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FWD>>>FEST 26 SPEAKERS
HEADLINE SPEAKERS
Come and hear from industry leaders, all running businesses on the Sunshine Coast.
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We’re excited to announce Rob Neely, Founder and Director of Securely Group, as the keynote speaker for the FWD>LUNCH & LEARN session on day one of FWD>FEST 26.
Rob is a 50-year entrepreneur who has built and exited multiple international ventures and now leads a global fintech infrastructure company, Securely Group, licensing patented identity and payments technologies. He now focuses on strategy, IP stewardship, governance and global scaling - the realities faced by entrepreneurs playing the long game.
Our FWD>LUNCH & LEARN session is designed to go deeper: real conversations, practical insight and the kind of perspective you only gain after decades in the arena. Rob’s experience navigating innovation, global scale and intellectual property makes this session unmissable for founders serious about building something that lasts.
If you’re thinking about scale, structure and future-proofing your venture - this is where you need to be.
ROB NEELY
Founder & Director,
Securely Group
FWD>DAY ONE
Wednesday 20th May
FWD>LUNCH & LEARN
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LUKE ANEAR
Founder & Executive Chair,
SafetyCulture
FWD>DAY ONE
Wednesday 20th May
FWD>KEYNOTE
Breakfast
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CRAIG SCROGGIE
CEO & Managing Director,
NEXTDC
FWD>DAY TWO
Thursday 21st May
THOUGHT LEADERS LUNCH
We’re pleased to welcome Craig Scroggie, CEO and Managing Director of NEXTDC, as a speaker for the FWD>LEADERSHIP stream, presenting at the Thought Leaders Lunch.
Craig leads NEXTDC, Australia’s leading Data‑Centre‑as‑a‑Service provider and has been instrumental in building the company into critical national infrastructure underpinning the digital economy. With more than three decades of experience across global technology and ICT organisations, Craig brings deep insight into leadership, scale, governance and long‑term strategy.
Beyond NEXTDC, Craig is an active board member and contributor to academia, bridging industry and education while shaping future business leaders. His perspective spans enterprise technology, public markets, innovation at scale and the responsibilities of leading organisations that sit at the backbone of modern business.
The Thought Leaders Lunch is designed for deeper conversations - bringing executives, founders and decision‑makers together around big ideas, real challenges and future‑focused leadership.
If you’re interested in how large‑scale infrastructure, technology, and leadership intersect - this is a conversation you won’t want to miss.