Policy Group

John Paitaridis (JP) is the Chief Executive Officer and Founder of CyberCX.

CyberCX is the leading cyber security organisation in Australia and New Zealand, with a growing global presence and offices in the UK and USA. CyberCX has a workforce of more than 1,400 cyber security and cloud services professionals, and offers the most comprehensive services in market, including Strategy and Consulting, Security Testing and Assurance, Governance, Risk and Compliance, Managed Security Services, Network and Cloud Security, Identity and Access Management, Incident Response and Cyber Education & Training.

John is a recognised leader in the technology industry and business community. He is committed to the digital future of Australia and New Zealand, with a proven ability to translate vision and strategy into execution and results.
Prior to his role with CyberCX, John spent seven years as Managing Director at Optus, where he was responsible for Optus’ enterprise and business group and subsidiaries, one of Australia’s leading Information Communications and Technology (ICT) organisations.

Previously, John was Executive Director at Telstra where he was leading scale telecommunications and services organisations in the Australian and international markets. John has a strong track record of driving financial and business outcomes, with a committed focus on serving customers and building high performance teams.

With 30 years’ experience in the technology industry, including almost 10 years based in Europe and Asia, John has been responsible for enabling the digital transformation and cyber security strategies for some of the most significant public-sector organisations and global enterprises, across banking and financial services, retail, logistics, media, infrastructure, energy, health, and mining sectors.

John holds a Bachelor of Economics degree and is a graduate member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. In 2012, he was appointed to the Australian Information Industry Association (AIIA) National Board of Directors and was Chairman of AIIA between 2016 and 2019. In 2017, John was appointed National Board Director, Business Higher Education Round Table (BHERT). John currently serves as the Executive Chairman of high growth cyber technology SAAS companies Airlock Digital, and Phriendly Phishing.

In 2023 John was named as one of Australia’s top 100 Innovators “The Australian”.

Greg became the Strategic Growth Advisor in October 2023 where his focus is on making an impact on emerging strategic growth initiatives that will enhance future business. Prior to this he was the CEO of the Beca Group since April 2012, responsible for business operations and delivery of strategic objectives group-wide.  Joining Beca in 2004 as Wellington Regional Manager, he became Managing Director Australia in 2006 and was appointed to the Beca Group Board in 2010.

Greg has wide experience in large project delivery and multi-disciplinary consultancy services and previously held senior management roles in asset management and information technology consultancies. His early career with the Royal New Zealand Navy culminated in senior roles covering operations, policy and major project delivery.

Greg is an Officer of the NZ Order of Merit, a Fellow of Engineering New Zealand (IPENZ), a Chartered Member of the Institute of Directors in New Zealand and holds a Master’s degree and First Class Honours degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Auckland.

Ranj Samrai is the Australian Director of the Australia New Zealand Leadership Forum (ANZLF), commencing in December 2022. Prior to joining the ANZLF, Ranj was the Program Director for the Australian American Leadership Dialogue, a strategic role she held for five years. Ranj has worked in the private diplomatic sector for over a decade managing bi-lateral and multi-lateral engagement programs to advance Australia’s interests around the world.  Earlier in her career, Ranj worked in senior roles with large global health and international development organizations. Personally, Ranj is an avid supporter of the Hawthorn Football Club and is on the Board of the Chamberlain Foundation, a Charitable Trust focused on suicide prevention. Ranj has a master’s degree from Monash University.

Stephen Jacobi is the New Zealand Director of the Australia New Zealand Leadership Forum Secretariat. Stephen serves concurrently as Executive Director of the New Zealand International Business Forum and Managing Director of Jacobi Consulting Ltd.

Stephen has broad experience in industry and trade development. He was formerly Chief Executive of the New Zealand Forest Industries Council, Executive Director of the NZ US Council 2005-2014 and Executive Director of the NZ China Council 2016-19. He led the ANZLF Secretariat 2011-2018. Mr Jacobi is a frequent media and public commentator on industry and trade issues.

Stephen also has extensive diplomatic, trade and government experience including posts as Deputy High Commissioner in Ottawa, Assistant Trade Commissioner in Paris and adviser on trade and diplomatic issues with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade. He was formerly Private Secretary to the Minister for Trade Negotiations.

Stephen grew up in Auckland and was educated at Auckland Grammar School and Auckland University. He has a First Class Honours degree in French and German and is a graduate of the Ecole Nationale d’Administration (ENA) in Paris, as well as the Leadership Seminar of Georgetown University in Washington DC and the New Zealand Institute for Strategic Leadership (Millbrook). He was a Fulbright Scholar and Visiting Researcher at Georgetown University in 2013. He is a member of the World Class New Zealander network. He is an accredited director and currently serves on the National Advisory Board for Export NZ and is an Alternate Member of the APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC). 

New Zealand Associate Director of the Australia New Zealand Leadership Forum, Simon Le Quesne is a proud citizen of both Australia and New Zealand. He holds a First-Class Honours degree and a Master’s (with Distinction) degree in International Relations from Victoria University of Wellington, along with a TAFE (Technical and Further Education) Small Business Management Certificate. Notably, his MA Thesis, ‘Mixing Business with Politics: The Role and Influence of Australia New Zealand Leadership Forum’, was awarded the Sir Desmond Todd Memorial Prize for best MA thesis in 2011.

Simon's experience is multifaceted. He served six years as the Economic and Trade Analyst at the Australian High Commission in Wellington and recently returned from Sweden, where he ran his own business. He also has a background in the Australian transport, travel and music industries and currently sits on the Board of Trustees for a disability service. Simon is an intrepid traveller and has undertaken several overland journeys across the globe without air travel. He is particularly interested in the nexus of government and business in international trade, especially track two diplomacy.