Former Founder/CEO recently back in Australia after 15 years in California, where I built and led two VC/PE-backed tech companies—one B2C, one B2B SaaS—to market leadership. I’ve raised $40M USD, led multiple M&A transactions, and worked on both sides of the investment table. Now, I help scale-ups grow, raise capital, and build standout AI-driven products. I’m a product- and people-focused operator with deep experience in SaaS, PLG, GTM, and P&L leadership. My products have won Gartner and PCMag awards, and I’ve built teams that challenge giants like IBM and Microsoft. Passionate about AI, product, growth, and great execution.

Dr. Craig West is a leading expert in business succession and exit planning.
Founder of Succession Plus, he has helped hundreds of business owners maximise value and plan successful exits.

A published author and keynote speaker, Craig is also an authority on Employee Share Ownership Plans (ESOPs). He holds a Doctorate in Business Administration and has received global recognition, including Exit Planner of the Year and induction into the Exit Planning Institute Circle of Excellence.

James Frank is a corporate lawyer and advisor passionate about helping founders grow, protect, and realise their potential. He is Chief Executive Partner at Frank Law + Advisory, leading the firm’s growth with a focus on the @Work model and advisory team. The firm supports SMEs with legal and strategic services across corporate, employment, restructuring, capital raising, M&A, and more. James is also the founder of Brolly Capital, which provides growth capital and buyout solutions to SMEs in tech, ecommerce, services, and hospitality.

Kerry Boulton is a trailblazing entrepreneur, strategic advisor, and author of The Uncensored Truth About Exit Strategies and Million Dollar Pay Day. The first woman to own an international freight company in Australia, she led a multimillion-dollar turnaround and sale. Now CEO of The Exit Strategy Group, Kerry helps business owners maximise value and exit successfully. With decades of experience, a Master’s in Entrepreneurship, and a reputation for being “ahead of the game,” Kerry is a sought-after speaker who inspires audiences with powerful insights on leadership, growth, and building businesses that are truly sale-ready.

Richard Palmer is a corporate advisor, investor, and governance professional with 25+ years’ experience in M&A, strategy, private equity, and executive leadership. He is Co-Founder of Qurate Advisory and a Partner at Horizon Two Capital, investing in mid-cap advanced manufacturing. Richard has held senior roles at Gen3Media, Redwood North, Orange PLC, Tower Limited, and AMP. He also serves as Director and Advisor to several businesses across sectors including tech, manufacturing, and agriculture.

With over 20 years experience as a Mergers & Acquisition executive, Tim leads the Corporate Development and Capital advisory division at Prime Financial Group, an ASX-listed financial advisory group.

Pete co-founded Alpin Group in 2012 to acquire, grow, and operate small businesses in Australia, following a 15-year career in engineering, banking, and management. He acquired five businesses and served as CEO for three before transitioning to Non-Executive roles. This experience gave him the autonomy he sought and introduced him to the global EtA community. Since 2020, Pete has backed aspiring entrepreneurs as an investor, supporting the next generation of business owners in the baby boomer succession wave.

Rajeev Gupta is a Partner at Alium Capital, a tech-focused crossover investment fund. He began his career at Goldman Sachs and later managed global tech portfolios at Tribeca and Merricks Capital. He founded the 25-person startup Geckolife before launching Alium. Rajeev holds degrees in Finance, Econometrics, and Law from the University of Sydney, and is a CFA, CMFAS charter holder, and AICD member. He sits on several portfolio boards, as well as the Garvan Institute and University of Sydney Business School boards.

Amit is Senior Manager, Listings at the ASX, leading domestic and international listings across all sectors. With 20+ years of experience in Australia, New Zealand and globally, he also works closely with VC, growth, and private equity funds.

He’s an Explorer at Airtree Ventures, a mentor at the Founder Institute, and actively supports early-stage tech companies. Amit holds an Engineering Degree, an MBA from the University of Auckland, and has studied strategy at Harvard Business School.

Shaun Bassett is a founding partner at PieLAB Capital. PieLAB is a permanent holding company established in 2016 to invest in Australian SMEs ($1M–$5M EBITDA). Unlike traditional private equity, PieLAB acquire and hold businesses indefinitely, supporting their long-term growth without a mandate to sell.

Shaun leads the Sales and Investment team at PieLAB. Drawing on 15 years of working with Australian businesses in his role as a banker with Macquarie, Nab and ANZ, he oversees the process of finding, acquiring and ultimately managing the PieLAB businesses.

Hein is a Director at Corporate Development Partners, supporting mid-market companies with in-house corporate finance solutions for growth, M&A, and IPOs. He was CEO & CIO of ASX-listed Touch Ventures and a former MD at Investec Bank, where he launched the Emerging Companies division. Hein also held roles at Macquarie Capital and Allens Linklaters. He holds degrees in Law and Commerce, is a GAICD member, and a qualified solicitor in Australia and South Africa.