Panos A. Panay serves as President for the Recording Academy®. In his role, Panay drives business growth across the entire organization to further expand the service offerings for Academy members and the industry, focusing on identifying new partnerships, global expansion and leveraging new technologies. Prior to joining the Recording Academy, Panay served as the senior vice president for Global Strategy and Innovation at Berklee College of Music and is a fellow at MIT Connection Science. At Berklee, he led the development and execution of the college's overarching strategic plan; founded the Institute for Creative Entrepreneurship; oversaw its campuses in New York City, Valencia (Spain) and Abu Dhabi, as well as the Music + Health and India Exchange Institutes; and steered new partnerships, program development and the incorporation of new technologies. Panay has been recognized in Fast Company's Fast 50, Inc Magazine's Inc 500, Mass Hi-Tech All Stars, and Boston Globe's Game Changers.
Dr. Nici Sweaney spent nearly two decades as an academic scientist and a data scientist consulting for global organisations like the UN, World Bank, and AUS Aid before founding Ai Her Way in 2023. Ai Her Way specialises in deploying AI to enhance operational efficiency and eliminate administrative workload, while championing ethical practices and gender equality. Dr. Sweaney has made significant contributions to the field, appearing at over 50 events, including TEDx, podcasts, and international conferences, advocating for ethical AI practices and championing the role of women in shaping the future of technology. Through Ai Her Way, Dr. Sweaney has helped entrepreneurs and professionals across diverse industries embrace innovation and focus on what truly matters. Passionate about industries to operate ‘AI-first’, she has worked with clients across 20+ industries, committed to making AI an accessible tool for positive impact.
Gabi Lopes is Senior Vice President of Global Insights at Universal Music Group. Since 2014 she has led UMG's global research and insight capabilities, guiding labels, markets, and corporate strategy through an ever-changing landscape. Utilizing a range of data sets and a multi-method global approach, the team delivers unique analysis of consumers' evolving attitudes and behavior, informing marketing, commercial opportunities, A&R, and strategy. The team speaks to 100,000+ consumers across nearly 30 markets, layering social analytics, qualitative research, and a variety of consumer engagement data.
Before this role, as Market research Director at the trade association representing the global recording industry (IFPI) from 2001 to 2013 in London, Gabi was integral in the creation and publication of the recording industry's statistics, as well as informing the industry's legal and public policy strategy with consumer insight. With extensive experience in the international music industry, including working at Warner Music in Mexico City and Atlantic Records in New York, Gabi is currently based in Los Angeles, having grown up in Rio de Janeiro.
Dr. Marcus Collins is an award-winning marketer and cultural translator. He is theformer chief strategy officer at Wieden+Kennedy, New York, a marketing professor atthe Ross School of Business, University of Michigan, and the author of the best-selling book, For The Culture: The Power Behind What We Buy, What We Do, and Who We Want To Be.
Marcus is an inductee into the American Advertising Federation’s Advertising Hall of Achievement and a recipient of the Thinkers50 Radar Distinguished Achievement Award for the idea most likely to shape the future of business management. His strategies and creative contributions have led to the launch and success of McDonald’s cultural resurgence, Google’s “Real Tone” technology, the “Made In America” music festival, and the Brooklyn Nets move from New Jersey to New York, among others. Before his advertising tenure, Marcus worked on iTunes + Nike sports music initiatives at Apple and ran digital strategy for Beyoncé. He writes a column for Forbes’ CMO Network, and contributes to business scholarship.
Prior to her involvement in the investment space, she qualified as an Actuary and progressed to the position of Chief of Staff in the Australian business of the global insurer Zurich. In 2017 she joined a telco startup where she wore many hats but predominantly worked on the finance side of the business. It was during this time, whilst building systems and reporting for the startup’s investors and board members, that she became increasingly curious about venture capital investing.
Using money originally set aside for an MBA, Solai began angel investing, gradually building a portfolio of investments in the areas of climate and enterprise software. Solai has been investing and advising in the Australian startup ecosystem for seven years, which has included consulting for family offices, accelerators and startups.
She is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and Chair of Forever Projects, a not-for-profit working with local partners to help create a self-sustaining future for Tanzanian women, she is also a member of the finance committee for Sydney Writers’ Festival.
Amplify Music Education was co-founded by music educator Ricky Kradolfer and wife Natalie Kradolfer, with the goal to ensure that every student has access to contemporary, inspiring and engaging music lessons at school, that meet the curriculum.
Ricky, front-man turned in-demand music educator and Natalie, marketer and music industry professional, combined their complimentary skillsets to create a world-class, media rich, technology platform, that would completely reimagine how music is taught in the classroom. They knew it had to be equally teacher and student focused – super easy for teachers to use and really engaging for students.
Since launching in 2022, Amplify Music Education has grown rapidly and is now used by over 700 schools across Australia. After being named on the Australian Financial Review Fast Starters list in 2024, Amplify is continuing on its steep growth trajectory both locally and internationally and is expanding their product offering into the other performing art forms in the curriculum, dance and drama.
Zara Seidler is the co-founder of The Daily Aus, Australia’s fastest-growing youth news company, known for simplifying complex current affairs. She reaches over a million young Australians monthly through social media, newsletters, and podcasts, and has transformed The Daily Aus from a side hustle to a thriving business with her co-founder Sam.
Zara leads a diverse newsroom delivering accessible news daily and is a regular commentator on ABC News Breakfast and The Today Show. She was recognized in Forbes 30 Under 30 in 2022 and 2024, and co-authored the bestselling book 'No Silly Questions' to empower young people in important national conversations.
