2010 Congress Keynote Speakers

Daniel Alesch, Senior Recovery Advisor and Professor Emeritus, University of Wisconsin-Green Bay, USA
Dan Alesch is a leading expert on the impacts of extreme events on business and communities and for the last 30 years has been conducting policy-related disaster research and their consequences, mitigation politics and policy, and should a disaster occur, the challenges of business and community disaster recovery. He has consulted governments in the United States and abroad and has delivered scholarly papers across the United States and in Europe and Asia.  He has a book scheduled for publication on guidelines for community recovery, and another on how organizations make what he calls “the hazard mitigation investment decision.”  He is also working with others to develop a theory of community recovery.

Christine Nixon, former Victorian Police Chief and head of the Victorian Bushfire Reconstruction and Recovery Authority.
Notably one of Victoria’s highest profile figures, Christine Nixon was the first women to become a police commissioner in Australia.  Following her retirement in 2008, Ms Nixon was appointed head of the Victorian Bushfire Reconstruction and Recovery Authority, which was formed as a result of the devastating “Black Saturday” bushfires in February 2009.  Her role was to oversee and coordinate the largest recovery and rebuilding program Victorian has ever faced.

Tim Costello, Chief Executive Officer, World Vision Australia
Tim Costello has long been the voice of social conscience for many Australians, having led debates on domestic issues such as gambling, urban poverty, homelessness, reconciliation and substance abuse.  In his role as Chief Executive of World Vision, Australia’s largest overseas aid organization, Tim has witnessed the worst of humanitarian disasters and seen the most inspiring human responses to suffering.  Tim was awarded Victorian of the Year in 2004, the Victorian Australian of the Year in 2005, and in June the same year, was made an Officer of the Order of Australia (AO).

Cheryl Kernot, former leader of the Australian Democrats and Labour MP
Cheryl Kernot was first elected to the Senate in 1990, and in 1993 became the fifth leader of Australian Democrats; a position she held for 4 years before defecting to the Australian Labour Party.  After a distinguished political career, Ms Kernot spent five years working in the UK as Programme Director at the Skoll Centre for Social Entrepreneurs at the Said Business School at Oxford University and as the Director of Learning at the School for Social Entrepreneurs in London.  In 2008, she joined the Centre for Social Impact at the University of New South Wales as its first Director of Teaching where she oversees the development of Masters’ courses in the areas of business social responsibility, not-for-profit management and social investment.

Christine Healy, Former Director, ACT Bushfire Recovery Centre
Christine Healy has an extensive career in public sector management in the Victorian, NSW and ACT governments, and a long professional background and experience in community recovery after emergencies and disasters. She was the Director of the ACT Bushfire recovery centre after the devastating 2003 bushfires and a consultant to the Australian and Queensland governments on recovery services after tropical cyclone Larry.  In 2007 Ms Healy toured the UK and the US where she studied recovery services after the london bombings, 9/11 and Hurricane Katrina.

Sophie Morell,  World transplant athlete, business woman and inspirational speaker
At 27, Sophie Morell had already achieved much in her life. She volunteered her time and experience towards not-for-profit organisations, worked for the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games and was a strategic business development consultant for Australian companies focused on the Middle Eastern markets. Then Sophie was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL) resulting in an intensive chemotherapy program. The chemotherapy was unsuccessful and she was told she had 12 months to live.  Sheer determination, courage and a sense of humour are the primary reasons why Sophie survived cancer and her bone marrow transplant.  In 2005 she competed in the XV World Transplant Games in London, Canada resulting in a world record and six medals including five gold (rowing and swimming).  Today Sophie is a successful motivational speaker.  Her natural charm, professionalism and glamour will take you on a journey of hope, sorrow, laughter, tears and most importantly courage.