Dr. Michael G. Kollo is recognised as an accomplished executive leader and educator within the realm of artificial intelligence’s significance in business strategy and product development across various sectors including financial services, technology, and public services. Holding a portfolio of leadership roles, Michael has contributed his expertise to renowned institutional investors such as Blackrock, Fidelity, Renaissance Asset Management, Axa Investment Managers, and HESTA. Additionally, he served as a non-executive director for Clime Investment Managers, an ASX-listed entity.

In the entrepreneurial sphere, Michael has been involved with AI and software companies, notably as a key figure at Faethm Pty, an Australian AI software company that was acquired by Pearsons in 2021, and at the Blockchain company Clanz. Beyond entrepreneurship, he actively participates in mentoring and supporting fintech and cybertech startup ecosystems in London and Australia.

In the realm of academia, Michael boasts a PhD in Finance from the London School of Economics, coupled with extensive lecturing experience at esteemed institutions such as the LSE and Imperial College. He has also been invited as a speaker at TedX events, focusing on the responsible utilisation of AI. With publications addressing machine learning’s application in investment management and contributions to the World Economic Forum’s AI/Fintech panel, Michael’s expertise is widely recognised. Moreover, he has cultivated a global audience through educational podcasts like “Curious Quant.”

As well as Director of AI at ADAPT, Michael is also the CEO of Evolved AI, a distinguished executive education and software development firm dedicated to empowering individuals through effective and responsible AI usage, thereby fostering resilient, transparent, and rapidly evolving enterprises.

Marcus Darbyshire is a seasoned CIO and former VP Executive Partner with over 25 years of IT leadership experience. Based in South East Queensland, he is a practical, no-nonsense, results-driven executive, passionate about helping clients achieve strategic, innovative, and commercially successful outcomes.

As a CIO, Darbyshire was known for his cost-effective IT operations, successful projects, and mature IT governance. During his tenure at a global research firm, his client engagement earned him the international “All Stars” award, and he was promoted to VP Executive Partner in 2014, becoming the first in Australia to hold the position.

Darbyshire specialises in leadership coaching and assisting digital leaders in overcoming challenges through his vast executive experience and observations from personally advising and presenting to hundreds of CIOs and technology leaders over the last decade. His expertise includes CIO personal branding, executive time management, and emerging digital leadership competencies.

A skilled presenter and workshop facilitator, Darbyshire advises on digital strategy, leadership, personal brand, governance, cost optimisation, IT performance reporting, IT operating models, and high-performance team culture. He has served as an adviser to many of his clients’ Boards and IT Steering Committees, guiding directors and executives in better governing digital business opportunities and risks.

Darbyshire’s achievements include consistently high client satisfaction ratings, co-creating over 100 IT/Digital strategies, saving clients an estimated $50 million, and delivering over 200 workshops on digital leadership.

Dedicated to empowering individuals, businesses, and enterprises to thrive through cutting-edge IT solutions, Patrick serves as an esteemed ADAPT Advisor.

With a profound passion for facilitating success in the realm of high-performing IT, Patrick brings forth a wealth of expertise, specialising in the Financial Services Industry, honed across diverse domains.

Having collaborated closely with regulatory bodies like the European Commission, EBA, ECB, and Executive Boards of prestigious institutions, Patrick offers invaluable counsel on critical facets including risk & security, compliance, IT strategy & transformation, digitisation strategies (in collaboration with MIT CISR), and large-scale cloud adoption.

Patrick’s leadership has seen the creation and nurturing of a top-tier global IT organisation spread across 45 countries, leading a team of 2000+ FTEs to unparalleled success.

His vision and expertise have resulted in the successful implementation of multi-year IT strategies, groundbreaking digitisation initiatives, and the establishment of market-leading practices in application development and infrastructure engineering encompassing cloud, AI & ML, API, Agile, and DevOps methodologies.

Patrick’s track record boasts the creation and delivery of pioneering capabilities such as the world’s first online IPO engine, Unified Payments Platform, and innovative New Way of Working initiatives.

A stalwart in the field, Patrick leverages his profound knowledge and experience to navigate the complex landscapes of IT operations and program management, optimising services on a global scale, all while focusing on elevating employee (EX) and client experience (CX).

In his role as an ADAPT Advisor, Patrick serves as a beacon of expertise and guidance, offering invaluable insights and strategies to propel businesses towards unparalleled success in the ever-evolving digital landscape.

Rosalie Adriano is a distinguished executive recognised for her exceptional leadership, financial acumen, and inclusivity. Named one of the 2024 Top 50 CIOs in Australia, she has a proven track record in IT, business, and finance transformations, delivering substantial operational cost savings and process improvements. Rosalie Adriano has extensive experience in the FMCG sector, developing key strategies and roadmaps in digital transformation, security, and compliance.

James is an accomplished executive with a track record in fostering high performance digital teams and leading digital strategies and transformation initiatives. He has a passion for supporting organisations in unlocking value through their digital investments and in building their workforce. James has designed and led programs that have received both state and national awards and recognition. As the Co-Founder and Director of Consulting & Advisory Services at Evolve Health Digital, he leads an Australian-based company that offers Digital Consulting, Advisory, and Leadership Development services. At its core, James and Evolve Health Digital collaborate as an extended part of the team with their partners and clients, tailoring strategies to optimise value across business operations, people and processes.

Nicole Schmitz is a distinguished coach, speaker, and entrepreneur, recognised with multiple awards. She holds dual Bachelor’s degrees in Law and Psychology and is an active member of the International Coaching Federation.

Nicole’s path to mastering confident leadership communication started in her early years, transforming from a shy child into a speaker who addressed a live global audience of over 100,000 people. She later applied this experience in corporate settings, where she influenced top CEOs across Australia and around the world.

Through in-depth research and introspection, Nicole identified a crucial gap in soft skills development within corporate leadership. She observed many intelligent and technically proficient professionals struggling to realise their full potential due to weaknesses in leadership communication.

Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, when mindset, confidence, and communication were at an all-time low, Nicole brought her vision for Nicole Schmitz Leadership Coaching to fruition.

Within just two months, she had partnered with clients in 10 countries across APAC, NA, and EMEA, helping them overcome challenges and develop the skills to think, speak, and connect as influential thought leaders, driving business strategy, relationships, change, and growth.

Today, Nicole is dedicated to assisting Australian leaders in bridging the gap between technology, people, and business by adapting to emerging technologies and standing out through advanced soft skills and a strong personal brand.

Nicole possesses a unique talent for cutting through complexity to identify the core of any challenge with clarity, agility, and precision, utilising science-based techniques alongside strong emotional and analytical skills.

Having immersed herself in the cultures of over 45 countries and lived in four cities, Nicole now resides in Sydney, Australia.

She is currently on track to achieve her 2030 goal of helping 20,000 individuals discover their unique Leadership X-Factor.

As an accomplished Chief Information Officer (CIO) and transformational leader, Cameron Ballantine brings over 20 years of experience in driving strategic digital and ICT initiatives that elevate organisational performance and tangible outcomes. His journey began in intensive care nursing, where he developed a deep understanding of healthcare operations before transitioning into ICT program management and executive leadership roles. Cameron’s extensive professional experience, combined with his academic qualifications, has equipped him with highly developed leadership skills tailored to navigate complex organisational structures and challenges.

Andy has 30 years’ international experience in partnering with CIOs and their teams to develop effective leadership and organisational impact. He understands the unique leadership challenges facing senior IT leaders and brings perspective and experience to support, advise, and challenge.

During his career, Andy has balanced “doing” leadership – in operations in the British Army and as a senior executive in a Big 4 consulting firm – with sharing his leadership experience and expertise as a consultant, facilitator, and accredited coach. He has experience working with both IT and vendor executive teams and leaders across many industries, including engineering, oil and gas, mining, Defence, technology and financial services. His current projects feature a mix of global, regional and ANZ clients.

Andy specialises in developing high-performing IT leadership teams who think and act like executives. This involves three main strands: acting as a sounding board and coach to CIOs, developing leadership team members’ executive capability and presence, and aligning individuals into a team that has clear focus, trusting dynamics, and effective supporting processes.

Simon Kriss, Chief AI Officer at simonkriss.ai, is a sought-after keynote speaker and consultant. He is the author of “The AI Empowered Customer Experience,” hosts podcasts on CX and AI, and was named in the 2024 CX Top 50 Global Influencers to Follow.

Based in Melbourne, Australia, Simon is a CX and AI futurologist who presents to audiences around the world. He works with company boards and C-suite executives to help them better understand where the AI opportunities lie for their businesses and how they can get started with effective and ethical AI adoption. He is a divergent thinker who creates unique ideas and solutions, often finding hidden opportunities for businesses to innovate now and win in the future.

Simon’s career in CX spans over 30 years, during which he has managed operations in Australia, New Zealand, Hong Kong, China, India, Poland, Ireland, the UK, Malaysia, Singapore, Pakistan, the Philippines, Indonesia, Japan, Canada, and the USA. His industry experience is as broad as its geography, working in banking, insurance, travel, FMCG, energy, government, telecommunications, business process outsourcing, and more for global brands like Expedia, HSBC Bank, and Cathay Pacific Airways.

Simon is a popular adviser and industry commentator, frequently authoring magazine articles, white papers, and books on various topics.

He is also a highly acclaimed keynote speaker, having presented across the globe on the impact of AI, customer experience essentials, enabling technology, industry trends, outsourcing, contact centres, and the future of CX.

Simon holds a Masters in Viticulture and Wine Technology from the University of Melbourne, a Certificate of Disruptive Strategy from the Harvard Business School, and is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. He is also a lifetime member of the Auscontact Association.

Throughout her career, Sally has held several key leadership positions, each marked by significant achievements. As the Chief Operating Officer at Belle Property, she implemented critical improvements across board reporting, compliance, and financial modelling, enabling the business to target opportunities more effectively. In her tenure as National Director and Head of Operations at Colliers, Sally doubled both revenue and profit for the commercial property management division in just four years, earning her the 2019 Outstanding Professional Services Award.

Transitioning into corporate strategy facilitation, she led many projects and recently spearheaded the acquisition of Proptech Group for MRI Software, instilling change management principles and achieving significant synergies within six months of the acquisition.

Believing in the power of authentic connections and relationships, Sally thrives on continuous learning, offering support, and creating opportunities. With a curious and intuitive mindset, she quickly grasps business needs, particularly in fast-paced environments. Sally’s executive leadership experience equips her with the expertise and cultural acumen necessary to coach and mentor fellow executives or collaborate with businesses in identifying and addressing pain points to ensure they achieve their goals.

Delan’s expertise covers strategy, culture, capability development, operating models, partnerships, systems integration, and consulting. He’s worked with industry leaders like Transgrid, APA, Qantas, Telstra, Marks & Spencer, UBS, MLC, CBA amongst many others; and tech sector heavyweights including Accenture, Wipro and IBM.

Delan holds executive education from Stanford and a background in business and technology management from UTS. He’s passionate about fostering innovation, empowering teams, and delivering customer-centric results while supporting social causes and sustainability.