Team

FOUNDER & CEO

Thao Tran is a visionary entrepreneur, digital wellness leader and marketing strategist with over 15 years of global experience shaping campaigns for some of the world’s most recognized brands. She is the Founder & CEO of Ditox, a pioneering digital wellness company that helps businesses, families and individuals reclaim control over their digital lives.

Thao holds a Bachelor of Business & Commerce from Monash University and has further studied Podiatry, Arts, Branding and Psychology at La Trobe University, Monash University and The University of Virginia. Her career spans senior roles in digital content and marketing strategy for global organizations including Qatar Airways, Pearson, L'Oréal Paris and Maybelline New York. Her campaigns have consistently delivered industry-leading results, including record-breaking engagement rates and market share growth.

As a keynote speaker and mental health advocate, Thao has presented on international stages including Google DevFest, Women Who Code, Insight Academy and the International Families & Fathers Conference in Los Angeles, where she champions digital wellbeing, mental resilience and inclusive leadership. She also coaches the next generation of leaders as an industry mentor at La Trobe University and is a guest judge for the international Daddying Film Festival & Forum.

Born in Melbourne to Vietnamese refugee parents, Thao brings a unique lens of resilience, inclusion, and creativity to everything she does. Her leadership has earned her recognition as a Finalist in the Australian Small Business Champion Awards and her work has been endorsed by global thought leaders.

Beyond business, Thao is a multidisciplinary creative who has trained in script analysis and presenting at the National Institute of Dramatic Art (NIDA), The Acting Career Center, The Actor's Station, The Hub Studio, performed internationally and has appeared in campaigns and productions including Every Bit Different, the TarraWarra Museum of Art, Sports Entertainment Network, White Fever, Gnomes, and All Her Fault. Her creative and marketing work has been featured in prominent media outlets including The Herald Sun, The Sydney Morning Herald, WHO Magazine, NBCUniversal, BBC, ABC, 3AW, National Library of Australia, United States Tennis Association, Digital Entrepreneur, Voyage LA, Fact Magazine and Business Times Journal, reflecting her influence across media, wellness and creative industries. Her experience in the creative industry inspired her to found Ditox, where she now focuses on digital wellbeing, mental health and fostering human connection across communities, including programs that address mental strength and artist wellbeing. Currently based in Australia and Saudi Arabia, Ditox will be expanding in the United States in 2026/2027.

ADVISORY BOARD MEMBER

Dr Karl Sebire is a researcher, educator and strategist whose work explores the intersection of technology, learning and wellbeing. As Director of Learning Design & Innovation at the University of Melbourne, Karl leads institution-wide strategies to future-proof education, integrate ethical use of emerging technologies, and build workforce capability at scale. He also serves as a Non-Executive Director at ADHD Australia, where he chairs the Education & Communities Committee.

With a PhD in Educational Psychology and a background spanning independent schools, higher education and policy leadership, Karl brings deep insight into how digital environments shape cognition, identity and engagement. His research and keynote speaking challenge fear-based narratives around technology, instead advocating for informed, human-centred approaches to digital wellbeing.

Karl’s alignment with Ditox lies in a shared belief: that technology can empower rather than exploit, provided we build the right guardrails. His cross-sector experience in governance, AI literacy, and adolescent development will support Ditox’s growth as a global leader in digital wellness and social impact.

ADVISORY BOARD MEMBER

Dr Stefan Lawrence is an internationally recognised researcher specialising in social justice, digital media, and governance in leisure and society. He is the founder of the Digital Football Network and has worked with organisations including the Premier League, The FA, and Sporting Equals. His research explores digital culture, and inclusion, and he is particularly interested in the intersections between technology, wellbeing, and identity. Stefan is currently based at Leeds Beckett University, where he leads collaborative, impact-driven research with public, academic, and third-sector partners.

ADVISORY BOARD MEMBER - STARTUPS

Ryan Burns is a community builder, strategist, and operator whose work bridges hospitality, venture capital, and startups. As Head of VC Community at Innovation Bay, he unites Australia and New Zealand’s leading investors, fostering collaboration, insight-sharing, and meaningful connections across the region’s innovation ecosystem. 

Ryan’s career has spanned continents and industries. He led operations for luxury hotels and resorts across the U.S., where he developed a deep commitment to service, leadership, and relationship-building. He later worked at tier-one venture firms First Round Capital and Generate Capital in the U.S., supporting founders through tailored programs and events, and helping scale internal operations during periods of rapid growth.

After relocating to Australia, he helped grow The Startup Network into one of the country’s largest founder communities, leading strategy, programming, and hundreds of events ranging from intimate roundtables to large-scale conferences. Even had a chance to host CEO of OpenAI, Sam Altman in June of 2023 in Melbourne. Over the years, Ryan has built a trusted global network that includes many of the world’s most innovative and successful founders in technology and innovation.

Ryan’s alignment with Ditox stems from a shared belief: that technology can profoundly improve human wellbeing when guided thoughtfully. He sees Ditox as helping shape the conditions for technology to serve society, maximising its benefits while placing guardrails around its risks. His cross-sector experience in community building, innovation ecosystems, and strategic operations will support Ditox’s mission to advance digital wellness and positive impact at global scale.