Alumni Evenings with Vivek Chaudhri and alumni CEOs
In his post-ANZAC Day talk titled 'Navigating an uncertain business terrain: Leadership lessons from the military', Associate Professor of Strategy Vivek Chaudhri will discuss strategy and leadership lessons that businesses have learnt from the military.
The talk will be followed by a panel discussion moderated by Associate Professor Chaudhri and involving two MBS MBA alumni veterans who are now senior business leaders:
- Roger Gray, CEO, Port of Auckland; retired Australian Army Lieutenant Colonel
- Dale Heinken, President and Managing Director, AVT Australia; retired US Navy Captain
- Kristen Raby, Chair of the Board, Aviation/Aerospace Australia; General Manager Major Service Provider Governance, Nova Systems Australia and New Zealand; former Aerospace Engineering Officer, Canadian Forces
Alumni who completed their degree program at 200 Leicester Street, Carlton are invited to join online or in person. In-person attendees are invited to join us for networking drinks and canapes after the event.
Alumni who completed a short course or studied at the Faculty of Business and Economics at 198 Berkeley Street are invited to join us online, free of charge. Current students and guests are also welcome to join online.
Please RSVP by Wednesday, 23 April 2025, for in-person tickets. Online registrations will remain open until the event begins.
Ticket options:
- Alumni - in-person - $40
- Alumni - online - Free
- Student - online - Free
- Guest - online - $20
Contact
Register Now
Location
200 Leicester Street
Carlton 3053
VIC
Australia
About the Speakers
Vivek Chaudhri | Academic Director (EMBA & SEMBA Programs)
Vivek Chaudhri
Vivek first joined Melbourne Business School in 1996 and was a Senior Lecturer and then Associate Professor for eight years.
In October 2016, he re-joined the School as Associate Professor of Strategy and Academic Director Executive MBA Programs.
Following his PhD in Economics at Yale University, and in addition to his Melbourne Business School positions, Vivek has held a number of continuing and visiting academic roles, including at Monash University, Yale University, UCLA and a dedicated research position with the Australian Federal Government’s Productivity Commission.
Vivek’s research on policy and strategy has been published in leading journals, including the Academy of Management Executive, Australian Journal of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Administration and Society.
Vivek is currently a strategy adviser to the CEO of CSL and MD of Grannus Securities. He teaches on our Executive and Senior Executive MBA programs.
Roger Gray
Roger Gray
Roger is the CEO of Port of Auckland and was appointed in March 2022. During his career he has led businesses across the Maritime, Aviation, FMCG and Private Equity sectors in both New Zealand and Australia. Before joining the Port of Auckland, Roger was the CEO of Lyttleton Port Company for two years. Lyttleton is the main import and export hub of the South Island.
Prior to Lyttleton Port Company he worked at Air New Zealand for 6.5 years where his last role was Group General Manager Airports, overseeing all ground handling and lounge operations at 55 airports around the globe, covering 2,800 staff who handle 18 million passengers annually. In his time at Goodman Fielder he held several senior leadership positions, including Managing Director of Quality Bakers – New Zealand.
Earlier in his working life Roger served for 20 years in the Australian Army, retiring as a Lieutenant Colonel.
Roger holds bachelor degrees in arts and economics, a Masters of Business in Integrated Logistics and an MBA from Melbourne Business School. More recently, Roger has completed executive education at INSEAD and Kellogg School of Management. Roger joined the Board of NZ Post in July 2024.
Kristen Raby
Kristen Raby
Kristen Raby is the Chair of the Board of Directors of Aviation/Aerospace Australia, and General Manager Major Service Provider Governance, Nova Systems ANZ, an Australian-owned Professional Services firm with locations throughout Australia, and offices in New Zealand, Singapore, Norway and the UK.
A Chartered Professional Engineer and Engineering Executive, Kristen has consulted as a Flight Test Engineer on the Australian Armed Reconnaissance Helicopter Program and been involved in numerous Aviation and Aerospace Programs. She worked as both the Victorian Operations Manager and the Regional Operations Manager – VIC, SA, WA in Nova, before becoming the General Manager in 2019.
Kristen is involved in a number of Industry Associations and Technical Organisations within Australia. She is a Director of Aviation/Aerospace Australia, the NEC, and the Australian Defence Alliance – Victoria, volunteering with the Alliance on the Aerospace, Digital and Land Committees. Before joining Nova, Kristen Raby spent 13 years in the Canadian Air force as an Aerospace Engineering Officer and Flight Test Engineer.
She was selected as the first female in Canada to attend Test Pilot school at EPNER in France. As a Flight Test Engineer, Kristen amassed hours on over 30 different aircraft types and supported flight test programs on the Hornet, Hawk and Harvard aircraft. She was a finalist in the 2017 Telstra Business Women’s Awards. Kristen completed the Advanced Management Program from Melbourne Business School in 2022.
Dale Heinken
Dale Heinken
Dale Heinken is an experienced leader with a background in both the military and the commercial sector. Over 26 years in the United States Navy, he developed expertise in leading teams in complex environments, managing risk, and making critical decisions under pressure. Since transitioning to the private sector, he has applied these skills to the defence and technology industries, helping organisations navigate uncertainty and improve operational performance.
During his naval career, Dale served in senior leadership roles, including Commanding Officer of USS Freedom (LCS 1) and USS Boxer (LHD 4), and Reactor Officer aboard USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71). His experience spans command leadership, nuclear propulsion, and strategic operations.
After retiring from the Navy in 2021, Dale became President and Managing Director of AVT Australia, a CACI company specialising in gyro-stabilised imaging systems for ISR, target acquisition, and counter-uncrewed aerial systems. Under his leadership, AVT Australia expanded its capabilities, strengthened industry partnerships, and contributed to national defence projects.
Now based in Tasmania, Dale is the founder of Nuclear Mindset Consultancy, which works with organisations in high-reliability industries to improve leadership, safety, and operational excellence. He also serves on the Advisory Board for the Australian Maritime College, supporting the development of future maritime and defence leaders.
Dale holds a degree in Mechanical Engineering from the United States Naval Academy and master’s degrees from Johns Hopkins University in Information Systems & Technology and International Public Policy. In 2024, he completed an MBA from the University of Melbourne.
