Event Details
Time: 9:00 AM to 4:30 PM AEST
Date: 29 October 2026
Venue: Marsh Insurance | Level 13 / 111 Eagle Street, Brisbane
Registration Fee: $89 Members | $159 Non-Members (incl GST)
CPD Points: 10 points
Network drinks at separate venue post event 4:45 to 6:00pm
About the Event
Beyond the Blind Spot explores a simple yet powerful question: What are we not seeing?
In an era defined by artificial intelligence, cyber threats, climate volatility, and rapidly evolving governance expectations, organisations are being challenged to navigate risks that are often hidden in plain sight. Many of the most significant threats emerge not from what we know, but from assumptions left untested, signals left unnoticed, and insights that fail to reach decision-makers.
Through thought-provoking discussions on organisational intelligence, lessons from the Bondi Junction attack, climate resilience and preparedness, risk-based decision-making, and the governance of AI and cyber security, the 2026 QLD Chapter Risk Odyssey will examine how blind spots develop and how organisations can better identify and address them.
Join us for a day of expert insights, practical strategies, and engaging discussion designed to help you challenge assumptions, enhance resilience, and make more informed decisions in an increasingly complex and uncertain world.
About the Speakers
Des Allen
Director
XYINSTRA
Topic: The Risk of Not Knowing; Why Organisational Intelligence Matters in an Age of AI, Cyber Risk and Governance
Des Allen is a Director of XYINSTRA with more than 20 years’ experience in performance improvement, leadership development and operational effectiveness.
He has designed and facilitated workshops internationally across East and Southeast Asia, Australasia, the United States, United Kingdom and India, working with leaders and organisations across corporate, government, aviation, technology and operational environments.
His experience includes working with organisations such as IBM, HP, Shell, Singapore Airlines, Virgin Airlines, Auckland International Airport, Vodafone and CSR Sugar, as well as government and public-sector organisations.
Drawing from his experience, Des’s work has focused particularly on the risks arising from human and organisational conditions that affect governance, risk and compliance (GRC), drive significant financial loss, and undermine people’s capacity to perform.
Dr Gav Schneider
Group Managing Director, Chair of the Board and Founder
Risk 2 Solution Group
Topic: From Indicators to Action: Lessons learned from the Bondi Beach Terrorist Attack
Dr Gavriel (Gav) Schneider is a global authority on risk, leadership, and building high-performance cultures in uncertain environments. As the creator of the Presilience® framework and author of Presilience: How to Navigate Risk, Embrace Opportunity, and Build Resilience, Dr Gav empowers leaders and practitioners to move beyond compliance and traditional resilience, building proactive, opportunity-centric risk cultures that drive sustainable high performance.
With extensive experience running companies across the risk, security, safety and leadership sectors, and nearly a decade as head of ACU’s postgraduate program in the Psychology of Risk, Dr Gav brings practical, real-world insights to every engagement. His contributions to the field have been recognised with numerous awards including RMIA’s Consultant of the Year (2019) and Risk Leader of the Year (2023), reflecting his commitment to helping organisations lead, adapt, and thrive in a complex world.
Michael Nield
Senior Consultant and Natural Catastrophe Risk Leader - Pacific Region
Marsh
Topic: Marsh Insurers: Covering El Niño & Client Preparedness
Michael Nield is an experienced risk management professional specialising in natural hazard risk reduction, with extensive experience across a range of industries including aerospace, automotive, food and beverage, high-tech manufacturing, and pharmaceuticals. He has successfully delivered tailored risk solutions to clients around the world, helping organisations quantify financial exposure, identify critical vulnerabilities, and implement cost-effective mitigation strategies to strengthen operational resilience and optimise insurance outcomes.
Known for his client-focused approach and commitment to excellence, Michael combines technical expertise with a passion for delivering practical, high-value results. His dedication to service and innovation has consistently driven strong client relationships, business growth, and long-term performance improvements.
Navin Pasricha
Executive Director
Decalais Consultants
Topic: The Risk Is in the Assumptions
Navin Pasricha is a seasoned internal audit, risk, and governance leader with more than three decades of experience across Asia, Australia, India, the Middle East, and the UK. Throughout his career, he has led internal audit functions, built risk management frameworks, advised regulators, chaired governance committees, and supported Audit Committees and Chief Audit Executives in strengthening their strategic impact. Navin is the author of Getting Ready to Roar: Chief Auditor’s Guide from Audit Room to Board Room, which reflects his belief that internal audit delivers its greatest value when it goes beyond compliance to provide insight, influence, and strategic partnership. Today, he works with CAEs, Audit Committees, and senior audit professionals worldwide, helping them enhance governance, risk culture, and board readiness while elevating the role of internal audit in organisational success.
Tim Eichmann
Cyber Security Architect - Identity
Department of Transport and Main Roads
Topic: AI & Cyber Security: Balancing Governance, Risk and Innovation
Tim Eichmann is a Cyber Security Architect with more than 28 years of experience leading cyber security, identity, risk and security operations programs across government, banking and large enterprise environments. He is currently helping shape the future of cyber defence at a large QLD Government department, leading initiatives in SOC transformation, security data architecture, AI governance, cyber risk management and security maturity uplift aligned to frameworks such as ASD ISM, Essential Eight, and ISO 27001.
Tim is passionate about the practical application of artificial intelligence to improve security outcomes, helping organisations balance innovation, risk, governance and resilience in an increasingly complex threat landscape.