2026 Speakers

Surviving burns to 65% of her body during an ultramarathon, Turia Pitt is living proof that with the right mindset, anything is possible.

She’s written three best-selling books, coached over 40,000 people in her digital courses, sailed a boat around French Polynesia, competed at the Ironman world championships, rubbed shoulders with Harry and Megs and been an answer on the game show Hard Quiz.

She spends her time with her young family, writing, and teaching women how to run.

Joanna James - is known as a revolutionary difference maker in the Design, Construction and Banking sectors and is featured in publications such as Entrepreneur, USA Today, The Adviser, MPA, Australian Broker, Flaunt, CIO and Insights Success.

As Australia’s youngest registered female architect & builder she is known as creator of the world's first ‘Bio’ home, featured on TV series ‘I Own Australia’s best home’.

Joanna created the Shambhala@byron retreat which welcomed celebrity singer Sting as her first guest. Her book Mind Body Spaces raises awareness around our health and the spaces that we live in.

A pioneering entrepreneur for the Mortgage Ezy Group of companies, her contribution shines through the 32 Industry awards including 3 times BRW fastest company.

A passionate advocate for women in business, Joanna has also been recognised as Principal of Year (WIFA), Top 100 Female Entrepreneurs and Top 100 Female Mentors.

Contributing to the FBAA Artemis Forum, she works to raise opportunities for Education, Advocacy and Awareness for women within the Australian Finance Industry.

Annie Kane is the managing editor of Momentum's mortgage broking title, The Adviser.

As well as leading the editorial strategy, Annie writes news and features about the Australian broking industry, the mortgage market, financial regulation, fintechs and the wider lending landscape.

She is also the host of the Elite Broker, New Broker, Mortgage & Finance Leader, Women in Finance and In Focus podcasts and The Adviser Live webcasts.

Annie regularly emcees industry events and awards, such as the Better Business Summit, the Women in Finance Summit as well as other industry events.

Prior to joining The Adviser in 2016, Annie wrote for The Guardian Australia and had a speciality in sustainability.

She has also had her work published in several leading consumer titles, including Elle (Australia) magazine, BBC Music, BBC History and Homes & Antiques magazines.

Anja Pannek joined the Mortgage & Finance Association of Australia (MFAA) as Chief Executive Officer in September 2022.

Anja is an experienced leader in financial services with over 20 years’ experience in the sector, and has a proven track record of leading successful businesses within the third-party channel, including aggregator businesses and mortgage distribution for major financial services firms.

Prior to joining the MFAA Anja was CEO of PLAN Australia and she has a proven track record of leading successful businesses within the third-party channel. She was CFO of NAB’s Personal Banking division for several years and has also held leadership roles at Loan Market Group, Advantedge Financial Services and Challenger Limited.

Kyla Kirkpatrick is a dynamic entrepreneur, champagne ambassador and presenter, best known as The Champagne Dame. As founder and CEO of Emperor Champagne and The Champagne Dame, Kyla has carved out a formidable career in the world of Champagne, combining deep industry expertise with captivating storytelling and entrepreneurial flair.

Kyla is a charismatic and engaging speaker, and will entertain you with humour and authenticity, whilst sharing insights on Champagne's illustrious history, business strategy inspired by the former great women of champagne and share her fascinating story of pivoting from her career in Banking to leading one of the world's greatest Champagne businesses. She will share her inspiring tale of giving up her life and buying a one way ticket to Paris start her life again..a story of courage, resilience and personal growth.

Colleen Callander is a highly respected leader, advisor, author, and former CEO who has dedicated more than 30 years to shaping Australia's retail fashion industry.

Colleen spent over a decade at the helm of two beloved Australian brands, Sportsgirl and Sussan, where she became known for her clear vision, strategic leadership, and ability to build strong, people-focused cultures. Her approach to leadership - grounded in purpose, courage, confidence, and kindness - earned her recognition as an award-winning CEO and a trusted voice in the business community.

Today, Colleen is a sought-after business and leadership advisor, keynote speaker, and the founder of Mentor Me Women, a program designed to elevate and empower women to step into their full potential. She is also the bestselling author of Leader by Design and Elevate, with her third book, The Power of Confidence, continuing her mission to inspire confident, values-led living and leadership.

Colleen's story began long before her executive roles - at just 16, working a summer job that sparked her passion for retail. Her career has been shaped not only by remarkable achievements but also by the challenges she has navigated along the way. In 2007, Colleen experienced burnout while balancing a demanding leadership role and raising three young children. Her comeback from burnout became a defining chapter in her life. It led her to embrace healthier boundaries, strengthen her wellbeing practiced, and rethink what sustainable high performance truly looks like.

This experience now fuels much of her work. Colleen teaches leaders how to build confidence from within, create supportive and high-performing environments, and lead with authenticity and humanity. Her message is simple yet powerful: confidence, clarity, and kindness change the way we live and lead.

Colleen continues to inspire individuals and organisations around the world to rewrite their stories, unlock their potential, and lead with impact.

Melissa Ashcroft is a commercial finance advisor and managing director at AAA Financial Group, working across commercial, construction and high-net-worth lending, one of a small number of women operating at that level in the industry. She is a Non-Executive Director of the MFAA (Mortgage & Finance Association of Australia) and of ASX-listed Desane Group Holdings, giving her a vantage point on where lending is heading that most brokers don't have. She's been named Women in Finance Commercial Broker of the Year twice (2022 and 2025), and was the only woman on MPA's Top 10 Commercial Broker list in 2021.

Melissa talks finance the way people actually think about it, grounded in real client stories rather than industry jargon, and is a regular voice in trade press on live policy shifts. She also hosts her own show, the P.O.W.E.R Podcast.