Dara Simkin

CEO, Culture Hero

As Australia’s leading play-at-work specialist, Dara is the founder of norm-busting culture consultancy, Culture Hero. She has collaborated with organisations like The LEGO Foundation, McKinsey & Co, Silicon Valley's IDEO Play Lab and world-renowned play researcher, Dr Stuart Brown, as well as delivering extraordinary experiences for brands like IKEA, PWC, AGL, Royal Canin, and Google. A passionate advocate for Playful Work Design, Dara's clients have described her as animated, lively and quick witted, bringing her enthusiasm and creativity to every engagement. In 2024 she is undertaking a major research project exploring the impact of play in business in partnership with RMIT University. She landed an all-expenses paid trip to Australia from the US in 2009 after winning a video competition and has never left.