annabel has more than 25 years experience leading, advising and facilitating effective social and economic development in Australia and the Asia-Pacific.

Annabel was most recently the Deputy CEO of leading Australian policy institute the Centre for Policy Development (CPD) and has led groundbreaking policy reform work across areas as diverse as early childhood development, migration and settlement, transition to a zero carbon economy, productivity and public sector capability building. Annabel's work at CPD has had a particular focus on people-centred service system reform, employment and economic participation, and place-based approaches to social and economic development.

She has particular expertise leading policy design, delivery and evaluation, research, learning and impact assessment processes. She has a talent for exploring, understanding and devising solutions to complex challenges and has a lot of experience in tricky areas like leadership, governance, capability, accountability and empowerment. She is great at delivering, from conceptualisation all the way through to impact. She is a skilled facilitator and convener and is passionate about generating knowledge, through collaborative processes, and using that to improve policy and practice.

She has worked with all levels of government in Australia and globally, including central and line agencies. She has a long history working with international development and social justice agencies and networks. She started her career in community development, including with First Nations and Indigenous peoples in Australia and through-out the world.

Annabel has a Masters in International Development from RMIT University and a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Western Australia, majoring in Philosophy.

She lives and works on the traditional lands of the Wurundjeri people of the Kulin Nation with her partner, children and dog.

Charlotte Siddle

Charlotte has spent the last 10 years working with families and individuals to support the growth and development of philanthropy in Australia. From 2015 - 2021 she worked at the Paul Ramsay Foundation where she held multiple roles focused on communities and place-based initiatives, and building the capability of the philanthropic sector. More recently she has transitioned to supporting the development of her own family office, where she is the CEO of the Siddle Family Office and Executive Director of the Siddle Family Foundation.

Whether it is personally or professionally, Charlotte is passionate about making a meaningful and lasting impact on the communities in which she works. Outside of her formal roles she works with for-purpose organisations and purpose-driven individuals to support the growth and development of the sector and with organisations that support young people with wealth to align their investment and philanthropic activity with their values.

Charlotte lives on Gadigal land in Sydney, Australia.

Jessica Desmond

Jess has over 15 years experience in communications, campaigns and strategy across the public and private sector. Most recently she was a Senior Campaigner for Greenpeace Aotearoa where she led a Greenpeace International innovation lab exploring how to shift mindsets to value nature. She previously led campaigns
on oceans protections, plastics, fisheries and deep sea mining.

Prior to that, Jess worked in communications at The B Team in New York City, supporting advocacy across climate change, governance and transparency and human rights by a global collective of business and civic leaders. Jess is currently undertaking advanced study in Psychology at the University of Auckland, specialised in application to social and political issues.

Jess lives in Tamaki Makaurau (Auckland), Aotearoa New Zealand.

Anandini Mayuran

Anandini has over 15 years experience in public policy, strategy design and delivery, community engagement, knowledge translation and learning frameworks across philanthropy, research and policy portfolios. She led the policy team at the British Academy in the UK and was Head of Capability at the Paul Ramsay Foundation, helping to build the capability of the for purpose and philanthropic sectors.

Anandini is highly experienced in communications and advocacy. She values collaboration, coalition building, and ensuring policy and practice is informed by lived experience. Anandini also provides facilitation, coaching and mentoring.

She has supported strategy and organisational development processes, developed theories of change, stakeholder engagement strategies and learning systems. Anandini is currently working with foundations and research organisations to support change management and strategy development.

Anandini lives on Cammeraygal land in Sydney, Australia, with her family.

Courtney Collins

Courtney Collins is an author, screenwriter and producer. She has been practicing Action Learning for almost twenty years, applying it in learning environments for social entrepreneurs and creative writers.

Courtney holds a Master of Creative Writing and is completing a PhD titled 'Working Against Whiteness in Creative Literary Production’. Her first novel, The Burial, (Allen & Unwin 2012) was published in ten countries and shortlisted for numerous prizes, including the Nita B Kibble Literary Award, NSW Premier's Literary Award for New Writing and the Stella Prize. The Burial is currently being adapted as a feature film. Her second novel, BIRD, will be published by Hachette in August 2024.

Courtney lived in the remote Northern Territory for eight years where she started Ngukurr Story Projects with local Indigenous artists and storytellers, before relocating to Gumbaynggirr Country on the Mid North Coast. She presents and co-produces @areyoustillworkingpodcast and is passionate about storytelling as a driver of social change