Dave Samson is general manager of Public Affairs for Chevron Corporation, a position he has held since 2004. His team is responsible for Chevron’s communications strategies and activities, including digital/social engagement, media relations, employee engagement, executive communications, issues management and litigation communications. Dave’s team is also responsible for corporate branding, advertising, research and analytics. Dave joined Chevron from Oracle Corporation where he was vice president of International Public Relations and Executive Communications.

Prior to joining Oracle, Dave was a partner at Ketchum Public Relations, where he oversaw the agency’s San Francisco/Bay Area operations and six practices: Brand, Corporate, Healthcare, Food and Nutrition, Technology and Workplace. While at Ketchum, Dave provided counsel to a range of clients in the financial services, biotech and medical device industries.

Earlier in his career, Dave was vice president of Global Communications at Levi Strauss & Co., where he oversaw worldwide communications. He also worked at IBM as the director of International Communications and was IBM’s first head of communications for IBM Global Services. Previously, Dave was senior manager of Investor and Corporate Relations for the Manville Corporation. Dave began his career at MGA Communications, a Denver-based public relations firm. Dave is chairman of the Arthur W. Page Society, a professional association for senior public relations and corporate communications executives.

He is an Advisory Board Member for the Annenberg School of Journalism at USC and past chairman of the General Committee on Communications for the American Petroleum Institute. Dave holds a B.A. in Journalism from Colorado State University and an M.B.A. from the University of Phoenix.

Margaret heads Corporate and External Relations for Nestlé Oceania, where she has responsibility for communications and public affairs across Australia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Fiji and the Pacific. In this role, Margaret manages issues shaping Nestlé’s operating environment in areas as diverse as nutrition, human rights, environmental sustainability, water and rural development, while working across a broad portfolio of iconic food and beverage brands. She has over 20 years corporate affairs experience in the healthcare, food and agribusiness sectors, working in both consulting and in-house roles in Australia and New Zealand, including senior roles in Novartis, Syngenta and Schering-Plough.

As General Manager of ANSTO Communications and Community Relations, Cassandra oversees reputation management and community engagement for the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO).

As a strategic communications specialist, with over 25 years’ experience, Cassandra has worked across a wide range of industry sectors.  Prior to moving into government, the lion’s share of her experience was with multi-national companies that include Kimberly-Clark; Vodafone, Coca-Cola  Nokia; Lend Lease; Lever Rexona; Johnson & Johnson; Roche, and Glaxo SmithKline. Cassandra has also worked within the Cancer Council NSW and in the Australian university sector. Throughout her career, Cassandra has forged a reputation for providing trusted, strategic counsel.

Cassandra is currently an expert advisor to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) on educational outreach programs for developing countries and presents regularly at international forums on improving public understanding of nuclear science and technology.

Ben Hubbard is General Manager of Public Policy and Strategy at Maurice Blackburn Lawyers, Australia’s leading social justice law firm. He provides leadership across public policy, public affairs, stakeholder strategy, innovation and whole of firm commercial strategy.

Ben was Chief of Staff to Australia’s twenty seventh Prime Minister, the Honourable Julia Gillard MP from 2011-2013. Prior to that, he was Chief Executive Officer of the Victoria Bushfire Reconstruction and Recovery Authority, the Government agency that coordinated the recovery of communities affected by the 2009 Black Saturday bushfires.

Ben has served in senior Government and Parliamentary advisory roles including Chief of Staff to the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Education, Employment and Workplace Relations (2007-09) and Principal Adviser to the Victorian Premier (1999-2002 and 2004- 2007).

Ben holds a Bachelor of Commerce in economics and a Masters of Public Policy and Management from the University of Melbourne.

He is a Victorian Councillor for the Australian Institute of Company Directors, a Fellow of the Institute, a member of the University of Melbourne School of Government Advisory Board and is a Director of YMCA Victoria, YMCA Australia and of the Clifton Hill / North Fitzroy Community Bank.

Andrew Holden has been the Head of Communications for Cricket Australia for 12 months. His first year on the “dark side” has included the Phillip Hughes inquest, the men’s Test defeats in Perth & Hobart and the resignation of Rod Marsh as Chairman of Selectors, speculation over new broadcasting rights deals and commercial partnerships, and the pay dispute with players. He was warned that cricket is an “issues rich” environment!

Prior to CA, Andrew was Editor-in-Chief of The Age from July 2012 to February 2016. The masthead underwent dramatic changes during his tenure, including the conversion of all print editions from broadsheet to compact size, significant developments in digital journalism, and a restructure of the organisation, all against a background of staff reductions and changing technologies.

Andrew has more than 30 years’ experience in journalism, from daily newspapers to community titles and magazines in three countries. Prior to The Age he was editor of The Press in Christchurch for four and a half years, which included the major earthquakes which devastated the city.

Ken has more than 15 years experience in the pharmaceutical and health sectors in Europe and ANZ.  In 2016 Ken accepted a new challenge at the iconic Linfox.  Bringing his 15 years of marketing, corporate affairs and government affairs experience to the newly created role of GM Marketing and Corporate Affairs, Ken is leading the organisation as it positions itself in the Asia Pacific region during a period of significant disruption.

Neil Shoebridge joined Network Ten as Director of Corporate and Public Communications in February 2012. In that role, he is responsible for both the network’s publicity department and all internal and external corporate communications.

Neil previously worked at Fairfax Media in a variety of roles, including Marketing and Media Editor, Editor and Managing Editor of BRW magazine and Marketing and Media Editor for the print and online versions of The Australian Financial Review. He has written two books: Great Australian Advertising Campaigns and The Secrets Of Successful Marketing.

Neil is Network Ten’s Alternate Director on the Board of the audience measurement company OzTAM. He co-founded the network’s workplace giving program, TEN Gives, and is closely involved with the not-for-profit organisation UnLtd, which works with a number of charities that help disadvantaged youth.

Adam has been an adviser to Cabinet Ministers in the Federal and Victorian Government. In 1993 he founded the national public affairs firm CPR and was Executive Chairman until 2010. He has also been a Managing Director of ASX listed Photon Group which when he was involved was one of the largest marketing and communications companies in the world. He was a founding non-executive director of The Climate Institute and a former Chairman of the Racehorse Trainers Association. Adam is a regular commentator on politics and public affairs in the national media.