DR ANITA HEISS Internationally published, award winning author of 25 books Anita delivers our From the Heart Keynote. She is a proud member of the Wiradyuri Nation of central NSW, an Ambassador for the Indigenous Literacy Foundation and Professor of Communications at the University of Queensland.

AMANDA CAMM MP is a long-time local with a passion for positive impact, improving the region’s economy and connecting community. Member for Whitsunday Amanda Camm is serving her second term in Queensland Parliament.

KAREN JACOBSEN is an international speaker, author, concert artist and songwriter, whose speaking voice unexpectedly led to a unique pop culture status. In over a billion GPS and smartphone devices worldwide, including the original Aussie voice of ’Siri’, she developed The GPS Girl empowerment brand and is author of two journal style books.

HEDLEY THOMAS The Australian’s national chief correspondent, an investigative journalist, author and true-crime podcaster winning eight Walkley Awards, Hedley’s podcasts have achieved 100 million+ downloads, topping charts in Australia, United States, Canada, United Kingdom, and New Zealand.

MATTHEW CONDON is an award-winning journalist, a senior writer and podcaster for The Australian and a prize-winning novelist of more than 18 works of both fiction and non-fiction. The host of two true crime podcasts – Ghost Gate Road and Dig: Sirens Are Coming, in 2019 he was awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia for services to the community.

STEVE MINON grew up in the Whitsundays and he now lives in Meanjin/Brisbane. Steve’s debut novel First Name Second Name (UQP 2025) won the Glendower Award for an Emerging Queensland Writer in the 2023 Queensland Literary Awards.