World-Renowned Experts in Scaling and Innovation
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The CEO Summit 2026 brings together a powerful mix of international and local leaders.
These experts will share cutting-edge insights on scaling, innovation, and AI-driven growth, offering valuable perspectives from both global and regional business landscapes.
VERNE HARNISH
Best-selling Author; Founder & CEO, Scaling Up
Verne Harnish, is the founder of the world-renowned Entrepreneurs‘ Organization and Scaling Up, a global executive education firm.
Verne has spent the past four decades helping companies scale and received CEO Magazine's Lifetime Achievement Award.
He‘s author of Start to Scale; The Greatest Business Decisions of All Time; Scaling Up (Rockefeller Habits 2.0) and Scaling Up Compensation.
SHUYA GONG
Design & Innovation Expert Preceptor, Harvard School of Engineering & Applied Sciences;
Creative Director, IDEO CoLab
Shuya is a creative director at CoLab, IDEO's platform for collaborative impact, and also serves as an expert-in-residence at the Harvard Innovation Labs.
Shuya is sought after and regularly advises Fortune 500 companies on innovation, AI and technology strategies.
CRAIG SCROGGIE
CEO & Managing Director, NEXTDC
Craig Scroggie is the Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of NEXTDC (ASX:NXT), Australia’s leading Data-Centre-as-a-Service provider. Prior to becoming CEO in June 2012, Mr Scroggie served on the Board of Directors since the IPO (2010) as a Non-Executive Director, including as Chairman of the Audit and Risk Management Committee.
Mr Scroggie has more than 30 years’ experience in the ICT industry, having held senior positions with Symantec, Veritas Software, Computer Associates, EMC Corporation and Fujitsu. Prior to joining NEXTDC, Mr Scroggie was Symantec’s Vice President & Managing Director for the Pacific Region.
Mr Scroggie currently serves on the Boards of Sovereign Cloud Holdings (ASX:SOV), and Freelancer (ASX:FLN) and contributes actively to academia as Chairman of the La Trobe University Business School Advisory Board and holds the position of Adjunct Professor. He also serves on the advisory boards of The University of Southern Queensland and The University of South Australia.
FLAVIA TATA NARDINI
Co-founder & CEO, Fleet Space
Co-founder and CEO of Fleet Space, Flavia Tata Nardini is a rocket scientist, former propulsion test engineer at the European Space Agency and holder of two patents. Flavia led the development and launch of Fleet Space’s LEO satellite constellation - Australia’s first - and continues to push the boundaries of exploration technology by delivering real-time 3D imaging and AI tools for the global mining industry. Flavia is also Chair of the Australian Space Agency Space Industry Leaders Forum and director on the board of Austmine - representing over 700 industry leading companies in Australia’s mining equipment, technology and services (METS) sector.
DR BLAKE MCLEAN
Associate Professor, School of Sport, Exercise & Rehabilitation, University of Technology Sydney;
Director of Performance Research and Development, Oklahoma City Thunder
Blake McLean is an Associate Professor in Sport, Exercise and Rehabilitation and Director of the post-graduate High Performance Sport program.
Blake’s early passion for sport led him down the path of studying Human Movement Studies (now re-named Sport and Exercise Science) at UTS. Blake has spent 18 years working in the areas of sports science and strength and conditioning in high-performance departments within the AFL, NRL, NBA and USA collegiate sport.
DR NATALIA NIKOLOVA
Director PLUS UTS Business Future, Professor in Organisation Studies, UTS Business School
Natalia’s research and teaching centre on innovation leadership, organisational design, and managing change in complex systems.
Natalia works with leaders to develop governance and cultural structures that support innovation and long-term value creation. With deep expertise in reflective leadership and innovation systems, she is widely recognised for her ability to translate research into transformative leadership practice.
DR JOCHEN SCHWEITZER
Director UTS Executive MBA, Associate Professor of Strategy and Innovation, UTS Business School
Jochen’s work focuses on how organisations can drive innovation-led growth by aligning strategy with organisational capabilities and entrepreneurial practices.
Jochen has led major industry and government engagements on innovation systems, digital transformation, and capability development.
He is a sought-after advisor and educator known for bridging strategic thinking with practical execution in fast-growing and complex environments.
