The Hon Chris Bowen MP, Minister for Financial Services, Superannuation and Corporate Law
Chris Bowen is the Minister for Human Services, Superannuation, Corporate Law and Financial services. He was instrumental in the formulation of the Governments Stronger and Fairer Superannuation Reforms - The largest reforms in superannuation since the introduction of compulsory super. These reforms complement the Governments reforms to the financial planning sector. Minister Bowen is also continuing to promote Australia as a financial services centre recently outlining new policies to further this ambition.

and the federal Member for North Sydney and the Shadow Treasurer
Joe was elected to the Australian Parliament in 1996. Since 1996 he has held a number of Ministerial portfolios including Small Business and Tourism, Human Services and Employment and Workplace Relations. Following the 2007 Election Joe held a number of senior Shadow Ministry portfolios before being appointed Shadow Treasurer in February 2009.

Dr Michio Kaku, Theoretical Physicist & Futurist
Dr. Michio Kaku is an internationally recognized authority in two areas. The first is Einstein's unified field theory, which Dr. Kaku is attempting to complete. The other is to predict trends affecting business, commerce, and finance based on the latest research in science. Dr. Kaku graduated from Harvard University in 1968, received his Ph.D. in physics from Univ. of Calif. at Berkeley in 1972, and has been a professor at CUNY for almost 30 years.

Greg Cooper, CEO, Schroder Investment Management Australia 
Greg Cooper is CEO for Schroder Investment Management Australia Limited. Prior to joining Schroders in 2000, Greg was the head of the actuarial and asset consulting practice for a major consulting firm in Asia. Greg commenced his investment career in 1992. He is a Fellow of the Institute of Actuaries of Australia and the UK and has a Bachelor of Economics (Actuarial Studies), Macquarie university. His also an ambassador for the Australian Indigenous Education Foundation.

The Hon Bob Hawke AC, Former Prime Minister of Australia
After completing Law and Arts degrees at the University of Western Australia, The Hon Bo Hawke AC attended Oxford University as a Rhodes Scholar. He became Research Officer/Advocate with the Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU) in 1958 and rose to become ACTU President (1970-1980). Elected to Parliament in 1980, Mr Hawke became the Leader of the Opposition in 1983. He led the Labor Party to three successive victories and became Australia’s longest serving Labor Prime Minister. Mr Hawke was made a Companion of the Order of Australia (AC) in 1979. He holds numerous honorary positions including Member of the Advisory Council, The United States Studies Centre at the University of Sydney and Member of the International Advisory Council of the Australian American Leadership Dialogue.  

Pauline Blight-Johnston is Managing Director of RGA Australia, and Chairman of RGA Japan. In this role she is responsible for growing RGA's business sustainably and profitably in Australia, New Zealand and Japan. Pauline has over 15 years of Actuarial and Financial Management experience in the life insurance industry. Before joining RGA, she worked at Asteron Life as Chief Financial Officer and Appointed Actuary.

Mr Jack Lin, Co-Chief Executive Officer, Janus Capital
Jack Lin is Co-Chief Executive Officer of Janus Capital International, the international division of NYSE-listed and Denver-based Janus Capital Group Inc. He is responsible for overseeing and growing Janus™ operations in Asia Pacific and Australasia, with its regional offices in Hong Kong, Tokyo, Singapore and Melbourne. Jack came to Janus after nine years with Franklin Templeton as a Managing Director of its Asian institutional business.  Jack has 16 years of financial industry experience.

Mr Peter Gunning, Global CIO, Russell Investments
Peter Gunning is the global chief investment officer for Russell Investments, where he directs Russell's investment activities worldwide with US$179 billion in assets under management (as of 31/03/10). He serves on Russell's executive and investment committees, as well as Russell's global leadership forum. He is also an executive director of the Frank Russell Company board. Peter joined Russell's Sydney office in 1996 and has over 20 years of financial market and investment management experience.

Liz Gray, Partner, Henry Davis York
Liz is a specialist corporate and commercial legal adviser to clients within the funds management industry and leads Henry Davis York's Financial Services Group. Liz advises both on-shore and off-shore funds management clients, institutional and boutique, on matters such as new business establishment and structuring; funds management M&A and joint venture arrangements; product structuring and distribution (including in relation to equities schemes, property trusts and alternative investments) and on day-to-day matters impacting their businesses.

Chris Richardson, Director, Access Economics
Chris worked at the Federal Treasury prior to joining Access Economics in 1988. He has also worked at the IMF, advising countries in the former Soviet Union and South America.

Chris writes the BRW's Fundamentals column.

He is one of Australia's best known economists.

Elected as the Labor member for Maribyrnong in 2007, Bill Shorten was immediately appointed as Parliamentary Secretary for Disabilities and Children's Services. He was also appointed Parliamentary Secretary for Victorian Bushfire Reconstruction in 2009. Bill is the former National Secretary of the Australian Workers' Union and Victorian President of the Australian Labor Party. Bill was the interim CEO of the Australian Netball Players' Association, an advisory board member to the Australian Cricketers' Association and Patron of the Australian Jockeys' Association. He has sat on two superannuation boards. 

Kelly O’Dwyer was elected to represent the seat of Higgins in a by-election in December 2009.

Kelly graduated with Honours in Law and an Arts degree majoring in history at Melbourne University before embarking on a legal career at Freehills, where she practised in corporate law. She became a Senior Adviser to the Federal Treasurer in 2004 and was responsible for several key policy areas including corporate law and foreign investment. After the 2007 Federal Election, Kelly undertook a role as an executive at National Australia Bank before leaving to pursue her Parliamentary career.