2025 Symposium Speakers
The Symposium will be a day of information sharing, learning and connection and a great opportunity to absorb new information, insights, and ideas. Join us and hear from business and tourism experts who’ll challenge your perspective and perceptions!
Your speaker lineup includes:
Mark Bouris
Mark Bouris AM is an Australian entrepreneur who has been innovating for years, challenging the business landscape with disruptive models that help Australians succeed. Mark is now the Executive Chairman of Yellow Brick Road, where he continues to help Australians access their dream homes.
Mark Bouris is an Australian entrepreneur who has been innovating for years, challenging the business landscape with disruptive models that help Australians succeed. Having built his reputation as a finance specialist taking on Australia’s banks, his unique brand of charisma & curiosity sees his influence cut across multiple worlds. From businesses large and small, to politics and sport, Mark pays forward his knowledge and experience, to help grow and nurture the next generation of Australian success stories.
Best known as the founder of ‘Wizard Home Loans’, Australia’s second-largest non-bank mortgage lender, which he sold to General Electric in 2004. Mark is now the Executive Chairman of Yellow Brick Road, where he continues his mission to help Australians access their dream homes.
Appointed a Member of the Order of Australia in 2015 for his significant service to the finance industry, his sharp financial commentary and trademark “tell it straight” attitude resonates with everyday Australians, and led to his foray into television. The former host of the Nine Network’s The Apprentice and Celebrity Apprentice, as well as The Mentor on the Seven Network, Mark’s time on Australian screens cemented his reputation as a trusted voice in finance and business.
Making use of his media platform and decades of experience in business, Mark is committed to sharing the insights and knowledge of Australia’s leading business minds through the Mentored Platform, which helps small business owners and entrepreneurs come together, grow, and succeed.
He pays forward his knowledge and that of others to Australian entrepreneurs through his podcasts, The Mentor and Straight Talk, original series, and his books, What It Takes and Rise.
Away from business, Mark sits on the board of the Sydney Roosters, and looks forward to the Roosters lifting the premiership trophy this season.
Michael Thurston
This session will review the region’s performance over the last 12 months, delivery of projects during this period, and DNC’s forward vision for the North Coast visitor economy. Michael will speak to the importance of creating world class experiences to meet the shifting demographic landscape, evolving trends and consumer expectations.
As the General Manager at Destination North Coast for the past five years, Michael brings over 27 years of tourism industry experience to the role. He has extensive experience in the commercial and destination management sectors having worked for Destination Gold Coast, STA Travel, Thomas Cook UK, Insider Journeys and as an owner of Lennox Head Holiday Rentals.
Rob Harding-Smith
Rob Harding-Smith, sometimes known as RHS, is General Manager of Strategy at Tourism Australia.
Rob Harding-Smith, sometimes known as RHS, is General Manager of Strategy at Tourism Australia. He leads work across market prioritisation, long-term planning and strategic alignment, helping to ensure Australia stays competitive in a global tourism market that’s constantly shifting. With a background in brand strategy, communications and public policy, he brings a practical, data-led approach to shaping Tourism Australia’s direction and priorities.
Clifford Bennett
Clifford Bennett is a distinguished economist and market strategist with over 40 years of experience in economics and market trading. Renowned for his accurate market predictions, he has earned accolades such as being called the “world’s most accurate currency forecaster” by Bloomberg News and the “Guru of the Australian dollar” by the Australian Financial Review. He has also advised political leaders and billionaires on macro-economic policy issues.
Clifford Bennett is a distinguished economist and market strategist with over 40 years of experience in economics and market trading. Renowned for his accurate market predictions, he has earned accolades such as being called the “world’s most accurate currency forecaster” by Bloomberg News and the “Guru of the Australian dollar” by the Australian Financial Review. He has also advised political leaders and billionaires on macro-economic policy issues.
Throughout his career, Clifford has held prominent positions, including roles at BNP Paribas internationally and Macquarie Bank.
Clifford was a keynote speaker at both the prestigious APEC, Vladivostok, and Caixin, Beijing, Summits. As well as Euromoney in London, Eurofinance around the world, Macquarie Bank, NAB, EY, KPMG and Deloitte.
Clifford is also the author of “Warrior Trading,” published by John Wiley, New York.
Clifford now runs his own consulting and market reports business at www.cliffordbennett.com.au
Mark (Mono) Stewart
When ‘Mono’ was fifteen he was told he had Osteosarcoma; bone cancer. When he was 60 he was told he had stage 4 melanoma cancer, but thanks to modern medicine he is cancer free and still going stronger than ever.
When ‘Mono’ was fifteen he was told he had Osteosarcoma; bone cancer. When he was 60 he was told he had stage 4 melanoma cancer, but thanks to modern medicine he is cancer free and still going stronger than ever.
In September 2015, at the age of 53, Mono won the inaugural International Adaptive Surfing World Championship in La Jolla, California. Mono has gone on to win six World Titles and 32 International events over the past 10 years.
The future looks bright for adaptive athletes with Mono playing a pivotal role in the push towards inclusion at the Brisbane Paralympics in 2032.
Mono lives life to the fullest and his positivity and tenaciousness is infectious. It is this tenacity and passion that has led him and his wife to host the first Australian international adaptive surf event in Byron Bay and successfully hosting in 2025 and beyond.