Simon Kuestenmacher is a Director and Co-founder of The Demographics Group based in Melbourne, Australia. Simon holds degrees in geography from leading universities in Berlin and Melbourne and worked for several years as a business consultant with KPMG Australia.
In 2017 Simon, with Bernard Salt, co-founded The Demographics Group. The group provides specialist advice on demographic, consumer and social trends for business.
He presents on demographic and global trends that are shaping Australia today and into the future and his presentations and quirky observations are enjoyed by corporate, government and industry audiences alike.
Simon is a columnist at The New Daily newspaper and a regular contributor to The Australian newspaper; and he is also a media commentator on demographic and data matters.
Simon has amassed 600,000 global followers on social media, reaches over 35 million people every month and ranks as one of the world’s Top 10 influencers in data visualisation. If you can’t get enough of data that explains how the world works, make sure to follow him on Twitter or any of his other social channels.
In 2017 Simon, with Bernard Salt, co-founded The Demographics Group. The group provides specialist advice on demographic, consumer and social trends for business.
He presents on demographic and global trends that are shaping Australia today and into the future and his presentations and quirky observations are enjoyed by corporate, government and industry audiences alike.
Simon is a columnist at The New Daily newspaper and a regular contributor to The Australian newspaper; and he is also a media commentator on demographic and data matters.
Simon has amassed 600,000 global followers on social media, reaches over 35 million people every month and ranks as one of the world’s Top 10 influencers in data visualisation. If you can’t get enough of data that explains how the world works, make sure to follow him on Twitter or any of his other social channels.
Mel Thorpe is a dynamic strategic facilitator and executive coach who brings over two decades of experience in leadership development, operational transformation, and team acceleration. With more than 200 strategy workshops and 300 executive engagements under her belt, Mel is known for designing and delivering high-impact sessions that drive results, clarity, and connection.
As a trusted executive coach to senior leadership teams, Mel works at the intersection of strategy, culture, and performance—supporting C-suite leaders to navigate complexity, sharpen alignment, and lead with purpose. She is regularly engaged by peak bodies and government agencies to facilitate strategic dialogue, develop leadership capability, and embed behavioural change across sectors.
Clients describe Mel as energetic, insightful, and deeply engaging—able to build exceptional rapport with stakeholders at all levels. Whether guiding a board through complex strategy and risk discussions or coaching a first-time manager, she brings a unique blend of sharp commercial acumen and human insight. Her sessions are practical, tailored, and grounded in real-time feedback and behavioural science.
Mel’s impact spans sectors including mining, oil & gas, law, government, medical research, education, and banking—working with leaders from the frontline to the C-suite across Australia and the Asia-Pacific.
Additionally, Mel has held senior roles across education, law, and consulting. She is the founder of Mel Thorpe Consulting and a trusted partner with leading firms including Korn Ferry and LHH, where she works with clients such as BHP, Rio Tinto, Synergy, Curtin University, Woolworths, and Commonwealth Bank.
She is regularly called on to coach executive leadership teams and facilitate whole-of-organisation strategy sessions for government departments, peak industry groups, and research institutions.
Mel is a Squadify Pro Coach and a certified Scrum Master as part of the Scrum Master Alliance facilitation style blends data-driven insights with curiosity and connection, making her a sought-after speaker, coach, and advisor.
As a trusted executive coach to senior leadership teams, Mel works at the intersection of strategy, culture, and performance—supporting C-suite leaders to navigate complexity, sharpen alignment, and lead with purpose. She is regularly engaged by peak bodies and government agencies to facilitate strategic dialogue, develop leadership capability, and embed behavioural change across sectors.
Clients describe Mel as energetic, insightful, and deeply engaging—able to build exceptional rapport with stakeholders at all levels. Whether guiding a board through complex strategy and risk discussions or coaching a first-time manager, she brings a unique blend of sharp commercial acumen and human insight. Her sessions are practical, tailored, and grounded in real-time feedback and behavioural science.
Mel’s impact spans sectors including mining, oil & gas, law, government, medical research, education, and banking—working with leaders from the frontline to the C-suite across Australia and the Asia-Pacific.
Additionally, Mel has held senior roles across education, law, and consulting. She is the founder of Mel Thorpe Consulting and a trusted partner with leading firms including Korn Ferry and LHH, where she works with clients such as BHP, Rio Tinto, Synergy, Curtin University, Woolworths, and Commonwealth Bank.
She is regularly called on to coach executive leadership teams and facilitate whole-of-organisation strategy sessions for government departments, peak industry groups, and research institutions.
Mel is a Squadify Pro Coach and a certified Scrum Master as part of the Scrum Master Alliance facilitation style blends data-driven insights with curiosity and connection, making her a sought-after speaker, coach, and advisor.
A take no prisoner’s approach to life has seen Paul Carter heading to some of the world's most remote, wild and dangerous places as a contractor in the oil business. Amazingly, he's survived (so far) to tell these stories from the edge of civilization, and reason.
Paul has been shot at, hijacked, and held hostage. He holds two Australian motorcycle records for distance and speed and was once locked in the toilet by his own monkey. Taking postings in some of the world’s wildest and most remote regions, not to mention some of the roughest drilling rigs on the planet. Paul has worked in locations as far-flung as the North Sea, Middle East, Borneo and Tunisia, as exotic as Sumatra, Vietnam and Thailand, and as flat out dangerous as Afghanistan, Columbia, and Nigeria. Paul survived all this with his crew, some of the maddest, baddest, and strangest people you could hope not to meet. This storyteller has four international best-selling books about his remarkable career, and he is currently working on a fifth.
Paul has been working in the oil exploration industry since he was eighteen years old, Paul and his crew have completed drilling campaigns in some of the world's most remote, wild and dangerous places. In that time, he accumulated a wealth of hilarious and often terrifying stories. He is the author of four best selling books and is currently working on his fifth.
Today he lives in Perth with his wife, two children and three motorcycles. But who knows where he'll be tomorrow!
Paul has been shot at, hijacked, and held hostage. He holds two Australian motorcycle records for distance and speed and was once locked in the toilet by his own monkey. Taking postings in some of the world’s wildest and most remote regions, not to mention some of the roughest drilling rigs on the planet. Paul has worked in locations as far-flung as the North Sea, Middle East, Borneo and Tunisia, as exotic as Sumatra, Vietnam and Thailand, and as flat out dangerous as Afghanistan, Columbia, and Nigeria. Paul survived all this with his crew, some of the maddest, baddest, and strangest people you could hope not to meet. This storyteller has four international best-selling books about his remarkable career, and he is currently working on a fifth.
Paul has been working in the oil exploration industry since he was eighteen years old, Paul and his crew have completed drilling campaigns in some of the world's most remote, wild and dangerous places. In that time, he accumulated a wealth of hilarious and often terrifying stories. He is the author of four best selling books and is currently working on his fifth.
Today he lives in Perth with his wife, two children and three motorcycles. But who knows where he'll be tomorrow!
