Panel-Speakers
Leaders Panel
We are bringing together a panel of leaders and people experts to share their own insights and tips & tricks for others. This engaging discussion will focus on how culture and leadership come to life.
Matthew Tripolone
Managing Director – Australia & Pacific,
IHG Hotels & Resorts
Matt Tripolone is Managing Director – Australasia & Pacific at IHG, one of the world’s leading hotel companies. Based in Sydney, Australia since 2021, he leads the company’s strategic growth, performance and operations in the Australasia & Pacific region.
Matt was previously based in Dubai as Vice President of Development for IHG’s Middle East & Africa region since 2018, where he built and led the team that signed 17,000 keys, delivering unparalleled growth and signings for the Group, including the first Kimpton in MEA, and the world’s largest Crowne Plaza and voco hotels in the world.
Prior to that, Matt headed development for IHG in Australasia & Japan, where he was responsible for IHG’s growth and doubled the annual signings, including iconic properties including InterContinental Perth, Crowne Plaza Christchurch, Crowne Plaza Sydney Darling Harbour and InterContinental Hayman Island Resort, as well as the renewal of several strategic portfolios for the group.
He joined IHG in 2014 from Accor Hotels where he held the role of General Manager, Development – Pacific, since 2008. Prior to that Matt has worked for a number of leading companies specialising in development, planning and acquisition including Scanna Developments and Urbis.
Matt holds a Bachelor of Arts and Masters in Urban Planning and Development from the University of Sydney.
Sophie Brown
Head of HR, Australia & New Zealand,
Galderma
Sophie Brown is an internationally experienced People and Culture leader and executive coach.
Sophie is Head of HR Australia and New Zealand at Galderma, a Swiss headquartered company dedicated to skin and advancing the future of dermatology. Galderma has an innovative, science-based portfolio of sophisticated brands and services across Injectable Aesthetics, Dermatological Skincare and Therapeutic Dermatology. Prior to joining Galderma, Sophie held HR leadership roles in healthcare, construction, and consumer goods, based in Australia and Singapore.
A certified executive coach, Sophie is passionate about how individuals, teams, and organisations can reach their potential.
Sophie holds a Bachelor in Business Administration and B. Arts (Psychology) from Macquarie University.
Zaklina Craig
Executive Director – People, Culture and Workplace,
Business NSW
Zaklina is an experienced people, culture and change leader with over 20 years of experience working with businesses in every aspect of their employee lifecycle. Zaklina has led large teams in enabling and core business functions delivering systemic and sustainable change. Her niche expertise is integrating strategy, systems, culture and leadership.
Zaklina commenced her career as a lawyer in private practice and is also degree-qualified in human resources management and industrial relations. She holds several leadership and coaching qualifications, including lifetime accreditation in the Human Synergistics culture and leadership toolset. She is one of few practitioners in Australia accredited in Requisite Organisation and Stratified Systems Theory, having undertaken extensive studies on the topic both in Australia and in the United States.
Zaklina is currently an Executive Director at Business NSW leading their Human Resources, Property, Internal Communications and Branding teams. She has held senior roles with Sydney Water and the Australian Retailers Association.
Antoinette Truda
Executive Director, Commercial Services,
Victorian Chamber of Commerce
Antoinette has extensive experience as a Commercial Executive, Company Director, Advisor and Entrepreneur across a range of sectors.
She is currently Executive Director, Commercial Services with the Victorian Chamber of Commerce & Industry and is also Non-Executive Director of ASX-listed SKS Technologies Group Limited, customer-owned bank Goulburn Murray Credit Union and e-commerce business, Slimline Warehouse.
Prior to joining the Chamber, Antoinette was CEO of a multi-office Victorian real estate network which culminated in Victoria’s largest real estate merger at the time. She worked at NAB for 11 years, leading various business units in Consumer and Business Banking, and spent the early stages of her career in Strategy and Corporate Advisory roles. In between raising three young girls, Antoinette co-founded her own business, bringing a pharmaceutical skincare brand to the retail market nationally.
Antoinette has a personal purpose to drive value-realisation outcomes for people and for organisations – in that order. Culture is at the heart of her leadership practice and she relishes the opportunity to share that ethos across such diverse contexts, every day.
Johanna Birgensson
Executive General Manager, People, Safety & Culture,
Australian Gas Infrastructire Group (AGIG)
With people spanning four states and six offices, Johanna leads the national workforce strategy and management. Joh is responsible for all key people functions at AGIG, including People and Culture, Health and Safety, and Training and Development as well as Property.
As a forward-thinking leader, Joh has significant experience in complex industrial environments, and recently joined AGIG following eight years in an Executive General Management Human Resources role.
Johanna has a Bachelor of Arts, holds Post Graduate qualifications in Human Resource Management from the University of Melbourne and is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
David Byrum
Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director,
Human Synergistics Australia
David graduated from the University of Sydney with a Bachelor of Science, Honours Degree and a Masters in Business Administration from Deakin University.
David’s partnerships focus on enhancing the capability of individuals, teams and business processes to achieve sustainable bottom line performance improvement. Prior to joining Human Synergistics in 2012, David was a principal partner with Kepner Tregoe, holding senior leadership positions including Regional Managing Director for Kepner Tregoe Australasia, Representative Director for Kepner Tregoe Japan and a member of the global leadership team.
He brings to his clients over 25 years of industry experience across all industry sectors. David has led the development of organisational strategies and implementation of strategic master plans through effective prioritisation of initiatives and resource utilisation. He leads step change / turnaround projects to increase capacity, reduce conversion costs and enhance the customer experience through the development of behaviours and processes that lead to an engaged and results driven culture. David ensures alignment of roles, responsibilities and activity through his pragmatic and data driven approach to issue resolution that allows enhanced collaboration between groups as well as a greater appreciation of both the challenges and the path forward.
How Culture Works
What does ‘culture’ really mean, how does it work, and what impact does it have on performance? Take an interactive journey to get an overview of how culture works.
Our Integrated Approach
Our Integrated Diagnostic System uses the Circumplex to display visual feedback for individuals, teams, managers, leaders, and organisations, enabling you to use a common language at all levels.
Case Studies
Find out how other organisations are creating change and achieving results.