Co-design to Coexist.

The LOTE Agency and Portable invite you to a thought-provoking discussion lead by a dynamic panel of thought leaders.

Inclusion and diversity shouldn’t be treated as special projects or compliance exercises—they should be embedded into the DNA of how we work, lead, and design solutions. In this panel, we’ll explore how co-design can create meaningful change, why meritocracy alone doesn’t work, and what leaders need to do to move from intention to impact.

The Chat

Via a combination of panel discussion and woven with audience participation, we'll get into:

The Red Herring of the anti-woke movement
Meritocracy vs. Access to Merit
The Business Case for Inclusion Without Making It a ‘Case’
Beyond Talk: Moving from Rhetoric to Action

The panel

Reggie Butler – Leadership Development Expert & DEI Strategist from the USA

Reggie Butler is a globally recognised leadership development facilitator, keynote speaker, and culture transformation expert. As the founder and CEO of Performance Paradigm, he has spent over two decades advising Fortune 500 companies, government organisations, and institutions on leadership, inclusive workplace strategies, and high-performance culture.

A sought-after thought leader, Reggie's work is grounded in behavioural psychology, emotional intelligence, and social justice, helping organisations move beyond performative DEI efforts to build authentic, sustainable cultural change.

With a background spanning Wall Street, corporate consulting, and executive education, Reggie brings a sharp, pragmatic perspective to leadership development—one that bridges the gap between strategy and human connection. His expertise in coaching high-performing leaders, disrupting biases, and creating equitable talent ecosystems makes him a powerful voice in the conversation around co-design, inclusion, and the future of leadership.

At this panel, Reggie will challenge conventional thinking on leadership and the role of 'belonging' in business—helping us rethink what it truly means to co-design for coexistence.

Jon Yeo – Licensee and Head of Curation at TEDx & Leadership Communication Expert

Jon Yeo is an internationally recognised speaker coach, TEDxMelbourne Licensee & Head Curator and leadership communication specialist who helps leaders articulate their ideas with clarity and impact. With over a decade at the helm of TEDxMelbourne, Jon has worked with some of the world’s most influential thinkers, refining their messages to inspire action and change.

As the Founder of Brightstar Consulting, Jon empowers executives, entrepreneurs, and organisations to craft compelling narratives that resonate. His expertise lies in leadership influence, storytelling, and human-centred communication, ensuring that ideas don’t just exist—they connect, persuade, and drive transformation.

Beyond the stage, Jon has advised corporate leaders, government bodies, and innovators on how to communicate complexity in simple, relatable ways. His work is deeply rooted in cognitive science and behavioural psychology, helping individuals and organisations cut through noise and create meaningful conversations that lead to progress.

At this panel, Jon will share insights on the power of co-design in leadership, the role of narrative in shaping inclusive cultures, and why communication is the missing link in building workplaces where diversity isn’t an initiative—it’s the norm.

Bella Borello – Marketing Strategist & Social Impact Advocate

Bella Borello is a marketing and communications expert with a deep passion for social impact, inclusion, and purpose-driven strategy.

With a background in strategic marketing, brand positioning, and community engagement, Bella has worked across corporate, government, and social enterprise sectors, ensuring that marketing is not just about visibility and impact - but honest connections. She specialises in translating complex ideas into accessible, authentic, and action-driven messaging that resonates with communities and decision-makers alike.

Bella is passionate about using marketing as a tool for equity and systemic change, ensuring that organisations don’t just talk about social good—they embed it into their DNA. She believes that true inclusion isn’t a campaign; it’s a commitment woven into an organisation’s culture, brand, and engagement strategy.

At this panel, Bella will share insights on how organisations can communicate inclusion without tokenism, why brand storytelling matters in fostering coexistence, and how marketing can be leveraged as a force for genuine social change.

Moderated by

Kathryn Foster – Organisational Psychologist & Culture Transformation Leader

Kathryn is an experienced People & Culture strategist, organisational psychologist, and leadership development expert dedicated to building workplaces where people and performance thrive. As Head of People and Culture at Portable, she specialises in designing and embedding cultural change, leadership development, and workforce transformation programs that drive real impact.

With a Master’s in Organisational Psychology from Deakin University and over 15 years of experience spanning government, corporate, and not-for-profit sectors, Kathryn has worked internationally and locally to implement high-impact people solutions. Her expertise includes culture change, leadership coaching, diversity and inclusion, employee engagement, team dynamics, and workforce planning. She is also a subject matter expert in vicarious trauma management, professional development, and change leadership, ensuring organisations can navigate complexity while fostering psychologically safe and high-performing teams.

Kathryn has led large-scale organisational development initiatives for the Department of Justice, Department of Education, multiple Local Governments, and corporate organisations.

At this panel, Kathryn will guide the conversation with her deep understanding of human behaviour, leadership psychology, and organisational culture—helping us unpack how co-design can create more inclusive, future-ready workplaces.

The Details

Event time: Arrive at 2.15pm for a 2.30pm start. Drinks and networking will commence at 4.30 pm.

Parking: is extremely limited, so we suggest using public transport or ride-sharing.

Accessible entrance via the laneway.

The LOTE Agency is a certified social enterprise dedicated to building inclusive experiences through human-centered design, research and strategy.
Portable is a certified B-Corp leading the way forward for positive impact - through the intersection of design and technology.

Contact the host of The Future is Human | Co-design to Coexist

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