Decades of expertise to support your independent audiology business
DR. BRENT EDWARDS, PhD.
Director, National Acoustic Laboratories
Brent is the Director of the National Acoustic Laboratories, where he leads research and innovation initiatives, focusing on transforming hearing healthcare. For over 20 years, he headed research at major hearing aid companies (GN ReSound, Starkey) and at Silicon Valley startups that have developed innovative technologies and clinical tools used worldwide. He is a Fellow of the Acoustical Society of America, a Fellow and immediate past President of the International Collegium of Rehabilitative Audiology (ICRA) and an Adjunct Professor at Macquarie University.
PÁDRAIG KITTERICK
Head of Audiological Science, NAL
Pádraig is Head of Audiological Sciences at the National Acoustic Laboratories, Sydney, and leads NAL's adult hearing loss research portfolio. His current research focusses on the evaluation of hearing health technologies and developing tools to enhance clinical care and outcomes of adults with hearing loss and/or hearing difficulties. He joined NAL in 2021 from his previous role as Head of Hearing Sciences at the University of Nottingham, UK where he conducted translational research on severe-profound hearing loss including cochlear implantation. He gained his PhD in Psychology by examining how the natural ageing process may contribute to listening difficulties in multi-talker environments. He held a post-doctoral research fellowship in the Department of Psychology at the University of York, carrying out research on spatial listening in normal-hearing and hearing-impaired populations, including users of hearing aids and cochlear implants.
BRAD SEYMOUR,
Management Consultant, Co-founder Yellow Brick Road
Brad has 30+ years’ experience as a senior executive, company director and entrepreneurial proprietor in Australia, New Zealand, South-East Asia and India, forging his ‘back to basics’ management principles and defining his rules for business success. In the mid-90s, with Mark Bouris, he co-founded Wizard Home Loans, created to drive competition in the Australian & New Zealand mortgage market and to monetise amplified value for shareholders. It delivered both with stunning success, became one of the most recognised financial services brands, the largest lender in the country, and was sold to General Electric Company in 2005 for nearly half a billion dollars. Brad was a senior executive at GE, responsible for growth of its global financial services, including the 2007/08 launch of the Wizard brand and business model on the Indian subcontinent. In 2009, as a foundation member of Yellow Brick Road Wealth Management, Brad took on the Australian banking landscape, and was also an on-air advisor in the Channel 9 TV series The Apprentice Australia and The Celebrity Apprentice Australia. He then became a Director at Australia’s fastest-growing insurer, Auto & General (owner of Budget Direct & Compare the Market), where he focused on driving 10 times system growth through smart business and distribution partnerships for 4 very successful years. Recently, Brad has re-focused on his core passion for growing Australian small to medium businesses through his keynote speaking platform, and in numerous business mentoring and advisory engagements.
CHRISTOPHER BREW
Head of Sales, ANZ, GN Resound
Chris commenced his clinical career at Hearing Australia before moving into research at the National Acoustic Laboratories, where he worked on speech-in-noise algorithms and perception, and Cochlear dead regions. After a few years, he started his own clinical practice, building it up before selling it to a large chain, and joining them as their first Head of Audiology, where he was responsible for establishing clinical protocols, government compliance, sales and counselling training. He then transitioned into Clinical Operations manager of a team of 70 clinicians across Australia before moving on to a business development role. Spending significant time away from family forced another change, and Chris went back to clinical work close to home. Within the first year, he doubled the profitability of the clinic. After 9 years, an opportunity to work at GN Hearing was too good to refuse. As Training Manager for ANZ, he is responsible for GN Hearing’s Australian training programs and is proud to lead its amazing team of Product Specialists.
RICK CARLSON.
CEO, Neurotone
Rick is Co-Founder and CEO of Neurotone AI, the company behind Lace AI Pro, a pioneering auditory training solution that helps patients with hearing loss improve speech understanding and cognitive function. A seasoned technology leader, Rick brings deep experience in bridging product, sale, and marketing to build customer-centred solutions. At Neurotone, he leads a team dedicated to revolutionising hearing healthcare by equipping practitioners with innovative tools that unlock a completely new way to help patients - while driving better client outcomes and building healthier, more profitable practices.
DR. JUDY GROBSTEIN
Regional Director of Education and Audiology - APAC, Starkey
Judy joined Starkey as an audiologist in 2010 and has worked in the US and Australia. At Starkey, she has worked on the US regional education and training team, managed education and audiology at Starkey Australia, and is now the Regional Director of Education and Audiology for Asia Pacific. She is responsible for aligning Starkey’s global education and training strategies in the APAC region. Before joining the Starkey team, Judy was director of the audiology department at a large Ear, Nose and Throat practice in Washington DC. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Speech Pathology and Audiology, and a Master’s degree in Audiology from Kent State University, and a Doctorate in Audiology from the Arizona School of Health Sciences.
DR. ADAM LOCKER, Au.D.
Founder, Audiology A.I. & Delray Hearing Center, Florida, USA
Adam is an audiologist, entrepreneur, and international speaker known for helping hearing care professionals grow their practices and build authentic brands that connect. With more than 25 years in the profession, he brings experience across clinical, corporate, and entrepreneurial roles, giving him a rare, 360-degree view of the industry. He began his career in corporate audiology with HEARx, gaining early insight into large-scale patient care systems. He then joined Phonak, where he helped practices integrate new technology and improve clinical outcomes, later moving into business development with American Hearing Aid Associates (AHAA), supporting hundreds of independent clinics nationwide. He went on to found and successfully sell HearFlorida, a respected multi-location hearing care group in Florida. Today, as the founder of Audiology A.I. and Delray Hearing Center, he combines his clinical background with cutting-edge marketing and automation strategies to help practices stand out and succeed.
GABRIELA LUKSZA
Director, Hearing Policy and Compliance, Hearing Services Program
Gabby is the Director of the Hearing Services Program (HSP) Hearing Policy and Compliance section and has responsibility for, and oversees, hearing health policy, stakeholder engagement, and HSP policy and improvement projects. She also oversees activities under the HSP compliance and monitoring framework, as well as HSP data analysis. Gabby commenced work at the Dept. of Health and Aged Care in 2011 and worked at the Dept. of Veteran’s Affairs in 2019 and 2020, before returning to Health. She has broad experience in health policy and program roles which includes management of a telehealth pilot program, Indigenous health funding model policy, GP training program, the Veteran’s home care program, Dust disease (silicosis), anti- microbial resistance policy and the vaccine role out in the COVID-19 taskforce. Prior to joining the public service Gabby was a private practice podiatrist, specialising in sport medicine and paediatric care. Her work included multiple voluntary aid trips to Vietnam with a surgical team diagnosing, treating and educating on paediatric lower leg conditions.
ROD AKED
Director, Hearing Voucher Operations, Hearing Services Program
Rob is responsible for the management of the Hearing Services Voucher Operations Program, and developing a new IT Portal to support the Program. He joined the Commonwealth Dept. of Health in 2010 and has led work on issues ranging from how the Australian Public Service uses data to respond to a crisis, developing a strategic policy environment for the Dept. of Health, and centralising and consolidating key data and reporting activities across all agencies involved in the initial response to COVID-19. Rob has been a public servant since 1989. Prior to joining Health, his service was predominantly as an aviation policy advisor focusing on aviation safety, aircraft noise and airport operations. He led key elements of the policy and legislative response to the Lockhart River disaster, and led the research, development and implementation of the national aviation alcohol and other drugs policy following the 2002 Hamilton Island crash. Rob also contributed to a paper exploring new ways to describe and assess aircraft noise in 2000 as part of a broader response to understanding and addressing aircraft noise issues around major airports. Rob holds a Bachelor of Science degree from ANU.
ANTHONY CORDI
Commercial Director, Sonova AG
Anthony is the Commercial Director of Phonak Australia and a qualified audiologist. His audiology career commenced in 2004 when he was employed by the federal government to provide hearing services in far North Queensland. This included adult and paediatric assessment and rehabilitation, and providing services to remote indigenous populations. He then worked in adult rehabilitation for a number of years before transitioning into audiology training and development roles and, since 2010, has worked in audiology management roles. For the past ten years, Anthony has worked with Sonova Australia, in roles across Phonak and Unitron. He is a member of Audiology Australia, holds a Bachelor's Degree in Hearing and Speech Science from the University of Sydney, and a Master's in Clinical Audiology from Macquarie University. Completing an MBA from the University of South Australia in 2020, he is also a full member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
BELINDA MCLEAN
General Manager, HR Focus
Before establishing HR FOCUS, Belinda worked as an HR professional in small and large businesses in Sydney, and was employed as HR Manager, HR Consultant in a wide variety of industries including health, retail, aged/community care, and manufacturing. She holds a Master of Commerce “Workplace Relations”, University of Sydney, and a Bachelor Arts “Politics”, University of Wollongong. With over 25+ years’ experience in people management, emotional intelligence, industrial relations and human resource management, Belinda is considered an expert in the field of people management.
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KATIE BRYAN
Founder and CEO, Propeller Advisory
Katie is the Founder and Director of Propeller Advisory, a specialist accounting and advisory firm working closely with service-based businesses across Australia. She has extensive experience supporting audiology practices, having worked with more than 20 audiology businesses, and partnered with Hearing Business Alliance members since 2019. Known for translating complex financial information into clear, practical insights, Katie helps business owners move from reactive decision-making to confident, proactive leadership. Her focus is on giving clinicians the financial clarity and systems they need to grow sustainable, profitable businesses - without needing to become accountants themselves.
GERALDINE TODD
Director, Wholesale Sales Australia and New Zealand, Widex
Geraldine’s career spans over 20 years in the audiology industry, with a strong background in strategic partnerships, commercial growth, and clinical engagement within the audiology sector. With extensive experience working alongside retail, wholesale and independent hearing care colleagues, she is passionate about supporting clinics to build resilient, profitable businesses through evidence-based solutions, meaningful partnerships, and innovative hearing technology. Geraldine is a graduate of the Melbourne University Master of Clinical Audiology and a member of Audiology Australia.
SAM WHITELEY
Business Development Manager Australia, Widex
Sam is a respected audiologist with extensive experience in clinical education, technology translation, and professional development within hearing healthcare. With a strong focus on precision hearing technology and patient-centred outcomes, he supports clinicians in maximising the clinical and commercial benefits of advanced hearing solutions. At Widex, Sam plays a key role in educating and empowering hearing care professionals to deliver natural sound experiences while enhancing practice performance and long-term success. He is a graduate of the University of Queensland Master of Clinical Audiology, and a member of Audiology Australia.
SHARNA RALEY
Sales Director ANZ, Signia
Sharna is Signia’s ANZ Sales Director. Over a career spanning 15 years, she has worked in a variety of roles, including adult and paediatric hearing aid fitting and rehabilitation, as a research audiologist at National Acoustic Laboratories and as a clinical manager. Sharna graduated from Macquarie University in 2008 with a Master of Clinical Audiology, and is a member of Audiology Australia.
NATASHA HAWKER
Founder and Managing Director, Employee Matters
Natasha is the Founder and Managing Director of Employee Matters Pty. Ltd., established in December 2011. She has extensive experience as General Manager, HR Manager, HR Consultant & Recruitment Manager. Natasha has a Post Graduate Diploma in Employment Relations, Human Resources, University of Technology Sydney, and has completed the Australian Company Director's Course, Business Administration and Management, with an Order of Merit. She is a member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and a Graduate of the Australian Company Director's Course.
A HAPPY NEW YEAR
Thank you to all our Members
And we wish you a peaceful and prosperous 2026.
HEARING BUSINESS ALLIANCE
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