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THE FACES BEHIND THE MAGIC

We bring a wealth of industry knowledge, networks, and passion to this initiative.

AGNES KANG

Chief Executive Officer

Agnes has worked in Australia, the Middle East, Africa and Europe and is currently with the Sydney office of the Boston Consulting Group. Prior to that, she was a solicitor with a leading Australian law firm and a policy advisor for NSW Government. Agnes holds a Masters in Business Administration with Distinction at the University of Cambridge Judge Business School where she studied under a University bursary and received the Tim Lee prize for first in Strategy. She also holds a BCom; LLB (Hons) from the University of Sydney. Agnes is passionate about ethical leadership, innovative thinking, and mentorship. Agnes is taking The Orbispace Initiative forward into the next phase of its development, ensuring the delivery of scalable services that maximise impact. Agnes has always recognised the important role that mentors have played in her life and career, and is passionate about mentoring the next generation.

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ANNA GRACE

Founder and Board Director

Anna Grace is a software entrepreneur who founded her first business at the age of 17. Today, Anna is the CEO of a Silicon Valley based startup. Anna has been a frequent speaker at technology conferences around the world, and represented Australia at the UN Commission on the Status of Women as a digital policy scholar. Anna is one of the highest ranking Speech and Drama teachers in the state of NSW, and has spent the last decade leading and advising educational teams in the design and implementation of learning extension programs in both STEM and The Arts. Anna has been the driving force behind the vision for TOI's charitable mission, and ensures that the resources and networks she has established in her career can be effectively leveraged by The Orbispace Initiative to support the next generation.

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SAM MILLER

Board Director

Sam is a senior executive, strategist and advisor. Sam has a corporate, commercial, governance and board background (local and international) with experience in sustainability, social and environmental outcomes. Sam is a chartered accountant and has served as an executive and non executive board director and advisor for leading corporates and not-for-profits. As a founding board director for the renowned Sydney International Piano Competition, Sam has a lifetime of experience building effective networks and strategies to support impactful charitable projects. At The Orbispace Initiative, Sam identifies new partnership opportunities, crafts strategy approaches to grow and evolve the organisation, and drives collaboration with leaders across a wide range of innovation industries.

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JULIE DEMSEY

Board Director

Julie spent 20 years in the Silicon Valley as an executive and leader at various technology companies and startups. When she moved to Sydney 5 years ago she was warmly welcomed into the startup community and led SBE Australia, an accelerator program for female entrepreneurs for two years before stepping out on her own as a Hypnotherapist/Coach/Startup advisor. Julie works individually with clients and runs group sessions supporting startup founders as well. She is a highly sought after speaker, facilitator and mentor and a firm supporter of women in STEM.

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SUE HOGAN

Board Director

For the last 10 years Sue has worked with early-stage startups, designing and running programs to help entrepreneurs scale their businesses and has continued her support as an active angel investor. With a strong social conscience, Sue’s passion for the not-for-profit sector started when she developed and ran an early-intervention program for youth, which she grew nationally over six years. She currently sits on the Board of Prisoners’ Aid Association, creating a positive impact to people who’ve experienced the Justice system. Sue has also run her own events and conferences business, having worked in this field for over 15 years. It’s this unique combination of skills, experience and passion that Sue brings to TOI’s board.

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BRIAN JONES

Treasurer and Board Director

Brian is a qualified Chartered Accountant with over 30 years experience in Accounting and Financial Services. He commenced his career with Deloitte in South Africa, specialising in Auditing and since then has gained experience inside and outside the Chartered Accounting profession. In the last 10 years Brian has specialised in Company Secretarial and CFO services for both publicly listed and private companies. Brian acts as Treasurer for The Orbispace Initiative. When Brian speaks about TOI he considers his own daughters and how, as a Father, he hopes all young women can be empowered to reach their full potential.

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AUDREY GAN

Director of Fundraising and Sponsorships

Audrey began her career in STEM, completing her honours in chemical engineering and then working as an engineer in Malaysia. Today, Audrey is employed at BCG’s Australian strategic business consultancy as a senior analyst, where she has experience developing strategic partnerships across the BCG network. Audrey holds a Chemical Engineering degree from Monash University and a Post-Graduate Certificate in Applied Finance. As the Director of Fundraising and Sponsorships, Audrey works to identify and nurture opportunities for TOI to partner with corporate brands and philanthropic donors. Audrey is passionate about female empowerment, STEM education, climate and sustainability.

JENNIFER NICHOLAS

STEM Education Advisor

Jennifer has worked as an educator in Australia, designing, teaching and implementing programs. Jennifer has experience teaching the Australian Curriculum including both the HSC and International Baccelaureate. Jennifer holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Education and Bachelor’s Degree in Science (University of Sydney), Majoring in Mathematics & Minoring in Chemistry. Jennifer has a special interest in providing opportunities and mentorship to assist young women to unlock their potential. In her previous role at Ravenswood School for Girls, Jennifer Co-founded the Welcome Jewellery Club, allowing students to create handcrafted pieces and donate profits to the Asylum Seekers Centre in Newtown. Jennifer was also a TOI Mentor in her school, and is today working with us to shape the vision and delivery of educational experiences and curriculum.

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GIORGIA CARUSO

Community and Operations Manager

Giorgia is a skilled administrator with experience in maintaining and managing enterprise Learning Management Systems. She was part of the team that developed and launched Australia's first national apprenticeship program in the flooring industry and was the driving force behind the program's industry-defining classroom and in-field workshop experience. She has a Bachelor in International Relations, certifications in Administration, fluently speaks three languages and spent a year as an English teacher for disadvantaged children in Spain. At TOI Giorgia is the first point of contact for any enquiries and plays an important role in managing and supporting the TOI community.

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MARIA MILLWARD

Program Director

Maria has been an educator for more than four decades, with experience as a leader in both curriculum and pastoral care. Her career has also encompassed writing, editing and composing, with the co-writing of Under Southern Skies for the Sydney Olympics Opening Ceremony in 2000 being a highlight of her accomplishments. She has a special interest in designing and leading gifted education programs, and is passionate about providing opportunities and mentorship to assist girls and young women to achieve their dreams. This alignment with the goals of TOI ensures that she brings passion and enthusiasm to role as Program Director.

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ANANDA VASUDEVAN

Design and Product Advisor

Ananda is a UX/UI designer with a strong passion for solving problems that have a meaningful impact on our world. Ananda has experience using end-to-end UX/UI methodologies to help shape how products and services touch people across multiple industries. Currently, she is at WooliesX, working to create a better shopping experience for ecommerce customers. While finishing her Masters degree in Interaction Design, Ananda has been researching how to create meaningful virtual reality experiences to support symptom management for palliative care patients. Ananda also holds a Bachelor of Advanced Science (Honours), Psychology. In her role at TOI, Ananda contributes to the design focused areas of learning in TOI’s curriculum. Ananda is also working on TOI's digital product roadmap and offering.

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