Inside Croc Pitch 2025: Meet This Year’s Guest Speakers
Croc Pitch 2025 is more than a competition — it’s a snapshot of where innovation is headed in the Northern Territory and beyond. And the people guiding that direction aren’t just watching from the sidelines. They’re in the room.
This year’s guest speakers bring diverse expertise across research & development, business support, and advanced space technology.
Steve Rogers
Deputy Vice Chancellor Research and Community Connection – Charles Darwin University
Location: Darwin, NT
Professor Steve Rogers is the Deputy Vice Chancellor Research and Community Connection at Charles Darwin University, where he leads the university’s strategic research direction on regional impact. Since joining CDU in 2020, he has championed initiatives that address the environmental, social, and economic challenges facing Northern Australia and the Asia-Pacific.
Prof Rogers was formerly CEO of the Centre for Appropriate Technology Ltd (CfAT Ltd), an Aboriginal-controlled, not-for-profit organisation delivering infrastructure and technology solutions across remote Australia. He also led the establishment of CfAT Satellite Enterprises Pty Ltd in partnership with global satellite provider Viasat Inc.
With a PhD in Microbiology, Professor Rogers has over 30 years of experience in research and executive leadership across the environment, mining, and mineral processing sectors. He has held senior roles including CEO of the CRC for Landscape Environments and Mineral Exploration, Managing Director of the Parker CRC for Integrated Hydrometallurgy Solutions, and WA program manager with the Australian Institute of Marine Science.
Beyond his professional work, he has volunteered as a firefighter in WA and the NT for over a decade and enjoys bush camping and cooking with his wife — reflecting his deep connection to country and community.
As the Pro Vice-Chancellor for Research and Innovation at CDU, Steve Rogers leads the university’s work in translating research into commercial opportunity.
Niall Richardson
CEO – Business Enterprise Centre NT
Location: Darwin, NT
Niall Richardson is the General Manager of the Business Enterprise Centre NT (BECNT), where he leads the strategic and operational direction of the organisation to support small business success across the Northern Territory. With over 20 years of experience in business development, marketing, and advisory roles across Australia, the UK, and Europe, Niall brings deep expertise in building sustainable growth strategies for SMEs.
Prior to joining BECNT, Niall held leadership and consultancy roles in legal tech, digital strategy, and small business advisory. He was part of the founding team behind Pure Intuitive, a legal software business, where he played a key role in product development, marketing, and commercialisation. He also ran his own consultancy, providing tailored business support to startups and growing businesses.
Niall is passionate about practical, systems-focused business support and is committed to strengthening the NT’s entrepreneurial ecosystem through innovation, collaboration, and capability building.
Niall Richardson has worked with hundreds of NT founders — helping them bridge the gap between idea and execution.
Shoaib Iqbal
Founder & CEO – Esper Satellites
Location: Melbourne, VIC
Shoaib Iqbal is the founder and Chief Executive Officer of Esper Satellite Imagery, a pioneering space technology company building and launching hyperspectral satellites to unlock critical insights for industries on Earth.
Under Shoaib’s leadership, Esper has grown from concept to launch-ready, designing satellites capable of capturing detailed spectral data to transform how we monitor land, water, and resources—particularly in mining, agriculture, and environmental sectors.
Shoaib’s vision for democratising access to geospatial intelligence has earned him a place on the Forbes 30 Under 30 list and recognition as a 776 Fellow, backed by Alexis Ohanian’s venture firm. His work has positioned Esper as one of the region’s most innovative aerospace ventures, with a roadmap to deploy a constellation of satellites generating millions in annual recurring revenue.
An advocate for data sovereignty and planetary-scale analytics, Shoaib frequently speaks on space commercialisation, frontier tech, and sustainable development powered by Earth observation.
Shoaib is a past Croc Pitch winner and one of the most exciting names in space-based hyper-spectral sensing.
These three speakers bring more than perspective — they bring lived experience in building, backing, and enabling innovation across the region.
Want to hear them live?
Date: Wednesday 10 September
Venue: Darwin Innovation Hub
