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Keynote Speaker
Jackie Hill Perry
Author, Poet, Bible Teacher and Hip-Hop Artist.
Since becoming a Christian, she has been compelled to use her speaking and teaching gifts to share the light of the gospel of God as authentically as she can.
She is the author of Gay Girl, Good God: The Story of Who I Was, and Who God Has Always Been, Holier Than Thou, and Upon Waking Devotional.
At home she is a wife to Preston and Mommy to Eden, Autumn, Sage and August.
Special Guest
Rachel Ciano
Historian, Teacher, Writer, Thinker.
Rachel lectures in Christianity in History at SMBC, and loves uncovering stories from history and making them known. She believes the past teaches us to live better here and now, and speaks both locally and internationally on the intersection between history, theology, and everyday life.
She co-authored 10 Dead Guys You Should Know and 10 Dead Gals You Should Know, which both aim to bring forward narratives from the past and consider how they impact us today.
She lives in Sydney with her husband and two sons, is involved in ministry in Sydney’s Inner West where her husband is a church minister, and loves to surf and soak up Sydney’s gorgeous beaches.
Special Guest
Valerie Ling
Clinical Psychologist.
Valerie is a clinical psychologist and director of the Centre for Effective Living and the Centre for Effective Serving, organisations dedicated to advancing psychological wellbeing in both clinical and vocational settings. With extensive experience in burnout prevention, resilience-building, and workplace wellbeing, Valerie’s work bridges evidence-based psychological practice with practical strategies for sustaining emotional health.
She is particularly known for her focus on high-demand professions, including ministry and healthcare, and is currently engaged in research examining the intersection of leadership, psychosocial safety, and emotional exhaustion. Valerie is passionate about equipping individuals and organisations with tools to foster sustainable wellbeing, and she brings a thoughtful, research-informed perspective to her speaking engagements.
