Our Conference Speakers

Jessica Strutt (Conference MC)

Jessica Strutt is a journalist and former presenter of ABC Radio Perth's FOCUS program. Jess worked as a political reporter in western Australia for more than a decade and has experience across all media platforms including print, radio, television and online.  
She joined ABC News Perth more than six years ago, after two years out of journalism working as a senior media adviser in government.

Prior to making the decision to switch to a full-time radio role with ABC, she was ABC TV/radio chief political reporter in Western Australia. She left the ABC at the end of 2020.

She started her journalism career as a print reporter, which included five and a half years with The West Australian.

At WA's daily newspaper she covered State politics for four and a half years, before taking on the social and Aboriginal affairs round which had her travelling to many remote spots across the State.

Before entering journalism, Jess completed a Bachelor of Arts majoring in politics and history at the University of WA.

Jess's first job was in the Wheatbelt farming town of Merredin.

She has won numerous awards for her political, resources, indigenous and social affairs reporting.

Jessica is also a much sought after MC, facilitator and panel guest who brings a high standard of professionalism to any event.

Dr Craig Challen

Dr Craig Challen SC OAM is an Australian cave diver, notable for his efforts in saving a football team of twelve boys and their coach in the 2018 Thai Cave Rescue. His unwavering and selfless bravery saw him be awarded with the Star of Courage for the successful rescue of the trapped soccer team.  

As one of Australia's leading technical divers, Craig is a member of the Wet Mules, a diving group that takes on some of the World's deepest underwater caves. After commencing cave diving in the 1990s, he was an early adopter of closed-circuit mixed gas rebreathers.

Craig's notable explorations include the extension of Cocklebiddy Cave on the Nullabor Plain of Australia in 2008 and the Pearse Resurgence in New Zealand over the last 10 years. He has additionally explored caves throughout Australia, New Zealand, China, Thailand, Vanuatu and the Cook Islands.

In 2018, Dr Challen, alongside his diving partner Dr Richard 'Harry' Harris, were invited to assist in the rescue operation of a Thai soccer team trapped in Thailand's deep Tham Luang Cave, in a story that gripped the world. The pair worked 14-16 hour days making trips into the cave on a daily basis, working cooperatively to ensure the safe evacuation from the cave for everyone. Craig's expertise and experience in diving saw him help to de-kit the boys of their diving equipment after escaping the first flooded section of the evacuation route, carry them to the next section and prepare them for the next dive.

His unwavering and selfless bravery following the successful rescue of the trapped soccer team saw him be awarded the Star of Courage as well as the Order of Australia for "service to the international community".

This inspirational rescue operation will never be forgotten and will now be immortalised in a movie and book which promises to portray to viewers the adverse conditions and difficult decisions which were made to rescue the children.

Since the rescue, Craig, a retired vet, has spoken out about how the Thai cave rescue had taught him about the importance of taking advantage of life's opportunities and being ready when they arise. Craig's interest in cave diving as a hobby had motivated him to sell his animal hospital and retire; freeing up the time to spend underwater and underground. He had no ideas his unique set of skills would save lives.

Professor Gary Martin

Professor Gary Martin is a CEO, Board Director and international leadership and management commentator. He commenced as CEO and Executive Director of the Australian Institute of Management in Western Australia (AIM WA) at the beginning of 2012.  
In this role, Gary has overall responsibility for leading all aspects of the Institute's business which is focussed on building leadership and management capability both in Australia and internationally, across the corporate, government, not-for-profit and community sectors.

He is currently Chair of Telethon Speech and Hearing (TSH) in Perth, Western Australia, and is a former Chair of Study Perth (2008-2011). Prior to his appointment to AIM WA, Gary held several executive levels appointments at Murdoch University in Western Australia, including Executive Dean, Pro Vice Chancellor, Deputy Vice Chancellor and senior Deputy Vice Chancellor.

Gary has considerable expertise in leadership and management development. He is a columnist in The West Australian, Sunday Times and Perth Now where he contributes regular pieces on current emerging workplace matters including leadership and management, and human resource management topics.

In addition, he promotes thought leadership in the area of leadership and management through regular opinion pieces in newspapers across Australia, and through various social media platforms. A learning and development specialist, Gary has had extensive experience in the design and delivery of learning and development programs in Western Australia and internationally, with both government and non-government clients.

He was made a Fellow of the Australian College of Educators in 2015. and is currently an Emeritus Professor of Murdoch University's School of Management and Governance, and Zhejiang University of Technology, (Zhejiang Province, China) as well as an Honorary Professor at Guangdong University of Business Studies (Guangdong Province, China)

Sharon Warburton

After an executive career in strategy and finance roles based in Perth, Sydney, London and Abu Dhabi, Sharon is now a full-time Non-Executive Company Director. She is the 2014 WA Telstra Business Woman of the Year and was named in the 2015 Westpac AFR 100 Women of Influence. 

She is a Non-Executive Director for ASX200 Listed Wesfarmers Limited, Worley Limited, and Gold Road Resources Limited; as well as a Director of the fundraising NFP Foundation for the Perth Children's Hospital. She chairs the Audit & Risk Committees for both Wesfarmers and Gold Road Resources. She is also a part time member of the Takeovers Panel, an Adjunct Professor in Leadership and Strategy at Curtin Business School and the Patron of the Women in MBA Scholarship Programme at Curtin.

She served as a Non-Executive Director of Fortescue Metals Group Limited (ASX: FMG) from 2013 - 2020 (Co Deputy Chairman from 2017).
Educated in Exmouth and Perth, Sharon holds a Bachelor of Business degree from Curtin University and is a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. She is also a Fellow of Chartered Accountants Australia New Zealand and a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Building.

Sharon is mum to 10-year old Chloe. She champions flexibility, diversity and work-life balance and places a high priority on sharing her own experiences.