Team and Partners

Our team

Simon Harding

CEO

Simon has worked as a professional writer for almost a decade. Before that, he spent more than 20 years in senior leadership positions in a number of NASDAQ, FTSE and ASX-listed companies, across a variety of industries. He has published two novels and understands that for any author, finishing a story is merely the beginning of the work, rather than the end. He holds an Masters’ in Business Administration (Latrobe).

Lisa Wade

Chief Community Officer

Lisa Wade is the 2024 Australian Fintech Female of the Year. With a three-decade career in global finance, she has consistently been at the forefront of innovation and impact. As a pioneering force in both traditional banking and digital assets, she has transformed complex financial concepts into tangible market solutions, bridging the gap between legacy systems and the future of finance.

At National Australia Bank (NAB), Lisa led cutting-edge blockchain initiatives that blended traditional finance with emerging technologies. As CEO of DigitalX Limited, she led a blockchain-powered financial firm at the forefront of Web3.0. Her efforts led to the successful listing of the first physical BTC ETF on the ASX.

Lisa’s influence extends beyond finance, serving as an Earth Hour ambassador and a Climate Reality Leader under Al Gore’s initiative, reinforcing her commitment to global environmental leadership. A dedicated yoga teacher and practitioner of Buddhist principles, she believes in the power of meditation and mindfulness to drive clarity, resilience, and ethical decision-making. These are the values that shape her holistic approach to leadership.

KeepSimple.ai

An Australian AI company founded by former experts from Temu, Accenture and Tencent, specialising in vertical AI systems that address complex requirements around CAPEX and OPEX.

Gary Budden

Head of Industry Engagement

Gary is the co-founder of Influx Press, an award-winning independent publisher in the UK. Gary is also a writer and editor. He is the author of the books Hollow Shores, Judderman (as D.A. Northwood), London Incognita and The White Heron Beneath the Reactor and These Towers Will One Day Slip Into the Sea with artist Maxim Griffin.

Arian Sohi

Head of Design

With over 12 years of experience in UX/UI design, animation, and brand storytelling, our Head of Design brings a rare combination of artistic flair and user-focused thinking. He has built a reputation for transforming ambitious, abstract ideas into seamless, intuitive experiences that resonate on a human level. His work is characterised by emotional clarity, narrative depth, and bold simplicity—inviting users not just to interact with a product, but to feel part of the story it tells. Bridging the worlds of technology and creativity, he ensures that every design choice serves both function and feeling.