These events illustrated how important it is for everyone to do strategic communications, including a PR company! And how vital, in the AI age, it is to facilitate face-to-face meetings and connections. The calibre of speakers for events – aimed at our clients, referral partners and new customers – were outstanding. The premise began as a breakfast event in August 2026 to educate current clients about AI Intelligence and Generative AI Optimisation with strategic partner, Jack Newbould, of Brisbane-based Delphi Advisory. But it quickly developed into much more, a curated education session that left most saying: “I always learn something” from each session. Over the past year, the events have also been a business activator for attendees. “We don’t pretend Perth Media can do everything, so of our connections provide some of the services we now provide such as social media and design, but their tech skills maybe superior, so we still facilitate introductions for our clients if we believe they would benefit,” says Cate Rocchi, Managing Director of Perth Media.
Perth Media Client CEO Tech events are for CEOs and business leaders. It has been a safe space to upskill. We are all continuously learning in order to embrace new challenges and grow our companies and organisations. Each month speakers are handpicked for their ingenuity and innovation.
Here is a quick recap of speakers. Jack’s presentation in 2025 was followed by Amanda Branley, The Procurement Coach, and Jeremy Taylor, Red Empire.
In November, Peter Bliss spoke on Demartini Method and neuroptimal brain training at our special early Christmas event. Peter Bliss is a speaker, author, coach and mindfulness expert. He helps global businesspeople achieve their optimal performance. Using a range of techniques based on ancient philosophies, combined with the latest in neuroplasticity and epigenetic science-based research, he assists both individuals and businesses alike gain focus, engagement, clarity, and direction. Peter — who visited Perth after trekking in Bhutan, before he then headed home to Sydney — is the brother of the late Diana Bliss, who was married to former highflying WA businessman Alan Bond. He provided some very interesting insights into Western Australia’s colourful past.
Then Josh Horneman, of Howll, led an AI discussion. Howll is a private AI operating system that gives business leaders what they actually want: seamless AI integration without disrupting what works or risking IP or sensitive data. It helps enterprises transition to AI-first operations by deploying AI agents directly into existing workflows. This supports expertise while automating routine tasks. It provides a power localGPT environment and delivers complete data control with NVIDIA-powered local infrastructure. Josh says: “Unlike public AI platforms, consulting firms or enterprise AI plug-ins, we don’t use deploy AI, we build AI business intelligence that compounds over time. Your team stays central. Your data stays yours. Your competitive advantage grows.”
In January, we welcomed Haim Oz at Co-Founder and CEO of AIUC Global. In 2025, Perth Media became a AIUC Ambassador and adopted its AI usage classification™. All CEOs should review this AIUC Global and consider incorporating its offering into your everyday operations right now. Though honest disclosure, the classifications enable stakeholders – including clients, government, regulations, consumers and communities – to understand when and how AI is used. This fosters trust, informed engagement, value assessment and responsible innovation.
AIUC Global is a Perth-based organisation focused on helping organisations disclose and govern AI use with clarity and integrity. With a background spanning strategy, technology and governance, Haim works with CEOs, boards, CISOs and procurement leaders to move AI beyond buzzwords and tools, focusing on strategy, oversight, governance and organisational direction. This enables AI use to be clearly defined, accountable, and described in language everyone in the organisation can understand.
AIUC Global has developed the AI usage classification™, a governance framework that helps organisations explain if AI is used, how much it influences outcomes, and who remains accountable. The company’s mission is to shape a future where customers, staff, and stakeholders can confidently understand and communicate how AI was used. Incorporation facilitates open discussion so clear expectations can be set and lets leaders adopt AI with integrity rather than hype.
In this CEO tech session, Haim will focus on ‘Leading with AI: Visibility, Accountability and Value.’ The talk will explore three practical questions for leaders: Where is AI already operating in your organisation and brand, often invisibly? How do you put simple guardrails and language around AI so your people, customers and regulators stay onside? How can you unlock value from AI while still protecting reputation, compliance, and human creativity?
This was followed by ‘Ethical Hacker’ Matt Breuillac at Cyber Node, a seasoned cybersecurity specialist with a strong foundation in ‘pen’ testing. This was covered by Sam Jones, technology reporter at Business News.
We have passed an AI inflection point. Attackers no longer need: deep skills, time or large teams. They can scale up quickly and automation can now favour offence. Cyber risk is no longer ‘can we be breached’ but ‘how quickly will we be assessed, prioritised and exploited?’ Matt brought a rare blend of hands-on technical expertise and executive-level strategy, shaped by decades of experience across the cybersecurity and engineering sectors. Matt began his career as a chemical engineer, with a Bachelor’s degree from the University of London and a Master’s degree from ENSIC in France. He later earned an Executive MBA from the Quantic School of Business and Technology, complementing his technical background with leadership and business acumen. He also holds multiple industry certifications in cybersecurity and IT governance.
Before founding Cyber Node, Matt held senior roles in major international firms including Orano, Technip, Wood, and Perth-based mining contractor Primero. Earlier in his career, he served as Industrial Risks Manager at Areva (now Orano), overseeing safety operations at uranium extraction and processing facilities in Kazakhstan, Mongolia, and Canada. He also worked in nuclear safety at Orano’s Tricastin power plant in France. Drawing on his deep operational knowledge of the mining, mineral processing, and energy sectors, Matt brings a pragmatic, real-world approach to cybersecurity. Cyber Node clients include WA regional energy company Horizon Power and many others in a wide range of industries. Cyber Node’s clients are in professional services, agribusiness, technology, local government, WA government as well as state and federal agencies and media firms.
Then the brilliant Dani Riebe, Entrepreneurs alked about female startups and the woeful lack of funding. Presenting on ‘The New Alpha and the Missing Middle’, her discussion will explore emerging power dynamics shaping innovation, investment, and influence, and what it means for founders, funders, and future leaders.
Innovation is being reshaped by a quiet, yet powerful, shift in who holds influence and how. In this conversation, Dani explores the rise of The New Alpha (or Alpha Gap), a generation of leaders redefining what authority, success, and collaboration looks like in today’s innovation economy. She examined where real power now resides: not only in boardrooms or venture portfolios, but in networks of founders, funders, and creators building new models of impact and inclusion. At the heart of the discussion is the Missing Middle —the overlooked space between early-stage ideas and scalable investment opportunities.
The session unpacked how the funding gap constrains emerging talent, particularly for female founders, and what can be done to bridge it through smarter capital deployment, mentoring, and ecosystem support. Expect lively insights into today’s pitch environment, shifting investor expectations, and the leadership qualities shaping the next era of innovation in WA and beyond. In 2025, the WA Government sponsored INVESTinWA showcase in Perth which featured investment platforms with innovation centres and hubs. It was a huge success and connected many kinds of investors – high-net worth individuals, philanthropists, venture capitalists, financial advisors, private equity firms and the public – with investment platforms and tech hubs. Many sectors were represented including agriculture, renewable energy, blue tech, life sciences, health tech, female-led and indigenous businesses.
We were also delighted to welcome strategic business coach, marketing and technology entrepreneur, Ming Johanson. Ming is known as the ‘Mother of Unicorns.’ With over 20 years in the tech industry and more than 15 years building her own agency, she is recognised for helping businesses untangle the messy middle of growth, where marketing, systems, and identity often collide. As the founder of Marketing Jumpstart, Ming has built a reputation for cutting through noise, simplifying complexity, and empowering business owners to understand and own their marketing rather than feel controlled by it. Her work blends brand psychology, practical strategy, and emerging technologies like AI, helping clients move from scattered activity to clear, scalable direction.
A regular media commentator and speaker, Ming has spent years translating complex tech and business concepts into real-world, usable insights. Her approach is equal parts strategic and human, grounded in the belief that when you understand how you think, communicate, and show up, everything else becomes easier to build, including the way you use AI. Ming’s sessions are known for being candid, thought-provoking, and just a little bit disruptive, leaving audiences with not just ideas, but a completely different way of seeing their business. The session for Perth Media didn’t disappoint.
After Ming, was Mat Lewis in May, director of the Creative Tech Village and co-founder of Emergence Creative event. Mat, who is based in Margaret River, will spoke about the brilliance that happens when creativity and technology collide. He knows that incredible results are achieved when cross sectors collaborate and silos are broken down. He says ideas are critical to innovation. Mat is focused on tech for good, sustainability and future industries and his knowledge and connections are incredible. Much can be gained from having an open mind and listening to diverse approaches, he says.
The Creative Tech Village (CTV), Western Australia’s Creative Tech Innovation Hub, was established with support from the WA Government through the New Industries Fund to accelerate creative innovation, digital capability and industry collaboration across the state. Lewis also founded Creative Juices, and the Margaret River Wine Club and spent 17 years working in International Trade and Investment as the TradeStart Advisor for Austrade with the South West Development Commission. Lewis co-founded the Emergence Creative Festival and the Creative Corner, and played a key role in the conception of including Cabin Fever, Strings Attached: WA Guitar Festival, and Margaret River on Tour internationally. His experience spans creative event design, destination development, industry engagement and strategic partnerships across government and industry. Lewis holds a Bachelor of Business from Edith Cowan University and a Postgraduate qualification in Multi-Media and Design.
All those who attended, left with new perspectives and understanding of the creative process, which could drive innovation in their companies and organisations.
Lastly this year there was the brilliant Michelle Wong (AKA Wongy), founder of GoSHackathon tech events for young people and Disruptive Force, who will present on Disruption for Good: The Evidence Behind WA’s Biggest Tech Innovation Platform.
Since its inception in 2023, GoSH has scaled to cover three regions and has been attended by more than 4000 regional young people. It identifies exceptional talent.
The growth and success of GoSH is not a coincidence and Wongy’s high-energy delivery is no gimmick. She is a member of the Curtin Autism Research Group and her publications are grounded in motivational psychology and autistic participation. Her recent research publication includes a global methodology supporting the inclusion and reporting of underrepresented voices in projects, funding and decision making. GoSH is the output of a strategic and targeted model of inclusion and evidence-based research.
In this presentation, Wongy will share her research and lived-experience as a neurodivergent woman, disrupting the ‘norm’ of diversity targets and challenging traditional attitudes toward workplace talent identification. As an expert in motivation and the environments that support belonging for neurodivergent folk, Wongy will provide insights and examples of designing teams and systems to support all minds with exceptional outcomes.
Wongy’s message is evidence-informed and unapologetically disruptive: the organisations best prepared for the future are those that create environments where all minds can thrive. Corporates that broaden the scope of who gets to shape the future will build workplaces and systems that capture and value diverse ideas.
“My work challenges traditional models and drives innovation from new vantage points.”
Originally from Victoria, Wong is based in Mandurah, Western Australia. She is a thought leader, author, keynote speaker and changemaker, recognised for her ADHD strengths and disruptive innovation leadership. She has completed a Master of Philosophy (research) with publications grounded in strength-based support for the psychological needs of autistic youth and the development of a global model of inclusion for underrepresented voices. Wong is an expert in DEIB (Diversity Equity Inclusion and Belonging) Strategy, and behavioural and organisational psychology, currently working as a Principal Consultant DEIB (Diversity Equity Inclusion & Belonging) for Organisational Solutions. Wongy was formerly Manager of Innovation and Operations at WA Creative Tech Innovation Hub, from 2023 to 2025, and began her professional career in Victoria, completing a Bachelor of Education and a Bachelor of Arts at Deakin University. She has also worked in a behavioural unit in the UK for four years as a teacher. Wong has taught primary and high school and specialised in behavioural and individual needs. She has a creative background in literature and is passionate about technology and science communication. Wong is highly strategic and outcome focused. She is creative, organised, and an outstanding leader. Wong’s success lies in her ability to identify a common goal and successfully motivate large groups to achieve unprecedented results.
Going forward our Perth Media team members, Tayte Miers and Alexandra Jones, will also do short presentations to showcase their creative and comms work.
This month, we are delighted to welcome Chris Nelson, of Juicebox. He is a long-time technologist and we are very grateful for his attendance on August 31.
Juicebox established its AI unit in 2024 to help businesses win in this next frontier. After two years of research and development in a maturing market, it’s now clear that AI will reshape every industry. Many businesses have adopted AI in some form, however often focused on individual productivity. Implementing organisation AI is bolder. It requires reimagining how you deliver your products and services, whilst staying true to your brand. Unlike previous eras of technology transformation, the most effective approach is micro, not macro. Incremental workflow implementations that build a better business. With an array of successful AI case studies, Chris Nelson will share what’s worked – and more importantly what hasn’t – as the business world faces this next industrial revolution.
About Chris Nelson
Chris Nelson is the Founder and Managing Director of Juicebox, a brand and technology transformation agency with offices in Perth, Jakarta and Bali. Juicebox employs over 80 talented staff and services a wide range of industries across Australia and South East Asia. A technologist at heart, Chris has seen how websites changed the connection between a brand and its customers. He believes this next AI chapter is history repeating itself.
There are some OPEN tickets to Chris’s talk here:
Conflict of Interest: Please note, that Dani Riebe (InvestinWA), Michelle Wong (GoSHackathon), Mat Lewis (Emergence Creative/Bandwidth), Amanda Branley (The Procurement Coach) and Matt Breuillac (Cyber Node) have all been Perth Media clients. Perth Media also has a strategic partnership with Delphi Advisory and Marketing Jumpstart.
