Sam Bloom

Bestselling Author,
2 x Para Surfing World Champion, and
Inspiration for Global Hit Movie Penguin Bloom

Bio

Sam Bloom is a 2 x World Para Surfing Champion, bestselling author and inspiration behind the 2020 #1 Australian box-office, and international global Netflix hit movie, Penguin Bloom starring Naomi Watts as Sam.
‍
The movie is adapted from the international bestselling book, Penguin Bloom: The Odd Little Bird Who Saved a Family. Published in 14 languages, Penguin Bloom is a collaboration between Sam’s husband Cameron, a professional photographer, and New York Times bestselling author Bradley Trevor Greive.

Paralysed in an accident in Thailand in 2013, Sam suffered debilitating injuries that left her paralysed from the chest down. She has since gone on to win two Oceania KL1Para-canoe Championships, and become a 2 x World and Australian Para SurfingChampion. In 2019, Sam was nominated for the Surfing Australia Female Surfer of the Year Award, and in 2022 was awarded the Surfing Australia Female ParaSurfer of the Year. Sam works with numerous spinal cord injury charities around the world to support the quest for a cure, and is a global ambassador for the RedBull Wings For Life World Run.

Session Information

Heartache and Birdsong

What is resilience? And how can we cultivate it when things don't go to plan? Sam answers these questions and more in her visually immersive and deeply personal presentations, sharing her experience of a dream life turned to a nightmare in an instant.

Leading us through the extraordinary highs and painful lows of life before, during and after a near-fatal accident in 2013, Sam shares how family, love and a unique connection with the natural world supported her journey back from deep physical suffering and depression to become a bestselling author, 2 x World Para Surfing champion and inspiration behind the international hit movie Penguin Bloom. Sam’s true story holds powerful messages and new perspectives for us all as we navigate our own personal and professional challenges, inspiring us to be the best version of ourselves, and to live and be grateful for each day as we never know what tomorrow holds.

Key Takeaways

The power of determination and courage
Goal setting and overcoming adversity
Mental wellness

Holly Ransom

Speaker, Commentator, Author and
Australian Financial Review’s 100
most influential women

Bio

Holly Ransom is a globally renowned content curator, powerful speaker and master interviewer with the belief that if you walk past it, you tell the world it’s okay.

Named one of Australia’s 100 Most Influential Women by the Australian Financial Review, she has delivered a Peace Charter to the Dalai Lama, was Sir Richard Branson’s nominee for Wired Magazine’s ‘Smart List’ of Future Game Changers to watch and was awarded the US Embassy’s Eleanor Roosevelt Award for Leadership Excellence in 2019. Having interviewed the likes of Barack Obama, Malcolm Gladwell, Richard Branson, Billie Jean-King, Condoleezza Rice, Nobel Prize Winner Muhammad Yunus and the world’s first humanoid robot Sophia, Holly fights complexity with curiosity, apathy with empowerment and fear with fact.

Session Information

Change is Inevitable But Growth is Intentional:
Turning Innovative Ideas into Action

Research has shown, persistently for two decades, that 90% of companies fail to execute their strategy due to poor execution, and McKinsey data tells us that 70 percent of organisational change efforts fall short of desired results. Against the backdrop of a world and business landscape that is changing at a greater velocity than ever before, we need to continually evolve the way that we work and lead so we can continue to achieve excellence.

This talk will explore best practice on leading change and executing ideas. Specifically, this presentation will focus on empowering leaders to be able to build their own change roadmap - from framing the messaging and building cultural momentum around ideas, to approaches to ensure ideas get executed.

Key Takeaways

What causes organisational strategies to fail
Best practice on leading change and executing ideas
How to create and implement a change roadmap

Session:

To be confirmed

‍

Holly Ransom

Holly Ransom is a globally renowned content curator, powerful speaker and master questioner with the belief that if you walk past it, you tell the world it’s okay. Named one of Australia’s 100 Most InfluentialWomen by the Australian Financial Review, she has delivered a Peace Charter to the Dalai Lama, was Sir Richard Branson’s nominee for Wired Magazine’s ‘SmartList’ of Future Game Changers to watch and was awarded the US Embassy’s Eleanor Roosevelt Award for Leadership Excellence in 2019.

Having interviewed the likes of Barack Obama, Malcolm Gladwell, Richard Branson, Billie Jean-King, Condoleezza Rice, Nobel Prize Winner Muhammad Yunus and the world’s first humanoid robot Sophia, Holly fights complexity with curiosity, apathy with empowerment and fear with fact.

Thank you to everyone that attended Spark 2023!

BE THE FIRST TO KNOW FOR SPARK 2024

The Premier Small Law
Legal Conference

Spark, Ignite, Thrive

February 17, 2023 | Sofitel Sydney, Wentworth | Spark, Ignite, Thrive

Smokeball Spark is Australia’s premier conference experience that has been specifically designed for legal practitioners of small law firms. Proudly presented by Smokeball Australia, Spark will connect small law firms from across Australia with the resources, knowledge, and tools required to spark new ideas for business growth.

One incredible day with speakers that will make you

Grow, Learn, Spark new ideas

February 23, 2023 | International Convention & Exhibition Centre | Sydney

View Agenda

Read Bio

Michelle Elle

CEO & Founder, Thankyou.co

Dave Merriweather

CEO, Apple

Nik O'Meara

Basketball Legend

Miranda Ormerod

Motivational Speaker

What can you
expect at Spark?

2 x Event Streams

Design your own event experience according to the needs of your firm. Select from our ‘Firm Development’ or ‘Daily Efficiency’ streams to either map out long-term strategies for your firm or to identify how you can operate more efficiently day-to-day.

Incredible Keynotes

We look forward to welcoming two incredible keynote speakers to Smokeball Spark including, Michael McQueen, Speaker, Author and TrendsExpert, and Jana Pittman, Former Three Time Olympian and Author.

5+ CPD Points Available

Stay on top of your continuing professional development requirements and claim up to 5 CPD points at Smokeball Spark

High-Impact Entertainment

Engage with our immersive activations throughout the day and experience a high-calibre line up of entertainment offerings.

Exclusive Post-Event Function

Join us at an exclusive post-event function, available only to Smokeball Spark delegates. Details coming very shortly.

Complimentary On-Demand Access

To ensure that no key learnings are missed, all Smokeball Spark delegates will receive on-demand access to all recorded sessions following the conference.

What can you expect at Spark?

Welcoming a standout collection of inspirational keynotes, industry experts and technological innovators across two unique streams,
Smokeball Spark offers a diverse range of learning opportunities to help you accomplish the specific goals for your firm.

2 x Event Streams

View Agenda

Incredible Keynotes

We look forward to welcoming two incredible keynote speakers to Smokeball Spark including, Holly Ransom, globally renowned content curator, speaker and one of the Australian Financial Review’s 100 Most Influential Women, and Sam Bloom, Bestselling author, 2 x para surfing world champion, and inspiration behind the #1Australian box office and global Netflix hit movie, Penguin Bloom.

View Speakers

5+ CPD Points Available

Stay on top of your continuing professional development requirements and claim up to 5 CPD points at Smokeball Spark

High-Impact Entertainment

Engage with our immersive activations throughout the day and experience a high-calibre line up of entertainment offerings.

Exclusive Function

Join us at an exclusive post-event function, available only to Smokeball Spark delegates. Details coming very shortly.

Find out more

Complimentary
On-Demand Access

To ensure that no key learnings are missed, all Smokeball Spark delegates will receive on-demand access to all recorded sessions following the conference.

About Smokeball Spark

Smokeball Spark is Australia’s only conference experience that has been specifically designed for small law firms and sole legal practitioners.

Proudly presented by Smokeball Australia, Spark will connect its delegates with the resources, knowledge, and tools required to spark new ideas, accelerate business transformation, and realise success.

Find out more

What can you
Expect at Spark?

2 x Event Streams

Design your own event experience according to the needs of your firm. Select from our ‘Firm Development’ or ‘Daily Efficiency’ streams to either map out long-term strategies for your firm or to identify how you can operate more efficiently day-to-day.

Incredible Keynotes

We look forward to welcoming two incredible keynote speakers to Smokeball Spark including,
‍Holly Ransom, globally renowned content curator and speaker, and Sam Bloom, Bestselling author, 2 x para surfing world champion, and inspiration behind the Netflix hit movie, Penguin Bloom.

5+ CPD Points Available^*

Stay on top of your continuing professional development requirements and claim up to
5 CPD points at Spark.

High-Impact Entertainment

Engage with our immersive activations throughout the day and experience a high-calibre line-up of entertainment offerings.

Exclusive Post-Event Function | Ignite Social

Following an action-packed day at Spark, we invite you to carry on your conference experience at Ignite Social - taking place at Sofitel Wentworth’s Garden Courtyard Terrace.

Complimentary
On-Demand Access

To ensure that no key learnings are missed, all Spark delegates will receive on-demand access to all recorded sessions following the conference.

Ignite Social

Following an action-packed day at Smokeball Spark, we invite you to carry on your conference experience at the Ignite Social. Taking place at Sofitel Wentworth’s Garden Courtyard Terrace and Restaurant, Ignite Social will offer delegates an exclusive opportunity to step into an immersive event space filled with live music performances, exciting activation experiences, and complimentary food and beverage service.

Leverage the opportunity to continue mingling with delegates, industry leaders and technological innovators over a glass of champagne or themed cocktail in this unique open-air setting.
Learn More

One incredible day with speakers that will make you

Grow, Learn,Spark new

ideas

February 23, 2023 | International Convention & Exhibition Centre | Sydney

Nik O'Meara

CEO & Founder, Thankyou.co

Nik O'Meara

CEO & Founder, Thankyou.co

Nik O'Meara

CEO & Founder, Thankyou.co

Nik O'Meara

CEO & Founder, Thankyou.co

Sam Bloom

Bestselling Author, 2 x Para Surfing World Champion, and Inspiration for Global Hit Movie Penguin Bloom

Bio

Session Information

Key Takeaways

Holly Ransom

Speaker, Commentator, Author andAustralian Financial Review’s 100most influential women

Bio

Session Information

Key Takeaways

Session:

Holly Ransom

The Premier Small Law Legal Conference

Spark, Ignite, Thrive

February 17, 2023Sofitel Sydney, Wentworth

Keynote Speakers

Sam Bloom

Bestselling Author, 2 x Para Surfing World Champion, and Inspiration for Global Hit Movie Penguin Bloom

Holly Ransom

Speaker, Commentator, Author andAustralian Financial Review’s 100most influential women

Including Incredible speakersfrom across the industry

Paul Hugh-Jones

Partner,Beaton Research & Consulting

Clayton Oats

Founder, QA Business

ClarissaRayward

Founder,Happy Lawyer Happy Life

Amanda Little

Principal Solicitor,Amanda Little & Associates

Talya Faigenbaum

Family Law Team Leader,Nest Legal & Former Research Fellow, Centre forLegal Innovation

Terri Mottershead

Executive Director,Centre for Legal Innovation

Hunter Steele

CEO, Smokeball

John Ahern

Global Head of Property, InfoTrack

What can youexpect at Spark?

2 x Event Streams

Incredible Keynotes

5+ CPD Points Available*

High-Impact Entertainment

Exclusive Post-Event Function | Ignite Social

Complimentary On-Demand Access

Ignite Social

Sofitel Sydney, Wentworth

Thank you to everyone that attended Spark 2023!

The Premier Small Law Legal Conference

Spark, Ignite, Thrive

February 17, 2023 | Sofitel Sydney, Wentworth | Spark, Ignite, Thrive

One incredible day with speakers that will make you

Grow, Learn, Spark new ideas

February 23, 2023 | International Convention & Exhibition Centre | Sydney

Michelle Elle

CEO & Founder, Thankyou.co

Dave Merriweather

CEO, Apple

Nik O'Meara

Basketball Legend

Miranda Ormerod

Motivational Speaker

What can you expect at Spark?

2 x Event Streams

Incredible Keynotes

5+ CPD Points Available

High-Impact Entertainment

Exclusive Post-Event Function

Complimentary On-Demand Access

Grow, Learn,
Spark new

Bestselling Author,
2 x Para Surfing World Champion, and
Inspiration for Global Hit Movie Penguin Bloom

Speaker, Commentator, Author and
Australian Financial Review’s 100
most influential women

The Premier Small Law
Legal Conference

February 17, 2023
Sofitel Sydney, Wentworth

Speaker, Commentator, Author and
Australian Financial Review’s 100
most influential women

Including Incredible speakers
from across the industry

Partner,
Beaton Research & Consulting

Clarissa
Rayward

Founder,
Happy Lawyer Happy Life

Amanda
Little

Principal Solicitor,
Amanda Little & Associates

Family Law Team Leader,
Nest Legal & Former Research Fellow, Centre for
Legal Innovation

Terri
Mottershead

Executive Director,
Centre for Legal Innovation

Hunter
Steele

John
Ahern

What can you
expect at Spark?

The Premier Small Law
Legal Conference

What can you
expect at Spark?

Complimentary
On-Demand Access

What can you
Expect at Spark?

5+ CPD Points Available^*

Complimentary
On-Demand Access

With thanks to our
amazing sponsors