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Gus BalbontinInvestor, Advisor and Adventurer
Born and bred in wild Patagonia, Gus never allowed his small town and humble beginnings get in the way of his big dreams. A healthy disrespect for authority and a severe case of FOMO (fear of missing out) landed him in Australia at the Young age of 17. |
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Dr Catriona WallaceFounder of Responsible Metaverse Alliance
Catriona is an expert in the field of Artificial Intelligence and the Metaverse and is an Adjunct Professor, keynote speaker and Founder of the Responsible Metaverse Alliance. Catriona is also the co-author of the book Checkmate Humanity: the how and why of Responsible AI. |
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Robert BrittainExpert Consultant in Advertising and Media Efficiency.
Robert Brittain is an Independent marketing consultant and strategic advisor to CMOs. Focused on enabling enterprise-wise marketing effectiveness capability. UA-published writer and speaker in his field, Robert is co-author of the “Advertising Effectiveness Rules” series of reports from the ACA Effectiveness Database with the globally renowned Peter Field. These include “Winning or Losing in a Recession”, “To ESOV and Beyond” and “Attention and Effectiveness”. Prior to becoming an independent marketing consultant Robert spent 20 years in client-side commercial roles including leading Marketing Effectiveness at ANZ Bank Banking Group and Marketing Analytics at Mondelez International across the Asia-Pacific region. |
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Sarla FernandoDirector of Regulatory & Advocacy - ADMA.
Sarla is a globally experienced, digitally-grounded professional passionate about using her legal and commercial skillset to help businesses navigate the sometimes complex world of data governance and Privacy. Sarla is also proficient in developing Digital Marketing strategies, Data compliance frameworks and audience growth strategies for large multi-divisional/ multi-national businesses. With industry experience obtained through a career spanning Privacy, Digital Media, Television, Publishing, Events, Film, Ticketing, Data, Social Media, Sales, FMCG, Education, Hospitality, Marketing and Advertising, Sarla brings a unique perspective to regulatory and advocacy advisory. Sarla has also provided legal, governance, marketing and branding advisory for large-scale projects that cross jurisdictions for businesses in Australia, NZ, Germany, UK, USA, HK and Sri Lanka. |
Stephen is a distinguished designer, visionary leader, and product strategist with over two decades of experience driving digital product innovation across Aotearoa New Zealand, Europe, and North America.
During his seven-year tenure at RUSH, Steve has developed the company's world-class digital product strategy and design capabilities. His talent for identifying, mentoring, and retaining top industry professionals has resulted in a powerhouse team that consistently delivers award-winning, high-impact products for ambitious clients.
As RUSH's Chief Strategy Officer, Steve brings expertise in human-centred design and strategic foresight, collaborating with clients and internal teams to craft strategic solutions that capitalise on market opportunities and accelerate business objectives.
With a specialised focus on frictionless customer experiences and loyalty programs that truly delight, Steve has applied his thinking to numerous strategic digital initiatives for NZ’s biggest enterprises, including Farmlands, One NZ, Watercare & Z Energy.
A key member of RUSH's senior leadership team, Steve navigates today's business landscape of volatility, uncertainty, complexity, and ambiguity with a leadership approach defined by clarity and compassion, ensuring both team wellbeing and organisational success.