Jan Owen | Guest Speaker

A vision of an inclusive, imaginative and courageous world finds Jan advising on strategy and innovation to CEO’s around the globe; keynoting and providing thought leadership on child and youth advocacy, the future of work, the next generation workforce and the transformation of education and learning.

Jan is currently the Founder & Principal of AdaptabilityQ; co-Chair, Learning Creates Australia; co-Convenor, the Foyer Consortium; and co-Founder of a new entrepreneurial venture in healthy ageing, Be Well. 

Her work includes: building and convening multi sector alliances; campaigns and advocacy on the rights of children and young people around the globe; strategy, innovation design and leadership on the future of education, work and entrepreneurship; facilitating community, business, government and philanthropic investment and partnerships.

Jan’s prior executive leadership roles include CEO, Foundation for Young Australians; Executive Director, Social Ventures Australia; Founder & CEO, the CREATE Foundation. 

She currently serves on the Boards of Cool Australia; Global Village Schools; Innovation Unit Australia & New Zealand; Save the Children Impact Fund; World Economic Forum, Global Future Council on Education & Skills.

Jan has been the recipient of many Awards including named one of Australia’s True Leaders in 2018; the Inaugural Australian Financial Review and Westpac Woman of Influence in 2012 for leadership, innovation and entrepreneurship; membership to the Order of Australia in 2000 for services to the Australian community; is a Peter Drucker Foundation Fellow; and RSA Fellow.

Jan has been awarded two honorary Doctorates from the University of Sydney and Murdoch University in Perth, is host of the New Work Bites podcast and author of Every Childhood Lasts a Lifetime (1996) and The Future Chasers (2014)