Speakers

Isabella Hall

Isabella Hall leads the Stakeholder Engagement team for Inland Rail projects between Narromine and the NSW/Queensland border, bringing deep local knowledge and a passion for regional communities. 

Isabella grew up on a sheep farm in the Southern Tablelands and now lives with her husband and two boys on a cropping farm near Wallangra, about fifty kilometres south-east of North Star. She is a proud advocate for rural communities and is committed to achieving positive and lasting outcomes for the Northern NSW region.

With more than two decades of experience across government and infrastructure, Isabella is a highly skilled project management and stakeholder engagement professional. Prior to joining Inland Rail, she held leadership roles with Landcare Australia, Gunnedah Shire Council, and in the Australian Public Service, most notably with the Department of Immigration and Citizenship and the Department of Infrastructure. 

She brings a strong record in public policy, community relations, and corporate communications, underpinned by a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Government from the University of Sydney. 

In her spare time, Isabella enjoys water skiing.

Peter Stutchbury

Peter is the principal of Peter Stutchbury Architecture (PSA) who’s thinking stems from the land and principles of respect. His work is regularly acknowledged internationally.
A UON graduate, Peter lived with Indigenous people in Australia in 1978, Papua New Guinea from 1980-81 and then in 1989 won a national scholarship, travelling to Africa to study Indigenous villages.
Since 1993 PSA has constructed over 150 buildings, receiving both state and national AIA awards on over 73 occasions. PSA has won several national and international competitions.
Peter has; held the Luis Barragan chair (Mexico), visiting professor (Arizona, Columbia, Chile, South Africa and Bangladesh) and is one of the Masters for the Architecture Foundation Australia, a non-for- profit established in 2001 which has involved over 1600 students from over 82 countries.
He was practise professor at UON 1999 – 2019 and WSU 2025 – having delivered lectures and key note addresses in over 31 countries.
In 2015 Peter Stutchbury and Fernanda Cabral formed the PSA Foundation, a non-for-profit organisation undertaking voluntary community building work in favelas in Salvador Brazil. And more recently the Gibson Desert, WA.
Peter received the Alumni Medal (UON) 2004, LFAIA 2012, Australian Gold Medal 2015 and the International RIBA fellowship 2016.

Tamara Donnellan

Jeremy Roberts

Amanda Stanaway

Amanda is an accomplished international strategist and designer who transforms cities, precincts, and organizations through an innovative 'inside-out' approach. Her work seamlessly integrates strategy, design, and change management to create lasting impact across public and commercial sectors.

By drawing on her multidisciplinary expertise, she develops solutions that strengthen organizations internally while enhancing their external presence and influence. This unique methodology has consistently delivered measurable results, whether revitalizing urban districts, reimagining corporate spaces, or fostering positive organizational change. Her deep understanding of both human-centered design and strategic planning enables her to create solutions that resonate at every level - from internal operations to citywide initiatives.

Michael Kilgariff

Michael Kilgariff is the Chief Executive Officer of Cement Concrete & Aggregates Australia - the peak body for the heavy construction materials industry in Australia. CCAA members produce the majority of Australia's cement, concrete, and aggregates, which are crucial to Australia's building and construction sectors. These materials support the development of our nation's transport, energy, water, housing, defence, and social infrastructure. The industry generates approximately $15 Billion in annual revenues and employs approximately 30,000 Australians directly and a further 80,000 indirectly. Michael Kilgariff has a strong background in stakeholder engagement and collaboration. He has always sought to build strong working relationships between industry and government, with the aim of supporting and achieving public policy outcomes that are beneficial to industry. Michael has a keen understanding of the major economic, social and government policy drivers, combined with a broad understanding of the key issues impacting on industry. In recognition of his work in this area, Michael won the Transport and Logistics Executive of the Year in the CEO Magazine 2014 Executive of the Year Awards. Michael holds a degree in Economics from the Australian National University and is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors’ diploma and advanced diploma courses. He also completed the Cambridge University Judge Business School Advanced Leadership Programme in November 2017.

Sam Mendoza

Sam is a well-established infrastructure and transport expert with proven success advising clients in business cases, cost and commercial management, risk, procurement, project advisory and delivery.

He has extensive experience in all infrastructure sectors with a particular focus on light rail and metro, marine, aviation and zero emission infrastructure.

Throughout his career, Sam has played a key role in planning and delivering some of the most city-shaping projects including Parramatta Light Rail, TfNSW Zero Emission Buses, Coffs Harbour Bypass, Circular Quay Renewal, Western Sydney Airport and others.

Kanchana Perera

Kanchana has over 18 years of experience in renewable energy development of sell side and buy side transactions in both a technical, project management, commercial, financial and investment advisory. She has worked across a range of technologies as they emerged into the market, including Lincoln Gap Wind Farm and Coober Pedy Microgrid as well as working across various infrastructure projects including port and transmission upgrades as well as building out renewable energy zone infrastructure. She has experience in transaction advisory and working with private and public capital funds to fastrack infrastructure build outs.

Davina Rooney

Kestrel Stone

Over a 20-year career in projects, Kestrel has built an outstanding reputation working with clients from across industry in the private, public and third sectors – from ‘hard’ projects, such Defence, engineering, transport, and construction; through to ‘soft’ (complex adaptive) projects, such as organisational transformations, policy implementations, health, community service, Indigenous, and climate change initiatives.
Through this broad experience in project and program delivery, Kestrelhas developed a practical understanding of how to tailor projectmanagement frameworks, concepts, processes, tools, and techniques,to suit different types of projects in different industries and sectors. Hersignature approach combines this broad industry experience with deepexpertise in project management, vocational learning, and psychology. Kestrel has developed and delivered dozens of project and programmanagement training programs, stakeholder workshops, planningsessions, lectures, industry presentations, and project managementsimulations across Australia, and overseas. She brings creativity,enthusiasm and professionalism to each engagement and has earned areputation for exceptional delivery and a warm, approachable style.Fellow, International ProjectManagement Association(IPMA) Director, Global Alliance forthe Project Professions(GAPPS) Industry Advisory Panel,University of Sydney - School ofProject Management Industry Partner, John GrillInstitute for Project Leadership Chair (2013-2017), NSW PMOCommunity of Practice, AIPM Chair (2012-2013), Women inProject Management, AIPMMaster of Project Management,University of Technology,Sydney TAE40116 Certificate IV inTraining and AssessmentKestrelStoneFounder & CEO - Elemental ProjectsSpecialising in:designing and delivering high-impact project management courses designing and delivering award-winning gamified simulations project leadership development stakeholder engagement including workshops and consultation culture and talent management programs assessing and uplifting organisational PM capability and maturity

John Hainsworth

John Hainsworth is a Technical Director with Mott MacDonald in Sydney.

He is currently the Digital Engineering Leader for the AJM design joint venture on the Suburban Rail Loop project in Victoria, and the Digital Director for the Water2Wire design joint venture on the Borumba Dams project in Queensland.

John has over 30 years of experience gained in engineering and the application of digital technologies across sectors.

Founded on expertise gained in the manufacturing supply chain in the UK, he has spent the last 20 years specialising in digital engineering and building information modelling, shaping project strategy and teams to deliver iconic projects across the world with Arup, Aurecon and Mott MacDonald.

Chris Fox

Chris Fox is an artist, architect and academic with 30 years’ experience in the built environment navigating the complex constraints of the public domain. He is passionate about transforming our cities, towns and landscapes through artful thinking and collaboration. Chris founded the multi-disciplinary design studio Studio Chris Fox in 2013 with the aim of transforming the built environment, bridging the disciplines of art, architecture and engineering. SCF utilises an innovative computational workflow to create structures that push the boundaries of what seems physically possible, whilst telling meaningful stories of place and people through time. In addition to his studio practice, Chris is a Senior Lecturer in Art Processes and Architecture at the University of Sydney School of Architecture, Design and Planning. He is inspired by the future-thinking of academia, and the chance to influence upcoming generations of young designers and creative thinkers. Chris holds degrees in both fine arts and architecture. He has been the recipient of many Awards, grants and residencies including the 2018 National Trust Heritage Award for the Most Outstanding Project of the Year (Interloop, 2017). Chris ‘s work has been exhibited widely via solo and group exhibitions in Australia, the USA and Europe. Landmark public commissions include Interchange Pavilion (2020), Interloop (2017) and Rozelle Interchange (2023). Chris is a member of AKIN, the competition award-winning design team for Sydney’s Barangaroo Harbour Park, due for completion in 2027.