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Judges

Malcolm Alder | Partner, KPMG Malcolm Alder is Partner for Digital Economy at KPMG and is on the Board of the Australian Interactive Media Industry Association (AIMIA). Malclom has more than 25 years’ experience in strategy covering the media, technology and telecoms sectors and in 2012, was named as one of the 50 Most Influential People in Technology by Australian IT. Malcolm is a long-time member of KPMG’s Global Media & Telecoms Steering Committee and during his career has worked in UK, Singapore, Malaysia, Canada, New Zealand and the US. Prior to joining KPMG, Malcolm was a partner in a boutique specialist consulting firm. During his career Malcolm has worked with a very broad cross-section of clients including; Telstra, Woolworths, Australia Post, National Australia Bank, Crown, Virgin Mobile, Dept of Broadband, ABC, Foxtel, Bell Canada, Oxford University, Salvation Army, Two Way. Malcolm is a regular public presenter and appears regularly in the media on topics such as social media, broadband and the broader impacts and implications of disruptive technology. ^ Back to Top

Andrew Barlow | Partner, PricewaterhouseCoopers Andrew Barlow is a Partner within PricewaterhouseCoopers Australia based in Melbourne. He has been with PricewaterhouseCoopers for 19 years and specialises in providing financial assurance and advisory services in the Technology, Communication, Entertainment and Media Industry. Andrew has also worked in the UK, Saudi Arabia, Jakarta and Sydney offices of PricewaterhouseCoopers. Andrew leads the PwC Technology, Information, Communication, Entertainment & Media markets in Melbourne and leads the assurance Communications sector in Australia. He is also one of the key partners contributing to, compiling and presenting the annual Australian Entertainment & Media Outlook, a significant and highly in demand market leading publication. ^ Back to Top

Rachel Dixon | Chief Operating Officer, Viocorp Rachel Dixon is COO at Viocorp, one of Australasia's fastest growing providers of enterprise streaming video solutions, and founder and Managing Director of Handshake Media, a successful new media consulting company. Rachel was previously the Deputy Chair at Choice (the Australian Consumers Association), Director of the Australian Centre for Advanced Computing and Communications (ac3), Deputy President of the Australian Interactive Media Industry Association (AIMIA), and Chair of Metro Screen. In 1988 Rachel co-founded FIBRE a telecommunications company serving high-bandwidth connectivity to the film and television post-production sector, successfully sold in 2004 to Sohonet. Rachel has also been a member of the Australian Government's Leaders Group for the Digital Content Industry, and the Australian Government's Working Party on Innovation in the Film and Television Industry. She was one of 1000 Australians who participated in the Prime Minister's Australia2020 Summit. Rachel is a former senior executive with Film Australia and Film Victoria, where she produced more than 100 documentaries and children's television programs, winning several awards including the 1989 AFI Award for best television documentary. Rachel has published one book and several chapters in anthologies on the business of interactive media, and is a frequent keynote speaker on technology, culture and privacy. ^ Back to Top

Garry Hausfeld | Satcom Engineer, Hausfeld Consulting/Gunamoi Software Garry Hausfeld is an independent consulting engineer in satellite communications, and principle of Hausfeld Consulting since 2002. With almost 30 years of experience in the international telecommunications industry, Garry has been providing independent technical advice and engineering consultancy services to Telcos in the Asia Pacific region for over 10 years. Garry first worked as a satellite communications engineer at OTC from 1984 until the merger with Telstra in 1992, where he was involved with all of the major technical developments at the main OTC earth stations in Sydney, Melbourne, Ceduna and Perth. From 1992 until 2001, Garry was employed by Telstra as a satellite communications engineer in the Network Design & Construction branch, and later as an engineering manager in the International Business Unit. During this period, Garry also served as the Australian delegate on the INTELSAT Board of Governors Technical Advisory Committee in Washington DC, including 2 years as Vice Chairman and then Chairman of that committee. When the International Business Unit of Telstra was moved into Reach Ltd (the joint venture with PCCW of Hong Kong), Garry served 12 months as Engineering Manager Global Satellite Platform Planning at Reach. Where he was responsible for planning and managing engineering projects at Reach's teleports in Hong Kong, Sydney and Perth. Since forming Hausfeld Consulting in 2002, Garry has provided satcom engineering consultancy services to a wide range of clients in Australia, Hong Kong, Papua New Guinea, Fiji, Vanuatu, Tonga, and the Solomon Islands. Garry has a Bachelor of Engineering Degree from Newcastle University, a Master of Engineering Science degree from the University of New South Wales, and a Graduate Certificate in Management from the University of Southern Queensland. Garry is a current member of the Institute of Engineers Australia, and a Senior Member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE). ^ Back to Top

John Hibbard | CEO, Hibbard Consulting Pty Ltd John Hibbard holds a Bachelor of Engineering degree from University of Sydney (1966) and a Master of Electronic Engineering from the Netherlands (1971). John’s career has been in the telecommunications industry with some 35 years in the international side. John has worked in the functional areas of engineering, technical and business operations, technical and network planning, business planning and development, sales and marketing before his elevation to general management, and as such has a comprehensive knowledge of the international telecom industry. Since commencing his consultancy business in 2001, John has led projects in the fields of submarine cables, international fixed and mobile voice, engineering services, network development, strategic planning, mobile data, directory assistance, regional development. In recent times, much of his focus has been on the development of telecommunications in Pacific Island countries. John's prior career has been with Telecom Australia, OTC (Aust), Telstra and some subsidiaries of these, providing the variety of working in both a large organization as well as niche entities. After managing the Asia Pacific region for Telstra through the emergence of competition, John became Managing Director, Global Wholesale in 1994. In this role, John was responsible for a team maintaining and growing Telstra's international business with some 250 significant telecommunications operators around the globe. John has contributed to a number of innovations that have emerged in this field. From 1994 to 2000, John established a strong team of committed experts, which was to double the global wholesale business. In doing so, he helped position Telstra to take the next step in his strategic global growth path. John was the founding Chairman of the Australia Japan Cable, a $A1 Billion project that he conceived and drove forward to completion. John has also been elected by the industry as Chairman of the Board of Governors and President of the prestigious Pacific Telecommunications Council, a position he held for 2009-2012. John was voted in 2010 by the industry to receive the inaugural Submarine Networks World award for outstanding contribution to the industry. In 2011, John was awarded the Submarine Telecoms Forum "Industry Achievement Award Winner". ^ Back to Top

Anne Hurley | General Manager, Stakeholder Management, NBN Co Anne Hurley is GM for Stakeholder Management with NBN Co. Anne’s background in professional and commercial initiatives involving high-speed broadband, the NBN and the transition to the digital economy includes founder of an online retail venture, CEO of Communications Alliance and Director of Asia Pacific network engineering operations for American Express. Recognition includes the ATUG Chairman's Award for Contribution to the Industry and nomination as 'one of the top 15 people in telco in 2009' by Comms Day. In 2011, Anne was a recipient of a Board Diversity Scholarship, a joint initiative of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and the Australian Government Office for Women to increase the number of women on Australian boards. ^ Back to Top

Maha Krishnapillai | General Manager, Telecommunications Products and Services, Australia Post Maha Krishnapillai has a strong background in the telecommunications industry, where he has been instrumental in driving a number of reforms in the sector since deregulation. In January 2012, Maha joined Australia Post to lead Telco Products & Services. For the previous 4 years Maha was the Director of Government and Corporate Affairs and Director of Victoria for Optus. A member of Optus' Executive Leadership Team he had national portfolio responsibility for Government & Corporate Affairs, NBN & Regulatory Affairs, Community Relation, as well as executive level responsibility for Optus' 2500 person-strong business in Victoria. Prior to joining Optus Maha was Macquarie Telecom's Group Executive, Carrier and Strategy. Maha also worked with AUSTEL (the Government's Telco regulator until 1997) for seven years where he held a wide range of management positions. In 2010, Maha was invited to Israel by the Australia-Israel Leadership Forum as the Telco industry’s representative, joining the Australian parliamentary delegation (led by Kevin Rudd). Maha was a founder and the elected President (2005) of the "Asia-Pacific Carriers Coalition" (APCC); the Singapore based association seeking to maximise pro-competitive policy and the benefits of competition in the Asia-Pacific Region. In 2005, Maha was presented with the SPAN/CommsDay "Telecommunications Ambassador" Award. Maha holds a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics, post graduate qualifications in management and is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. He enjoys spending time with his family, travelling, reading, rugby and basketball. ^ Back to Top

Grahame Lynch | Chief Executive Officer, Communications Day Grahame Lynch founded Decisive in 1994, launching the Communications Day newsletter. Grahame won the Australian Telecommunications Users Group Journalist of the Year award in 1996 and the Service Providers' Association of Australia Media Excellence award in 1997. He then took leave-of-absence from Decisive, joining Advanstar in Hong Kong as group editor of Telecom Asia and Telecom China, where he launched Wireless Asia magazine. In 1999, Grahame was promoted to group editorial director of Advanstar Telecom Group, in charge of America's Network, Telepress Latino America and the aforementioned Asian titles. Under Grahame's stewardship, America's Network was nominated for a record six National Magazine Awards in 2001. In April 2001, Grahame returned to Decisive to spearhead the company's Asian expansion. Grahame has also written a book, Bandwidth Bubble Bust: The Rise and Fall of the Global Telecom Industry, published in the US in July 2001. Grahame has also been extensively published in titles such as, The Bulletin and The Australian. ^ Back to Top

Deirdre Mason | Chair, Communications Compliance Deirdre Mason has had a long career in the private and the public sectors, in fact combining both by working at Telecom/Telstra for nine years in the role of Director of Corporate Affairs, responsible for all Telstra's corporate communications including media relations, internal communication and corporate relationships with the state governments and local government. Deirdre is now the Chair of Communications Compliance (Commcom), the company set up to support CSP's as they develop their business processes such as advertising and staff training, to ensure compliance with the new Telecommunications Consumer Protections Code. ^ Back to Top

Kathryn Matthews | Director, Deloitte Kathryn Matthews is an economist with wide ranging experience across the private sector, academia and government. Kathryn has worked at the Reserve Bank of Australia, lectured at Macquarie University, and been a consultant at Ernst & Young and economic consultancy firm Econtech, and headed the Research, Consulting and Valuations teams at property advisory firm Jones Lang LaSalle. Most recently, at NSW Trade and Investment, Kathryn managed a team of professionals to drive positive business and employment outcomes in NSW across a wide range of industries including finance and business services, education, information and technology services, health and community services, creative industries and education. Kathryn is now a Director at Deloitte. ^ Back to Top

Mark McDonnell | Telecommunications, Media & Technology Analyst, BBY Mark McDonnell is Senior Analyst in Telecommunications, Media and Technology at BBY Limited. As an equity market analyst, Mark is actively involved in assessing trends and developments in the communications industry, and valuing listed companies in this sector. In the 1990s Mark was an industry consultant. His clients included Telstra, Optus, Telecom New Zealand, IBM, Ericsson, GE Information Services and many others. Mark was also the founding CEO of ASTRA, the pay television industry association. In the 1980s Mark was employed in the policy division of the then Department of Posts and Telecommunications, and later gained regulatory and public inquiry experience in the then Australian Broadcasting Tribunal. He saw out that decade as a business analyst and manager of policy development for Aussat. Mark has a Master's degree in Applied Finance and is a Fellow of the Financial Services Institute of Australia as well as the Australian Institute of Company Directors. ^ Back to Top

Deena Shiff Deena Shiff has had extensive senior executive experience in the communications industry. Deena served as a Group Managing Director at Telstra Corporation between 2005 and 2013, during which time she led the Wholesale Division, established Telstra's Business Division dedicated to Small to Medium Enterprises and established Telstra’s corporate venture capital arm. Deena was also a Partner of Mallesons Stephen Jacques, in-house corporate counsel at Telstra, and has served as a senior executive and adviser on legal and social policy reforms for the Australian Government. She is also a director of a number of venture capital back software businesses, a director of Export Finance and Insurance Corporation (EFIC) and is currently the Chair of the Sydney Writers Festival. ^ Back to Top

Rosemary Sinclair | Director, External Relations, Australian School of Business Rosemary Sinclair is the Director, External Relations at the Australian School of Business (ASB). The team encompasses Alumni Relations, ASB Development, Public Affairs & Communications and Marketing. The focus of this role is to ensure the ASB is well positioned and highly engaged with external stakeholders. Rosemary has many years of experience at the most senior levels of business and government across telecommunications, media and publishing. Prior to joining UNSW Rosemary was the Managing Director of the Australian Telecommunications Users Group (ATUG) an independent, self funded organisation which has been representing the interests of end-users of telecommunications to regulators, policy makers and industry in Australia since 1980. Rosemary has held a range of senior management positions with Telecom Australia (now Telstra), including Manager of Commercial Operations for NSW and National General Manager, Communications Accounts. Rosemary was Director of Strategic Development for the ABC, Director, Technology and Corporate Services for ABC Radio and Director Education, New Media and Export at Scholastic Australia part of the New York headquartered Scholastic Inc. Rosemary is currently Chair of the Federal Government's Regional Telecommunications Inquiry Review Committee and a Member of the Telecommunications Universal Service Management Agency Board. Rosemary is a member of the CSIRO Digital Productivity Services Flagship Advisory committee. Rosemary has held a number of Director positions on company and not-for-profit Boards, has participated as Delegation Leader in APEC and OECD Working Groups and held the position of Councillor on the Generic Names Council at the Internet Names organisation, ICANN. ^ Back to Top

Jane Smith | Director, theshinyshinyworld Jane Smith is currently the director of her own company, theshinyshinyworld. Recent Projects include developing a strategic plan for 2020 for the Shoalhaven Arts Centre; strategic advice for the Australian School of Business at the University of NSW; being the Chair of the Premium Mobile Services Code Review; Strategic Policy Adviser for Australian Telecommunications Users Group; strategic marketing and communications advice for the City of Ryde; advice on the future of copyright for a screen guild and on a cutting edge video application for the use of high speed broadband to teach languages in regional Australia. Jane has also written a report on digital literacy skills for the 21st Century workplace using high speed broadband. Jane is a Member of the national Classification Review Board. For the last five years, Jane has also been the Producer of numerous art projects covering installations, video works, digital photography exhibitions coupled with social media and online aspects. Jane has over twenty years experience at senior levels in the ICT, broadcasting, film and television and education industries including Head of Strategy at the Australian Broadcasting Corporation and as Chief Executive at the NSW Film and Television Office. Jane was also Vice President Australia for Seed Productions (actor Hugh Jackman’s production company) and the Telecommunications Adviser to the Minister for Transport & Communications during major regulatory reform in the late 1980s. ^ Back to Top

John Stanton | Chief Executive Officer, Communications Alliance John Stanton is a seasoned communications industry executive with over 20 years of experience. From 2006-2009 John was Chief Executive Officer of ASX and NZX-listed telecommunications carrier, People Telecom. Under his leadership, People Telecom became profitable and was recognised as Australia's Best Regional Service Provider in the Australian Telecom Awards 2007. In early 2009 the Company was sold to M2 Telecommunications. Prior to that John was an executive with Intelsat, the largest provider of fixed satellite services worldwide. Based in the UK from 2001-2005, he was President and Director of Intelsat Global Sales & Marketing and of the Data, Carrier and Internet Business Unit. John also spent two years in the US with Intelsat as Vice President of Sales and Marketing from 1999-2001. John joined Telstra in 1992 as a result of the merger with OTC where he was Manager of Public Affairs. From 1992-1999 John held a number of roles with Telstra including Managing Director of Payphones and Card Services. From 1996-1997 he was also Chairman of the Intelsat Board. In his early career, John worked as a journalist and as a press secretary with the Australian Government. ^ Back to Top

Julian Thomas | Director, Media and Communications Programme, Swinburne University of Technology Julian Thomas is Director of the Swinburne Institute for Social Research and Professor for Media and Communications at Swinburne University of Technology. Julian writes on new media, information policy and the history of communications technologies; his recent books include Fashioning Intellectual Property: Exhibition, Advertising and the Press 1789-1918 (Cambridge UP) and Amateur Media: Social, Cultural and Legal Perspectives (Routledge). Julian is a member of ACMA's Consumer Consultative Forum, and the Australian Research Council’s Centre of Excellence in Creative Industries and Innovation. ^ Back to Top