A voice for connection
A Bond student's mission to make
communication more human
A voice for connection
A Bond student's mission to make communication more human
Annie Roger’s childhood friend, Matilda Wilson, uses a hand-held speech-generating device to communicate. As they grew up together, Annie noticed that people focused on the device rather than Matilda’s face when she spoke, often missing the warmth of her personality, her wit, a raised eyebrow, a mischievous smile.
Determined to help people connect with Matilda, rather than the device, Annie set out to find a solution. The result was My Voice, a Bluetooth speaker necklace that projects speech closer to the wearer’s face, encouraging people to maintain eye contact and engage more personally.
Now being developed through Bond University’s Australian-first entrepreneurship program Transformer, My Voice is bringing Annie one step closer to her goal of helping people who use voice aids feel more seen and heard
Inspired invention
Annie and Matilda met in Year 2 and quickly formed a close friendship. “She told me how frustrating it was for her that people focused on the technology. People weren’t looking at her as a person,” Annie says.
It wasn’t until high school at St Andrews Lutheran College, when Annie enrolled in the Innovate and Create program, that she saw a solution. The program helped turn her idea into a business, leading to the creation of the first My Voice prototype.
The small Bluetooth speaker sits in a case with an interchangeable pendant and attaches to a necklace chain. Audio from the communication device is then routed to the Bluetooth speaker.
“Straight away, I knew it was going to be something special,” Matilda says of her friend’s invention. “I could already see how much of a difference it would make for so many people. It was amazing to watch an idea with so much heart and purpose start to come to life.”
Annie learnt to pitch her invention and began gaining recognition throughout her high school years. She was named the Next Gen Awards 2023 Young Entrepreneur of the Year, the Gold Coast Bulletin's 2024 Young Woman of the Year, and in 2024 received a grant from Blackbird VC's Protostars, a micro-grant program for young people with passion projects. Despite the exposure, Annie lacked a clear path forward to manufacture her product and take it to market.
“That’s where Transformer came in and helped me get the ball rolling again,” Annie says. “I’ve made more progress in my first semester at Bond than I had in the two years prior.”
"It was amazing to watch an idea with so much heart and purpose start to come to life."
Inspired invention
Annie and Matilda met in Year 2 and quickly formed a close friendship.
“She told me how frustrating it was for her that people focused on the technology. People weren’t looking at her as a person,” Annie says.
It wasn’t until high school at St Andrews Lutheran College, when Annie enrolled in the Innovate and Create program, that she saw a solution. The program helped turn her idea into a business, leading to the creation of the first My Voice prototype.
The small Bluetooth speaker sits in a case with an interchangeable pendant and attaches to a necklace chain. Audio from the communication device is then routed to the Bluetooth speaker.
“Straight away, I knew it was going to be something special,” Matilda says of her friend’s invention. “I could already see how much of a difference it would make for so many people. It was amazing to watch an idea with so much heart and purpose start to come to life.”
Annie learnt to pitch her invention and began gaining recognition throughout her high school years. She was named the Next Gen Awards 2023 Young Entrepreneur of the Year, the Gold Coast Bulletin's 2024 Young Woman of the Year, and in 2025 received a grant from Blackbird VC's Protostars, a micro-grant program for young people with passion projects.
"It was amazing to watch an idea with so much heart and purpose start to come to life."
Despite the exposure, Annie lacked a clear path forward to manufacture her product and take it to market.
“That’s where Transformer came in and helped me get the ball rolling again,” Annie says.
“I’ve made more progress in my first semester at Bond than I had in the two years prior.”
Bonds that make a difference
Annie began at Bond in 2026 but the University was on her radar much earlier. Bond sponsored an award she won in 2023, which first connected her to the Transformer program.
“I learned how Transformer could support my idea and became involved in opportunities like Demo Day, where I got to pitch My Voice in front of other entrepreneurs,” she says.
Annie’s fascination with entrepreneurship grew and, after learning about the Bachelor of Entrepreneurial Transformation at Bond University’s Open Day, her post-high school journey became clear. The degree draws on design, philosophy, marketing and technology — not as separate subjects, but as tools to deploy on real problems.
“I loved that it was flexible and I could tailor the program to my interests while learning and building my skill set as an entrepreneur,” she says.
Another drawcard to study at Bond was the personalised coaching offered by Transformer.
“I’m so excited to finally be progressing My Voice and learning how to bring it to market,” she says.
Separate to her degree, the fee-free Transformer program allows Annie to sit down weekly with her business coach, Adjunct Lecturer Brigid Davey-Skelton. So far, the pair have focused on market research and connecting with customers to optimise My Voice product design and development.
Annie, a 2026 Transformer scholar, says she’s striving for a product that’s both feasible to produce, and desirable to people who use Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC). So far, she has the tick of approval from her most important stakeholder, Matilda.
Matilda and Annie at Women of the year Awards 2024.
Matilda and Annie at Women of the year Awards 2024.
“Everyone deserves to have a voice, to feel heard, and to express who they are independently,” Matilda says.
“I truly believe My Voice has the potential to change so many people’s lives.
“It would be amazing to see something that started as one idea in a classroom grow into technology that helps people all around the world.”
Meet my mentor
Ambition grows when you’re in the company of people who share drive, challenge thinking, and celebrate wins. Meet Annie’s Transformer coach and mentor, experienced Sales and Marketing Director, Head of Marketing and Board Member Brigid Davey-Skelton.
Why did you want to work with Annie?
From the moment I met Annie, it was clear that she possessed the qualities that make exceptional founders stand out, drive, curiosity, resilience, empathy and a genuine desire to solve a meaningful problem. What drew me to Annie was not just the strength of her business idea, but the purpose behind it. Her passion for improving communication and inclusion for non-verbal individuals is deeply authentic, and that authenticity shines through in everything she does. As an educator and coach, it's incredibly rewarding to work with students who are driven by impact rather than simply profit, and Annie embodies that entrepreneurial spirit.
How has she grown in the time you have known her?
Annie has grown tremendously in confidence and capability. While she has always been intelligent and passionate, I have seen her develop a stronger commercial mindset and become more comfortable translating her vision into a viable business opportunity. She has embraced feedback, refined her value proposition, strengthened her communication skills and continued to challenge her own assumptions. Most importantly, she has developed the confidence to back herself as a founder and recognise the value of the solution she is creating.
Is there something you have learnt from Annie?
Absolutely. Annie has reminded me of the power of empathy in innovation. Many entrepreneurs begin with a technology and search for a problem, whereas Annie started with a genuine human need and has remained focused on the people she is trying to help. Her approach is a powerful reminder that some of the most impactful innovations come from deeply understanding the experiences of others. Watching her journey has reinforced the importance of leading with purpose and maintaining a strong connection to the problem you are solving.
What are you most proud of about Annie?
What makes me most proud is Annie's persistence and unwavering commitment to her mission. Entrepreneurship is rarely a straight path, and bringing an idea to life requires resilience, courage and determination. Annie has continued to move her venture forward while balancing the demands of university life, and she consistently approaches challenges with a positive attitude and a willingness to learn. She is not only building an innovative business; she is creating something that has the potential to genuinely improve people's lives. That is something worth celebrating.
Why is it valuable to be a mentor?
Mentoring and being a coach in the highly regarded Transformer program at Bond University is one of the most rewarding aspects of my career. It provides a training ground, and an opportunity to support students as they discover their potential, build confidence and transform ideas into action. While mentors can offer guidance, frameworks and experience, the relationship is never one-sided. Students like Annie continually inspire me through their creativity, ambition and fresh perspectives. Seeing someone grow from an idea to a founder and knowing you played a small role in that journey, is incredibly fulfilling. It's a privilege to help shape the next generation of entrepreneurs and innovators.
Meet my mentor
Ambition grows when you’re in the company of people who share drive, challenge thinking, and celebrate wins. Meet Annie’s Transformer coach and mentor, experienced Sales and Marketing Director, Head of Marketing and Board Member Brigid Davey-Skelton.
Why did you want to work with Annie?
From the moment I met Annie, it was clear that she possessed the qualities that make exceptional founders stand out, drive, curiosity, resilience, empathy and a genuine desire to solve a meaningful problem. What drew me to Annie was not just the strength of her business idea, but the purpose behind it. Her passion for improving communication and inclusion for non-verbal individuals is deeply authentic, and that authenticity shines through in everything she does. As an educator and coach, it's incredibly rewarding to work with students who are driven by impact rather than simply profit, and Annie embodies that entrepreneurial spirit.
How has she grown in the time you have known her?
Annie has grown tremendously in confidence and capability. While she has always been intelligent and passionate, I have seen her develop a stronger commercial mindset and become more comfortable translating her vision into a viable business opportunity. She has embraced feedback, refined her value proposition, strengthened her communication skills and continued to challenge her own assumptions. Most importantly, she has developed the confidence to back herself as a founder and recognise the value of the solution she is creating.
Is there something you have learnt from Annie?
Absolutely. Annie has reminded me of the power of empathy in innovation. Many entrepreneurs begin with a technology and search for a problem, whereas Annie started with a genuine human need and has remained focused on the people she is trying to help. Her approach is a powerful reminder that some of the most impactful innovations come from deeply understanding the experiences of others. Watching her journey has reinforced the importance of leading with purpose and maintaining a strong connection to the problem you are solving.
What are you most proud of about Annie?
What makes me most proud is Annie's persistence and unwavering commitment to her mission. Entrepreneurship is rarely a straight path, and bringing an idea to life requires resilience, courage and determination. Annie has continued to move her venture forward while balancing the demands of university life, and she consistently approaches challenges with a positive attitude and a willingness to learn. She is not only building an innovative business; she is creating something that has the potential to genuinely improve people's lives. That is something worth celebrating.
Why is it valuable to be a mentor?
Mentoring and being a coach in the highly regarded Transformer program at Bond University is one of the most rewarding aspects of my career. It provides a training ground, and an opportunity to support students as they discover their potential, build confidence and transform ideas into action. While mentors can offer guidance, frameworks and experience, the relationship is never one-sided. Students like Annie continually inspire me through their creativity, ambition and fresh perspectives. Seeing someone grow from an idea to a founder and knowing you played a small role in that journey, is incredibly fulfilling. It's a privilege to help shape the next generation of entrepreneurs and innovators.
Trials and transformation
With each new prototype, Annie is getting closer to her vision. A big priority for her in working with Brigid was product development and refining the look of the necklace. Annie has sourced smaller components that allow the device to feel more like a piece of jewellery than an AAC.
Beyond product development, Annie says the biggest shift has been in how she thinks and communicates as a founder.
Through Transformer, she’s learning to tailor her message depending on her audience, from customers to collaborators and investors.
“An investor is going to have different priorities than a customer,” she says. “How can I position what I’m saying to relate more to them?”
Working through the program’s modules has also highlighted what goes into building a successful business.
“There were so many things I hadn’t thought of before,” she says.
That growing understanding has strengthened her confidence and sense of direction. For Annie, the real advantage lies in the combination — the Bachelor of Entrepreneurial Transformation teaches her to think across disciplines on real-world problems, while Transformer puts that thinking to work on a real venture, in real time.
“It feels like reassurance that I can do this."
“It feels like reassurance that I can do this."
As she continues refining and promoting My Voice, Annie is stepping into her role as a founder, with a clear vision to create technology that helps people feel truly understood.
For Matilda, watching My Voice come to fruition feels “really special”.
“It’s crazy how one inclusive classroom, one friendship, and one big idea can create opportunities and memories you never could have imagined,” she says.
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