Meet the guest speakers for at our annual MBA event, Beyond the classroom: An MBA gathering for students, alumni and Deakin partners, Thursday 4 December at Deakin Downtown.
Our panel of highly engaging MBA colleagues will offer a thought-provoking discussion led by Paul Harrison, MBA Director. You will also enjoy the opportunity to develop your professional network with peers and other like-minded individuals over nibbles and drinks.
Panellists
Our panelists for the evening include:
Grace Occleshaw (Alumni) MBA’25, Bcom/Bsc ‘18
Grace Occleshaw is an Advisory Manager at BYO Group, a fully remote financial services firm helping small businesses grow with clarity and confidence. A Chartered Accountant and member of the Institute of Certified Bookkeepers Australia, Grace has spent more than a decade supporting business owners across manufacturing, IT, engineering, and multi-generational family enterprises.
Her career has focused on driving transformation and innovation, including, leading IT and systems upgrades, and project-managing complex business acquisitions and integrations to create more efficient, technology-enabled operations. A recognised Xero super user and 2023 alumni member of the Xero Partner Advisory Council, Grace combines deep technical expertise with a passion for data, people and process improvement.
Having recently completed her MBA at Deakin University (June 2026), Grace has balanced postgraduate study while growing a child and embracing life as a new mother. It has been a journey that has strengthened her perspective on leadership, resilience, and time management. She is deeply passionate about supporting and mentoring young women in business and leadership, advocating for confidence, balance, and representation at every level.
Alyssa Poyner (Alumni) MBA ’25, GCertBA ‘23
Alyssa Poyner is a strategic people leader with 25+ years in aviation, spanning operational management, customer experience, learning and development, and talent acquisition. She led the post-COVID reintegration of 600 staff across 220+ operational changes in a complex, unionised environment, with a focus on clarity, trust, and engagement.
Alyssa works at the intersection of customer and employee experience, aligning frontline execution with strategic outcomes. Her leadership is grounded in systems thinking and human connection – creating alignment and the conditions for trust in times of uncertainty.
A Deakin MBA alumna, she completed her studies while working full-time and raising two children. She also served on a not-for-profit board, contributing to governance and member-focused operational improvements.
Alexandra Ash (Alumni) Mpol&Policy ’15, MBA ‘14, BExSpSc/Bcom ‘11
With a proven track record of impact across the sporting, leisure, and for-purpose sectors nationally, Alex brings a values-led, energetic, and strategic approach to her work. Her leadership is defined by accessibility, authenticity, and responsiveness, underpinned by a strong commitment to aligning professional practice with personal values. As a visible role model for integrated work–life balance, she demonstrates how flexible working arrangements can coexist with high performance raising her two children while actively contributing to the culture and community of The Y.
Alex holds undergraduate degrees, along with completing her MBA, and Master of Policy and Politics. Alex is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and has immersed herself in residential executive courses at Melbourne Business School and Columbia University, New York.
On the weekends you will see Alex being chief executive of her family, at the soccer pitch, the nippers beach sprint, AFL U8 East Brighton Vampires game and to top it off swimming lessons.
Details and registration
Date: Thursday 4 December 2025
Time: 5.30pm – 7.30pm
Location: Deakin Downtown – Level 12, Tower 2, Collins Place, 727 Collins St, Docklands
