Sector Groups

David Thodey is a business leader focused on innovation, technology and telecommunications with more than 40 years of experience.

He is currently Chairman of Tyro, Australia’s only independent EFTPOS banking institution and Xero, a cloud-based accounting software provider for small and medium-sized businesses.  Mr Thodey is also a non-executive Board director of Ramsay Health Care, a global hospital group.

In February 2022, Mr Thodey was also appointed Chair of the Great Barrier Reef Foundation, an Australian non-profit organisation established to help protect and preserve the Great Barrier Reef. 

From 2015-2021, Mr Thodey was Chair of Australia’s national scientific research agency, the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO). 

Mr Thodey is also active in public policy and led an Independent Review of the Australian Public Service (APS) in 2019 (commissioned by the Prime Minister to ensure that the APS is fit-for-purpose to serve Australian Governments and the Australian people into the future).  He also chaired an eminent Panel appointed by the NSW Government to lead an independent review of Federal Financial Relations between the Commonwealth and the States.

From March to December 2020, Mr Thodey was appointed Deputy Chair of the Federal Government’s National COVID-19 Coordination Commission (NCC) Advisory Board. During this time Mr Thodey and the Board supported the Prime Minister and Government to successfully navigate Australia through the extraordinary challenges faced during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Prior to his non-executive career, he had a successful career as CEO of Telstra, Australia’s leading telecommunications and information services company and prior to that, he was CEO of IBM Australia and New Zealand. 

Mr Thodey was awarded an Honorary Doctorate in Science and Technology from Deakin University in 2016 and an Honorary Doctorate of Business from University of Technology Sydney in 2018.

In 2017, Mr Thodey was made an Officer (AO) in the General Division of the Order of Australia for ethical business leadership.

Stefan Korn has launched and developed numerous successful business ventures, many of which are now operating in Australia, the US and Europe. In his prior role as CEO of Creative HQ, Stefan led a team that launched accelerators for startups, government and corporates, inclusive innovation initiatives such as the Korero Matauranga (NZ's Education Summits), and international innovation training programmes.

Stefan has a PhD in Neural Networks/Artificial Intelligence and an MBA in International Business. He has also authored a range of books on early-stage venture development as well as parenting for dads. In 2010 Stefan was recognised as a New Zealander of the Year by North & South Magazine for innovation in parenting education.

Margy has extensive experience in policy development and advocacy, politics, membership organisations, management, media and public relations.

Before joining TTF, Margy was the inaugural CEO of the Australian National Retailers’ Association (ANRA), now the Retail Council, which was established in 2006 as a lobby and research organisation to be the voice of the large national retailers in Australia. Prior to this, Margy was the CEO of the State and Sydney Chambers of Commerce in NSW for five years.

Margy has a wide range of Board experience having been Chair of the NSW TAFE Commission Board and Chair of the Australian Sports Foundation, Deputy Chair of Tourism NSW, and served on the boards of the Australian Sports Commission, Bell Shakespeare, the Retail Employees Superannuation Trust, NSW Major Events, the NSW Police Minister’s Advisory Board and NSW State Transit Authority. Margy also chaired the bid and official Organising Committee for the largest non-elite sporting event in the world, the International World Masters Games, held in Sydney in 2009.

Scott Tasker leads Auckland Airport’s aeronautical commercial team, focusing on sustainably growing our airline capacity, improving route connectivity and increasing passenger volumes.

Scott has more than 20 years’ experience in the travel industry, both in New Zealand and the United Kingdom, and has held a number of roles in airline sales, marketing and management with Emirates and Lufthansa.

Prior to joining Auckland Airport, Scott held leadership positions in the travel insurance industry with Cover-More Travel Insurance and the Healix Assistance Group. He joined Auckland Airport in February 2015.

With more than 30 years’ experience in the Medical Devices industry, including 22 years at Johnson & Johnson, Gavin has an extensive background as a senior commercial and executive leader in the Asia Pacific region.

Gavin Fox-Smith is CEO of Omnigon Care Solutions, and Chair, AND Health. Former Managing Director, Johnson & Johnson Medical ANZ. He is a member of the Asia Pacific Regional Leadership Team for Johnson & Johnson Medical, as well as Chair of Johnson & Johnson Medical Device Global Marketing Council. He is currently on the board of the Medical Technology Association of Australia.

Gavin has a strong record of leading organisational growth, change and transformation; and is well known for his track record of developing and exporting outstanding leaders, and ensuring a truly diverse and inclusive workforce.

Gavin’s philosophy of collaboration and service extends to community. He is a passionate advocate for efforts that improve health, literacy and education, particularly for Indigenous communities.

Gavin is a member of the Male Champions of Change (MCC) in STEM and Health, a Governor of the American Chamber of Commerce and an Ambassador for Bowel Cancer Australia and Rotary Oceania Medical Aid for Children (ROMAC).

Chandra leads the trans-Tasman operations of Pharmaco, a company specialising in the sales, marketing, warehousing and distribution of medical devices, pharmaceuticals and healthcare products and services. The company started in 1967, is New Zealand owned and entered the Australian market in 2003. It currently manages over 2,500 products on behalf of international organisations, supported by best-practice regulatory, compliance, quality assurance, customer support, and finance and administration services.

Chandra has worked in the healthcare industry for over 25 years. He joined Pharmaco (NZ) Ltd in 1994, after working with multi-national pharmaceutical and diagnostic companies. He has also worked in academia and research as a tutor, research associate and medical laboratory scientist.
He is a passionate advocate about the need to bring exceptional, life-changing and life enhancing healthcare products to New Zealand and Australia, and making a difference to people’s lives. Chandra is presently a board member of the Medical Technology Association of New Zealand.

Adrian’s career spans business, policy and public service roles across the private sector and the NSW and Australian governments –with expertise across transport, utilities and social infrastructure markets, and wider public administration.
Adrian served as IPA’s head of policy from 2011 until 2015, where he led major studies on road pricing reform, contracting and financing models, among others.

In 2015, Adrian left IPA to serve as the Executive Director of Policy and Research at Infrastructure Australia –the Commonwealth Government’s statutory infrastructure body.

At Infrastructure Australia, Adrian led the development of the Australian Infrastructure Plan a 15-year reform map for Australia’s infrastructure markets, alongside other major reports and studies and enjoys strong, trusting relationships across the business, political and public sectors.

Michelle Deshong established her consultancy business in 2008 after extensive experience in both the public and private sector.  Michelle has held senior executive positions spanning the public service and non-government sector.  More recently she was the CEO of the Australian Indigenous Governance Institute guiding the growth of the organisation over the past 5 years, until transitioning into her business full time in 2021. 

Alongside these professional roles, Michelle has maintained a strong interest in community organisations and held many governance roles, including Director of the Australian Indigenous Leadership Centre, Director of Supply Nation, Seed and the Reef Restoration Adaptation Program and member of AIATSIS Council.

Michelle holds a BA Honours in Political Science and Indigenous studies at James Cook University and is completing her PhD. In 2015 she was awarded the National NAIDOC Scholar of the year.  In 2016 Michelle received the Fulbright Indigenous Professional Scholarship and in 2018 a Churchill Fellowship to continue to research on gender equality, Indigenous rights, leadership and governance in a global context.

Traci is an award-winning company director and a recognised industry leader. She is also a trusted advisor to Maori, the Government, public and private sector clients on strategic and economic development. Traci is known for her strong and inclusive leadership and her clear focus on building the wealth and prosperity of Aotearoa New Zealand.

Traci has been named as one of the top ten most influential women in New Zealand agribusiness and the Listener’s top ten influencers in New Zealand. She won the Westpac Fairfax Media Women of Influence Board and Management award and has been named on Westpac’s New Zealand Women Powerbrokers list. Traci has been awarded the Massey University Distinguished Alumni Service Award for services to New Zealand agribusiness and Maori and named by the BBC amongst the 100 Most Influential Women in the World.

Traci has recently been made a Chartered Fellow of the New Zealand Institute of Directors, the highest level of the IODs Chartered categories, making her a nationally recognised role model for other directors and business leaders.

Traci has an MBA from Massey University and is a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit, a Justice of the Peace and a Marriage Celebrant.