Julie McKay

Event MC

Julie McKay is an experienced facilitator, coach and speaker who has held executive level and leadership advisory roles in government, industry and the NFP sector.  Her focus over the past 16 years has been to influence cultural change within organisations, supporting leaders to understand the intersection between organisational culture, diversity & inclusion, workplace health and safety and performance.

Julie spent 9 years as Executive Director of UN Women Australia, where she worked with the Australian Government on key policy areas including the introduction of paid parental leave, the development of the first National Action Plan to reduce violence against women and their children and the women, peace and security agenda.  During Julie’s time as Executive Director, UN Women Australia grew from a voluntary organization to a major national women’s organization which raised more than $2M for UN Women programs in the Asia-Pacific region. 

She served as the first Gender Advisor to the Chief of the Australian Defence Force between 2014-2018, supporting the Australian Defence Force Leadership to adopt and implement the recommendations of the Broderick Review into the treatment of women in the ADF.  Prior to this she was an advisor to the Chief of Navy on the New Generation Navy cultural reform program and a member of the Defence Gender Equality Advisory Board which supported ADF leaders to make progress on all aspects of diversity and inclusion.

Between 2017-2023, Julie was a partner at PwC Australia and Chief Diversity & Inclusion Officer.  During this time, PwC Australia effectively closed the employee gender pay gap and rolled out firmwide training on attitudes and behaviours which contribute to inequality in the workplace.  She built a client facing practice supporting clients on all aspects of workplace culture, workplace safety and inclusive leadership development.  Julie was a member of the firm’s Executive and played a key role in the design of the employee relations panel and response to bullying and harassment. 

Julie has completed an EMBA at the University of Sydney, is a Vincent Fairfax Fellow of Ethical Leadership and has undertaken a Churchill Fellowship studying the barriers to women’s access to leadership opportunities in traditionally male-dominated industries.  She is Chair of the Board of Brisbane Girls Grammar School, a Board Member of the Campaign for Girls Education (CAMFED) and has held numerous other board and advisory roles across the NFP, education and government sectors.

Julie is now consulting independently coaching Boards and leadership teams on inclusive leadership, undertaking risk and culture reviews, people and D&I strategy development and supporting clients to create safe and respectful workplaces.

Karen Stewart

General Manager, Ambulance Operations – Rural and Remote WA

St John WA

Karen Stewart is a seasoned leader in emergency services, she currently holds the role as General Manager of Ambulance Operations – Rural and Remote at St John WA. Her career began in Scotland, where she became the youngest female paramedic to graduate with an IHCD in Paramedicine in 1997. Over the next 19 years, she held a variety of clinical and leadership roles with the Scottish Ambulance Service before relocating to Australia in 2012.

Since joining St John WA, Karen has progressed through several senior leadership positions, including Clinical Governance Operations Manager. She holds a Master’s degree in Healthcare Management from Murdoch University, where her research on the transition from clinician to manager was published in the Australasian Journal of Paramedicine in 2021. She is an Associate Fellow of the Australasian College of Health Service Management, a certified health manager, and a co-author of multiple publications.

Karen is a passionate advocate for women’s health in the workplace. Over the past two years she has focused on raising awareness of perimenopause and menopause, contributing to articles, podcasts, and television interviews. In 2025, she led the initiative that saw St John WA become the first Emergency Service in Australia to receive menopause-friendly accreditation. Her work earned her recognition as a finalist in the 2025 CAA Awards for Excellence.

Presentation Title: From Silence to Stigma to Strategy: Beyond the Hot Flush – A Personal Journey, and Shaping Menopause-Friendly Workplaces and Driving Change

Abstract: This presentation traces the journey from silence and stigma to strategic action in creating menopause-friendly workplaces. Drawing on lived experience and organisational change, it highlights the challenges, lessons, and practical steps needed to foster inclusive, supportive environments for all employees navigating menopause.

Dr. Erica Kreismann

Founder and Executive Coach

OneWild Coaching 

Erica Kreismann, MD, FACEM, is an Emergency Medicine specialist and board-certified executive coach.  Her passion for leadership and developing people to their greatest potential led her to found OneWild Coaching in 2022. OWC is grounded in the belief that leading with courage and kindness is the foundation for all great leadership and when we lead from the heart in a way that is authentic and real, we will change the world. 

Erica moved to Tasmania 15 years ago, recently returning to the US to continue her adventures in building community and connection across continents.  She can often be found tucked away with a book in front of the fire, or by following her oversized laugh. You can also follow her daily on LinkedIn.

Presentation title and abstract coming soon

Dr. Arabella Koliwan

Interim Chief Executive

The National St John Ambulance Service of Papua New Guinea

Dr Arabella Koliwan is a respected healthcare leader in emergency medicine in Papua New Guinea, presently serving as Interim Chief Executive and Commissioner of National St John Ambulance PNG. Her career is marked by a steadfast commitment to capacity building and health advocacy, demonstrated through senior management of emergency departments, direct leadership in ambulance operations, building high performing teams, and successful implementation of ambitious health initiatives across rural and remote regions.

Presentation Title: Leading High-Performing Teams Under Pressure: Lessons from PNG’s Healthcare Frontlines

Abstract: This presentation shares practical leadership lessons from delivering and sustaining high-performing emergency care in Papua New Guinea during periods of transition and intense external pressure. Drawing on frontline experience leading through organisational change and crisis, Dr Koliwan shares insights into strategies for maintaining team morale, building trust, and achieving service excellence under challenging conditions. These lessons are directly relevant to leaders navigating complex healthcare environments where resilience, responsiveness, and continuous improvement are critical to success.

Kate Clarke

Executive Director, Critical Operational Services

SA Ambulance Service

Kate Clarke is the Executive Director, Critical Operational Services for SA Ambulance Service with over 30 years experience in the health care and ambulance sector. Kate is a registered Intensive Care Paramedic who has completed further tertiary study including a Master of Business Administration. Her expertise is in leadership in ambulance operations and developing and supporting high performing teams. Kate has successfully led the implementation of new programs such as the GoodSAM first responder and the AED registry program for South Australia, implementation of the Clinical Hub and other initiatives in the Emergency Operations Centre focused on improvement of patient safety and performance.

Jordan Emery

Chief Executive Officer

Ambulance Victoria

A widely respected healthcare leader and clinician, Jordan was previously the Chief Executive of Ambulance Tasmania having worked in various clinical, operational and leadership roles at NSW Ambulance and working in global mental health in New York and East Africa.

With a distinguished background of leadership across Australian ambulance services, Jordan has led sustained culture change and reform, as well as contributing to the advancement of paramedicine through his teaching roles and with the Council of Ambulance Authorities (CAA). His work on culture transformation, diversity and inclusion saw him awarded the Ambulance Service Medal in 2024.

Jordan is a registered paramedic with AHPRA and completed his Intensive Care Paramedic training with NSW Ambulance. He is an Adjunct Associate Professor at the University of Tasmania, Board Director of CAA and Chair of the CAA Diversity, Inclusion & Belonging Forum. He holds a Bachelor of Clinical Practice (Paramedic) with Distinction from Charles Sturt University, as well as a Master of Public Health and a Master of Health Management from the University of NSW.

Peta Thompson

Assistant Commissioner, Darling Downs and South West Region

Queensland Ambulance Service

Bio coming soon

Trent Jackson

A/Executive Manager, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultural Safety Unit

Queensland Ambulance Service

Bio coming soon

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Your emergency services go above and beyond their call of duty — and so do we. SDSI is dedicated to providing police, fire and ambulance agencies with the digital resources they need to keep their communities safe. As a value-added reseller of the world’s premier emergency service softwares, a customised software developer, and a provider of 24/7 technical support, SDSI plays a pivotal part in allowing these agencies to operate to the best of their ability.

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Hexagon is the global leader in digital reality solutions, combining sensor, software and autonomous technologies. We are putting data to work to boost efficiency, productivity, quality and safety across industrial, manufacturing, infrastructure, public sector and mobility applications. 

Hexagon’s Safety, Infrastructure & Geospatial division improves the resilience and sustainability of the world’s critical services and infrastructure. We are the global leader in public safety solutions, helping protect 1 billion people. Building on our long-standing leadership in computer-aided dispatch, we provide an AI-enabled public safety platform for data collection, management, analysis, collaboration and response. 

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Our priority is to help our clients achieve their goals by making lifesaving equipment that is effective, reliable and safe to use.

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OneWild Coaching was founded by Dr. Erica Kreismann, an Emergency Medicine Specialist, Executive Medical Director, and certified executive coach with over 20 years of experience leading in high-pressure environments across continents. Her career - from being the first female specialist on Tasmania’s helicopter rescue service to shaping healthcare leadership - has been defined by courage, kindness, resilience, and a deep belief in growth through discomfort.

At OneWild Coaching, Erica partners with women leaders and professionals navigating transition, growth, and challenge. Her approach blends honesty, curiosity, and compassion - helping clients rewrite the rules and stories they live by, build authentic confidence, and step fully into their leadership journey. Drawing on her own story of reinvention and her passion for building community, Erica supports clients in cultivating clarity, courage, and connection so they can lead with authenticity and joy.

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 OneWild Coaching was founded by Dr. Erica Kreismann, an Emergency Medicine Specialist, Executive Medical Director, and certified executive coach with over 20 years of experience leading in high-pressure environments across continents. Her career - from being the first female specialist on Tasmania’s helicopter rescue service to shaping healthcare leadership - has been defined by courage, kindness, resilience, and a deep belief in growth through discomfort.

At OneWild Coaching, Erica partners with women leaders and professionals navigating transition, growth, and challenge. Her approach blends honesty, curiosity, and compassion - helping clients rewrite the rules and stories they live by, build authentic confidence, and step fully into their leadership journey. Drawing on her own story of reinvention and her passion for building community, Erica supports clients in cultivating clarity, courage, and connection so they can lead with authenticity and joy.

Learn More