WORLD BUSINESS FORUM SPEAKERS 2025
Renée Richardson
Gosline
Customer Experience
Strategy
Peter Wilton
Business Transformation
Michael Phelps
High Performance
Leadership
Creativity
Innovation: Tesla Case
AI Strategy
Darren Shand
Talent
WORLD BUSINESS FORUM SPEAKERS 2025
High Performance
Michael Phelps
Most decorated Olympian of all time
Leadership
Amy Edmondson
Authority on Psychological Safety at Harvard Business School
Creativity
Guy Kawasaki
Silicon Valley Icon and Former Chief Evangelist at Apple
Innovation: Tesla Case
Jon McNeill
Innovator and former President of Tesla Motors
AI Strategy
Ayanna Howard
Pioneering innovator, entrepreneur and inventor of robotic technologies and AI for industry
Business Transformation
Peter Wilton
Leading expert in strategy, digital transformation and customer experience, and Professor at UC Berkeley
Talent Management
Darren Shand
All Blacks Manager (2003-2024) and expert in building winning teams and leadership culture
Customer Experience Strategy
Renée Richardson Gosline
Globally recognized expert in customer experience and AI at MIT Sloan
About World Business Forum
Since 2014, the World Business Forum Sydney gathers thousands of senior executives to learn from a program of world-class business thought leaders.
The Forum focuses on the most relevant management topics for today’s business leaders as they face the challenge of steering their teams and organizations.
ALL World Business Forums On-Demand
Why Join?
Learning
Absorb wisdom from world renowned business thought leaders.
A curated program that tackles today’s most pressingleadership challenges head-on.
Inspiration
Superchange your organization.
Walk away with transformative ideas and the inspiration to turn them into reality.
Networking
Expand your inner circle.
Rub shoulders with over 2.800 decision-makers, innovators, and industry leaders.
The World Business Forum gives you the unique opportunity to hear from some of the best thinkers around the globe who reminded us that even in this chaotic and uncertain world, it’s our role as leaders to provide hope, be insatiable learners and have the courage to take risks.
Elise Ward – Chief People Officer, Prospa
An amazing opportunity to learn from world leaders – entrepreneurs, innovators, artists and sportspeople – on challenging the status-quo, using technology in a way that amplifies rather than diminishes the human experience and ways to increase happiness and employee engagement.
Josh Alfafara – Country Head, The Great Room
At the heart of The World Business Forum is a belief in innovating forward; in exposing leaders to brand-new learning and new ways of thinking.
Carla Rossi-Zalmons – Director of Marketing, Maximus International
10+ years of inspiring the global executive community
Participating Companies
Global Attendees
%
of Delegates Recommend World Business Forum
Register for World Business Forum and be part of WOBI
In addition to two incredible days at the World Business Forum, your registration also includes year-round access to the world’s best management content and a global community of senior executives.
In-person access to World Business Forum Sydney 2025
All World Business Forums worldwide on-demand
Year-round access to the best management content
Networking opportunities and global executive community
JOIN WOBI
Gold
Price increases on May 23rd
What’s Included
Access to World Business Forum Sydney 2025
Watch World Business Forums Worldwide On Demand
300+ hours of WOBI’s digital content
Exclusive Network Opportunities
A Global Executive Community
Welcome Kit
Coffee breaks
Attendee Certificate
Access to Both Days of the Forum
Access to the event recordings for 30 days
Platinum
Price increases on May 23rd
What’s Included
All WOBI
Gold Benefits Plus:
Free Onsite Parking
Preferential Seating
Networking Lunch with Speaker
Digital
Price increases on May 23rd
What’s Included
Watch World Business Forums Worldwide On Demand
300+ hours of WOBI’s digital content
Exclusive networking opportunities
A Global Executive Community
Attendee Certificate
Access to Event Recordings for 30 days
Gold
Price increases on May 23rd
What’s Included
Access to World Business Forum Sydney 2025
Watch World Business Forums Worldwide On Demand
300+ hours of WOBI’s digital content
Exclusive Network Opportunities
A Global Executive Community
Welcome Kit
Coffee breaks
Attendee Certificate
Access to Both Days of the Forum
Access to the event recordings for 30 days
Platinum
Price increases on May 23rd
What’s Included
All WOBI
Gold Benefits Plus:
Free Onsite Parking
Preferential Seating
Networking Lunch with Speaker
Digital
Price increases on May 23rd
What’s Included
Watch World Business Forums Worldwide On Demand
300+ hours of WOBI’s digital content
Exclusive networking opportunities
A Global Executive Community
Attendee Certificate
Access to Event Recordings for 30 days
Gold
Price increases on May 23rd
What’s Included
Access to World Business Forum Sydney 2025
Watch World Business Forums Worldwide On Demand
300+ hours of WOBI’s digital content
Exclusive Network Opportunities
A Global Executive Community
Welcome Kit
Coffee breaks
Attendee Certificate
Access to Both Days of the Forum
Access to the event recordings for 30 days
Platinum
Price increases on May 23rd
What’s Included
All WOBI
Gold Benefits Plus:
Free Onsite Parking
Preferential Seating
Networking Lunch with Speaker
Digital
Price increases on May 23rd
What’s Included
Watch World Business Forums Worldwide On Demand
300+ hours of WOBI’s digital content
Exclusive networking opportunities
A Global Executive Community
Attendee Certificate
Access to Event Recordings for 30 days
Bring your teams
To get more than 10 accesses please email us at info.au@wobi.com
Unique Sponsorship opportunities
Engage
With your key target audience in a credible format.
Influence
Every decision maker in the process through thought leadership and mind share.
Convert
Acquire new customers and convert pipeline.
Our 2025 Sponsors and Partners
Major Sponsors
Academic Partner
Supporting Sponsors
Academic Partner
Supporting Sponsors
Supporting Partners
Event Partner
Frequently Asked Questions
Benefits of WOBI & The World Business Forum
What’s Included?
When you register for the World Business Forum, you don’t just get access to the two-day event—you unlock a full year of continuous learning, inspiration, and connection designed to support your leadership journey.
Your ticket includes:
– Admission to the World Business Forum—our flagship annual event
– On-demand access to all World Business Forum 2025 editions until December 31st, plus summaries and highlight reels from around the world
– Full access to WOBI’s Digital Library: 300+ hours of leadership content updated regularly with insights from global experts
– Fresh, relevant content added throughout the year
– Exclusive invitations to in-person and virtual networking events
– The opportunity to connect with a global executive community
Why does my ticket include year-round access?
We believe leadership doesn’t begin and end with a two-day event. That’s why every World Business Forum registration includes access to a full suite of digital content and experiences—so you can continue learning and connecting all year long.
How do I watch past events on demand?
Your ticket gives you access to stream full sessions from the 2025 World Business Forums until December 15th, plus highlight clips and curated segments from other global editions up to 30 days after each event.
How long can I watch full keynotes from World Business Forums?
You’ll have full access to keynotes through December 15th, 2025. After that, you’ll still be able to enjoy a curated selection of highlights and “The Best of World Business Forum Worldwide 2025.” If you purchase your ticket after that date, you’ll gain access to full 2026 content as it becomes available.
How often is the Digital Library updated?
The Digital Library is continuously refreshed with new insights and exclusive materials from WOBI’s global events and speakers.
Are networking opportunities included?
Yes! In addition to what happens during the Forum itself, your access includes private invitations to local and virtual content + networking events—giving you the chance to connect with like-minded leaders throughout the year.
Can I access this experience from anywhere?
Yes, it’s all available globally—online and on demand. Whether you’re in the office or on the go, you can access the content and community anytime, from any device.
What if I can’t attend the Forum in person?
No problem. You’ll still enjoy the full digital experience—including streaming access to all sessions, the Digital Library, curated content, and networking invitations.
How do I access everything included?
You’ll receive login credentials that allow you to explore all features through:
The WOBI web platform here
The WOBI app (iOS and Android)
Once logged in, you’ll have instant access to everything your ticket includes.
How does access work for group purchases?
If you’ve purchased multiple tickets, your WOBI account manager will help assign access to selected individuals within your organization so your entire team can benefit.
Already bought your 2025 ticket?
Great news—you’re already covered! Your access will be activated shortly, and your account manager will help you get started with everything that’s included.
Duration of Access
Your access is automatically included when you purchase a ticket to the World Business Forum. No separate subscription or registration is needed—everything is unlocked as part of your ticket package.
If you’re purchasing for a team or through a corporate package, your account manager can assist with assigning access to each participant.
What payment methods are available?
We offer flexible payment options, including credit/debit card or direct debit. You can choose to pay annually or in instalments, depending on what works best for you or your organisation.
When does access begin?
Your access begins as soon as your World Business Forum ticket purchase is confirmed. If you buy during the presale period, you’ll receive immediate access to all available digital content and benefits. Event ticket nominations can be submitted later as the event date approaches.
How long will I have access?
Access is valid for one full year from the date of purchase and includes content from the current year’s World Business Forums, as well as other exclusive content and experiences released throughout the year.
Renewal
Your WOBI account manager will be in touch prior to the end of your access period to discuss renewal options. You’ll also receive a reminder 30 days before your annual access is set to expire.
How long does my access last?
Your access lasts for one full year from the date of purchase. For example, if you sign up in July and attend the Forum in November, your access won’t renew until the following July—ensuring you receive the full 12-month experience.
What if I can’t attend the World Business Forum?
Your ticket can be transferred to the following year’s event. If you choose to roll over your ticket, we’ll allow you to bring an additional guest—making it a shared experience at no extra cost. This benefit is available as long as your annual access is renewed for the next cycle.
Join thousands of leaders across the world.
Day(s)
:
Hour(s)
:
Minute(s)
:
Second(s)
Amy Edmondson
Authority on Psychological Safety at Harvard Business School
A renowned expert on organisational learning and leadership and the world’s #1 ranked management thinker, Amy Edmondson has been studying psychological safety and workplace behaviours for more than 20 years. The Novartis Professor of Leadership and Management at Harvard Business School, Edmondson helps organisations identify barriers to success that are often hidden inside a workplace culture. Her work has helped major firms vastly improve performance by building an environment of psychological safety, transparency and collaborative teaming. She is the bestselling author of The Fearless Organization, and the recently published Right Kind of Wrong, which won the Financial Times Business Book of the Year 2023.
Psychological Safety: Unlocking Growth Through Intelligent Failure
- How to nurture an environment where employees feel empowered to take the initiative, drive change and thrive – even in uncertain and evolving environments
- Building psychological safety into everyday work and decision-making: Keys to fostering learning, collaboration and high performance
- How leaders can reframe their perspective on setbacks: Embracing intelligent failures as for fuel innovation, adaptability and growth
- Equipping teams with the skills and mindset to take smart risks and drive competitive advantage in times of change
Michael Phelps
Most decorated Olympian of all time
One of the world’s most admired athletes and the most decorated Olympian of all time, Phelps competed in his first Olympic Games at the age of 15. He has a total of 28 medals, 23 of which are gold. He is the first American male swimmer to earn a spot on five Olympic teams and at the 2016 Olympic Games, he became the oldest individual gold medalist in Olympic swimming history.
In 2008 Phelps created the Michael Phelps Foundation and in 2010, in collaboration with the Michael Phelps Swim School and KidsHealth.org, developed the “im” program that teaches children the importance of being active and healthy, focusing on the sport of swimming. Since retiring from competitive swimming, Phelps has also been actively involved in mental health awareness and promotion.
Sustaining Excellence: Resilience, Mindset, and Mental Strength
- Build lasting resilience and inner strength by embracing adversity, and cultivating the mindset needed for enduring success
- Facing and overcoming failure, setbacks and self-doubt: Lessons learnt from when times were toughest
- Develop the mindset and strategies needed to stay motivated as times change and goals shift
- Prioritizing mental health and well-being as a foundation for sustaining excellence and long-term success
Peter Wilton
Leading expert in strategy and digital transformation at UC Berkeley
A leading expert in strategy, digital transformation, and customer experience, Peter Wilton empowers organisations to maintain their relevance and leadership in rapidly evolving markets. Drawing on first-hand industry experience, Wilton has developed a portfolio of frameworks and methodologies for implementing integrated innovation strategies, redefining customer value, and uncovering opportunities to enhance customer loyalty. Formally educated as a marketer and psychometrician, Wilton is also a Marketing Professor at UC Berkeley.
Alongside his academic career, he has held key roles as Senior Product Manager at Colgate and Chief Operating Officer at Myer Pacific Holdings. He now serves as Principal at ORBIS Associates and is a member of the venture capital firm Blackbird.
Leading in the New Era of Digital Transformation
- The new realities and challenges of competing in a digital world: What leaders need to know to navigate disruption
- The Digital Transformation Road Map: Redefining business models, unlocking opportunities, and shaping a vision for the future
- Rethinking customer value: Key strategies for long-term market leadership
- Future-proofing your business: Crafting a digital strategy and fostering strategic innovation to stay ahead
Darren Shand
All Blacks Manager (2003-2024) and expert in building winning teams and leadership culture
For more than two decades as All Blacks Manager, Darren was the driving force behind creating and maintaining the culture that shaped the New Zealand All Blacks into the world’s most successful international sports team. His focus was on building the ‘team around the team’ and creating an environment that wholeheartedly supported peak performance. During his tenure, the All Blacks achieved a winning percentage of 76.77% across more than 600 test matches, a record unrivaled in world sport, and also won the Tri Nations and subsequent Rugby Championship six times, among other achievements.
Since retiring from that position, Shand has founded Winning Teams, a consultancy that shares key lessons in leadership and how to build a winning culture based on his experience leading from inside the world’s most acclaimed sports team.
Elevating Collective Potential to Build Winning Teams
- Lessons from inside the All Blacks team: Building a culture that inspires excellence, elevates performance, and sustains success over time
- How to create a tailored approach to team dynamics for optimal performance when the pressure is greatest
- Understanding the significance of compatibility and shared values for effective recruitment
- Strategies for fostering a supportive, collaborative environment that both empowers individuals and amplifies collective potential
Guy Kawasaki
Silicon Valley Icon and Former Chief Evangelist at Apple
Guy Kawasaki is a seasoned professional in Silicon Valley, having worked at both Apple and Google. With over thirty years of experience, he specializes in creating innovative products and services and bringing them to market successfully. Currently, Kawasaki holds the position of Chief Evangelist at Canva, an online graphic design tool. Formerly serving as Chief Evangelist at Apple and as a trustee of the Wikimedia Foundation, he is also a prolific author, having written 16 books, including the New York Times bestsellers The Art of The Start and Enchantment.His latest book is Think Remarkable: 9 Paths to Transform Your Life and Make a Difference.
Additionally, Kawasaki serves as an executive fellow at the Haas School of Business at UC Berkeley, and he is adjunct professor of the University of New South Wales. He also hosts the podcast Remarkable People.
Creativity Unleashed: Your Competitive Edge in an AI-Driven Future
- Actionable strategies to cultivate creativity, anticipate emerging trends, and drive the next breakthrough innovation
- How creative thinking can outpace technology in the race for relevance
- Building resilient, innovative teams through diverse thinking and continuous learning
- Failing forward: How embracing experimentation accelerates breakthrough innovation
Jon McNeill
Innovator and former President of Tesla Motors
A visionary leader and serial entrepreneur, Jon McNeill teaches organisations how to exponentially scale businesses and drive disruptive innovation. As former President of Tesla, he oversaw a 10-fold increase in sales from $2 billion to $20 billion in just three years. In 2018, he became COO at ride-hailing app Lyft, where he helped prepare the company to go public, growing revenue from $800 million to $2 billion in the process.
Currently, McNeill is a Managing Director at DVx Ventures, a growth-stage venture platform, and serves on several boards of companies including General Motors, Lululemon and Stash Financial.
Tesla’s Cross-Industry Framework for Scalable Innovation
- Radical Simplification: A practical framework for making innovation intentional, repeatable, and applicable in any organisation
- Inside Tesla: Real-world lessons on driving business transformation–from the factory floor to the boardroom
- Keys to building a culture of trust, accountability, and experimentation that empowers teams to question assumptions and challenge the status quo
- How any company can become an “idea factory”: Turning disruption into a driver of continuous innovation, growth, and lasting competitive edge
Ayanna Howard
Pioneering innovator, entrepreneur and inventor of robotic technologies and AI for industry
A former senior robotics researcher and Mars Exploration research engineer at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Ayanna Howard is the current Dean of Engineering at The Ohio State University. She is the co-founder and board director of Zyrobotics, a STEM education and therapy company that designs products for children with special needs. Foremost authority on human emotion-centered robotic design, her work and accomplishments have been the subject of numerous articles and profiles, including in Time, USA Today and Black Enterprise. Howard is also the author of the best-selling audiobook Sex, Race, and Robots: How to Be Human in the Age of AI.
Leveraging the Transformational Power of AI
- How AI and robotics will define the future of businesses across industries: An optimistic approach to navigating transformation, complexity, and change
- Leveraging AI for human-centered innovation: Strategies for enhancing productivity and connection
- Understanding and mitigating the unintended consequences and ethical challenges of AI
- Diverse teams in AI development: Keys to creating inclusive products
Renée Richardson Gosline
Globally recognised expert in customer experience and AI at MIT Sloan
A globally-recognised thinker on how AI affects human judgment, Renée Richardson Gosline is an award-winning Research Scientist and Senior Lecturer at the MIT Sloan School of Management, and the head of the Human-First AI group at MIT’s Initiative on The Digital Economy. Named a Digital Fellow at Stanford’s Digital Economy Lab, Gosline has also been recognised as one of the World’s Top 40 Professors under 40 by Poets and Quants, and as “one of the brightest minds in AI” by Inc. Magazine in 2024. Her research specialises in AI CX strategy, creating a culture of experimentation, and Responsible AI. She is the author of the forthcoming book, In Praise of Friction.
Humanizing AI: Designing Unforgettable Customer Experiences
- Key principles of a successful customer experience strategy: Balancing data-driven insights with human emotion
- Turning friction into opportunity: The art of crafting memorable interactions
- Ethical AI and inclusive leadership: Strategies to craft unbiased, customer-centric experiences that resonate with all clients
- Building a culture of innovation through behavioural science and human-centered AI
Join thousands of leaders worldwide
2025 AGENDA
WEDNESDAY
5
November
2025
SETH GODIN Creativity |
Coffee Break |
JAMES CLEAR Self-Management |
JAMES PATTERSON & PATRICK LEDDIN Innovation |
Lunch |
ADAM GRANT Leadership |
Coffee Break |
SIMONE BILES Performance |
THURSDAY
6
November
2025
AYANNA HOWARD AI Strategy |
Coffee Break |
BRENÉ BROWN Talent |
Lunch |
RENÉE RICHARDSON GOSLINE Customer Experience Strategy |
Coffee Break |
SCOTT GALLOWAY Strategy |
*Agenda is subject to change