Richard Austin is the CEO of Omnii, Australasia’s leading fire safety and protection professional services firm. With a team of engineering experts behind him, Richard leads the strategic direction of the business, delivering high-performance solutions in Fire Engineering, Fire Protection, Compliance, and Special Hazards. His mission? Safeguarding people and places through smarter, safer design.

Richard brings a wealth of experience to the conversation, with a background spanning financial services, supply chain, insurance, media, and more. From digital innovation to change management, he’s built a reputation as a transformative leader, passionate about continuous learning, people development and creating real impact across industries.

Matt Jones is the General Manager at Homeground Villages in Gladstone, Queensland. With a strong background in construction, operations, and workforce accommodation, Matt brings a practical and people-first approach to managing one of the region’s most essential accommodation facilities. At the helm of Homeground Villages, Matt oversees the delivery of high-quality accommodation and services for major project workforces, ensuring comfort, efficiency, and community connection for workers far from home. Representing Decmil, Matt plays a key role in supporting Gladstone’s ongoing industrial and infrastructure development by helping project teams feel well-supported because when people are looked after, projects succeed.

Maria Baker is the ACCIONA Energia Queensland State Lead for Community and Stakeholder Engagement, Engineering, and Construction. With a diverse background spanning business, local government, the energy industry, and relationship management, she embarked on her renewable journey in 2020 with the Macintyre Wind Farm Project. Her passion for sustainable energy has driven her career, and as Queensland’s Lead Stakeholder Engagement for ACCIONA Energia, Maria plays a crucial role in guiding projects through every phase - from development to construction and operation. Her expertise and commitment to building positive relationships have been instrumental in driving the success of numerous renewable energy initiatives.