Growing up on a farm in rural Australia, Sonia Adams saw firsthand the impact of drought, floods and the power of community resilience—shaping her belief in connection as a
catalyst for better outcomes.

As Chief Client Officer at GHD, she leads global clients and markets strategy, bringing together the expertise of 12,000 people to solve complex challenges and create a more sustainable future.

With 15 years in strategic pursuits, Sonia is known for translating client and industry foresight into meaningful outcomes or solutions. She is a passionate advocate for inclusion as executive sponsor of Women in GHD and was inducted into the ICON APAC Hall of Fame in 2023 for her contribution to professional services marketing.




 

Michael Hinshaw is the founder and president of customer experience consultancy McorpCX, and is recognized on over a dozen "Top Global CX Influencers" lists.

Michael is the co-author of the best-selling books Experience Rules! The Experience Operating System (XOS)and 8 Keys to Enable It, Smart Customers, Stupid Companies: Why Only Intelligent Companies Will Thrive, and How to Be One of Them. He has been published and quoted in dozens of publications ranging from Harvard Business Review and Fast Company to American Executive, Forbes and TIME.

A Teaching Fellow at UC Berkeley's Lester Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation at the Haas School of Business, Michael has consulted for and advised executives at leading global companies including Denver and San Francisco International Airports, Gensler, GHD, HLB, Microsoft, Merck and Cencora.

Ranveer Chandra is the Vice President in M365 Copilot and the Chief Technology Officer of Agri-Food at Microsoft. Previously, Dr. Chandra has held various leadership roles, including the Managing Director for Research for Industry, Chief Scientist of Microsoft Azure Global, and Head of Networking Research at Microsoft Research, Redmond. 

His research has shipped in multiple Microsoft products, including XBOX, Azure, and Windows. He is the inventor of Microsoft FarmBeats—Big Data, AI, Cloud & Edge for Agriculture. Dr. Chandra has published more than 100 papers and holds over 150 patents granted by the USPTO. He is an IEEE Fellow and ACM Fellow, and has won several awards, including the MIT Technology Review’s Top Innovators Under 35.




 

Cécile Herman has built her career at the intersection of cultures – bridging European heritage with the Gulf, and connecting science, education, and storytelling into experiences that bring people together. As co-founder of Culture Emulsion, a cultural and edutainment consultancy spanning the UAE and France, she has spent over two decades helping institutions engage audiences in new ways. 

Cécile began at La Cité des Sciences in Paris, one of Europe's largest science centres, before moving to the UAE. She has since advised governments and ministries across the UAE, Oman, and Saudi Arabia – including developing the Ministry of Culture UAE's national framework for cultural learning in schools. She also founded the largest French-language drama school in the Middle East.

JP Gladu is a prominent Indigenous business leader dedicated to creating innovative partnerships and solutions that reveal equitable opportunities for Indigenous and non-Indigenous business communities. He is a member of Sand Point First Nation, located on the eastern shores of Lake Nipigon, Ontario.

He currently serves on the boards of Suncor and Superior Plus. He also sits on Domtar’s Sustainability Committee, BHP’s Forum for Corporate Responsibility, and the Major Projects Office Indigenous Advisory Committee.

Community, culture, and time on the land and water energize JP — a unique vantage that makes him a sought-after speaker nationally and internationally, and a 2024 Public Policy Forum Honouree.

Bennet Fowler is the newly appointed Vice President for BMD Constructions operations across the United States. He brings nearly two decades of experience across both transport infrastructure and resource sector markets. Prior to relocating to the United America, Bennet held senior roles in Australia covering both strategy and growth and helped affirm BMD as a market leader across multiple regions and sectors.  

With a career spanning business development and executive leadership roles, he offers a practical, results-driven perspective on infrastructure delivery and industry trends. Bennet is passionate about building long-term, genuine relationships with clients, business partners and his wider team, through meaningful communication, collaboration and trust.