Curious Thinkers 2026

Laugh and learn with one of Australia’s most engaging minds. Adam Spencer is familiar face from radio and television and now a sought after MC and keynote speaker on artificial intelligence, cyber security and the future of work. 

Adam has hosted award-winning breakfast radio shows and live current affairs programs on TV. He has won improvised theatre competitions and once interviewed John Travolta. Whether it’s a complex event with dozens of moving parts, or thinking on his feet, he brings high energy, sharp wit and a consistently engaging presence and entertainment.  

With over 25 years in media, Adam loves curating smart and thought-provoking conversations and presentations. His sessions are insightful, entertaining and packed with practical ideas you can take away and apply. 

As an MC and host, he loves doing the work behind the scenes to bring the best out of every speaker. He has interviewed prime ministers, Hollywood stars, Fortune 500 CEOs, Nobel Prize-winners and Australians of the Year.  

Rachael led the Australian expedition to Davis Station in Antarctica, becoming the second woman and the youngest ever, to lead a team at the station. 

She led a team of 18 people through the long, dark, Antarctic winter, building a resilient and high-performing team grounded in her belief that ‘respect trumps harmony’. 

Since returning, Rachael has completed her MBA, written 2 best-selling books, Leading on the Edge and Respect Trumps Harmony, and has delivered more than 2000 presentations around the world. 

Dawid Naude is a leading voice on artificial intelligence and is known for turning complex ideas into practical, real-world impact. 

As the CEO and Founder of Pathfindr, an AFR-award winning AI accelerator and OpenAI  Services Partner for Australia & New Zealand, he works with organisations to make AI tangible, useful, and immediate. From productivity uplift to breakthrough innovation, Dawid helps leaders move beyond theory and start unlocking value. 

His experience spans startup, consulting, executive leadership roles. He was part of the early growth of Cloud Sherpas prior to its acquisition by Accenture in 2015, where he went on to lead innovation projects for organisations such as Qantas, NAB, AMP, Foxtel, and government. 

Today, through Pathfindr, Dawid works with leaders from organisations, ranging from local businesses to Australia’s largest enterprises, helping them harness AI to do their best work. Some of Pathfindr’s clients include Coles, Woolworths, the Victorian Government, Honey Insurance, Standards Australia and Australia Post. 

Dom is an internationally recognised speaker and facilitator who helps individuals and organisations drive behaviour change in the face of disruption.  

He is the author and researcher behind multiple best-selling books published in over 15 countries, covering topics including generational change, business strategy, purpose-driven leadership, the future of work and education. 

With more than 17 years’ experience as a senior executive and entrepreneur, Dom has founded and led multiple businesses. At 23, he founded Karrikins Group, a behaviour change agency he grew to more than 150 staff across Australia, New Zealand and North America, before its acquisition by EY in 2019. He also founded Educator Impact, a technology company focused on teacher quality and student wellbeing, before being acquired by Qoria in 2022. 

Dom has designed award– winning behaviour change programs that reach more than 500,000 people annually and has spoken to audiences across Australasia, Europe and North America. His clients span financial and professional services, technology, FMCG, pharmaceutical and automotive industries, as well as education, Government and not-for-profit sectors.  

A survivor who has overcome significant adversity, Kath Koschel inspires ordinary people to do extraordinary things.  

A former cricketer and Ironman competitor, Kath is an internationally sought-after speaker and author of the bestselling book Kindness. She partners with leading organisations across the world to help them build resilience, workplace culture and improve wellbeing.  

Through her company Kind Group™, she develops programs and tools that inspire individuals and teams uncover their strengths, creating tailored workplace initiatives and individual coaching programs.  

Driven by a passion to spread kindness and gratitude, Kath found Kindness Factory™ with the goal of encouraging one million acts of kindness worldwide. Today, the organisation has recorded more than eight million acts of kindness and operates as a registered not-for-profit across three countries. 

Her impact has been recognised globally, including being named the 2025 NSW Australian of the Year and receiving the Australia Medal for courage in overcoming extreme adversity. 

Simon Kuestenmacher is a globally recognised data expert and ranks as one of the world’s top 10 influencers in data. He is a Director and Co-founder of The Demographics Group. 

Simon presents on the demographic and global trends that are shaping Australia today and into the future, and his observations are enjoyed by corporate, government and industry audiences alike. 

He is a columnist for The New Daily newspaper and a regular contributor to The Australian newspaper, as well as a media commentator on demographic and data trends. 

He has authored three books on maps and runs the world’s largest maps and data account on X, reaching more than 35 million people each month.