Speakers and Panelists

Prof Lidia Xynas

Highly credentialed academic and academic manger offering both strategic and business leadership capabilities honed over 30 years in senior positions. Combines demonstrated senior academic management capabilities with diverse experience as an academic manager, accountant, governance specialist, lecturer and lawyer, to deliver profitable business improvement and exemplary student focused approaches through an engaged and motivated team.

Exhibiting exemplary communication skills, providing mentorship and leadership to staff and key stakeholders. Collaborates effectively with vested stakeholders to achieve broad organisational objectives and outcomes in line with a law school’s strategic values. Background includes leadership and demonstrated success in commercial and academic positions, teaching and mentoring, research, change leadership, financial responsibility for large departments, budgeting and effective management of resources and infrastructure.
Key research areas are Tax law, Corporate Governance and Sentencing.

Author of Corporations Law: In Principle

Sandy Chakravarty

Sandy is a strategic and innovative leader with an executive and non-executive career of more than 25 years spanning Australian and international blue chip organisations including Australian Red Cross, Boston Consulting Group, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Ingersoll-Rand, State Trustees and more recently Global Carbon Capture Research Institute.

Sandy has extensive financial and operational leadership experience across corporate and commercial functions driving strategic, commercial and transformational initiatives, governance , and steering organisations towards a growth trajectory. Excellence in navigating organisations through crises are particular passions for Sandy. She is culturally astute and has a collaborative leadership style. Sandy currently serves as the Chair of the Finance Audit, Investment and Risk Committee at the Queen Victoria Market. Sandy’s previous Board and Committee Chair experience also includes Southern Metropolitan Cemeteries Trust, Australian Red Cross Blood Service ( LifeBlood), International Women’s Development Agency, Link Community Transport, Eating Disorders (Vic), and the National Association of Women in Operations

Fiona McLay

Fiona McLay is uniquely positioned at the intersection of deep legal practice, innovation leadership, and AI enablement.

With 25 years as a dispute resolution lawyer across leading law firms, in-house legal departments, and NewLaw environments and over five years as a legal technology consultant Fiona brings a rare blend of frontline legal experience and strategic tech transformation insight.

As Lead AI Client Adviser at Thomson Reuters, she works daily with law firms and in-house teams to identify, test, and scale high-impact AI use cases that deliver real value.

Her hands-on work helping organisations navigate common challenges like change fatigue and pilot paralysis makes her the ideal voice to guide attendees through a practical toolkit they can put into action.

Ziggy Cheng 

Ziggy Cheng is a legal and technology professional with over a decade of experience spanning law, business, and digital innovation. With a strong foundation in legal practice and a passion for emerging technologies, Ziggy has developed a reputation for bridging the gap between traditional legal frameworks and modern technological advancements.

Throughout his career, Ziggy has worked across diverse sectors, helping organisations navigate complex legal landscapes while embracing innovation and operational efficiency. His expertise lies in translating technical concepts into practical, real-world applications—particularly in the rapidly evolving field of artificial intelligence.

Ziggy is a sought-after speaker on the impact of AI in the legal profession, where he explores both the transformative potential and the ethical considerations of adopting new technologies. He is committed to supporting professionals and organisations to confidently adapt, innovate, and thrive in an increasingly digital world.