REALTalk 2022 at Hair Festival: Meet The Speakers

REALTalk Business Forum will take place at Hair Festival on Sunday June 12 with a significant line up of internationally and locally renowned keynote speakers creating authentic, inspirational and unbranded conversations on what matters to our industry, with usable ways to grow your business, inspire your salon staff and review your service offering.

The format will be presented in two sessions. You can pick the session you prefer to attend, or book for the whole day. Be inspired by sessions on business and our specific industry, as well panel discussions centred on leadership, consumer trends, climate change, salon business and technology.

Book your tickets to this unmissable event now and, until then, meet the speakers!

KEYNOTE SPEAKERS

Terry Hawkins

Terry Hawkins is an award-winning author and education architect, and globally recognised presenter. As a retail education pioneer with over 100,000 alumni through her programs, hundreds of companies have experienced the solid results from her renowned retail education systems (IGNITE-Worldwide). Terry has built a reputation as one the greatest education influencers in the retail industry in the past three decades (strongly influencing brands such as SDS, Ella Bache and Optus, and with long-standing clients such as MECCA brands, SEED Heritage and many more). Her name is synonymous with sustainable and results-based education, and how-to’s that merge business and mindset.

Sandy Chong

Sandy Chong is a key influence in the hairdressing industry. Currently she is the CEO/Director of the Australian Hairdressing Council (AHC) and Director of COSBOA (Council Of Small Business Organisations Of Australia) representing small business. She speaks on behalf of the industry to Government, creating relationships to support an industry that is often overlooked. Her role at the AHC has established better business practices, training and education and building sustainable careers for the future of the industry. Sandy’s vision is to create an industry that has the highest possible standards in ethics, technical ability and workplace practices.

Phill Nosworthy

Phill Nosworthy is an executive advisor, speaker and writer in the subject areas of meaning, leadership and high performance. His insights into personal mastery and career acceleration have gained him a cult following among high performers in Fortune-listed companies the world over. He has worked in more than 40 cities globally and counts Microsoft, AFL, Universal Music and GitHub among his clients. Additionally, he is the founder of Switch L+D, a bespoke learning and development partner for leading brands around the world. Phill will help us uncover new levels of emotional resilience and how to become ‘anti-fragile’ in leadership and life. He will empower you to create a business that is resilient and can weather any challenge.

PANEL SPEAKERS

Sharlene Lee

Three-time Salon Business of the Year winner and arguably hairdressing’s most energetic entrepreneur, Sharlene Lee has successfully expanded her Circles for Hair brand into two of Perth’s top salons.

Tom Donato

Xiang Hair first opened its doors in 1989 in a small suburban salon in Melbourne’s west. Founder Tom Donato set about building a strong creative force in Australian hairdressing and now has over 35 staff members and many industry accolades.

Chris Hunter

Chris Hunter started his career in Melbourne, before moving onto Sydney to pursue his dream of being an editorial stylist. Chris worked across countless editorial shoots and fashion weeks both in Australia and abroad. His career highlight has been the launch of his own salon WILLOMINA in Woollahra, Sydney.

Simone Abaron

Simone Abaron, Founder of Apotecari Bioactive Hair Care, is a master formulation naturopath and trichologist who takes the complexities out of nutrition and inner health to deliver high quality, potent, sustainable, and ethical health and wellness products to market.

Paul Frasca

As Managing Director of Sustainable Salons, Paul travels Australia and New Zealand to speak about waste management in hair, beauty, fashion, hospitality, medical and education industries, and how to adopt a more sustainable approach in their everyday lives and businesses.

Lance Kalish

Lance Kalish, co-founder and executive director of Salon Lane, is a serial entrepreneur and recognised among Australia’s most accomplished international consumer product builders and social entrepreneurs.

Richard Kavanagh

Richard Kavanagh is a five-time Australian Session Stylist of the Year and has worked with many international fashion powerhouses, including Prada, Calvin Klein, Jean Paul Gaultier and Saint Laurent.

Renya Xydis

Renya Xydis is a Sydney-based hairstylist and salon owner. She’s also a hairdresser to the stars, having styled the likes of Nicole Kidman, Cate Blanchett and Naomi Watts — to name a few. James Shale James joined Dyson in 2015 and is now involved with monitoring Environmental Care and Airblade products in-market to ensure that globally, the products meet Dyson’s rigorous quality and reliability standards.

Kristy Hines

Kristy Hines, beauty industry guru, hairdresser, public speaker and co-owner at Element – Haus of Aveda, will join the Technology Panel to share her knowledge.

Brooke Jones

Founder and director of BeauTex Designs, Brooke Jones is the supply chain solutionist and workwear designer, providing a new way of manufacturing that improves on current practices socially, ethically and environmentally.

Eoin McCarthy

Just about six years into his career Eoin is now running one of Australia’s leading upskilling facilities, he is an International Educator and Brand Ambassador for Andis as well as being an Osaka Scissors Ambassador for Australia. He is also an educator for the worldwide movement of Hair Slayerz, set up and founded by his original mentor Paul Mac.