Innovation Advisory Panel

Karen has been involved with financial counselling since the early 1990's, including managing the National Debt Helpline at Financial Rights Legal Centre for many years.

She was the first witness called at the ongoing Royal Commission into Misconduct in the Banking, Superannuation and Financial Services Industry, where she provided an overview of the problems faced by consumers. 

A solicitor by training, Karen began at the Campbelltown Legal Centre in 1991, specialising in supporting and assisting vulnerable women, especially in relation to domestic violence and related issues. 

She is currently Consumer Representative on the Customer Owned Banking Code Compliance Committee and Consumer Director at Way Forward Debt Solutions.

Carmel Franklin has extensive experience working as a consumer advocate. She was the CEO of Care in the ACT for over 16 years till her retirement in late 2024. Care provides information, advice, support and advocacy for people experiencing financial stress.

Carmel has extensive board experience including twelve years as Chair of Financial Counselling Australia from 2009 -2021, as Consumer Director on the AFCA board from its inception in 2018 till December 2023 and previously of the Financial Ombudsman Service Limited. Carmel was also a member of the ACT Gambling and Racing Commission until March 2024.

She is currently a board member of Energy Consumers Australia and Way Forward Debt Solutions.  

Living and working in Halls Creek, Michelle Mackenzie brings a deep understanding of the physical and financial challenges of service delivery in regional and remote Australia.

As Executive Director, Regional Investment she managed the $6.1 billion Royalties for Regions program which included 550 funding partnerships. As CEO of Shelter WA, she shaped housing and homelessness policy, securing funding and driving strategic initiatives.

She has also worked in senior roles in local government and the resources industry, gaining expertise in governance and stakeholder engagement.

Currently, as Principal at Mira-Consulting, she works with clients, including business, government and non-government agencies, on strategy, policy and funding.   

Pat has more than five years’ experience working in the community sector and government designing and implementing social services for vulnerable Australians, through the St Vincent de Paul Society, the Emergency Relief National Coordination Group, and the Department of Social Services Financial Wellbeing Branch. Pat is completing a PhD in Collaborative Governance, researching best practices in implementing joint programs of government and the community sector, and has previously led program evaluations and research projects in the employment services and social services sectors.

Pat has experience reviewing tender submissions for the Department of Social Services and grant applications for Gambling Research Australia.

  

Bill Simpson-Young is the CEO of Gradient Institute, a non-profit organisation focused on helping make AI systems safe, ethical and transparent.

He has over 25 years of experience in research and technology leadership, with previous roles at CSIRO’s Data61, NICTA, and Canon’s R&D lab, where he worked on AI, machine learning, and data privacy. 

He advises government and industry on AI ethics and serves on the NSW Government’s AI Review Committee, the ANU’s School of Computing Advisory Board and was on the temporary AI Expert Group advising the Australian government on AI regulation.   

Caroline is a philanthropic leader with over 25 years of corporate, legal, financial services, governance and not-for-profit experience. Caroline is the inaugural CEO of Ecstra. Prior to joining she led the UBS Australia Foundation, a corporate private ancillary foundation.

She has worked with multiple stakeholders across the community, financial services, corporate, government and charity sectors and was a banking and finance lawyer. Caroline brings to Ecstra her professional skills, experience, networks and a strong belief that genuine collaboration is required to address the widening financial literacy gap and many structural barriers to financial wellbeing in Australia.

Caroline is a board member of WAGEC (Women and Girls Emergency Centre, Redfern) and The Achieve Foundation. Previously she was a board member of Philanthropy Australia, and chair of the Finance, Audit & Risk Committee, and Deputy Chair of Lenity Australia, a PAF focused on vulnerable women and children in Australia and the Asia Pacific. She is a member of the ACNC Sector Forum and works on a pro bono basis with community organisations. Caroline holds a BA (Syd Uni), is admitted as a Solicitor in NSW and ACT and is a graduate of the AICD.