Edge with Dr. Stephen Brown

Amy Hetherington is a comedian, business owner and facilitator from Darwin, Northern Territory. She believes in combining fun, connection and creativity in her workshops and facilitation to ensure people engage in more productive ways. Amy is entertaining, highly energetic, heavily involved in her local community and a delight to feature on this episode of EDGE.

Karni Liddell is one of Australia’s most successful, well respected and highly awarded Paralympic swimmers of our time. A former World Record holder, Karni represented Australia at the Atlanta Paralympic Games in 1996 and captained the Number 1 team at the Sydney 2000 Games, returning from both Games with medals. Karni was appointed Ambassador for the Australian Paralympic team and commentator for the Athens Games.

Karni has been showcased in Inside Sport, modelled for Black and White, New Idea and several other magazines. She has presented on 4BC radio; worked as a commentator at the Athens Paralympic Games, at the Melbourne Commonwealth Games and at the World Swimming Championships; and presented for Channel 7 and Network Nine. Karni is a presenter on Channel 7’s Great Day Out and is also one of few TED speakers to receive a standing ovation.

Karni has raised over $1million throughout her career for the various disability charities she supports. Karni is currently the Engagement Manager for Disability Connect QLD where her role is to increase employment of people with a disability across the public sector and the community. She was the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) QLD Ambassador, a member of the Qld Premier’s Domestic and Family Violence Implementation Council, and the Patron of the International Day of People with a Disability, an Ambassador for Kids Help Line, Muscular Dystrophy QLD and Sporting Wheelies and Disabled Association.

Karni was awarded the Pride of Australia medal, she won the Qld Teacher and Trainer of the year (2015) and was awarded the Alumni of the Year award for the faculty of health at the Queensland University of Technology (QUT). Karni holds a Clinical Masters in Social Work (QUT) and a double Bachelor’s degree in Communications from Bond University.

Can you imagine part owning the world’s best race horse, Winx? This episode of Edge, features, Peter Tighe who provides an insight into that experience - the pressure, expectation and joy. Peter shares some of his life journey and formative experiences from the Brisbane Markets, to Chief Executive, business acumen and racing.

2021 Senior Australian of the Year, Dr Miriam-Rose Ungunmerr Baumann AM is an Aboriginal elder from Nauiyu and a renowned artist, activist, writer and public speaker. In 1975, Miriam-Rose became the Territory’s first fully qualified Aboriginal teacher. As an art consultant for the Department of Education, she visited schools through the Top End, advocating for the inclusion of visual art as part of every child’s education. Miriam-Rose later became the principal of the Catholic school in her home community before being appointed to the Federal Government’s advisory body the National Indigenous Council. In 2013,she established the Miriam Rose Foundation, to bridge the divide between Aboriginal culture and mainstream society – driving reconciliation at a grassroots level.

Through her professional and creative life, Miriam-Rose has remained dedicated to maintaining the cultural independence of her people and being a spokesperson for the Aboriginal world view. In recognition of her leadership, she was awarded a Member of the Order of Australia medal and an  Honorary PhD in Education from Charles Darwin University.

Robert Fitzgerald AM is the NSW Ageing and Disability Commissioner. He previously served as a Commissioner with the Productivity Commission and was a Commissioner of the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse. Robert has also worked as the NSW Community and Disability Services Commissioner and Deputy Ombudsman, as well as a practicing solicitor.

He has served on numerous non-governmental boards, serving as President of the Australian Council of Social Service, Deputy Chair of the Benevolent Society and NSW State President of St Vincent de Paul Society. He’s currently a Board Member at Social Ventures Australia and Caritas Australia. Robert was also the inaugural Chair of the Advisory Board for the Australian Charities and Not-for-Profits Commission.

Robert has conducted more than 18 government-commissioned national inquiries into economic and social policy, including the review of the National Disability Agreement and the inquiry into the Care of Older Australians. He holds degrees in commerce and law from the University of NSW and an honorary doctorate from the Australian Catholic University. He is currently an Adjunct Professor with the University of Western Australia and was made a Member of the Order of Australia in 1994.

In this episode of EDGE we meet Hannah Ashford, an experienced ecosystem builder, lawyer and community professional who grew up in coastal, country and city Queensland with an international mindset and a passion for space. In her current role as Director of Community and Fellowship at The Karman Project, Hannah works with a team to build trusted relationships among a highly diverse cohort of global space leaders. Hannah spent five years working in Berlin within the European start-up and innovation ecosystems, most notably overseeing the Product and Innovation Department at Factory Berlin, Germany’s leading innovation community. Hannah is a lover of cultural activities, inspiring leaders and cooking with friends. She gravitates towards people oriented environments and works each day to apply her passion for positive impact.

From Priest to CEO and author, Patrick McClure, AO has lived a very interesting life. Throughout his childhood Patrick was strongly influenced by his Catholic education and the faith of his family. At 18 he entered the Franciscans, a religious order within the Catholic Church. His experiences working with the homeless and the influence of a pioneer in microfinance changed his life and sowed the seeds of a social conscience. After resigning the ministry, he worked in the Third Sector. A social entrepreneur, he founded Second Harvest Australia, a social business providing low cost food for people on limited income. He was CEO of the Society of St Vincent de Paul and of Mission Australia. He was Chairperson of the Australian Government’s Reference Group on Welfare reform, Member of the Prime Minister’s Community Business Partnership, Chairperson of the OECD-LEED Forum on Social Innovation based in Paris, and Commissioner of the Australian Fair Pay Commission in 2003 and was awarded an Australian Centennial Medal in 2001. He was an AFR-BOSS True Leader and recipient of the Equity Trustee’s EQT CEO Awards for Lifetime Achievement and CEO of Aged and Community Service Australia.

The daughter of Spanish immigrants who has completed her PhD in molecular neuroscience, Dr Rachel de las Heras has worked in leadership positions across various scientific disciplines including biochemistry, organic chemistry and engineering. She is the Ultrasound Product Development Manager at The University of Queensland’s Queensland Brain Institute, and is responsible for developing a non-invasive ultrasound technology to treat Alzheimer’s disease and restore memory. In this episode Rachel talks about her journey and what drives her passion for science and her work in seeking a cure for this insidious disease.

Paul McLean, MBE grew up in Ipswich and is a former Australian rugby union player who played for Queensland and Australia in the 1970s and 1980s. He is a former President of the Australian Rugby Union, and an inductee into the Australian Rugby Union Hall of Fame. Paul is currently Chief Executive Officer for Savills (Australia & New Zealand), responsible for overseeing Australasian operations of the multinational real estate services provider. He is also a Director at Youngcare, a charitable organisation that works to create choice in care and housing options for young Australians with high care needs.

Brianna Casey is the CEO of Foodbank Australia, the country’s largest hunger relief organisation and got her first CEO role at just 23. Storytelling and advocacy made it happen.  She is a graduate of the Australian Rural Leadership Program (ARLP), an unashamed advocate and has received a Pro Bono Australia Impact 25 Award in recognition of her impact in the social sector. In this episode Brianna shares part of her life story and what gives her purpose with fellow ARLP graduate, Dr Stephen Brown.