SPEAKERS

Spencer Howson describes himself as a tirelessly curious storyteller.

His career began in 1990 when he volunteered at Reading Radio 4RPH, but he’s best known for his 26 years with the ABC, including 15 years presenting the top-rating 612 ABC Brisbane Breakfast show. After leaving the Breakfast show in 2016, Spencer held the position of ABC Program Quality Advisor, which involved coaching presenters and producers across Australia.

From 2021-2023, he tasted the world of commercial radio, hosting Weekends on 4BC. He has lectured Radio Production at the University of Southern Queensland, and is a Pathways Trainer at the Community Media Training Organisation.

"Spencer Howson describes himself as a tirelessly curious storyteller.

His career began in 1990 when he volunteered at Reading Radio 4RPH, but he’s best known for his 26 years with the ABC, including 15 years presenting the top-rating 612 ABC Brisbane Breakfast show. After leaving the Breakfast show in 2016, Spencer held the position of ABC Program Quality Advisor, which involved coaching presenters and producers across Australia.

From 2021-2023, he tasted the world of commercial radio, hosting Weekends on 4BC. He has lectured Radio Production at the University of Southern Queensland, and is a Pathways Trainer at the Community Media Training Organisation.

Spencer is a passionate advocate for diversity of voices in the Australian media, and in 2021 completed a Master of Arts, studying attitudes towards female radio presenters. He’s currently a PhD student at Griffith University, where he’s researching the value of local radio to audiences in regional Australia.

Amanda is Managing Director, founder and owner of Articulous, an international award-winning engagement and communications agency. For more than 20 years, she has been a trusted advisor for some of Australia’s leading global companies and government departments. Specialising in complex and controversial projects, she believes that even the impossible is possible.

Volunteering is a core part of her life and that of her family, and as a director on the Major Festivals Board, which runs the acclaimed Brisbane Festival, she is a strong advocate for the arts. 

Amanda is a high-energy facilitator who can inspire innovation and deftly bring people to consensus. Her passion makes her a highly sought-after speaker. She has also been a university lecturer, tutor and academic supervisor in communications, and is a regular on ABC Radio with the Spin Cycle and Hidden Persuaders programs.

Kyle Behrend is an AI educator, consultant, and builder who helps nonprofits and mission-driven organisations put AI to work. He is the founder of AI Impact Hub, has collaborated with OpenAI on training for the nonprofit sector, and has delivered over 200 workshops across four continents. He is based in regional New South Wales, Australia.

Dr Liz Crowe is a staff wellbeing specialist and organisational solutionist.  After decades in paediatric critical care specialising in trauma, grief and bereavement, Liz did a PhD examining the risk and protective factors for staff wellbeing. Liz works as the Director for Wellbeing for the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital, runs a successful business Organisational Solutions and pursues wellbeing research as an Adjunct Associate Professor at the University of Queensland.  
Liz is an author, a podcaster, a coach, a mediator, an educator, a debriefing advocate and a disruptor. 

Jane Hedger is CEO of Volunteering Queensland, the state peak body for volunteering. She is an accomplished executive leader with experience across government, community and the not-for-profit sectors, with expertise spanning organisational change, strategic service delivery, customer experience, digital transformation and sector advocacy.
Jane has held senior executive roles in Queensland Government departments, leading large-scale transformation initiatives, operational reviews, and statewide service delivery. She is a Certified Board Chair and experienced board director and currently serves as Chair of Challenge DV, Chair - Marine Rescue Queensland Advisory Board, and Asia Pacific Director on the global IAVE board, as well as sitting on several Qld Government advisory boards.
A lifelong volunteer and community leader, Jane is a strong advocate for good governance, diversity, organisational effectiveness, and social impact. Her leadership is grounded in a commitment to strengthening volunteering and building resilient communities across Queensland.

Dr Elissa Farrow is a futurist, author, facilitator, coach and strategist with over 25 years’ experience in organisational innovation, design, adaptation and value creation. A volunteer since she was a teenager, she supports organisations to imagine positive futures and transform with lasting impact across sectors including transport, education, emergency services, government, technology and community services.

Known for her compassionate, human‑centred leadership, Elissa brings a Social Science foundation, board experience and global roles with the Change Management Institute, DVConnect, Amnesty International and Surf Life Saving (Queensland and Australia).

A published thought leader, she has received national and international awards. Her doctoral research explored Artificial Intelligence’s implications for organisational futures.

Sarah has expertise in volunteering strategy and not-for-profit risk and governance, having worked in various roles across the volunteering ecosystem for over a decade. She is currently completing her Masters and PhD in Psychology at the University of Western Australia. Sarah's research focuses on the intersection of volunteering, mattering, and wellbeing. She is also a passionate volunteer in animal welfare and mental health.

Sara Sterling is the Manager of the National Volunteering Strategy. She has an extensive background in not for profits and volunteer sector (Smith Family and the Brotherhood of St Laurence). After joining Volunteering Victoria in 2018 she oversaw training, the Volunteer Management Activity, and Volunteering Victoria's mentoring and continuing professional development programs.
Sara has a Masters in Social Policy and Bachelor of Arts from the University of Melbourne, as well as a certificate in Training and Assessment.
In between parenting and work responsibilities - Sara still finds time to volunteer, contributing to the local newspaper, her daughter's childcare, and greyhound rescue here and there. She loves nothing more than singing too loudly in the shower, and is on a quest to find Melbourne's best fruit toast!.

Tracey O'Neill, CVA is the founder of Tracey O'Neill Consulting and a globally recognised leader in volunteer engagement. With over 25 years' experience, she partners with leaders and organisations to uncover, evidence, and articulate the true value of volunteering, positioning it as a core strategic function and driver of social change. Her practice is grounded in community-centred engagement, ethical practice, and a belief that language shapes systems. She hosts the podcast Making a Ruckus: Rethinking Volunteer Engagement and is a founding committee member of the Professional Alliance for Volunteer Engagement (PAVE).

Andy is the Volunteer Services Manager at PCYC Queensland, bringing nearly two decades of experience working with and alongside volunteers. His journey began at 13 as a volunteer cricket coach, sparking a passion that led him through sports development, student engagement in higher education, and supporting volunteer driven organisations. Across every role, Andy has championed the impact of volunteers, and now oversees PCYC’s volunteer systems, functions, and operating framework, ensuring volunteers remain central to organisational success.

Anthea Cuddihy leads Alumni Relations at CQUniversity Australia, harnessing the goodwill of thousands of graduates to enhance the student experience and advance the University's mission. With extensive experience managing volunteer programs across the destination marketing, local government and tertiary education sectors, she has built a career centred on creating strategic value through high-performing volunteer networks and strong stakeholder partnerships. Anthea brings expertise in applying psychographic segmentation and stakeholder insights to better understand volunteer motivations, inform engagement strategies, and design sustainable programs that deliver meaningful outcomes for organisations and the people who generously contribute their time and expertise.

Anto Russo leads the Multicultural Communities Council Gold Coast Volunteer Program, coordinating volunteers and student placements through recruitment, onboarding, training, and ongoing support. After migrating from Argentina, she began volunteering in Australia in 2017 and went on to contribute to community initiatives and volunteer leadership roles across the multicultural sector. Drawing on both lived and professional experience, Anto is passionate about fostering confidence, belonging, and participation through volunteering. As a facilitator, she creates inclusive and culturally safe spaces that help people recognise their strengths, build meaningful connections, and thrive in their communities.

Carolina Puleston is the Founder and Chief Volunteer of commonkind, a registered charity dedicated to tackling poverty, hunger, and health and wellbeing through community-led action. With a core focus on empowering children and young people as community changemakers, Carolina champions intergenerational engagement by designing accessible, family-inclusive volunteer experiences that bridge generational divides and foster mutual learning. Through innovative task-deconstruction and grassroots co-design, she adapts complex volunteer operations into flexible, modular roles that enable people of all ages and backgrounds to connect, contribute, and build stronger communities.

Christine Spiers is the founder of Flutterbye, a volunteer engagement consultancy working across Australia and New Zealand. With 20+ years in volunteer leadership and seven years consulting to 55+ organisations, she helps teams reduce risk, strengthen volunteer experiences and build the capability to keep improving long after the project ends. A Better Impact Certified Consultant and Partner, Christine is a sought-after speaker, writer and facilitator known for turning complex volunteer management challenges into clear, practical action.

A trusted leader with strong record of building and leading high performing teams to successfully deliver practical outcomes within complex working environments.  Damien draws on over 20 years of broad human resources, operations, project management, community leadership and change management experience to enhance leadership teams and organisational culture.

Darren Playle is the CEO and co-founder of The Tukka Project, a registered Queensland-based charity whose mission is to ensure no child goes hungry at school. His commitment is deeply personal, drawing directly on his own childhood experiences with food insecurity. He channelled those experiences into building a practical, scalable, community-driven response where student volunteers are central to the model. Darren built The Tukka Project around an unwavering commitment to dignity. No child is identified or singled out — recipients simply collect their lunch pack and eat alongside their peers. This dual impact — feeding one child while building empathy and life skills in another — is what makes The Tukka Project unique.

Born in Barcelona, Spain, Erola Prat moved to Australia in 2014 and has been part of the Museum of Brisbane team since 2016. With a background in Art History and extensive experience in customer service, she is currently the Visitor Experience Manager, leading the museum's Visitor Experience team and the volunteer and work experience programs.

Gail is a recognised leader in community planning, social cohesion and employment pathways. As CEO of THRIVING Local, she leads a trusted intermediary aligning policy, investment, industry and workforce outcomes. Previously CEO of Access Community Services for 25 years, Across her career, Gail has delivered transparent, value-for-money outcomes and is widely respected for building high-performing teams, strategic partnerships and sustainable systems that create lasting, place-based impact.

Jaylyn Rongo is the 2026 Queensland Youth Volunteer of the Year, a disability support worker, DonateLife advocate and founder of 2ndCHNC. After receiving a life-saving heart transplant at 17, Jaylyn turned his experience into a mission to give back through volunteering, youth advocacy and community leadership. He works with organisations across Queensland to promote organ donation, empower young people and demonstrate how lived experience can create lasting positive change.

Loren Ayres is the Senior Manager of Operations Support at Orange Sky, overseeing volunteer experience across Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand. She specialises in leading the end-to-end volunteer lifecycle and driving forward-thinking, transformative programs that dismantle traditional barriers and modernise volunteer experiences. Focused on culture, continuous improvement, and capability, Loren works to ensure Orange Sky volunteers are empowered to deliver consistent, genuine support to people doing it tough.

With more than 30+ years experience in volunteer engagement and management, Marion is dedicated to creating volunteer experiences where people feel supported, valued and connected to purpose. During her 18 years with The Smith Family, Marion led volunteer engagement initiatives, most recently developing the organisation's virtual volunteering strategy for community and corporate volunteers. Drawing on experience as both a volunteer manager and a volunteer, Marion enjoys sharing practical insights that help organisations strengthen volunteer engagement and adapt to the evolving volunteering landscape.

Rhea Lincoln (she/her) is 20 and a Bachelor of Veterinary Science student at the University of Queensland. She has volunteered on local and national youth collectives and advisory groups and is a board member for Intrepid Landcare. Rhea was an ABC 2023 Heywire winner, where the project We Are Not Alone was founded. She co-leads this youth-driven project to create connection and leadership opportunities for regional youth with disability, chronic illness or who are neurodivergent. Rhea also enjoys volunteering with 'Pets in the Park', a charity that provides free monthly veterinary care.

Shannon Mead left corporate life in 2020 to found Queensland-based No More Butts, an environmental charity tackling cigarette butt and vape litter. Drawing on two decades in sales, operations, process optimisation and analytics, including regional leadership at Microsoft, Shannon has built and led a volunteer-run organisation from the ground up. Shannon has presented at dozens of events across the waste industry, NGOs and all levels of government, cementing No More Butts as a subject matter expert on tobacco waste, and was awarded Queensland Environmental Philanthropist of the Year in 2024.

Tobias has been volunteering since he was 14.  During that time, Tobias has held program delivery, management and governance roles in Scouts Queensland, YMCA Queensland and the Queensland Powerchair Football Association.  Tobias is currently on the Scouts Queensland board, and was in 2024 the Queensland Youth Volunteer of the Year.
Professionally, Tobias is a planning and environment solicitor, and does a volume of pro bono or reduced fee work for local community environmental protection groups interested in opposing development applications in South East Queensland.

Wendy Cliff has more than 20 years’ experience across visitor management and interpretation, natural resource management, ecological restoration, community engagement, environmental event management, volunteer program development and community partnerships. Her career spans national parks in SA & NT, work with landholders in natural resource management, and the past decade delivering community conservation through BushCare Sunshine Coast.

Drawing on human-centred design, social marketing, behavioural thinking, visitor and customer experience, storytelling and creative design, Wendy is exploring and testing the concept of Volunteer Experience Design—an approach grounded in a simple belief: volunteers care, contribute and give us and community their time; we should design their experience with equal care.

Zoe Bickerstaffe is General Manager of Membership at Surf Life Saving Queensland, leading growth and retention strategy across 58+ clubs and six branches. She champions volunteer pathways, club capability, and data-led decision-making, working to keep Queensland's lifesaving movement strong, sustainable, and welcoming for members at every level.

Cassy Dove leads Volunteer Services at Guide Dogs Queensland, bringing together her passion for volunteering, community, and creating meaningful opportunities to contribute. With experience leading programs ranging from local initiatives to global networks of more than one million members, she is committed to making participation more inclusive, accessible, and genuinely rewarding. Cassy loves questioning the way things have always been done, listening to the people at the heart of programs, and turning good ideas into meaningful change. She's also fortunate to work alongside some exceptionally good dogs.

Currently the Chief Executive Officer of the Hervey Bay Neighbourhood Centre, Tanya has over 10 years of management experience in working in the NFP sector.

Tanya has an undergraduate in Psychology and a Masters in Education. Tanya was named Young Business Person of the year in 2012 on the Fraser Coast and Young Alumni of the year for USQ in 2013.  

Tanya has led the strategic expansion of the HBNC to include the implementation of the Fraser Coast Community Social Plan and the development of the Neighbourhood Hive and Urangan Wellness Centre as well as their first social enterprise The Wandering Teapot.  

Tanya is a long-term community member of the Fraser Coast and has worked in the community sector for over 20 years. Tanya is committed to partnerships across our region and improving the social outcomes for everyone through social innovation and development.

Tara is the well-known face of Queensland Gives and is a passionate connector within the not-for-profit sector. She is a proud Queenslander, connector of causes and good humans, and a firm believer that everyone can be a philanthropist.

As Queensland Gives’ CEO she helps support the work and impact of Queensland Community Foundation – a $170M charitable trust set up by former Queensland Premier Mike Ahern AO.

Tara is the energy and strategic force behind both organisations, that share one philanthropic mission, to grow philanthropy in Queensland and to increase the impact of the trust.