Professor John Spoehr is Pro-Vice Chancellor - Research Impact at Flinders University. He is also Director of the Australian Industrial Transformation Institute.

John is leading the establishment of the Line Zero – Factory of the Future in collaboration with the South Australian Government, BAE Systems Maritime Australia, CISCO and a range of SME’s and technology partners.

Part of this network of capabilities is the new Flinders Digital Transformation Lab at the Tonsley Innovation District.

An experienced entrepreneur who is passionate and curious about how rapidly accelerating technology combined with changing human behaviour creates challenges and opportunities for people, businesses and governments. He is fascinated with the idea lifecycle and the best way to generate ideas, quickly asses if they are worth testing and validating if they are worth launching.

George has been involved with many technology centric businesses as an investor, advisor, founder, director and executive. In 2007 he helped found conTgo a market leading mobile travel technology platform which was sold in 2013. In 2012 he co-founded booodl to solve a complex problem for physical retail businesses. He led the company from initial idea through 5 rounds of fundraising, securing strategic customers and partnerships, multiple strategy and product pivots and the decision to stop pursuing the mission.

George is a founding partner at 11point2, a boutique advisory and technology lab focused on helping people, businesses and government accelerate worthwhile ideas. He is also a Member of the Flinders University Governing Council and a Member of the Highgate School Governing Council.

Audra is the Chief Executive Officer of the Defence Teaming Centre (DTC).  In 2008 Audra joined the Defence Materiel Organisation (DMO) where she led the implementation of a continuous improvement framework to support the Strategic Reform Program for the P3 Sustainment Program. In 2012 Audra transferred to the Department of Industry, Innovation and Science as a Business Adviser for the Defence Industry Innovation Centre, now known as the Centre for Defence Industry Capability (CDIC).

For five years Audra worked with small to medium sized businesses across Australia providing financial and business improvement advice.

She delivered the Supplier Continuous Improvement Program (SCIP) using the SC21 tools and facilitated many supply chain relationship improvement programs. In 2017 Audra left the CDIC to join Lockheed Martin Australia as the AIC Manager for the Future Submarine Combat System Integrator Program. Citing AIC policy as a game changer for Australian industry Audra is keen to work closely with Australian industry to help organisations better positions themselves to take advantage of the opportunities which are likely to emerge as Australia embarks upon its journey to establish sovereign industrial capabilities.

As the Continuous Naval Shipbuilding (CNS) Strategy Director at BAE Systems Maritime Australia, Sharon is responsible CNS Strategy and Plans for the Hunter Class Frigate Program. Her role includes responsibility for the Innovation program, the governance and measurement framework for CNS and AIC and the Exports and Future Business strategy and growth for BAE Systems Maritime Australia.

In the more than 30 years she has worked at BAE Systems, Sharon has held many positions including leadership roles in project management, procurement, estimating and as the General Manager of the BAE Systems Global Supply Chain program and Head of Industrial Strategy.

Sharon is a member of the Flinders University Advisory Council and Chair of the SA Government’s Defence Innovation Partnerships board.

Sharon understands the breadth and depth of Australian industry capability and the power of collaboration with Defence across academia, research, primes, and small and medium-sized enterprises. She brings an enthusiastic and holistic approach to Defence and industry collaborations that will support the needs of Defence now and into the future.

Sharon lives in the Adelaide Hills on a small acreage which includes a vineyard.

Anthony Kittel is the CEO and Owner of REDARC Electronics. REDARC is a Lonsdale SA based, an advanced manufacturer employing 300 staff including an office at the Williamtown Aerospace Centre in NSW employing 10 staff. REDARC was established in 1979 and manufactures a range of portable power products for vehicle applications including battery management and charging systems, power supplies, voltage converters, vehicle safety products and inverters. REDARC supplies products to the automotive, mining, defence, trucking, agricultural and marine industries.

Born in Port Augusta South Australia, Anthony graduated as a qualified Mechanical Engineer at the South Australian Institute of Technology (now UniSA) and completed his MBA at the University of Adelaide. In 2013, Anthony graduated from the three year Owners Presidents Management (OPM) program at Harvard Business School.

In April 2018, Anthony was conferred the Degree of Doctor of the University honoris causa, Flinders University. His Honorary Doctorate recognises his unrelenting focus on transformative workplace culture and new product development, as well and his investment in the business leaders of tomorrow through mentorship, professional development and career guidance.

Anthony is the National Vice President & SA Branch Councillor of Australian Industry Group, Chair of the Flinders University Engineering and ICT Industry Advisory Board and a member of the Adelaide University Business School Industry Advisory Board. He is also a past Chairperson of the South Australian Training and Skills Commission.

He is a Chartered Professional Engineer, a Fellow of the Institution of Engineers Australia and a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.