
Events
SPEAKERS
SAUG says 'Thank You' to the following speakers for supporting the SAUG Melbourne Conference 2023:
![]() |
Michael Beckett, Director, CoE Process Excellence, Aware Super |
![]() |
Mustafa Bensan, Enterprise Architect, Intentum |
![]() |
Dan Boulton, Head of Procurement, AusNet |
![]() |
Matthias Braeuer, CTO, FAIR Consulting Group
Matthias has over 16 years of experience in SAP and digital technologies. He has extensive knowledge in FMCG, Retail, Public Sector, Healthcare, Utilities and Manufacturing. With a strong focus on SAP ERP, Matthias is well-versed in digital transformations and their impact on customer experience. He has successfully led engagements with senior management and acted as a liaison between business, functional and technical teams, providing seamless solutions for businesses seeking digital transformation.
|
![]() |
Nick Calder, Enterprise Functional Architect - EmployeeConnect, Catholic Schools Parramatta Diocese |
![]() |
Allan Coulter, Global CTO for SAP Services, IBM Consulting
Allan is the Global CTO for the SAP Consultancy Services in IBM with more than 25 years experience in the consulting industry. Today, he is responsible for IBM’s ERP Technical Strategy and Offering development. He has for many years acted as a key advisor for several programs, assuring the delivery program and client teams, supporting the shift to next generation ERP solutions that drive the Business Transformation goals.
Allan regularly presents and writes externally on the future of ERP….the evolution from traditional solutions to modern use of technology to create more responsive businesses and redefine how work gets done as we orientate towards Intelligent and Sustainable Enterprises.
|
![]() |
Mehrab Ebadi, Managing Director, FAIR Consulting Group
With an almost 20-year career in SAP consultancy, Mehrab brings a wealth of experience and knowledge to the table. His working approach is built on principles of honesty, transparency and integrity, focusing on translating complex business concepts into effective system solutions. He excels in agile and collaborative environments where methodologies serve the goal, not the other way around. He founded FAIR Consulting Group to reintroduce a genuine people-first culture in the consulting world, aiming to restore honour and trust in the IT industry.
|
![]() |
Paul Fewster, Solution Architect, SAP Australia Paul is a solution architect who specialises in SAP technology and associated SAP on-premise and cloud solutions. Paul has worked for SAP for 23 years and is a team member of the SAP Australia Platform and Technologies presales team. |
|
Sonal Kumar, Head of SAP ALM Go-to-market APJ, SAP Labs India |
![]() |
Nicole Narbeshuber, Strategic Delivery Lead, OCM Lead for EmployeeConnect, Catholic Schools Parramatta Diocese |
![]() |
Dr Nicholas Nicoloudis, Head of SAP Innovation, PwC Nicholas is a passionate technologists who has been architecting and developing market leading software applications for the past 22 years. During his career, he has been a founder of several start-up companies, worked with several multinational organisations and held numerous roles in development, research and management. Nicholas’s research has led to numerous publications, patents and awards in exposing web services from business applications to data mining and processing on mobile devices. Nicholas regularly presents at universities and conferences on digital transformation and disruptive technologies. Nicholas is on the TinyML Strategic Partner Board to grow the adoption of EndPoint AI in Industry 5.0 scenarios. Nicholas has a Ph.D. in Computer Science from Monash University. |
![]() |
Ben Nottle, Head – Customer Experience Center of Excellence, SAP Asia Pacific & Japan |
![]() |
Chris Paine, SAP Mentor, Chief HR Geek/ Executive Board Member for Technology & Innovation, Discovery Consulting
Chris, an SAP Mentor, SAP HANA Distinguished Engineer, SAP SuccessFactors Confidente and general outspoken HR Technologist has been implementing SAP HR solutions on-premise and in the cloud for over 20 years. He takes great interest in all new SAP technical innovations and has in particular been involved in pushing the envelope of SAP SuccessFactors enhancement solutions built on the SAP Business Technology Platform. Whilst these days Chris is often putting together PowerPoint slides on system architecture and integration strategies, he also does get hands on with the actual technical implementations of solutions. A frequent presenter at SAP conferences and a prolific contributor to SAP forums (both public and behind the scenes partner discussions), Chris loves to share his thoughts on working better and smarter with SAP technologies. Don’t ask him about blockchain. Do ask about empowering employees.
|
![]() |
Gaj Pasupathy, Director Pre-Sales, Syniti |
![]() |
Chris Peck, Head of Cloud Success Services, SAP ANZ |
![]() |
Chris Prior, Manager Finance GPDO, Orica Chris has diverse Finance experience across Manufacturing Accounting, Product Costing, Planning & Forecasting, Performance Reporting & Commercial Analysis. He has been at Orica for over 20 years with the last 10 or so years being spent working on various SAP projects. He was involved from a business readiness perspective when Orica implemented SAP S/4HANA in 2020. In his current role as Finance GPDO (Global Process & Data Owner) he is responsible for the end-to-end Business Plan to Reporting Process. |
![]() |
Alex Proskurnya, Finance Systems Reporting Lead, Orica Alex has spent around 20 years advising multinational organizations in Europe and Australia on improving their core finance processes and technologies in the SAP domain on all stages of financial and accounting lifecycle, starting from planning, budgeting, forecasting to accounting, group consolidation, management reporting and external disclosure. The key professional focus is finance organisation efficiency and capability growth, supported by technology products from SAP and other vendors as finance solution architect, solution or process lead. |
![]() |
Jonathan Redfern, Executive, Control and Process Management, National Australia Bank
00BJonathan is currently leading the multi-year control transformation strategy for National Australia Bank. Previously based in the UK as the Global Head of Risk Assessment for HSBC Global Banking and Markets, he has worked extensively across the global business driving risk management transformation. Jonathan has also held Finance and Risk leadership roles within Capital Markets and Investment Banking at Morgan Stanley, Lehman Brothers and HSBC. He is a Fellow of the Financial Services Institute of Australasia, Chartered Management Accountant and Risk Management Association member. He has a MSc Finance London Business School and MA Economics University of Cambridge.
|
|
Kevin Richardson, Chief Architect, SAP SE |
![]() |
Ashley Saltzman, Project Risk & Recovery, Commercial Expert, ashleysaltzman.com Ashley is a seasoned leader in the SAP ecosystem, boasting over 26 years of invaluable experience in managing escalations, resolving disputes, and successfully recovering projects within the technology sector. As the former Head of Commercial Escalations at SAP for more than 7 years, Ashley has earned a reputation as the go-to expert for navigating the intricate landscape of business and commercial aspects in projects. Widely acknowledged as 'the man who defuses bombs,' he is a fixer, trouble-shooter, facilitator, and negotiator. His remarkable track record includes resolving commercial escalations for SAP on more than 160 challenging projects spanning diverse regions such as Australia, New Zealand, Asia Pacific, Japan, UK, and Ireland. Ashley's expertise is instrumental in steering organisations away from common pitfalls and mistakes that get projects into trouble. |
![]() |
Paul Taylor, Speaker/Author/Podcast Host, MindBodyBrain Performance Institute |
![]() |
Varun Thamba, Director - Business AI & Technology Strategy, SAP APJ |
![]() |
Karen Zwissler, CEO, SAP Australian User Group
Karen has over 25 years of experience in the corporate world working with technology, industry, governments, security, and defence organisations. She is passionate about helping organisations embrace and thrive with their technology experiences by delivering seamless and consistent results.
After 25 years of working with SAP globally, Karen took on the CEO role for SAP Australian User Group in 2022, leveraging her expertise in business development to lead customers and governments through their digital transformations and bringing global technology and business capabilities.
In 2020 Karen was appointed to the board of the German Australian Chamber of Commerce. In this function Karen plays a key role in facilitating and nurturing dialogue between government bodies, policy makers and industry in both countries. She takes pride in promoting sustainable and socially responsible initiatives, and creating powerful collaboration models to drive positive outcomes for all. In addition, Karen has been recognized for her outstanding commitment to mentor young talent and the development of upcoming female leaders.
Karen holds a Master’s Degree in International History and English Literature from Ruperto Carola University in Heidelberg, Germany, and has a bachelor’s degree in publishing.
|