RadComms 2024: Speakers

Dr Derek Bopping

Derek Bopping is the Head of the Australian Signals Directorate’s (ASD) Melbourne Office. Previously, he led ASD’s Cyber Engagement and Strategy Division, where he oversaw cybersecurity partnerships with industry, the media and other government stakeholders.

Derek was formerly the Deputy Counter-Terrorism Coordinator, overseeing the design and implementation of Australia’s federal counter-terrorism laws, and has worked as an independent consultant focusing on the insurance and business interruption aspects of cyber risk.

Derek holds a PhD in social psychology from the Australian National University.

Louise Bradford

Louise Bradford is a specialist communications industry practitioner with over 25 years’ experience across both the public and private sectors. Currently serving as the Chief Regulatory and Government Affairs Officer at Connected Farms, Louise leads regulatory affairs and public policy, including engagement across the telco and agriculture sectors to drive digital adoption and automation in the agriculture market. 

As Chief Operating Officer at Connected Farms, she managed start-up and scale activities to build a team across Australia and New Zealand, leading strategy development, operations and process optimisation.

In her public sector career, Louise held several senior public sector management roles at the ACMA, leading projects in strategy, governance, policy development, data analytics, regulatory design and reform. In these roles, Louise was committed to driving efficiency in government regulation and developing impactful policy outcomes.

Anna Brakey

Anna Brakey was appointed as a Commissioner of the ACCC in December 2020. She is also an Associate Member of the ACMA and New Zealand Commerce Commission.

Anna has over 25 years’ experience working with regulators, government and within the private sector. She’s had broad exposure to a wide range of infrastructure industries, including energy, water and transport. She has also worked on economic reform to social policy.

Prior to the ACCC, Anna worked at Frontier Economics and held roles at the Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal. Anna has worked for the Australian Energy Market Commission on reforms to economic regulation and with the NSW Treasury on the sale of assets.

Anna holds a Bachelor of Economics from ANU and a Graduate Diploma of Applied Finance and Investment from Securities Institute of Australia. She is also a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

Creina Chapman

Creina Chapman is Deputy Chair of the ACMA. She has held a number of senior executive and strategic adviser roles at commercial media companies; Southern Cross Austereo, News Corp, Publishing & Broadcasting Limited and the Nine Network. Her experience in the media and communications sector is gained from organisations spanning television, radio, print, mobile services, podcasting and online services which serve metropolitan, regional and remote Australian markets. 

Creina has also been a senior policy adviser to Federal members of Parliament including Senator Richard Alston, Minister for Communications and the Arts, and Treasurer Joe Hockey MP.

Luke Coleman

Luke Coleman was appointed CEO of Communications Alliance in September 2024. 

Prior to joining CA, Luke held roles including Head of Government and Corporate Affairs at Vocus, as an adviser and later Chief of Staff to 2 former Ministers for Communications, as Public Affairs and Communications Manager for a major equipment vendor, and as Editor-in-Chief of industry publication Communications Day.

Andrew Cope

Andrew Cope is Managing Director of Nokia Oceania. He brings extensive experience from his tenure at Nokia across the Asia-Pacific and Japan (APJ) region. Previously, he served as Head of Mobile Networks Sales for APJ. Andrew began his telecommunications career at Alcatel in Sydney in the 1990s. 

At Nokia, he held various roles, including Head of South Korea, where he secured 5G contracts and initiated product rollouts, and Head of Southeast Asia, overseeing business in multiple countries. He also led Sales Development for North Asia, managing market strategy and deal fulfilment. Andrew’s career started at Alcatel-Lucent, working with Australia’s Fixed Switching and India’s Network Access, before joining Nokia Australia to support clients such as Optus and Singtel Group.

Damian Cronan

Damian Cronan is the Chief Digital and Information Officer for the ABC. His responsibilities include production, distribution and transmission, IT, cyber operations and the development of digital products like iview, listen and ABC News. 

Prior to the ABC, Damian was the Chief Information and Technology Officer at Nine and Fairfax. He led the product engineering and IT teams for Nine brands including 9Now, The Sydney Morning Herald, The Age, The Australian Financial Review, 2GB and 3AW, alongside traditional corporate and broadcast technology responsibilities. 

Damian was also the founding CTO for streaming service Stan, leading its development and launch into the market in 2015. Damian has also held roles at NineMSN and ACP Magazines.

With over 15 years in media and more than 25 years in technology, Damian has developed a keen interest in leveraging product and technology as a competitive tool to navigate the challenges and opportunities in the industry.

Pamela Currie

Pamela Currie is Director of the Cable Connectivity and Resilience Centre within DFAT, which was launched by Foreign Minister Wong in July 2024.

The Cable Centre has a focus on providing technical assistance, research and analysis on undersea telecommunication cables to partners across the Indo-Pacific, drawing on Australian expertise and experience.

Pamela’s prior roles with DFAT have included postings to Wellington (including secondment to NZ MFAT from 2021–23) and Pretoria (2014–17), plus work on Pacific engagement and support for the establishment of the Office of the Pacific.

Bridget Fair

Bridget Fair is Chief Executive Officer of Free TV Australia, joining in the role in February 2018. She previously held a number of senior roles with Seven West Media responsible for corporate affairs, government relations and business strategy. She has also worked with the ABC and SBS, and in private legal practice. 

Bridget is currently a Board Director for Women in Media and has served as the former Chairman of Screenrights. She has also held positions as a Non-Executive Director of iSelect and a Director of OzTAM, Freeview and Judith Neilson Institute for Journalism and Ideas.

Major General Warren Gould

Major General Warren Gould, AM, is currently Head of Cyber Operations Division, responsible for all Defence enterprise and deployed cyberspace operations. A career Signals Officer, he has commanded signals units at Combat Brigade and Division level, including on operations in East Timor, Sumatra, the Middle East and Afghanistan. 

Major General Gould is a specialist in capability procurement and management, with experience in land, joint and coalition integration outcomes. He was appointed as a Member of the Order of Australia (Military Division) in 2023 for his exceptional service to the Australian Defence Force's command and control framework.

Tom Harrington

Tom Harrington is Head of Television at Enders Analysis, the UK’s leading technology, media and telecoms research company. He leads on reports covering public service broadcasting, streaming services, audience trends, video content and company strategy. He holds an LLB and LLM from Sydney and a BA and MPhil in English from Cambridge.

Chris Hose

Christopher Hose leads the International Radiocommunications Strategy and Liaison Section within the ACMA’s Communications Infrastructure Division. His responsibilities include leadership of the ACMA’s international engagement on radiocommunications and spectrum management with groups such as the International Telecommunication Union and Asia-Pacific Telecommunity (APT), industry and peer regulators.

He has been heavily involved in Australia’s international engagement on spectrum matters since 2000, including most recently as Deputy Head of the Australian delegation to WRC-23 and Chair of the Editorial Committee for the APT Preparatory Group for the WRC-23. Chris has previously held other positions in the ACMA, including leading the Spectrum Planning and Engineering Branch.

Louise Hyland

Louise Hyland was appointed as Chief Executive Officer of the Australian Mobile Telecommunications Association Limited (AMTA) in May 2021. 

AMTA is the peak industry organisation and voice representing Australia’s mobile telecommunications sector. It operates programs covering all aspects of the mobile ecosystem, such as telecommunications policy, mobile network infrastructure, radiofrequency spectrum, health and safety, product stewardship, e-waste and recycling, national security, content regulation and consumer awareness and education.

Ian Kelly

Ian Kelly is a consultant and advisor. In his 3-decade career across the information, communications, technology and health sectors, he has been a non-executive director, CEO, executive, consultant and investment manager.

He’s had leadership roles in mergers and acquisitions, strategy, operations, start-ups and business transformations. After leading merger and acquisition transactions and managing corporate strategy projects internationally, he returned to Australia. His role as Group Chief Executive at Sure Group included leading a full-service telco operating in 7 island countries with unique service delivery, geopolitical and defence challenges. 

Ian has extensive experience with telecoms and adjacent technologies and services, including subsea and terrestrial cables, satellites, data centres, cyber security, critical network infrastructure, mobile, and fixed and wireless broadband.

Ian lives in regional Victoria, has an MBA, a Bachelor of Arts and a Bachelor of Business, and is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

Lisa La Rance

Lisa La Rance is a First Assistant Secretary in the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts. Lisa heads up the Communications Infrastructure Division. Prior to joining the department in early 2021, Lisa held senior roles in policy development and program delivery at the departments of Finance, Health, and Social Services. 

Lisa has formal qualifications in finance, business and economics. She commenced her working career in the banking industry.

Carolyn Lidgerwood

Carolyn Lidgerwood was appointed to the ACMA as a full-time Authority Member in September 2023. Carolyn is the ACMA Authority Lead for Gambling and Compliance and Enforcement. 

Carolyn previously worked as a lawyer and compliance expert with leading global and Australian organisations for more than 30 years. She was Head of Privacy at Rio Tinto for 12 years. Carolyn advised on data privacy issues across Rio Tinto’s global operations, working closely with the Rio Tinto cyber security team.   

Prior to Rio Tinto, Carolyn was General Counsel and Company Secretary at Southern Cross Media, and Special Counsel at Gilbert and Tobin Lawyers in Sydney for more than a decade. 

In April 2024, Carolyn received the Privacy Vanguard Award for Oceania from the International Association of Privacy Professionals. Carolyn has also been included in Australia’s Legal 500 'GC Powerlist'. She holds honours degrees in Arts and Law from the University of Melbourne.

Ian Martin

Ian Martin has 40 years of experience in telecommunications and related sector research, including 10 years with the Australian public service and 30 years in investment research and corporate advisory in Australia and New Zealand.

Ian is a leading telecommunications analyst and advisor specialising in equity research, establishing Ian Martin Advisory (IMA) in 2015 to provide independent equity research on the sector to institutional investors and undertake financial advisory specialising in the telecommunications sector.

IMA publishes research on the Australian and New Zealand telecommunications sector for investors with New Street Research, a global independent equity research house specialising in the telecommunications sector.  As part of this work, IMA maintains financial models of Australian and New Zealand telecommunications companies including Telstra, Optus, TPG, NBN Co, Spark NZ and Chorus.

Ian holds a Graduate Diploma in Economics from the Australian National University, and a Bachelor of Economics from Monash University with a major study in accounting.

Andrew Matlock

Andrew Matlock is Director, Enterprise Sales – APAC at SpaceX. He has worked with SpaceX for over 7 years, starting by managing their international commercial launch sales efforts in the Middle East and Asia Pacific. In this role, he focused on sales and business development while deepening SpaceX’s relationships with satellite operators in the region.

For the past 5 years, he has been focusing on developing SpaceX’s strategies on providing Starlink across several global market verticals, including Maritime, Energy and Telecommunications. He is now heading up Asia Pacific Enterprise Starlink Sales.

Prior to assuming his current role at SpaceX, Andrew served as CEO of BODE Group and for 10 years as SVP of a satellite company delivering satellite services across the globe.

Andrew holds a degree in Applied Science majoring in computer science and mathematics. 

Nerida O'Loughlin PSM

Nerida O'Loughlin commenced as Chair of the ACMA on 14 October 2017. Nerida has been a Deputy Secretary in the Department of Communications since 2011. Nerida led the Digital Television Switchover Program until 2013 and has since been responsible for a diverse range of policy, program and project areas. She also served as interim CEO of the Digital Transformation Agency from 2016 to 2017. Nerida was a General Manager in the ACMA from 2006 to 2011. Prior to that she had held senior positions in the Victorian and Commonwealth Governments, predominantly across the technology and cultural sectors.

Nerida is also a part-time Associate Member of the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) appointed on 6 April 2019 to 13 October 2022. Re-appointed 16 December 2022 to 13 October 2024.

On 10 June 2019, Nerida was awarded a Public Service Medal in the Queen’s Birthday honours for ‘outstanding public service through contributions to a more digital Australia and government’.

Associate Professor Lyndon Ormond-Parker

Associate Professor Lyndon Ormond-Parker is a Principal Research Fellow at the ARC Centre of Excellence for Automated Decision-Making and Society, RMIT University.

He was born in Darwin and is of Alyawarra descent, from the Barkly Tablelands region of the Northern Territory. He has been involved in advocacy, policy development, research and negotiations at local, national and international levels.

Associate Professor Ormond-Parker is a cultural heritage expert, with significant experience in the fields of repatriation, archives, information technologies, materials conservation, heritage and policy.

He has held numerous positions across universities, organisations, government committees and boards. He is also the Principal Research Fellow – Digital Inclusion and Engagement in Indigenous Communities at RMIT, and is an Honorary Senior Lecturer at the Centre for Heritage and Museum Studies at the Australian National University.

Chris Price

Based in Tokyo, Japan, Chris Price has over 25 years’ experience working in the information and communications technology industry, holding executive positions focused on communication and cloud technologies. He has extensive experience with open source, standardisation and industrial product development.

The Hon Michelle Rowland MP

The Hon Michelle Rowland MP was elected to the House of Representatives in 2010 as the Member for Greenway in North West Sydney.

Prior to entering parliament, she was a senior lawyer specialising in competition and regulation in the telecommunications, media and technology sectors.

In 2013 she was appointed Shadow Minister for Citizenship and Multiculturalism, and Shadow Assistant Minister for Communications.

In October 2015, Michelle was elevated to the shadow cabinet and appointed the Shadow Minister for Small Business and Shadow Minister for Citizenship and Multiculturalism. Michelle was re-elected at the July 2016 election and appointed Shadow Minister for Communications. She continued to serve in the portfolio following the May 2019 election.

In 2022, Michelle was sworn in as Minister for Communications under Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.

Michelle has served as a Councillor and Deputy Mayor of Blacktown City Council, Chair of Screen NSW, Director of the Western Sydney Area Health Service and Director of the Western Sydney Parklands Trust. She currently serves as President of the NSW Labor Party.

Michelle is married to Michael and they have 2 young daughters, Octavia and Aurelia. Michelle is passionate about affording everyone, regardless of their background, equality of opportunity.

Stuart Shepard

Stuart Shepard is Principal Advisor, Maritime Communications at the Australian Maritime Safety Authority. He is a seasoned radiocommunication engineer, who specialises in international regulatory matters on maritime safety. He leads a team of subject matter experts who aim to enhance navigational safety, radiocommunications and distress alerting.

Stuart plays a pivotal role in shaping global maritime safety standards and fostering collaboration across peak international organisations. His participation at international fora influences the development of global standards and regulations, directly enhancing maritime safety and efficiency.

He has a Master of Science in Electrical Engineering from UNSW@ADFA and a Bachelor of Engineering in Electronics and Telecommunication Engineering from the University of Canberra. His expertise underscores the critical impact of international regulatory developments on maritime operations and safety.

Dr Sisi Shi

Dr Sisi Shi is a talented engineering researcher at Defence Science and Technology Group, Australia, where she works in the fields of radio wave propagation, source localisation and artificial neural networks.

She holds a Bachelor of Engineering degree and PhD in Computer and Electronic Engineering from Griffith University, Brisbane. Her doctoral research focussed on the areas of speech signal processing, speech recognition and speech enhancement.

Martin Sims

Martin Sims is the founder and Managing Director of PolicyTracker. He has over 20 years’ experience in analysing spectrum policy issues internationally, has led major consultancy projects and advised regulators in Australia, Kenya, Pakistan, Jamaica and Nigeria.

He has served as Project Manager for spectrum consultancy projects for the Saudi regulator and European Commission. Martin has co-authored and edited 2 books – Understanding Spectrum Liberalisation (CRC Press 2015) and The Debates that Shape Spectrum Policy (CRC Press 2021).

He has written business reports for a range of clients and is an experienced trainer. He worked on the European Commission spectrum authorisation studies in 2017 and 2022 and the review of the Radio Spectrum Policy Programme in 2023.

Shanyn Sparreboom

Shanyn Sparreboom is the Assistant Secretary of the Competition and Spectrum Branch at the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts. 

The branch provides advice on domestic and international spectrum policy and regulatory arrangements, including advice on the planning, management and allocation of radiofrequency spectrum. 

The branch leads Australia’s engagement in international radiocommunications and satellite policy-setting forums managed under the auspices of the International Telecommunication Union, including the treaty-level World Radiocommunication Conference. 

The branch also provides advice on competition issues pertaining to entities regulated by the Telecommunications Act 1997.

Sam Stephens

Sam Stephens is General Manager, Wireless Technologies at NBN Co. He has worked extensively across the lifecycle of many wireless technologies from early trials and studies through to deployment, and repeating the process with the 'next G’. He has developed a passion for strategy and the application of those technologies to solve real world problems in new ways.

His background includes experience working throughout the telecommunications industry in service, solutions, strategy and sales roles for operators, vendors and currently NBN Co.

He is responsible for the long-term technology strategy for the NBN’s fixed wireless network, with a focus on implementing some of the ‘world first’ long-range 5G mmWave capabilities as part of the Fixed Wireless & Satellite Upgrade Programme. He also leads spectrum strategy and standards engagement to ensure that the unique requirements of the NBN network are included in the global ecosystems.

Adam Suckling

Adam Suckling is a Full-time Member of the ACMA. He was until 2022 the Chief Executive Officer of Copyright Agency. Copyright Agency is a not-for-profit company that licences intellectual property on behalf of Australian writers, journalists, publishers, media companies and visual artists.

Prior to this, Adam has had over 20 years’ experience in a range of senior leadership, commercial, policy, regulatory and corporate affairs roles for companies such as Optus, Singtel (where he undertook an Asia-Pacific role based in Singapore), Foxtel and News Corporation.

In these companies, he ran significant business areas, provided strategic and commercial advice to board members, conducted a range of successful policy advocacy campaigns, and oversaw major copyright litigation and regulatory cases.

Adam is also a part-time Associate Member of the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) appointed on 28 May 2024 to 24 July 2028.

Adam has policy experience across a wide range of areas including media and telecommunications policy, spectrum allocation, micro-economic reform, telecommunications network pricing, copyright and intellectual property policy, and Australian content and cultural policy.

Gareth Tomlin

Gareth Tomlin is General Manager, Data, Insights & Analytics at Paramount Australia. Gareth leads a team of local research experts to provide insights and analytics to various departments, including advertising, sales, content, and programming for Network 10, 10 Play and Paramount+. He also collaborates with international research leaders across Paramount globally.

Gareth began his career at The Nielsen Company’s television audience measurement division before joining Network 10 as Research Manager in 2012, then stepped up to the Head of Research in 2016 and was promoted to his current role of General Manager in July 2018.

As a trusted, senior leader at Paramount, Gareth represents the organisation in key industry groups, including OzTAM, where he has been Network 10’s alternate Director on the Board since 2016, overseeing Australia’s official television audience measurement system.

Jane van Beelen

Jane van Beelen joined NBN Co in October 2020 and the company’s Executive Committee from September 2021. As Chief Legal and Regulatory Officer, Jane is the General Counsel of NBN Co and leads the company’s Legal and Regulatory function. She partners with the NBN Co business to enable enterprise outcomes by providing expert legal and regulatory solutions.

A telecommunications industry veteran, Jane had a 25-year career across the legal, regulatory, compliance and corporate affairs functions at Telstra. She led Telstra’s regulatory strategy and engagement, held responsibility for the company’s compliance framework and programs, and played a leading role in key reforms and regulatory outcomes.

Jane was inaugural Chair of the Global System for Mobile Communications Association Asia-Pacific Policy Group and a Global Policy Group member. She has served on the boards of TIO and AMTA, including 2 years as AMTA Chair. She is a Director of Communications Alliance.

Samantha Yorke

Samantha Yorke is a Full-time Member of the ACMA. She is an accredited mediator, technology lawyer and policy advisor with over 24 years’ experience working within the digital media and technology sectors both in Europe and the Asia Pacific. 

Prior to being appointed as an ACMA Authority Member, she worked in Google’s Government Affairs and Public Policy team leading their privacy, online safety, scam and mis/disinformation efforts in Australia. 

Sam established the regulatory function at the Interactive Advertising Bureau of Australia, worked as General Counsel AUNZ and Legal Director for Yahoo! Asia Pacific and spent 10 years working for Microsoft in London where she supported the MSN business through a period of exponential growth and contributed to the launch of the Xbox gaming console across Europe.