Kim Chandler McDonald: CO-FOUNDER & CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

Co-Founder and CEO of FlatWorld Integration Pty Ltd and KimMic International Pty Ltd, Kim is a globally respected thought leader on disruptive approaches, transformational trends and international business strategies - particularly those involving innovation and the global DACE (Digital, Attention and Collaboration Economies) - and a renowned collaboration consultant and coach.

From the inception of both companies Kim has been at the forefront of the company’s focus on FIA (Future Internet Architecture), Smart Data, digital disruption and Enduser engagement and empowerment. 

Currently sitting on Griffith University’s Enterprise Advisory Board (Aus), the Cybersecurity Advisors Network (FRA), the Women in AI (Australia/New Zealand) Advisory Board and the Advisory Board for WordSmithRapport (USA), Kim is also an Academy Fellow of the International Entrepreneurship Academy. She has been named by Innovation Excellence as a top 10 Innovation blogger and included in the inaugural ‘LinkedIn Power Profiles - Australia’ top-ten list.

The world’s first branded Flat World Navigator, she is the award-winning author of Innovation: How Innovators Think, Act and Change Our World and Flat World Navigation: Collaboration and Networking in the Global Digital Economy, which have been translated into Chinese, Korean and Vietnamese. and the Editor/Publisher of Postcards From Tomorrow (all profits of which are donated Lou’s Place, Sydney’s only daytime drop in centre for female victims of domestic abuse).

Formerly, Kim was a writer/editor for national and international newspapers and magazines and host/producer of an award winning radio program. During this time she sought and secured interviews with 100’s of fascinating people such as: former US Secretary of State, Madeleine Albright; film director, Terry Gilliam; theoretical physicist, Brian Greene; and authors John Irving, Amy Tan and Tom Wolfe.

Michael McDonald: CO-FOUNDER, CHIEF TECHNOLOGY & DATA OFFICER

Michael is the Co-Founder and CTO/CDO of FlatWorld Integration Pty Ltd and KimMic International Pty Ltd.

A hands-on thought leader, he is world-leader in the design, development and delivery of state-of-the-art and next-generation, real-time, hyper-personalised, omni-channel digital experience technology integrated with leading-edge machine learning, embracing new technologies such as bots, drones, real-bots, Google Home, etc. This, combined with his deep data-security, cyber-security, compliance and auditing experience and awareness, enables him to deliver world-class, enterprise-grade, scalable, secure solutions that comply with the growing demands of governmental compliance, from Anti-Money-Laundering to Data Security (e.g. GPDR).

Michael has vast experience in technological and organisational innovation specialising in delivering competitive advantage through cutting edge innovation, communication and organization. He is a world leader in lateral thinking, combining technology and innovative organization to meet need. A ‘specialist generalist’, he combines very deep knowledge of technology, systems and global business while absorbing his client’s unique industry and challenges to synthesise pragmatic solutions, which can be implemented as quickly and effectively as possible. He is driven to give his clients a superior business result, and is fully conversant in strategic, operational planning, budgeting and P&L management.

Michael’s cross functional capabilities include in-depth, multi-national business experience through to designing, building, implementing and supporting systems along with extensive end-to-end program management and cross-cultural team building experience.

Unique to the experience Michael brings, he is also a full-stack-engineer. This enables him to not only build and deliver complete systems but also to focus, motivate and grow teams to a world-class delivery level.  

david pensak: advisory board member

The inventor of the world’s first business firewall, the Raptor System, which was bought by AXENT Technologies (now Symantec), Dr David Pensak is a world-renowned innovator and entrepreneur. His career includes 30 years at Dupont, from which he retired in 2004 as their chief computer scientist. His specialties include: Computer security, innovation, organic chemistry, venture capital, advanced materials.

David’s innovative entrepreneurship and leadership continues with the Pensak Innovation Institute, his authorship of Innovation for Underdogs, and his work for the Centre for Interdisciplinary Innovation. He is currently on the faculty of the George Washington University School of Law, the University of Delaware Business School and is Professor of Anaesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine at Drexel University College of Medicine.

Other career highlights include:

Chief Technology Officer, VI Laboratories

Founder of Vaporiety, Ubiquishield and Hemostable (cited by the Kauffman Foundation as one of the 50 most innovative startups in the world for 2011 - 2013)

Taught at Wharton - Innovention, the processes of Innovation and Invention

Current Entrepreneur-in-Residence at University of Virginia

LES AKER: advisory board member

A globally recognised expert in intrusion detection, big data analytical services, cloud services, mobile app development, integration, design and development, Les Aker has more than 30 years of professional experience working as a computer scientist, innovator, and disruptive technologist in advanced technology research and development. Les is the President and Founder of Gondolin, Inc., and Les Aker Consulting; he is Managing Partner at Xulu Labs, Co-Founder of V.i. Laboratories and Authentica Security Technologies, a court appointed expert in US Federal District Court and Program Manager at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory.

Les is designer of the first successful prototype local area workstation for the Naval Key Distribution System (NKDS) which proved that paper key material used in government grade cryptographic systems could be securely replaced with electronically produced and managed key material. This system is now known as the Electronic Key Management System (EKMS) program managed by the US National Security Agency (NSA).