2020 Australia New Zealand MBA Directors Forum

Joseph North

Chief Executive, Lockheed Martin Australia and New Zealand

Joe North is an experienced program manager with a proven record of leading programs through meaningful change. In his most recent position, he was responsible for the execution and operational activities for all RMS contracts in Australia and New Zealand including future strategic planning.

Beginning his Lockheed Martin career as a program liaison director for the AEGIS program, Joe has over the past 30 years, provided an environment of innovation and entrepreneurship for employees, leading Lockheed Martin’s effort to build the nation’s first LCS, USS Freedom (LCS 1), which was delivered to the U.S. Navy in September 2008 and was deployed two years ahead of schedule. Mr. North continued to lead the Lockheed Martin LCS program, supporting new construction (15 ships), class services, sustainment and international efforts. In addition, Mr. North was responsible for the Launchers, Weapons and Control Systems business, which includes VLS, VLA and the control/automation systems for machinery and damage control.

Laureate Professor Veena Sahajwalla

Director of the Centre for Sustainable Materials Research and Technology (SMaRT) – University of New South Wales
Director of the Circular Economy Innovation Network, New South Wales

 Australian Research Council (ARC) Laureate Professor Veena Sahajwalla is an internationally recognised materials scientist, engineer and inventor revolutionising recycling science. She is renowned for pioneering the high temperature transformation of waste in the production of a new generation of ‘green materials.’  In 2018 Veena launched the world’s first e-waste microfactory and in 2019 launched a plastics microfactory, a recycling technology breakthrough.

As the founding Director of the Centre for Sustainable Materials Research and Technology (SMaRT) at the University of New South Wales, Sydney, Veena is producing a new generation of green materials and products made entirely, or primarily, from waste. Veena also heads the ARC Industrial Transformation Research Hub for ‘green manufacturing’, a leading national research centre that works in collaboration with industry to ensure new recycling science is translated into real world environmental and economic benefits. In 2019 she was appointed inaugural Director of the Circular Economy Innovation Network by the NSW Government through its Office of Chief Scientist and Engineer. In 2018 she was elected as Fellow of the Australian Academy of Science. In 2016, Veena was named one of Australia’s Most Innovative Engineers and in 2015, Veena named Australia’s 100 Most Influential Engineers, both by Engineers Australia. In 2013, Veena received the ‘Howe Memorial Lecture Award’, Pittsburgh, USA in appreciation for her lecture on ‘The Power of Steelmaking – harnessing high temperature reactions to transform waste into raw material resources’.

Dr Keith Suter

Since moving to Australia from London in 1973 at the age of 25, Dr Keith Suter has achieved three doctorates. The first of these was about the international law of guerrilla warfare (University of Sydney), and the second about the social and economic consequences of the arms race (Deakin University) and a third doctorate on scenario planning (Sydney University).

He has been appointed to many prestigious roles throughout his career, including Chairperson of the International Humanitarian Law Committee of Australian Red Cross (NSW), Chairperson of the International Commission of Jurists (NSW), Director of Studies at the International Law Association (Australian Branch) and Managing Director of the Global Directions think tank.

He is also an active member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, and his activities include conducting monthly webcasts with business leaders. He frequently appears on radio and television discussing politics and international affairs.

Tricia Hobson

Tricia Hobson is an expert in litigation and insurance law and a recognised industry leader.  In her current position, Tricia is Partner and Global Head of Insurance, Australia and Asia Pacific for Norton Rose Fullbright.  To add, Tricia is the immediate Past (and first female) Global Chairman and Global Leader, Insurance and Diversity & Inclusion at Norton Rose Fullbright.

Tricia advises both local and London insurers on complex coverage disputes and acts as lead defence counsel on class actions and difficult/multi-party litigation. With a keen interest in innovation and the changing face of the insurance and legal sectors, Tricia has demonstrated her leadership by developing the firm’s “Extend” program, a bespoke technology platform allowing law students to work remotely and flexibly on discrete, task-based projects.

Tricia sits on the firm’s Global Board and is the Global Board leader for Diversity and Inclusion. She is also the Executive Sponsor for the LGBTI inclusion group.  Tricia holds a Bachelor of Laws LLB from the University of New South Wales (1990) and a Bachelor of Science BSc, Physics and Mathematics major, University of New South Wales (1990).  Tricia has attended global leadership programs and is a graduate of Harvard Business School, Wharton University of Pennsylvania and the China European Internationals Business School.

Ulrich Hommel

Director – Quality Services Department 
Director – Business School Development

Previous to his current positions, Ulrich was the Director of EFMD’s Research & Surveys Unit and, in this role, created the Annual EFMD Higher Education Research Conference.

Ulrich Hommel is a Professor of Finance at EBS Business School and heads the Chair
of Corporate Finance & Higher Education Finance. He holds a Ph.D. in Economics
from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, and has been awarded the Habilitation in Business Administration at the WHU, Germany. His current research focuses mainly on corporate risk management as well as higher education management and financing. He has published more than 100 journal articles, books, edited volumes and contributions to edited works including articles in Entrepreneurship Theory & Practice, Journal of Business Research, Annals of Operations Research, Venture Capital, Journal of Business Economics and the Journal of International Entrepreneurship.

Jason Lawrence

Jason Lawrence is the Market Development Director for East Asia, for the Graduate Management Admission Council® (GMAC®). Based in Hong Kong, Jason is charged with working with business schools and other organizations to develop graduate management education within the region. His responsibilities include sales, marketing, strategy, strategic partnerships, new business development, professional education and training, and consulting business schools on their marketing, recruitment and admissions plans. Jason currently focuses on markets from North East Asia, through South East Asia and into Oceania.

Jason possesses a Master of International Business, Bachelor of Business (HRM), as well as having completed a range of executive education programs, including leadership programs with the Center for Creative Leadership (CCL); strategic marketing and Asia strategy programs at NUS Business School; blue ocean strategy at INSEAD; and Driving Strategic Impact at Columbia Business School.