Complementing Harry Garside as part of Tuesday’s conference Plenary session will be 2025 NSW Australian of the Year recipient Kath Koschel (pictured). A former professional cricketer and Ironman competitor, Koschel is a survivor who has overcome incredible odds and unimaginable tragedy to inspire ordinary people to do extraordinary things.

In her twenties, Koschel broke her back and was told she may never walk again. Shortly afterwards, she lost her partner to suicide. Then, piecing her life back together, she was hit by a 4WD and had to learn to walk again for a second time.

In the midst of these harrowing experiences, Koschel believes she experienced two things in large amounts – adversity and kindness. After re-learning to walk for the second time in her life, this realisation kickstarted a two-month journey around Australia, which relied solely on the kindness of strangers. No cash, credit card, food or water – and no help from family or friends!

Driven by a passion to spread gratitude and kindness in the world, she founded ‘Kindness Factory’ to encourage one million acts of kindness. To date, Kindness Factory has recorded over eight million acts of kindness and is now a registered not-for-profit in three countries.

An internationally sought-after speaker and author of ‘Kindness’ the book, Koschel has worked with some of the biggest and most well-known companies and brands in the world to help them achieve perspective, resilience, good culture and, of course, kindness. Creating a psychologically safe workplace is proven to aid better mental health, as well as increasing productivity, high performance and retention. In her Plenary session address, Koschel will discuss how to create an inclusive culture built on positivity, trust and belonging.