Megatrends for manufacturing breakfast and workshop

John Broadbent is the visionary founder and CEO of Realise Potential, where he specialises in guiding organisations through the transformative era of Industry 4.0. With extensive experience in leadership and digital innovation, John helps businesses leverage cutting edge technologies and data driven strategies to thrive in the modern industrial landscape.

Under John’s leadership, Realise Potential has become a key player in integrating Industry 4.0 advancements, such as IoT, AI, and automation, into organisational frameworks. His expertise lies in aligning technological solutions with strategic objectives, ensuring companies not only adapt but excel in the digital age.

John is recognised for his forward-thinking approach and his ability to drive meaningful change by bridging the gap between emerging technologies and practical business applications. His work continues to shape the future of industries worldwide, enabling clients to harness the full potential of Industry 4.0.

Asrar is the Manager of Governance, Strategy, and Compliance at Quality Management Australia. As a multifaceted business transformation expert and cybersecurity specialist, Asrar excels in bridging the gap between technology and business strategy. Her expertise lies in transforming traditional business strategies into digital frameworks, ensuring seamless alignment between marketing, sales, and overarching business goals while maintaining security as a baseline.

Asrar serves as a crucial intermediary between app/web developers and business stakeholders, facilitating effective digital transformation. Additionally, she provides comprehensive cybersecurity solutions tailored for small and medium-sized businesses, adhering to internationally recognised standards such as the NIST Cybersecurity Framework, ISO 27001, UK Cyber Essentials, and Australia's Essential Eight.

By implementing these frameworks, she not only enhances security posture, but also demonstrates a commitment to cybersecurity best practices, opening doors to new opportunities in the business community. Her role is to guide people through the complex landscape of digital transformation and cybersecurity, ensuring their business stays ahead in today's fast-paced digital world.

She is deeply committed to advancing cybersecurity practices, fostering intrapreneurship, and driving technological advancement across local and international landscapes. Asrar is also constantly exploring cutting-edge cybersecurity trends and technologies. She is open to collaboration in cyber education, security consulting, quality management, and business innovation.

Associate Professor Retha de Villiers Scheepers is the Associate Dean Research at the School of Business and Creative Industries, University of the Sunshine Coast.

Her research focuses on how organisations adapt and innovate during uncertainty. Much of her work concentrates on entrepreneurial decision-making within established organisations and start-ups, focusing on how individuals adapt to the melding digital and physical realms.

She leverages these insights in her award-winning teaching of entrepreneurship and innovation for both undergraduate and postgraduate students.

Retha has led multiple research grants exploring regional entrepreneurship ecosystems, the development of entrepreneurial careers, and career transitions and published more than 100 papers, reports and chapters. She actively collaborates with industry to apply research findings, earning recognition for her impactful engagement. Her recent work on talent attraction, development and retention emphasises the critical role stakeholders, like employers, industry networks, education providers and policy-makers play in regional ecosystems.