Professor Roberta Ryan’s career as a social scientist has focused on bridging the gap between governments, the private sector and communities across a range of complex public policy areas. This includes her current Ministerial appointment as the Independent Community Commissioner for the Western Sydney Aerotropolis and Orchard Hills. Professor Ryan is nationally recognised for her expertise in mediating and facilitating shared outcomes in contested and sensitive environments. She has worked extensively with government agencies in the energy sector with an emphasis on community sentiment, education, behaviour change, and the social licence for regulation

Romina is an infrastructure communications specialist. Her extensive experience includes the strategic development and implementation of effective communication and engagement strategies for some of Australia’s largest infrastructure projects. Romina has in depth knowledge of the requirements of stakeholders, communities and clients and has extensive experience working with highly sensitive projects or communities. Her key skill is ensuring that major projects apply a community and stakeholder lens to key decisions to ensure broader support for the project, resilience in the scope and execution of projects and minimising risks to project outcomes. Romina works across a project’s lifecycle from the early stages - where a strategic communications and risk management approach is vital - through to the implementation of community and stakeholder engagement plans.

Dr. Rae Dufty-Jones is Director of Social Advisory and Research at RPS Group, where she works with social researchers, data analysts, community engagement specialists and creatives to measure and communicate the social value impacts and outcomes of infrastructure projects and initiatives across diverse sectors and regions. Prior to joining RPS, Rae was an Associate Professor in economic geography at Western Sydney University for over 10 years where she taught strategic planning and lead research programs in the areas of regional development, housing, and transport. Rae’s passion for and unique expertise in education and social research enables her to develop productive collaborations with communities, governments, and industries. With her colleagues at RPS Group, Rae creates place- and evidence-based solutions that build capacity and drive innovation.