Ambassadors

Michael Cannon-Brookes retired from IBM in July 2012 after 15 years with the company. He was vice president for strategy worldwide for IBM’s Growth Markets Unit covering 149 emerging markets, which has its Global Headquarters in Shanghai, where he lived for the last 8 years.

Dr Larry Marshall is a scientist, technology innovator and business leader with a wealth of experience in creating new value and impact with science.

With a dynamic leadership career spanning property, the arts, finance, government and health sectors, Carol Schwartz AO is recognised as an esteemed business person and entrepreneur, focusing on gender equality, women’s leadership, governance, social enterprise, business and finance industries.

David Thodey AO is an Australian business leader with global experience, who is shaping Australia’s business and public policy agenda. He is currently the Chairman of Tyro, Australia’s only independent EFTPOS banking institution, and Xero, a cloud based accounting software provider for small and medium sized businesses.

Ashley Irving has been a key figure at the forefront of Cambodia’s leading language provider, ACE Cambodia for over a decade. Under his leadership, ACE Cambodia became the first school outside Europe to win the prestigious PIEoneer Award for Language Educator of the Year in 2021.

Tracy Colgan is President and Beijing-based Managing Director of Kamsky Associates, Inc. In these capacities, she is responsible for the overall management and strategic direction of KAI, as well as overseeing the structuring and implementation of client engagements involving China and the Asia Pacific Region.

Dr Geoff Raby is Chairman and CEO of Geoff Raby & Associates, a Beijing-based business advisory firm. He is also an independent, non-executive director on the boards of Fortescue Mining Group, OceanaGold, and SmartTrans.

Fiona de Jong is the Director of the Australian Institute of Sport European Training Centre in Gavirate, Northern Italy, where she supports the preparation of Australian athletes for the European Summer and Winter Olympic & Paralympic Games, Paris 24 and Milan-Cortina 2026.

Melanie Brock is one of Japan’s most respected APAC specialists. She uniquely combines practical commercial business leadership and language skills to consistently deliver on business, regulatory and partnership outcomes for Japanese and foreign corporations both on global and domestic levels.

John Walker is an international business leader with a remarkable track record in leading and expanding development and private infrastructure projects across the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region.

Dr. Wade Azmy, CEO of ICG Singapore, is a highly accomplished general management professional, known for building profitable organisations in competitive markets worldwide.

Philip Forrest AM is an Australian businessman who has resided in the ASEAN region since 1982, with Singapore as his home since 1991. Recognized for his notable contributions to Australia-Singapore business relations, Forrest was honoured with the prestigious Member of the Order of Australia (AM) in 2022.

Emma Humann is the Executive Director of AustCham Singapore, leading the executive team and reporting directly to the Board of Directors. In this pivotal role, she shapes the strategic direction, ensures financial viability, and cultivates a positive workplace culture for AustCham.

Megan Kinder, President of ANZA, is a Singapore-based professional who combines her professional expertise with her passion for community service. Kinder’s vision and leadership are instrumental in driving ANZA forward and strengthening its impact in the community.

Karen Loon is a Non-Executive Director, Audit Committee Chair, Risk and Finance Committee Member, and former Financial Services Partner (Assurance) at PwC Singapore. With over 30 years of deep international experience in pre-eminent financial services firms across the Asia Pacific, she brings a unique blend of expertise to support boards and companies in leading cross-cultural teams, projects, and initiatives.

Scott Speedie is the MD & Country Head of Commonwealth Bank of Australia in Singapore. Prior to his current position, Scott served as the Executive Vice President and Head of Natural Resources, Infrastructure, and Utilities, where he played a pivotal role in driving the bank’s success in these sectors.

Adam is the Chief Operating Officer and Vice-President (Operations) for the University of Wollongong, overseeing the shared/corporate services for the university in Australia and abroad, covering: finance, investments, real estate/infrastructure, IT, HR, and procurement. Previously, he was the Chief Investment Officer for the Knowledge Fund, one of the Dubai Government’s sovereign wealth funds.

Jeannie Lopes grew up in Tasmania and was educated in NSW and the USA before coming to London in 1990 where she worked for the BBC, later joining a number of not-for-profit boards. She remained involved in business and education through the years when her children were young and has been the UK Ambassador for Advance since 2018.

Trish Wadley, a journalist by training, transitioned from a successful career in the media to become a highly accomplished and innovative theatre producer.

Alastair JM Walton, formerly the Consul-General of Australia to New York, is a distinguished diplomat who has made significant contributions in both government and the private sector.

Josephine Linden is Founder and CEO of Linden Global Strategies, a wealth management advisory firm and multi-family office. She retired from Goldman Sachs as a partner and managing director in 2009, after being with the firm for over twenty-five years and was previously an Advisor to GSJBWere, Australia.

Zjantelle Cammisa Markel is the founder and principal attorney of Cammisa Markel, a distinguished immigration law firm based in New York City.

Craig Hassall, an esteemed leader in performing arts management, is the President and Chief Executive Officer at Playhouse Square, one of North America’s premier performing arts centres.

Peter Hazlehurst is a global fintech entrepreneur and investor who has spent 30 years leading and building tech companies in the heart of Silicon Valley.

Cassandra Kelly AM is an international director, entrepreneur, author, and private coach to influential business and government leaders in multiple countries.

Elliot Kotek is a global creative arts leader, whose hunger for innovation and impact drives his groundbreaking approach to storytelling and content creation.

Patrick Loftus-Hills is a Metals and Mining investment banker focused on mergers, acquisitions and capital markets advisory assignments at Moelis & Company. He is also a Non Executive Director with extensive finance, legal and technical skill sets in global metals and mining.

Louise Neri is a curator, editor, writer and consultant working in the visual and performing arts. Until 2023, she was the long-serving director at Gagosian, a global gallery specialising in modern and contemporary art that employs more than three hundred people at nineteen exhibition spaces across the United States, Europe, and Asia.

Georgie Skipper is a renowned international relations and geostrategic expert, making a profound impact on foreign policy, trade, and investment across multiple sectors and global regions.