Presenter: Dr Leslie Russell
Organisation: Menzies Foundation Fellow, Menzies Centre for Health Policy; Visiting Fellow at the Center for American Progress, Washington, DC
Event: MedTech - US Health Reform and what this means for Australia

Dr Lesley Russell is a Menzies Foundation Fellow. She has more than 20 years' experience working in health policy in the government, private and not-for-profit sectors, both in Australia and internationally.

Since 2007 Dr Russell has been the Menzies Foundation Fellow at the Menzies Centre for Health Policy, co-located at the University of Sydney and the Australian National University.  She is currently living and working in Washington DC where she is a Visiting Fellow at the Center for American Progress, a progressive think tank, and a Visiting Professor in the Department of Health Policy at George Washington University.

She was previously Policy Advisor to Julia Gillard, MP in her role as Federal Shadow Minister for Health and Manager of Opposition Business in the House of Representatives. Prior to this she was part of the Policy Unit in the office of the Hon Simon Crean, MP, when he was Leader of the Federal Opposition, with responsibilities for health and ageing, disabilities, immigration, indigenous affairs and the status of women.

Dr Russell has worked in a similar role in the US Congress. From 1984 to 1991 she was on the staff of the Energy and Commerce Committee in the House of Representatives, having been awarded the 1984-85 American Society for Microbiology Congressional Science Fellowship and then staying on to manage health and biotechnology issues.

Presenter: Suzanne Mercier
Organisation: Imposterhood
Event: Webyte - Take the Fear out of Selling

Suzanne Mercier, Director of Imposterhood and Purpose to Profit, has more than 25 years experience in the evolution of personal authenticity, self-leadership and employee engagement. Her background includes business strategy, marketing, advertising, communication and the development of human potential.

As the first female Board Director of George Patterson Advertising and a strategy planner for the agency, she was able to generate strong engagement for leading brands in banking, food, cosmetics, personal products, animal products, beverages, fine china and crystal.  In her marketing roles, Suzanne was responsible for the launch of several well-known fast moving consumer goods brands. 

A thought provoking speaker and published author, Suzanne has run her own business for 18 years.  For the past 12 years, she has focussed on executive coaching, training and facilitative consulting to create sustainable and profitable businesses through purpose, meaning and authentic leadership.

Suzanne has served clients in diverse industries including shopping centre management, financial services, technology, heavy equipment, health, fitness, cosmetics, commercial real estate, publishing and industry funds.