At the final Female Founders event of 2024, we will be joined by four inspirational and successful leaders of Canberra who share a passion for innovation. All have challenged and overcome barriers, helped shaped industries and built successful businesses. Hear firsthand how they navigate obstacles, leverage their experiences, forge new paths, and leave behind impactful legacies. This event is an opportunity to connect with inspiring leaders and gain valuable insights from their journeys.

Meet the Panel

This Female Founders will be moderated by Michelle Jasper, a Māori woman with over 13 years of experience in business development, research commercialization, intellectual property, and technology transfer.

Hala Batainah, an experienced Founder, CEO, Chair and Innovator. She came to Canberra from Jordan in the 1990s and fell in love with the potential of the city. Hala has dedicated her career to helping Canberra evolve through innovation, tech and business. Hala has a background in computer science and an MBA, both of which came in handy in her role as the Federal Director of the Canberran branch of Microsoft before founding her consulting business GIG Enterprises and becoming the Chair at CBRIN.

 

 

Sylvia Tulloch, has made many significant contributions to renewable energy technology over her career, first as a researcher and then as a highly successful entrepreneur. She led her company Dyesol, a manufacturer and developer of state of the art solar cells, to an IPO and a market cap of $12m at listing through to nearly $200m. Sylvia is now an active investor in, Director or Chairman of several innovative companies and is a Director and Board member of CBRIN.

 

 

 

Annabel Griffin, is a Partner at King & Wood Malleson’s and is the Government Sector lead, a role involving the coordination of over 230 lawyers across Commonwealth and State jurisdictions. With more than 20 years’ experience gained from working in Australia, the UK and Asia, she brings to clients her experience advising on major projects such as joint ventures, collaborations, outsourcings, sales, commercialisation, IP licensing and complex procurements. Annabel is involved in the ACT innovation sector through her involvement with the Canberra Innovation Network as a Director and Board member. She is passionate about innovation in business and government, including the opportunities for Australia in our region, the role of legal tech in transforming legal service delivery and helping clients adopt technology solutions to ensure higher value scale.