Dylan Alcott AO
Australian of the Year 2022, Dylan Alcott AO, a dual sport athlete, has represented Australia on the international stage in both wheelchair basketball and wheelchair tennis since the age of 13.
In 2008, at the age of 17, Dylan as a member of the Australian wheelchair basketball team, The Rollers, won gold medal victory at the 2008 Paralympic games in Beijing. Dylan became the youngest ever wheelchair basketball gold medallist in history. At the 2016 Rio Paralympics Dylan won gold in both the singles and doubles tennis making him one of an elite few to have won Olympic gold in two different sports at two separate Olympics.
Dylan was born with a rare type of tumour wrapped around his spinal cord, which required immediate surgery only weeks after birth. After a three-year battle for his life, Dylan defied the odds and through sheer determination and hard work, he has been able to strive to become one of Australia's best and widely recognised Paralympians.
One of Dylan Alcott's greatest achievements was being inducted as a member of the Order of Australia in 2009 at the age of 18. From there, Dylan and the Rollers followed up their win in Beijing with victory at the 2010 FIBA World Championships, becoming the first Australian basketball team to ever win the title.
In 2013, Dylan re-launched his tennis career and in 2021 won his seventh major consecutive Australian Open title. Having won 15 grand slam singles titles, in 2021 he became the only male in any form of tennis to win the Gold Slam, winning the Australian, French, Wimbeldon and US Open Championships, together with his gold medal from the Tokyo Paralympic Games.
His achievements are not only restricted to the sporting field. In 2017, Dylan created the Dylan Alcott Foundation, a foundation to help young people who are struggling to come to terms with their disabilities. Dylan is also an entrepreneur and a keen philanthropist, and is the co-founder of Get Skilled Access, a training provider educating corporates and governments on how to better understand and treat customers with disabilities.
In 2022, Dylan was appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) for distinguished service to paralympic sport, particularly tennis, and as a role model for people with disability, and to the community through a range of organisations.
Peter Baines, OAM
Peter Baines OAM is one of Australia's most effective 'Socialprenuers'. A former police officer, he is founder of the well known charity 'Hands Across the Water', and as such has created opportunities for hundreds of children in Thailand.
Peter's humanitarian work has been recognised with significant national and international awards. In January 2014, he was awarded the Order of Australia Medal for his International Humanitarian work. In 2016, he received the Most Admirable Order of Direkgunabhorn awarded by the King of Thailand for his devotional services to the Kingdom of Thailand.
Peter completed university studies in forensic science, law and management and spent 22 years in the NSW Police leading forensic teams in the investigation of some of the world's most horrendous crimes and disasters.
He developed his unique leadership style by leading international identiication teams into Indonesia and Thailand following acts of terrorism and the 2004 South East Asian Tsunami. He went to work in the counter terrorism area of Interpol, spent time with the United Nations Office of Drug and Crime and also worked in Saudi Arabia and Japan after natural disasters hit those countries. But it was his work in Thailand that brought the biggest change. After meeting the children left orphaned by the Tsunami, Peter felt compelled to act and founded Hands Across Australia.
Stephen Koukoulas
Few economists have both the global and local experience of Stephen Koukoulas. He is an economic thought leader in his role with business, Market Economics. Stephen is often driving the debate on housing, consumer spending, investment strategies, interest rates and budget policy. He does this by drawing on his unique background including his experience heading global research for TD in London, being the Chief Economist of Citibank and a Senior Economic Advisor to the Australian Prime Minister.
When it comes to the economy, Stephen continues to cover most of the big issues. He's the go-to economist for many busineses, investors, fund managers and the media. His views and analysis are presented without fear or favour which is why he is such a sought after speaker.
As a speaker Stephen has been called upon to discuss the econony with audiences as diverse as the corporate world to school students - an affirmation of his ability to turn complex economic analysis into terms mere mortals can understand.
More Speakers to come ........