ADELAIDE ELEVATE and PLATFORM | Innovative Leadership: A Panel Discussion with 40 Under 40 Award Winners

Three years ago, Luke founded Secure State to address the lack of cybersecurity support given to Australian businesses. “There were no IT providers implementing cybersecurity and no cyber- security providers implementing IT,” says Luke. “That’s where I saw an opportunity to create a unique offering and bridge the two disciplines to provide an end- to-end solution for industry.” Secure State describes itself as “an Australian sovereign Indigenous cyber- security business specialising in information security and technology services”. As the company’s chief operating officer, Luke leads a team providing expert IT and cybersecurity advice to Australian businesses.

As a senior leader in the not-for- profit sector, Chelsey has helped shape the national debate on women’s representation and started her own consultancy aimed at empowering women to fill out the parliamentary benches. This is all while continuing in her role at Uniting Communities where she works to start “bold and, at times, controversial” conversations to build inclusive communities.

Adelaide Oval has Chris’ CME Group to thank for its ultra-bright lights. Established by the Mattner family in 1985 as WM Group, CME Group is a leader in integrated electrical solutions and specialises in stadia lighting, sustainable energy and construction. Since Chris took the helm as CEO in 2012, the business has increased its revenue by 17 times and the future is bright, with income expected to grow even further. The business’ proudest project remains the Adelaide Oval LED light tower upgrade – the company’s first global-level stadia lighting project. Since 1985, the company has illuminated more than 400 sports fields.

Zachary Munn has worked with the World Health Organisation, chaired the Guidelines International Network COVID-19 Taskforce and been invited to speak around the world. After working at the Spencer Gulf Rural Health School, Zachary became motivated by a desire to improve health equity around Australia. Appointed as an associate professor in his late 20s and professor at 36, Zachary strives to improve research synthesis and guideline development in healthcare, enabling evidence-based decision-making.
In 2023 alone, Zachary’s work was cited 13,860 times, 93 times more than the average academic.

Emily supports organisations by providing timely legal advice through every stage of employment, including hiring, managing the workforce, and resolving disputes.

She provides advice to employers from various industries in relation to all aspects of employment, industrial relations, work health and safety, and workers compensation law.

Emily is a co-author of “Independent Contractors: a practical guide” with Professor Andrew Stewart and other contributors from Piper Alderman, published by CCH.

She has been an editor of the University of Adelaide Law Review and a member of the South Australian Law Reform Institute.

Emily hosts Piper Alderman’s podcast, Employment Law for the Time Poor, updating listeners on complicated legal issues in manageable portions.