Else Bright has 29 years of experience as Commercial and Contracts Management practitioner specialising in Defence and IT industries in acquisition, services and as-a-service contracting, most recently working for BAE Systems’ Aircraft Sustainment and Training line of business in Williamtown, NSW focusing on the Joint Strike Fighter Program. Else has been a member of WorldCC for many years, and a WorldCC Council Member in Australia representing Aerospace and Defence. Else commenced her role as Senior Director Member Engagement ANZ in April 2022.

Ajay Agrawal is a results-driven global leader with over three decades of experience in contract management, strategic negotiations, and enterprise growth across diverse geographies, including Southeast Asia, Oceania, and India. As a Council Member of World Commerce & Contracting (WorldCC), USA, he plays a pivotal role in shaping global best practices in commercial and contract management.

With a proven track record of securing and managing contracts worth over $1 billion, and delivering more than $330 million in value through post-award excellence, Ajay is widely respected for transforming commercial complexity into opportunity through strategic insight, cross-functional alignment, and stakeholder-centric execution.

A respected thought leader, Ajay has spoken at major industry forums and served as a government policy advisor. He also mentors the next generation of leaders through lectures at leading academic institutions, inspiring future-ready thinking.

He currently provides strategic advisory services to public and private enterprises across sectors such as telecom, energy, space, railways, defence, public safety, and cybersecurity—guiding them to scale through innovation, ethical leadership, and stakeholder alignment.

Hanelie Lategan is a seasoned Chief Procurement Officer with over 30 years of experience across government and private sectors in South Africa, New Zealand, and Australia. She currently leads the Queensland Government’s Social Services Category and oversees Procurement Services for the Department of Families, Seniors, Disability Services, and Child Safety — delivering innovative, socially impactful strategies that directly improve lives across the state.

A certified World Commerce & Contracting practitioner and accomplished procurement professional, Hanelie is a recognised speaker at leading forums in Australia and internationally. Her thought leadership has featured at World Commerce & Contracting events, Queensland’s GovProcure Summit, and the Queensland IAG Conference — where she advocates for modern, values-driven procurement that drives both economic and social outcomes.

Hanelie’s personal journey is one of resilience and resolve. Raised in a remote semi-desert town in South Africa, she overcame early adversity — including childhood trauma and a severe back injury following a car accident that required major spinal surgery and a year-long recovery. This chapter in her life sparked a profound commitment to public service and ignited her passion for procurement as a force for positive change.

Deeply invested in building capability, Hanelie has developed online procurement training programs that have expanded access to professional development across New Zealand and Queensland. A vocal advocate for workplace wellbeing, she draws from lived experience to speak on the connection between emotional resilience and high-performance leadership — offering practical tools and insights to help others lead with strength and authenticity.

As the author of Unshakable: Nobody and Nothing Will Affect You Again, Hanelie empowers others to reclaim their mental space, confront adversity, and lead with courage. Her work reflects a clear mission: to lead with purpose, challenge convention, and create lasting impact for individuals, organisations, and communities.

Cathy Riach joined QinetiQ Australia in June 2022 in the newly created role of Head of Talent Acquisition & Planning. Prior to her current post, Cathy spent almost 21 years at BAE Systems Australia, starting initially in a business unit based human resources role. Following a secondment to build a shared services talent acquisition model, she assumed responsibility for the leadership of the national talent acquisition function. Her role evolved and changed over time to include responsibility for redeployment, strategic workforce planning, outplacement, employment branding, diversity hiring strategies and talent partnerships. Cathy’s last role at BAE Systems saw her responsible for operational workforce planning and national resourcing strategies. Prior to joining BAE Systems, Cathy worked for the Morgan & Banks group. She holds qualifications in human resources, industrial relations and workforce planning. Cathy is a certified member of the Australian Human Resources Institute and sits on the committees for Women in Aviation & Aerospace and The Future Through Collaboration, a cross industry initiative to advance women in the defence industry.