Greg Santucci

International Keynote Speaker

Greg Santucci has been a Pediatric Occupational Therapist for 25 years and is currently a Supervisor of Occupational Therapy at Children’s Specialized Hospital in New Jersey. In addition to his work at CSH, Greg is also the Founding Director of Power Play Pediatric Therapy. He is certified in Sensory Integration and the creator of the Model of Child Engagement, a neurodevelopmentally informed approach to improving felt safety, regulation and participation in children of all levels of ability. Greg presents both nationally and internationally on topics related to sensorimotor development, sensory processing, regulation and behavior. He recently received the Award of Merit from the NJ Occupational Therapy Association for his advocacy work related to neurodiversity-affirming care. He is a proud Penn State and Thomas Jefferson University graduate, but his most cherished title is that of “Dad” to two amazing teenage children.

Dr Catherine Ball

Opening Keynote Speaker

Adjunct Professor Dr Catherine Ball is an award-winning futurist, company director, and bestselling author working across global projects where emerging technologies meet humanitarian, educational, and environmental needs. A passionate champion of diversity, equity and inclusion, Catherine actively supports leaders across generations and works to advance social mobility and environmental stewardship. She advises a range of organisations including the Schmidt Ocean Institute and serves on Australia’s Robotics Advisory Council. Catherine holds a BSc (Hons), PhD, and has been awarded an honorary Doctor of Science.

Dr Dinesh Palipana OAM

Master of Ceremonies

Dinesh was the first quadriplegic medical intern in Queensland. He is a doctor, lawyer, disability advocate, and researcher. During medical school, he sustained a spinal cord injury in a car accident. He currently works in the emergency department at the Gold Coast University Hospital and is a senior lecturer at Griffith University and assistant professor at Bond University. He co-leads the BioSpine research team. Dinesh is a doctor for the Gold Coast Titans disability rugby team, a former advisor to the Disability Royal Commission, and a member of several advisory boards. He received the Medal of the Order of Australia in 2019 and was the Queensland Australian of the Year in 2021. His autobiography Stronger was published in 2022.