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WOB Team

Ruth Medd (Chair)

Ruth has been pursuing a career as a non-executive director since 2000. She is currently the Chair of Australian Ethical Superannuation Ltd, AEI Ltd audit committee and WOB Pty Ltd.  She is a director of the National Foundation for Australian Women and The Infants Home Ashfield and a past member of the NSW Casino Control Authority.
Her boards experiences to date have enabled her to contribute her finance and business management expertise as well as her understanding of public policy. She is looking for additional paid boards with a preference for aged care, children's services and liquor and hospitality sectors.

Prior executive roles include the Executive Director of the Australian Association of National Advertisers and senior positions with Telstra and the Australian Government.

Claire Braund (Executive Director)

Claire is a business woman who co-founded a non-profit company The Regional Institute Ltd after a background in media and public relations. The company provides web development, publishing and event management services to a range of professional societies and not-for-profit organisations. It also built and maintains  the Women on Boards and AppointWomen web frameworks.

In addition to her role as Executive Director of Women on Boards, Claire provides public relations and communications services and is an excellent writer, presenter, MC and facilitator.

Claire’s background is rural and she worked as a journalist on regional and city newspapers and in management roles in the beef and cotton industries  prior to setting up a business. She was a director of the Foundation for Australian Agricultural Women for eight years.

Julie Ankers (Director)

Julie is an entrepreneurial business woman who founded EnterTainers & Speakers (E&S) in 1992 after a background in media, advertising and marketing, publishing, executive recruitment and international training management. She developed E&S into a highly successful company with a multi-million dollar turnover and has  recently merged with Australia’s largest speakers bureau. Julie is now the General Manager of the new entity, E&S Saxton Training & Development.

Recognised as an expert in the fields of Learning & Development and Human Resources, Julie is also a regular keynote speaker and commentator on topics including business networking, emerging trends and innovative processes.

Actively involved in advancing the status of women, she has been a member of Zonta, an international organisation of business and professional women, for over twenty years. During this period she has held many senior positions, including Area Director for the Sydney region.

Tracey Ah Hee (Director)

Tracey is a successful business woman who co-founded innovative consulting firm Genroe in 2002. Her current initiative is social networking project  www.helpinghero.com which has a particular focus on tools for the not for profit sector. Prior to establishing her own business Tracey held senior marketing roles with Telstra, Optus and the Colonial Group.

Simone Martin (Conference support)

Through her business Physical Wellbeing, Simone works both with individuals and companies improving health and wellbeing. She has been working as a Personal Trainer since 1998 & companies such as ANZ & DHL Express, since 2006. Believing that "when you feel good, anything is possible”. And a “functional body leads to a functional mind". She is recognised for her expertise in dealing with work related musculoskeletal disorders. Her main interest being in the prevention of back and neck disorders. Simone has a Bachelor of Human Movement Studies, Certification in Integrated Corrective Exercise, is a Cert IV Personal Trainer and is always looking to expand on her knowledge base.

Louise Krause (Conference support)

Louise is a design consultant who specialised in Visual Merchandising in her native land of Germany. She worked on accounts for leading brand names, including Holden, Ford, Hugo Boss, Chanel and Lancaster (includes Lancôme brand).

She is a experienced in customer service, client development, interpersonal and organisational communication and multi-lingual (English & German). In Australia, where she hopes to remain, she has worked in various positions from Cape Don in the Northern Territory down the East Coast. Currently living in Coffs Harbour she is seeking her next challenge while waiting for her visa application to be processed!

Delegates

Sarah Ansell

sansell@csu.edu.au

Sarah Ansell is the Director of Marketing at Charles Sturt University and has over 20 years experience working predominantly within the fields of advertising and marketing in both Australia and the UK. Nearly 14 of those years have been spent in the education sector with a focus on both domestic and international marketing.  Sarah is responsible for the overall marketing direction of the University and her current portfolio includes the areas of Media Relations, Advertising, Marketing Communications, Market Research, Market Development, Student Recruitment, International Marketing, Customer Relations and university print operations.

Sarah has an MBA (distinction), specialist experience in marketing communications and branding and is a Justice of the Peace.  Board experience has been largely arts based but as a mother of three she has a keen interest in family issues, community development and contributing to a sustainable future.

Leah Armstrong

Ms Leah Armstrong is a foundation member and the Executive Director of the NSW based Yarnteen Ltd which is a not for profit Indigenous organisation. For the past 16 years, Leah has been the driver behind Yarnteen’s success and has ensured Yarnteen is an effective organisation which has strong governance, strategic direction and financial accountability.  She has built Yarnteen into a robust enterprise with a creative and entrepreneurial spirit that inspires its employees and makes a difference in the Indigenous community.

Leah has extensive experience in representing Yarnteen at the local, state, national and international spheres.   She has authored articles on Aboriginal Economic Self Sufficiency published in the Indigenous Policy Journal (UTS) and Aboriginal identity for the “Circle” a Social Ventures Australia magazine.  Other directorships and committee appointments include:  Indigenous Business Australia, Chair of the Aboriginal Business Roundtable NSW, member of the Board of Vocational Education and Training NSW and Non Member Director NTS Corp NSW (Native Title Rep Body).  

Charmian Barton

Charmian.Barton@cutlers.com.au

Charmian is responsible for the planning and environment practice at Cutler, Hughes & Harris.  She holds Bachelor degrees in science and law from Murdoch University and a Masters degree from Harvard Law School. Charmian advises government and corporate clients on the remediation of contaminated sites and compliance with state and federal environment legislation.  She also helps clients navigate through the NSW planning assessment and approval process, and helps settle disputes before they reach the Land and Environment Court.

Charmian is a former Crown prosecutor which enables her to assist clients facing prosecution by government environment agencies.  With a background in both private and government legal practice, Charmian is able to offer clients practical advice on strategies to minimise the risk of legal action and damage to reputation that may arise from commercial decisions that affect the environment.

Kerry Baxter

Director, Human Resources and Communication
Swiss Reinsurance Company

Kerry Baxter has led human resources for Swiss Re in Australia and New Zealand since February 2002,  Kerry is responsible for strengthening Swiss Re’s business and people performance through creating and implementing innovative people management strategies.  She has managed the culture programmes that have contributed to Swiss Re being named a Hewitt Best Employer in 2004 and 2005.

Kerry joined Swiss Re’s Life and Health business in 1999 from Rio Tinto Coal where she was Manager, Organisational Effectiveness.  

As a strategic HR business partner, Kerry’s expertise includes designing and leading change initiatives, leadership development, diversity, talent management and engagement strategies. She has a particular passion for people development, as well as for HR system design to support the behaviours required to make great workplaces.

A 2005 finalist in the Diversity Leader for the Advancement of Women EOWA award, Kerry is a member of the Australian Institute of Management and the Australian Human Resources Institute.

Kerry holds a degree in Business and Industrial Relations and a Masters in Applied Science in Social Development. She is currently working towards a doctorate of Philosophy. Her research topic asks the question, “Why are there so few women taking executive leadership roles in corporations?”

Monique Beedles

monique@ecn.net.au

Key Achievements, Strengths & Skills

• Current and past Director roles in professional services and start-up companies
• Extensive management and strategy consulting experience, including financial management and analysis in a range of settings
• Doctoral level qualifications in Strategy, a member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and the Strategic Management Society
• A registered pharmacist with research and manufacturing experience in the pharmaceutical industry and significant management experience in both hospital and retail environments
• Strengths in Strategy, Entrepreneurship and Organisational performance 

Offerings for a Board

•  An effective communicator with the ability to engage stakeholders from a range of backgrounds. Excellent written communication skills with postgraduate training in professional and creative writing.
•  Offers strategic insight and the ability to take a macro and holistic view, combined with careful attention to detail.
•  Brings well developed business acumen and a focus on performance outcomes, in addition to strong scientific training and research skills
• Combines a creative approach with academic rigour to deliver effective solutions 

Entrepreneurship

As founder of Pharmacist Holidays Pty Ltd, Monique established and successfully directed all aspects of this business, exploiting a niche in the market for services to retail pharmacy.

Performance Improvement

As Director of Pharmacy at a co-located public/private hospital, Monique implemented new systems and managed change processes which improved stakeholder relations, tightened cost controls and lifted profits while enhancing patient outcomes.

Penny Bell

penny.bell@eclipsesolutions.com.au

Penny Bell is the Managing Director and founder of Australia's only 'green' environmentally-friendly-focused, commercial cleaning business, EclipseSolutions Pty Ltd. Penny is an emerging director, experienced change agent and senior business professional with a strong interest in sustainable work practices relative to environmental stewardship and social responsibility.

Penny has an extensive corporate background with executive experience in supply chain, sales, change management and consulting, business turn around and start-up experience.  Penny has international experience gained working in the USA. Prior to leading her own company, Penny has worked with bluechip organizations managing projects, teams, functional business units and change initiatives with Arthur Anderson Business Consulting, DeloitteToucheTohmatsu, Mars Inc and Nestle Australia Limited. Penny has an EMBA from AGSM, UNSW and is also a member of the AICD, having completed the Australian Company Director's course.

Hazel Bennett

Executive Director, Finance Information and Planning
Australian Trade Commission (Austrade)
hazel.bennett@austrade.gov.au

Hazel Bennett is the Executive Director, Finance Information and Planning at the Australian Trade Commission where she has worked for the last four years.  She is a member of the Executive Management Board and participates in key advisory and governance forums including the Audit and Risk Committee, the Workplace Relations Committee and the Business Advisory Group governing major change projects in the organisation.  Hazel is a Chartered Accountant and has extensive experience in providing financial and strategic leadership.  During her 16 year career with Deloitte Consulting, she was lead Partner of Strategy and Operations with particular focus on clients in government, communications and energy sectors.  She was a member of the senior management team in Australia and New Zealand and also led the internal HR function and Asia-Pacific regional education teams for a two year period.  Hazel began her career in the UK where she worked in senior roles with KPMG in audit and insolvency advisory services.  She relocated to Australia in 1989.

Hazel has a proven track record of applying her financial and broader business acumen to deliver improved performance outcomes and organisation change. She works collaboratively and collegially with staff and colleagues, and demonstrates the highest level of integrity and commitment at a personal and professional level.

Leharna Black

Managing Director
Whoosh Consulting
l.black@whooshconsulting.com.au

Leharna is a consultant to some of Australia’s blue chip organisations and people.  Following a career in Accounting, Marketing and Consulting, she is now the Managing Director of Whoosh Consulting Pty Ltd.

She has undertaken numerous engagements covering business improvement, project management, business strategy, technology strategy, operations management, business process re-engineering and organisational effectiveness programs.

Prior clients include BHP Billiton, City of Boroondara, Optus Singtel, Colonial Australia, CSC Australia, National Australia Bank, Telstra, State Revenue Office, Harness Racing, Department of Natural Resources and Environment, Parks Victoria, she was a Senior Consultant for SMS, and the principal for LIB Consulting Services in Sydney.

Leharna has a Bachelor of Business (Marketing) Degree, a Diploma in Business (Accounting) and is working on a Masters in Business Administration at AGSM.

Leharna is a member of Australian Institute of Company Directors, Australia Society of CPA’s and the Institute of Management Consultants.  She is the Chair for the Women’s Circus and a NED for ACNEM (Australian College of Nutritional and Environmental Medicine).   Previous non-executive director positions include the People and Parks Foundation, ACNEM, Bosa Engineering, CERES (Centre for Education and Research into Environmental Sustainability) and the Moreland YMCA.

Dana Blackman

Founder Dial-An-Angel®
dena@dialanangel.com

Dena Blackman founded Dial-An-Angel in March 1967. Dial-An-Angel grew quickly from a one person, one-telephone office in Lindfield to 11 offices nationwide, four of which are franchises. The company mission is: "To provide quality in-home care and family support services in a professional manner at realistic, affordable rates."  Dena commenced the business on a $200 bank loan whilst caring for her three young children. To put Dena’s achievement into perspective it was only one year after the removal of the marriage bar in the Commonwealth Public Service that required all women once they were married to retire from the workforce. Moreover, it took until 1971 for the first bank to provide a loan to women without a male guarantor.

Dial-An-Angel has always been a family affair. Four generations of Dena's family have been involved in the business over more than four decades, including Dena’s mother and three daughters. A vital ingredient in the success of the business is Dena's belief that a family business is the crossroad of two amazing and unparalleled experiences. One experience is the raising and nurturing of a family -- spouse, children, grandchildren and others - through a lifetime of ups and downs, frustrations, and achievements. The other is the building and nurturing of a business as a livelihood and an expression of personal vision and achievement – through a lifetime of ups and downs, frustrations, and achievements. Ph: 1300 721 111 or visit our website www.dialanangel.com

Toni Brendish

Managing Director
Nutricia Australia and New Zealand
brendisht@nutricia.com.au

Appointed Managing Director in May 2004, Toni Brendish is responsible for spearheading the firm’s growth as one of Australasia’s leading manufacturers of Baby Food. During Toni’s management of the position Nutricia has secured the position of fastest growing product in Australasia for the Baby Food category and in the past 4 years has doubled the size of the business.

With a powerful marketing and management pedigree providing valuable expertise in developing and growing businesses, she started her career within the Fast Moving Consumer Goods arena working for companies such as Unilever Australia, Coca-Cola (UK), Rank Hovis McDougall (UK) , Colgate Palmolive Australia and Kimberly-Clark Australia. In addition Toni has worked in the Telecommunications and Service sectors in Executive roles.

Cathy Brennan

cathybre@bigpond.net.au

Cathy is Managing Director and Consultant, Compsys Pty Ltd, since 1983,  Kids Under Cover, since 2007, President, Rudolf Steiner Education Group Brisbane, since 2004. She has extensive risk management and governance experience.  She has strong analytical skills and a financial background, has strategic development experience, and has the capacity to quickly learn and understand new environments.   Cathy’s experience and skills have been gained over 25 years as an IT Consultant, and contribute to make her a sought after resource.

Cathy’s key contribution will be her analysis of the matters brought to the board and will be especially beneficial in her oversight of the financial reporting and risk management.

Jeanette Brooks

jeanette.brooks@telstra.com

Jeanette Brooks is a Director of Learning Links www.learninglinks.org.au, an Australian charity and non-profit organisation formed to help children who have learning disabilities, difficulties and developmental delays and their families.  Jeanette has worked in the ICT industry for more than 20 years in leadership and specialist roles in IT development and operations, Network Engineering, Product Management and Human Resources. She currently leads the development of Integrated Technology Solutions for the Health industry.  

In her Director role, Jeanette has guided the company to review the IT Strategy and commence development of a supporting IT Architecture to support implementation of business strategy.  She is also on the Senior Management Performance sub committee.  Jeanette’s key strengths lie in her ability to align technology to business strategy as well as expertise in product development for technology products.  

Lynette Browning

Lynette.Browning@unisa.edu.au

Lynette is a Senior Consultant in Organisational Learning and Development at the University of South Australia and Coordinator of the Australian Technology Network Women’s Executive Development Program. She has worked in the human resources area for more than twenty years in the private, public, military, and tertiary sectors. Lynette has experience in the development, delivery, and evaluation of human resources strategies. For the past ten years she has been involved in developing, implementing, and monitoring strategies to increase the number of women in senior positions. Lynette has contributed to UniSA being an Employer of Choice for Women for the last six years and winning the Inaugural Public Sector Gold Award in the 2005 National Work and Family Awards and the Inaugural Diversity@work Award for work/life balance for large organisations in 2006.

A qualified workplace trainer and assessor, Lynette has a Bachelor of Adult and Vocational Education (Honours) from the University of South Australia and is undertaking a Doctor of Philosophy in Psychology. Her research interests are in the area of leadership, in particular women and leadership, and leadership in research. Lynette brings to boards her extensive human resources experience, analytical ability, and ethical and socially responsible leadership. Her ability to develop strategic relationships across all areas of an organisation are highly valued by major stakeholders from various disciplines.

Anita Byrnes

Anita.Byrnes@decisionjapan.co.jp

Anita Byrnes is an experienced director and entrepreneur, most recently over twenty years as founder and Managing Director of Decision Japan, a company based in Tokyo Japan. Decision Japan began as a market entry consulting company targeting high tech companies interested in the Japanese market. From 1990 through 2007 Decision Japan was focused on the localization, sale and support of technical software developed outside Japan, to corporate users in Japan, in a number of industry segments.

Prior to her career in Japan, Anita was a technical translator, systems engineer and analyst. As well as language skills including fluent Japanese, she also has extensive experience in intellectual property support services. She is a member of the AICD and a graduate of the International Company Directors course, 2005.

Following the successful sale of her business, Anita returned to Australia in January 2008 where she is building on her experience as Vice-Chair at the Australia and New Zealand Chamber of Commerce in Japan in a directorship at the Australia-Japan Society (NSW), Inc. She is seeking further directorships, preferably with technology/ICT companies and/or in the field of business with Asia.

Ruby Campbell

Campbell@archeremery.com.au

Dr Ruby Campbell is a strategic thinker with 25 years experience in the pharmaceutical industry, including 3 years in the USA as Business Development Manager for Sterling Winthrop Pharmaceuticals.  She has held positions such as Director of Quality & Regulatory Affairs for Cardinal Health and Director of Technical Operations for Acrux during their transition from a start up biotech to a vertically integrated ASX listed company. She is currently a Senior Consultant with Archer Emery & Associates.

Dr Campbell is a member of the Australian Self Medication Industry (ASMI) association Marketing & Ethics Committee, the Non-Sterile Medicines Technical Expert Reference Group (Government/Industry), and the Committee of Management of the North Ryde Community Aid Centre. She is a former member and Chair of the NSW Pharmaceutical Science Group of the Royal Australian Chemical Institute and the ASMI Technical Working Group. She is also a former member of the Medicines Evaluation Efficacy & Safety Subcommittee (Government/Industry) and the Therapeutic Goods Committee, Manufacturing Subcommittee (Government/Industry).

Margaret Coaldrake

Governance, Risk and Compliance specialist
margaret.coaldrake@minterellison.com

Chief Executive of Minter Ellison Consulting, and a Director of her own Company, Langdale Consulting Pty Ltd, Margaret Coaldrake has over 30 years of board experience at State, Federal and community level as Chair, Deputy Chair, Audit Committee Chair, Director and member. She offers Boards more than 20 years experience as a Senior Executive, 13 as a Chief Executive.  Margaret specialises in management consulting in governance, risk and compliance to the public, private and not for profit sectors for the past ten years.  Recent clients include St George Bank, NSW State Superannuation Corporation, Australian Tax Office and the NSW Independent Transport Safety and Reliability Regulator.  Margaret is a strong leader with a keen strategic focus.  She has the capacity to learn quickly, handle complex issues and offer innovative solutions as demonstrated in her senior appointments in the NSW and Federal public sectors, including as a Statutory Officer.

Anne Campbell

Executive Manager (recently retired)
Cooperative Research Centres
ajc24@bigpond.com

Anne’s experience is in science & technology and its application and management. She has just completed ten years as Executive Manager of the Cooperative Research Centres Association, the industry voice for member Cooperative Research Centres. Prior to this she gained extensive experience over some 20 years, initially as a scientist and subsequently as a senior manager, in Research & Development in the Private Sector in the field of agriculture.

Anne has worked for ICI Australia, Pitman - Moore (a USA based transnational company that had operations in Australia), the Grains Research & Development Corporation and the Bureau of Sugar Experiment Stations. She has also served on the National Rural Research Council for Oilseeds and as a Director and President of the Council for the Australia Biotechnology Association. Anne’s industrial experience is underpinned by a PhD (Australian National University) and post-doctoral work experience in the UK (Universities of Leicester and Essex) and Australia (University of Adelaide)

Anne is a strong team player and brings to a Board commitment and dedication, attention to detail and the ability and willingness to “come up to speed” in new areas; she has a diversity of experience in the public and private sector both in Australia and overseas in science and technology and is particularly interested in the development of useful technology (biological sphere); she’s client and product focused and committed to strategic planning and delivery of goals.

Margaret Conley

Director
ajhja@tpg.com.au

Margaret has extensive CEO and Board experience at national, international and local levels.  She was until recently the Chief Executive Officer, Australian Veterinary Association Ltd

She has sectoral skills in small business, public and not for profit spheres, and long-standing interests in public health, international development, indigenous and rural affairs, and community service.

She has a track record of turning organisations around and putting them on a sound financial footing, most recently completed with a not for profit organisation with a turnover approaching $10m. Also experienced in managing large volunteer workforces.

She is currently a Trust Board Member, Gore Hill Memorial Cemetery.  Previous directorships include Voluntary Services to Indigenous Communities Foundation (also Chairperson, Finance Committee) National Exhibition Centre Trust (also Chairperson, Risk and Audit Committee) and Director and Company Secretary, PRASAD Australia.

Rebecca Davies

Partner Freehills
rebecca.davies@freehills.com

Rebecca has been a partner of top tier law firm, Freehills, for close to 25 years, and within that time she has acted on many major transactions and disputes and has forged a reputation as a creative and strategic thinker.

She has had many roles within the firm - building new lines of business in emerging fields and in new locations, and nurturing others into leadership. She has held a range of line management responsibilities, currently looking after a $70m revenue section of the business. She is an elected national board member, and chair of the Women @ Freehills steering committee, and was proud to announce recently that we have again been named as an EOWA Employer of Choice.

Rebecca has board experience across financial services, government bodies, not for profit and professional services. She was a director of the MLC/NAB public offer superannuation trustee from 1996 to 2003, and Chair from 1997 to 2003. She is on the board of the prudential regulator for private health insurance, PHIAC and chairs its Audit and Compliance Committee. She is also a director of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation and a member of the executive board of the Commonwealth funded Islet Transplantation Program.  

Jacqueline Eyers

JEyers@companydirectors.com.au

Jacqueline Eyers is a Member Relations Executive with the Australian Institute of Company Directors. In this position she assists company directors, senior executives and boards to identify world best practice and thus facilitate directorship skill enhancement through professional development aimed at making boards more effective.

With many years experience on boards and committees within the Visual Arts sector Jacqueline has also served on an ad hoc committee of Women For Sustainability both here and in Europe. This work lead to Australia's Inaugural Corporate Social Responsibility Summit.

Norelle Feehan

norelle@feehanpr.com

Norelle Feehan has worked as a PR consultant and corporate writer for over 20 years. Her boutique PR consultancy, Feehan Communications, is recognised as a results-driven team specialising in successful campaigns for many high-profile not-for-profits such as Jeans for Genes and MS Awareness.   Norelle has a B.A. (Communications) from the University of Technology, Sydney in which she majored in journalism and PR.  Before establishing her own business Norelle held executive Public Relations positions with: New Caledonia Government Tourist Office, ABC Radio and UTA French Airlines (which is now Air France).  She completed the Australian Institute of Company Directors Diploma Course in 2002 and has been a mentor for the YWCA Women in Business program.

Anne Forster

aforster@bond.edu.au

Anne Forster is an education business analyst and elearning specialist with twenty five years international experience as a consultant and academic. She is Associate Professor of Management Education at Bond University and an adjunct with the Graduate School of the University of Maryland University College. She was recently appointed Deputy Director of the Centre for Executive Education at Bond University. Anne is a past president of the Open and Distance Learning Association of Australia and a member of the Institute of Arbitrators and Mediators Australia. She is interested in contributing to organisations that create positive social value through education and recognition of lifelong learning.

Jannine Fraser

jannine.frasert@directioneering.com

Jannine Fraser brings an extraordinary combination of experience and drive to her role as a director of leading Australian career management firm Directioneering. She and her fellow directors share a vision that is redefining the way organisations and individuals derive value from career coaching, leadership, and strategic planning.

Jannine has specialised in career management and career coaching since 1989, holding senior consulting and executive/strategy roles in several major firms. Her track record includes consulting to leading Australian national and multinational companies across such sectors as finance, resources and manufacturing during periods of change and restructuring.

Jodi Fullarton-Healey

Jodi.Fullarton-Healey@blakedawson.com

Jodi is a partner in the Financial Services Group at Blake Dawson.  She joined Balkes in 1990 and became a partner in 1998.  She has extensive experience in corporate finance (including takeover finance) and project and structured finance, and has represented a variety of multinational companies and banks on some of Australia's biggest corporate and project financings.

She sits on the Board of Trinity College, Melbourne University and is a past member of the Executive Committee of Austcham (the Australian Chamber of Commerce, Shanghai).  

Jodi a graduated from University of Melbourne in 1989 with a  Bachelor of Laws (Honours) and a Bachelor of Commerce (Majored in Economics).  She also a member of the AICD and a graduate of the International Company Directors Course, AICD, 2007.  

Liz Gale

lgale@stvincents.com.au

Dr Liz Gale, has experience in the private, public and not for profit sector. Liz has been an institutional banker, a CEO in the hospital and health Sector, lead strategy and business development, and has successfully commercialised biotechnology products. Liz has a track record in “first of its kind” business start-ups, integrated across traditional silos, successfully lead mergers, partnership agreements, and restructures resulting in business turnaround in significant KPIs.  

Liz backs her experience with a high level of qualifications, (First Class Honours,  Masters and a PHD on Leading Organisational Change). Her career has achieved both business and community recognition winning a number of awards including the prestigious Telstra, N.S.W / ACT Business Woman of the Year . She holds a number of Board positions, is on State and Federal Government Advisory committees and is on the medical school curriculum committee at Notre Dame University in Sydney.

Rinske Geerlings

Director - Business As Usual
rinske@businessasusual.net.au

Rinske has been specialising in Business Continuity and Business Process Improvement (BPI) since 1994.  She gained extensive hands-on experience during permanent roles in Banking as well as Senior Management Consulting and Training roles in Europe and Australia.  

Rinske is often sourced as a panel expert or speaker on Crisis Management and Contingency Planning subjects such as Terrorism, SARS and Avian Flu, and the related implications for Small & Medium Enterprises (SMEs) as well as major businesses.  

Her company, Business As Usual, assists organisations with Crisis Management rehearsals/tests, pre (APRA) audit assessments, Executive board presentations, staff awareness programs and BPI services - including compliance, cost efficiency and productivity improvements.

Rinske is certified CBCP (Disaster Recovery Institute International), ITIL Master and MSc.  Her expertise in Business Continuity, Business Process Improvements, Education and Banking make her well positioned to take on board positions.

Dr Susan Gould

Susan.Gould@newcastle.edu.au
Sue Gould is University Secretary and one of three Deputy Vice-Chancellors at the University of Newcastle.  She has held the position of Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Services) since 2004 and has responsibility for Human Resource Services, Student Administration and Support, Facilities Management, Information Technology, Commercial and Risk Management Services, Corporate Information and Legal Services.  As University Secretary she is also responsible for all aspects of corporate governance of the University.
Sue is a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, Chair of the Board of GraduateSchool.com Pty Ltd and a Director of UoN Singapore.

Kate Gunn

Chief Executive Officer
Balance! Healthcare Pty Ltd
kategunn@wellbalanced.com.au

Kate has 25 years of business experience in Australia and the U.K. She has held various CEO and General Management roles in a variety of companies and industries. Kate has been a finalist in the Telstra Business Woman of the Year (South Australia) and has been recognised with business entrepreneurship awards from the National Enterprise Development Institute, ACT Minister for Business, ACT Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and Cosmopolitan/Clairol. She holds a Masters of Business Administration (MBA) from Macquarie Graduate School of Management, and a Graduate Certificate in Management from the University of South Australia.  Kate has founded 8 companies, and assisted many others.

Key Strengths she can offer a board

• Innovation and entrepreneurial strategy
• Business Development
• Technology Transfer and Commercialisation
• Intellectual Property
• Information Technology

Denise Hanlon

denisegh@exemail.com.au

Denise Hanlon is the Human Resources Manager for the MBF Group.  MBF have recently been acquired by BUPA Australia, making the combined organisation the largest health insurance and financial services provider in Australia. Denise has previous not-for-profit, board experience and was a director on the New Mardi Gras board 2004-2005.

Denise has approximately 10 years senior general management experience (including stints specialising in Human Resources) and attained her MBA (with Distinction) in 2003.  Denise is currently part way through her Masters of Finance and is seeking to bring her unique mix of HR expertise, generalist management experience and financial qualifications to a paid board position.

Proud Mum to two gorgeous Maltese, in her spare time, Denise is also a professional singer/comedienne and keen golfer.

Pam Hardgrave

sales@lillydale.com.au

When Pam first started her business, Lillydale Farm Stay, she had to overcome negativity and break down preconceived mindsets, including hery own, as to her abilities as a businesswomen and the worth of the business innovation. At the time they opened the business (2000), there were no other B&Bs and farm stays in the Scenic Rim and most local people were sceptical about its potential. She and her husband were cattle farmers, so had to quickly acquire the skills needed to run a successful farm stay.

It was very much a baptism by fire as she was literally thrown into the challenge. She realised that she either had to get down to business and try to make things work or sit back, forever afraid of taking the leap. She never doubted the potential for the business and remained committed to her overall objectives. Through hard work and perseverance she was able to work through the negatives and setbacks and focus on attaining success. A critical success ingredient was the support she received from my family and close friends. As a mother, all your goals and dreams are focused towards your family, so their support and belief is vital to sustain you through the tough times.

To other businesswomen and potential businesswomen, her advice is to be bold and break down the traditional stereotypes. Women’s worth in the business arena is now starting to be noticed and appreciated. The only way for women to truly flex their business muscle is to appreciate their own value and their value to the business. Women need to take the time to gain a personal appreciation for the things they have achieved personally and in their business to give them the confidence to take their business to the next level. Success is no longer measured only by the size of your organisation or by the number of degrees hanging on your wall. Success can mean different things to different people. Businesswomen need to find their own definition of success and work towards that goal in a purposeful manner.

Lesley-Anne Houghton

la.houghton@conexusconsulting.com.au

Lesley-Anne has been operating as Managing Director of Conexus Consulting since 2006.  Based in Brisbane, the Conexus team works across Australia and the US to deliver organisational, leadership and team development to large corporate organisations.  Services include strategic planning; organisational culture measurement and transformation; leadership coaching and development; safety leadership and culture; and team effectiveness. Key customers include Rio Tinto, Xstrata, QR, Suncorp, Amcor and Thiess.

Lesley-Anne’s previous career history includes national HR & business management roles within the private and public sector, including the Wesfarmers Group, and also not for profit organisations.  She would like to now have the opportunity to contribute to organisations in the NFP sector through application of her business and commercial skills and experience. She has a business degree and is currently completing post graduate qualifications in writing. She has also recently completed a leadership program at Harvard University and is enrolled to complete the AICD Company Directors program in 2008.

Sue Heins

sue@inspiringwomen.org.au

Sue Heins is the owner of Inspiring Women, a businesswomen's networking group based for 3 years on the Northern Beaches of Sydney. Her background in business includes starting, owning and selling a gas trade business, was director on the board of the Northern Beaches Business Enterprise Centre, is currently on the board of the Northern Beaches Business Education Network and is heavily involved in the Chamber of Commerce

Clodagh Higgins

clodagh@bconsulted.com.au

A Director with networking experts BConsulted, Clodagh is a creative communications specialist who prides herself on linking people, places and ideas to find creative solutions for businesses of all sizes.

Clodagh started her career in IT and consumer electronics and has worked in Ireland, England and Australia for Japanese, Australian and US companies including Sony and Dell. This has included more than 14 years in National Sales & Marketing Management roles. She has also worked for four years, pro bono, for the not for profit organization Mosaic Association of Australian and New Zealand

Danielle Hodgson

Associate Director,  UBS Wealth Management

Danielle Hodgson is an Investment Advisor and manages an extensive client base of high net worth individuals.  She has experience in primary and secondary, debt and equity markets, lending, managed funds and unit trust and structured products. She has approximately 10 year’s experience in the financial services industry having previously worked for a number of investment banks. Prior to UBS WM Danielle worked for ABN AMRO and Tolhurst, enhancing her skills in foreign markets and investment strategy during which time Danielle managed an extensive client base, of both sophisticated private and institutional clients in Australia and New Zealand and client from other regions such as the United States, Ireland and France.  Danielle holds a Bachelor Business International Trade and Retail Management, is a Registered Investment Advisor (Securities and Exchange Commission), an Accredited Derivatives Advisor ADA1 (ASX), an NZX Associate Advisor (NZX), a member of the Securities Institute of Australia and has almost completed her Graduate Diploma in Finance and Investment (ASIA).

Caroline Hong

CEO and Director
carolinehong@asum.com.au

Caroline has a diverse and rich experience working in the private, government, health, university and professional association sectors, extending from clinical to CEO and Director Roles.Together with her formal qualifications in corporate governance, Caroline has skills and 20 years’ experience in various governance and governance-related roles at international, national and local levels.

Caroline is currently the Chief Executive Officer and Company Secretary of an Australian and New Zealand multidisciplinary medical association, the Australasian Society for Ultrasound in Medicine (ASUM), which is affiliated with the World Federation for Ultrasound in Medicine. Prior to this position, she was the CEO of the Australian Dental Association NSW Branch, and was the first woman CEO to be appointed to that position. Caroline currently is a National Company Director, Vice President and Company Secretary of the Australian Society for Association Executives. She was recently appointed as an Ambassador for the Sydney Conventions and Visitors Bureau. Caroline has a long record of leadership, innovation and business relations, and has the ability to work with people and companies from diverse multidisciplinary backgrounds to enhance the image, financial position and the success of organisations that she leads.

Linda Hurst

lindahurst@calibreforce.com.au

Linda Hurst has held senior marketing roles in a range of industries including FMCG, Retail and Building Products with such companies as Kimberly Clark, Goodman Fielder, Darrell Lea and James Hardie. This enables her to have an excellent understanding of the needs of both B2C and B2B organisations. She has now started her own company specialising in supplying outsourced marketing requirements for short or long term needs.  Based on a unique model, it is a first of its kind in Australia.

Linda's particular skills are strategic development and implementation, product innovation, marketing and sales expertise, establising effective processes to maximise business efficiency, and building effective teams. 

Elissa Jenkins

Communications and Fundraising Manager
Lifeline Community Care Queensland
elissa.jenkins@lccq.org.au

Elissa works in the non-profit sector for a high-profile, reputable organisation. She has experience in managing communications and fundraising projects with limited resources. This has demanded creating and implementing innovative solutions to complex problems.

Elissa has sat on committees and volunteered for professional organisations since the age of 19 including Society of Editors, Women in Technology, Electronic Business Interest Group, Moreton Bay Discovery Centre and Brisbane Corporate Community Network.

Her interest in and knowledge of environmental sustainability and global social justice issues places her in a position to assist and advise companies on the pressures and challenges that will increasingly be placed on them by governments and shareholders in the area of corporate social responsibility.

Dr. Marlene Kanga

Director Business Technology Pty Ltd

marlenekanga@bigpond.com

Marlene has well developed business management and technical and analytical skills and more than 25 years experience in engineering and business in Australia. She is a Chemical Engineer and has a Ph.D. in Finance and is currently a Director of Business Technology Pty. Ltd, a company which she established and which provides risk management services to large organisations is the public and private sector in Australia and New Zealand.

She works extensively with Local, State and Federal government agencies. In addition, Marlene is a founding Director of iOmniscient Pty. Ltd. which has developed patented software for camera based surveillance systems. The company’s systems have been installed in large airports, transportation and public infrastructure in Australia, Asia and Europe.

Marlene is a Fellow of the Engineers Australia and a member of its Council. Marlene is currently the National Vice President for Communications and Marketing for the organisation. She is also Chair of the National Committee for Women in Engineering at Engineers Australia which has a mission to attract and support women to the engineering profession.

Marlene is interested in extending her board work. Her strong leadership skills and proven technical, financial and risk based track record should enable her to make an effective contribution.

Marg Lennon

Unlimited People Potential Pty Ltd
marg@unlimitedpp.com.au

Marg Lennon has a strong Human Resources background in the Pharmaceutical and Medical Device industries, having spent many years in various Australian, Asia Pacific and Global roles.  Up until December 2006, she worked at Cochlear Ltd as Vice President of Human Resources and Organization Development, reporting directly to the CEO and was a member of the Senior Executive Team.

Marg designed and introduced a global Talent Management process, including coaching and Leadership Development programs which strengthened organisational capability through developing the Cochlear global Leadership pipeline.

Marg is on the board of Aftercare, an NGO dedicated to helping the mentally disabled lead independent lives.  Marg is an Executive Coach and consultant to small and large businesses on people and culture issues.

Debra Lucas

Principal Boomerang
dlucas@boomerangexecutive.com.au

Before joining Boomerang as a Principal Consultant Debra spent 10 years placing executives in functional roles in General Management, Senior Sales and Senior Marketing. At Boomerang, Debra concentrates on placing senior people across all functions in the Consumer and B2B sectors.

Having completed a Bachelor of Commerce degree at the University of New South Wales, Debra joined Colgate Palmolive and, after a successful stint there, moved to Reckitt & Colman. During those years, she worked across the sales, marketing and human resources functions, giving her and excellent appreciation of the leadership challenges faced by multi-national companies.

Karen McFadzen

VP Technical Services
Cisco Asia Pacific mcfadzen@cisco.com

Cisco is the worldwide leader of networking for the Internet.  Karen has staff of 400+ operating within Asia Pacific across 14 countries; a service inventory of US$650 million, laboratory of US$75 million and fiscal operating budget of US$180 million.

Under Karen’s leadership, Technical Services has grown four fold, customer satisfaction has increased from 4.02 to 4.47 (scale of 5) and employee satisfaction has improved so that Cisco ranks as one of Australia's top companies for employees.

Karen joined Cisco in 2000 and was appointed in September 2006 to the Cisco Systems Foundation Board which manages a global endowment fund of US$100 million+.  Karen’s contributions go beyond business performance and include championing Diversity (Multicultural, Gender, and Generational), leadership and Philanthropic ventures.

She is instrumental in shaping part-time and maternity flexible working conditions in Australia; she also spearheads Emerging Female Leadership and mentoring programs throughout Asia Pacific and at a global level.

Karen holds a Bachelor of Electrical Engineering from the University of New South Wales, Australia, a Masters of Science, Systems Engineering from Cranfield University, UK and is a graduate of the Australian Defence Force Academy and Royal Military College, Duntroon.

Robyn McGuiggan

dean.cob@uws.edu.au

Robyn McGuiggan is currently the Executive Dean of the College of Business at the University of Western Sydney.  Prior to her current appointment, Robyn was an Associate Dean of the UWS College of Business and Head of the Graduate School and had responsibility for academic programs and quality across the College.

Robyn has lectured in marketing, particularly consumer behaviour, for more than 16 years. She enjoys learning about other cultures, and has taught in Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore and China.  In 2000, Robyn spent 3 months in Beijing teaching consumer behaviour at the University of International Business and Economics.

She has published three marketing textbooks, and numerous case studies in the marketing area.  Her current research focus is on the development and promotion of quality in management education, as well as exploring the changes occurring in consumer decision making associated with choice of secondary and tertiary education.

Before embarking on her academic career, she spent a number of years working in the pharmaceutical industry for multinational companies such as Bayer and Fisons and consulted on marketing issues to a number of major organisations including the State Rail Authority of NSW and IBM.

Michelle McIndoe

michellemcindoe@qantas.com.au

Michelle is a Manager of Finance Projects at Qantas Airways. She currently focuses on process improvement and change initiatives within the Qantas Finance Community. Michelle is a Chartered Accountant and has recently been accepted to Australian Graduate School of Management where she will begin studying for her MBA.

Michelle is an aspiring Director and wishes to find not for profit board positions to gain experience and to develop her skill set in order to achieve her long term goal of becoming a full time Director.

Rosemary McKenzie

Principal of Melbourne Mortgage Solutions
melbm.solutions@bigpond.com

A skilled strategic thinker with solid marketing, public relations, information technology and financial skills, she has worked in many industries at a senior level including internationally.

Rosemary is currently a board member of a Bendigo Community Bank, as well as sitting on the Marketing & Community Partnerships Committee.  Prior to this she has sat on a Not-For-Profit board.

Sean Molloy

Nominations Advisor
New Zealand Ministry of Women's Affairs
Molloy@mwa.govt.nz

Sean has worked for the Ministry over the last five years and is interested in exploring further successful methods for increasing women's participation on boards."

Kelly Morton

Director, UBS Investment Bank

Kelly is currently a Director at UBS, she holds a B Com, Masters of Applied Finance & Investment, and is a Chartered Accountant with the ICAA. Kelly joined UBS in 2005 and has over 9 years experience within corporate finance and advisory previously working for NAB, Andersen and Macquarie. Kelly now specialises in leveraged and acquisition finance and has led advisory and financing on various transactions including:

• CVC and PBL's A$5.5b recapitalisation and establishment of PBL Media · 
• KKR's A$1.8b leveraged buyout of BIS Cleanaway
• CCMP's A$1.1b leveraged buyout of Waco International

Heather Nash

Industrial Relations & Human Resources Advisor
Australian Library and Information Association
heathercanberra@yahoo.com.au

Heather has been a company director since 2001 when she was elected as a Director of UniSuper Ltd, the superannuation covering the higher education and research sector.  Since 2006 she has been on the Uniting Church Trust Board.  On both Boards Heather has been a member of the Audit and Compliance Committees and is on the UC Board’s Asset and Liability Committee.

Heather  had a long career in university administration and now works as the Industrial Relations & Human Resources Advisor for the Australian Library and Information Association (ALIA), the professional association representing the library workforce and library users.   She has a particular interest in professional standards.

Jenni Neumann

jenni.neumann@thomsonreuters.com

Jenni Neumann has been employed in the financial services industry for over 14 years, most recently with Thomson Reuters.  During this time Jenni has been engaged in a variety of senior and executive roles, both in Australia and the United States, primarily focused on integration/transition and change management, managing regional and global programs triggered by corporate development activity.  Over the past few years Jenni's expertise has been utilised earlier in the M&A cycle where she has been primary in the initiation, negotiation and execution of some complex transactions in the Asia region.

Holding a Bachelor of Business degree from Charles Sturt University Bathurst Jenni also has a keen interest in corporate social responsibility, chairing Thomson Reuters Australia's CSR Committee, being a member of the Thomson Reuters Asia Diversity Advisory Council and initiating and developing Thomson Reuters Asia Women's Forum (an Asia wide women's employee network). Jenni is also on the Board of Directors for the ASX/Reuters Charity Foundation and is Secretary of the Australian Women's Archive Project (AWAP) New South Wales Committee.

Kersti Nogeste

Principal Consultant

Project Expertise Pty Ltd
knogeste@projectexpertise.com.au

Kersti has an extensive track record in program and project management and information and communications technology (ICT), combined with Board experience and advanced educational qualifications (including completion of the AICD Company Directors Course).

Based on the combination of her advanced skills and experience, Kersti is an expert in the governance of change/improvement initiatives, making her a prime candidate for Boards keen to ensure quality strategy execution.

Denise North

CEO

Insolvency Practitioners Association
dmnorth@optusnet.com.au

Denise is a non executive director and senior executive. She Chairs the Board of Streetwize Communications Limited and the Council of International House at the University of Sydney, and serves on the Board of the Australian Fisheries Management Authority, where she also Chairs the Finance and Audit Committee. Denise was recently appointed CEO of the Insolvency Practitioners Association.

Denise has degrees in Economics and Business Management and an Advanced Diploma from the AICD. She has worked in a wide range of industry sectors, including government, consulting, education and training, professional services, telecommunications and financial services. She is a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and the Australian Institute of Management, and a member of the St James Ethics Centre and Women on Boards.

Katherine Palmer

Director, Head of Strategy and Portfolio Coordination UBS

Katherine is responsible for maintaining model portfolio strategy and monitoring the implementation of portfolio strategy across fixed income accounts within the Australian fixed income team of UBS Global Asset Management. Katherine is responsible for the day to day management of a number of key nominal Australian fixed income portfolios and represents the fixed income team in a business capacity.  Katherine’s previous role was Head of Client Management. This function involved managing a team responsible for all client reporting and new proposals; and managing a number of key institutional relationships. Katherine joined UBS Global Asset Management (Australia) Ltd in 1999 from Nikko Securities (Australia) Ltd.

Tasha Prabhakar

Vice President
Play Group NSW
prabhakar_tasha@hotmail.com

Tasha Prabhakar is currently serving on two not-for-profit boards and a NSW Government Taskforce.  She is Vice President of Playgroup NSW Inc (since 2005), a member-based organisation that represents and supports community and supported playgroups for over 22,000 NSW families.  Tasha Chairs the Playgroup NSW Board’s Audit, Compliance and Finance Committee.  She is also a Board Director of YHA NSW Ltd (since 2004, Vice Chair 2005-6), a leading backpacker accommodation company limited by guarantee with over $18M annual turnover, about $40M in assets, and over 30,000 members.  Tasha has also taken a change management leadership role as NSW Representative on a YHA National committee established to lead the merger of YHA state bodies into a single entity.  Tasha was recently appointed to the NSW Government’s Road Safety Taskforce, established by the Minister for Roads in 2001 to examine crash trends and consider road safety initiatives aimed at reducing the road toll, as a Community Representative.  Tasha holds formal qualifications in Corporate Governance (GAICD) and a PhD in Psychology (Sydney University).

Fiona Rankin

fiona.rankin@curiousdevelopments.net

Fiona Rankin has twenty (20) years general management experience in the development and management of technology and financial services businesses, and is a specialist in the formulation, assessment and management of information technology (I.T.) solutions and strategy.

Fiona is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. She holds a Masters in Business and I.T. Management; a Graduate Diploma in Financial Management; and Bachelor of Economics degrees.  

Jenny Reynolds

Head of Clearing
ANZ Bank
jenny.reynolds@anz.com

Jenny is currently the Head of Clearing, ANZ. Her business is the leading provider of high value payments settlements in Australia and New Zealand for Financial Institutions residing offshore. The business has global reach with team in London, New York, Singapore, New Zealand and Australia under Jenny’s leadership the business has doubled to over $120 Million, cost to income ratio has been reduced below 20%, market share has grow to 48% whilst staff engagement is at world best practice of 80.

Jenny is a passionate promoter and developer of talent and diversity in ANZ, she is a mentor to many men and women across the organisation and is a current executive member of Working Capital Culture Forum that develops and promotes positive cultural change for the people and the business.

Prior to ANZ Jenny was Vice President JPMorgan and she lived and worked in Asia based in Singapore with responsibility for financial product innovation and management across 14 countries in Asia with them she has designed and delivered repayment products for Global Corporates to more efficiently manage their Working Capital needs.

Prior to JPMorgan Jenny worked for Westpac in their Transactional Business in Sydney, Financial Markets Operations in Sydney and Melbourne and retail across the Illawarra area where she grew up and her family still reside.  Jenny is a keen sports person and is a Committee Member for the Blues Point Yacht Club Ltd.

Dr Joan Richardson

joan.richardson@rmit.edu.au

Dr Joan Richardson has been a member of the RMIT Business Faculty Academic Board for 5 years and the University Academic Board for 3 years.  Her knowledge of business systems built for incremental, sustainable change enables contributions that facilitate proactive development and implementation.  She has led the process within the School of Business Information Technology that successfully maintained external professional accreditation of both postgraduate and undergraduate programs  and University projects designed to strategically support adoption and implementation of new technologies in the higher education sector.

Collaborations with industry and consultancies have ensured that she has maintained a leading position in the application of ICT in the higher education sector, shifting effective use of technology into the mainstream and delivering state of the art courses and programs.  She has won University awards for curriculum development and construction and incremental development of suites of resources that utilise technology innovations for delivery.  Since 2001 she has been the principal author of four editions of the text Computing For Business Success published by Pearson Education Australia.  Each version of the text has included ‘state-of-the-art’ digital media and resources, in the form of companion CDROM’s and Web sites.  This work has currently been extended to investigate the use of mobile technologies, namely SMS, to communicate with end-users of the learning products.

Danielle Robertson

CEO, Dial-An-Angel
danielle@dialanangel.com

Danielle Robertson is the third daughter of Dena Blackman, founder of DIAL-AN-ANGEL. She has worked alongside her mother since August 1986.  The business has changed significantly with automated and integrated IT systems introduced.  Steady expansion with the development of offices into Queensland, ACT, SA and regional NSW offices occurred under Danielle’s guidance. 2003 marked a much-anticipated date at DIAL-AN-ANGEL with Danielle assuming the role of CEO for the Pty Limited Company.

Danielle believes that a vital ingredient in the continued success of the business is the company’s assertion that field Angels should regard their vocation as being honourable, valuable to the entire community and as a real skill. There are no “down-trodden Sadies” registered with DIAL-AN-ANGEL because DIAL-AN-ANGEL staff demand that clients treat the Angels with consideration and courtesy. High standards in conditions and remuneration have been established and unreasonable requests and unfair practices are actively discouraged. Our strategic vision for the future is to maintain our position as market leaders by recruiting only the best Angels, exceeding our clients expectations based on the quality of our services and building a corporate culture of staff who are committed to the goals of the organisation and their own development. Ph: 1300 721 111 or visit our website www.dialanangel.com

Jemma Sargent

Manager - Water Sciences GHD
Jemma.Sargent@ghd.com.au

Jemma is a Principal scientist and is GHD's global leader for Water Sciences and leads the NSW Ecology Group. She has over 13 years experience as a Principal scientist and holds post graduate qualifications in statistics and applied information systems.  

She has been a presenter at a variety of Minerals Council Conferences including Sustainable Development 2007. Jemma has a wide variety of environmental experience with the water, mining and government sectors and running large scale environmental impact assessments. She has experience with the delivery of multi-disciplinary projects and community consultation.  While skilled in all aspects of environmental sciences including catchment management, water quality and linear infrastructure projects Jemma specialises in terrestrial, aquatic and marine ecology including mammals, birds, fish seagrasses and macroinvertebrates.

Jemma offers a board a solid understanding of environmental sciences and sustainability initiatives gained in a commercial environment.  She is experienced at leading committees in strategy and business development initiatives and the management and delivery of projects in a group environment.  

Helene Strawbridge

Principal
Bridge-The-Gap Coaching
helenest@bigpond.net.au

Helen is a management consultant, coach and organisational psychologist with 20 years’ senior management experience in information technology and experience on committees in the not-for-profit sector (including the roles of President, Secretary and Treasurer).

Helen offers Boards skills development in key areas, including advanced communications, conflict resolution and principled negotiation.  As a facilitator, she has honed skills in bringing parties together to develop strategies for their Board roles and businesses. As a performance management consultant, Helen develops and directs systems and processes that provide feedback and developmental learning for organisations and their employees.

She has extensive experience developing and facilitating training programs – currently teaching Deakin subjects in Management for Pathways (international) students and sessional teacher at Chisholm Institute.

As a small business owner she was an operator of restaurants, and co-author of a restaurant and wineries guide

Janet Stubbs

Business Development Executive
DWS Advanced Business Solutions
JStubbs@dws.com.au

Janet is a customer focused senior sales executive with 15+ years in information technology and human resource business processes, including experience with the world’s largest technology companies and Asia Pacific’s leading talent management company.

She has an exceptional skills and track record in strategic selling, managing client relationships and providing team leadership, and the potential to make a strong contribution at Board level to customer and sales strategies.

Key achievements and strengths

• Highly self motivated with a proven track record of delivering excellent, high dollar results in identifying, developing, bidding and closing sales opportunities
• uilt an enviable client base in a highly competitive marketplace, including strong relationships with leading software and hardware vendors SAP, Microsoft, Dell, IBM, Sun and Cisco
• Exceptional professional network, and a proven ability to establish relationships at all levels within an organisation
• Skilled in helping clients to realise and achieve their business goals

Wendy Teasdale-Smith

Principal Aberfoyle Park High School
wtsmith@aphs.sa.edu.au

Achievements/Awards

• National Award for Quality School “Principal of the Year” 2004
• Fellow – Australian College of Educators
• Telstra Business Woman of the Year 2006 – Hudson Community and Government Category – South Australia
• Board / Committee Experience
• Director – Australian College of Educators National Council
• Board Member – 2004 – 2007 – Australian National Council on Drugs
• Member – Peer Support Foundation Consultative Committee 2007-08
• Australian Secondary Principals’ Association – Deputy President 2003-2007
• National Tobacco Reference Group – Australian Government 2007-08

Wendy has considerable experience working at state and national level of Board of different varieties. While her background and expertise lies within the educational field she has experience working on related committees, particularly in the health sector. She is keen to expand her board experiences.

Mary Verschuer

maryverschuer@bigpond.com

Mary is an experienced executive who has run multi-unit businesses in Oceania and Asia. Her last exec role was with a multinational European packaging group. She is now transitioning to a Non - Exec career and looking for directors roles where she can add value to a board through her ability to make money in high volume low margin sectors, her experience in communicating across cultural and language barriers, her success in growing business in Asia dealing with major global FMCG brands, and her passion for building sustainable businesses.

Prior Board roles include directorships of subsidiaries in China, a JV in Indonesia, NFP in Australia, a CRC and an Industry training body. She is a current member of AICD and a nominee chair with TEC (the Executive Connection) mentoring CEO’s of mid size businesses.

Liisa von Hellens

l.vonhellens@griffith.edu.au

Dr Liisa von Hellens is Associate Professor and the past Head of School of Information and Communication Technology in Griffith University with thirty-nine years of information technology (IT) industry experience including working as a programmer, systems developer and university educator in Australia and in Finland.  

Liisa’s strong information technology experience allows her effectively translate and communicate the complexities of the IT issues and their impact on overall corporate governance.  Her current board positions include a biotechnology business manufacturing feed enzymes and exporting to Asia, Europe and Americas (www.bioproton.com.au) and a small printing house (Kwik Kopy franchise).

As the Head of School of Information and Communication Technology at Griffith University (2001-2003) Liisa demonstrated that her skills extend well beyond her outstanding academic reputation to include effective financial and human resource management as well as executive leadership.   This experience also developed Liisa’s ability to balance transparency and discretion when making decisions in difficult resourcing situations.

Liisa has served on numerous advisory boards and panels including the Advisory Group of the Senator Helen Coonan for the Women in ICT Summit  (re-titled the Participation Summit when held in September 2005), and University Committees on Recruitment, ICT strategy to Human Research Ethics.  Liisa is also an internationally recognized researcher in the field of Gender Balance in ICT Education and Industry. In 2007 she was invited Professor in Gender and IT in Hanover, Germany within the prestigious Maria Goeppert-Mayer foundation to present her research on gender and technology.

Kathy Walsh

Senior Lecturer
Australian School of Business, University of New South Wales
kathy.walsh@mac.com

Prior to her appointment in this capacity, Kathy was a Post Doctoral Research Fellow and Adjunct Faculty Member at the Australian Graduate School of Management. Kathy's research expertise lies in empirical finance and asset pricing theory.  More recently Kathy has been collaborating with colleagues at ANU to assess the impact of corporate governance mechanisms in Australia.  This cutting edge research is funded by the Australian Research Council and Barclays Global Investors.  

Jeanette Ward

Director Standard & Poors
jeanette_ward@standardandpoors.com

Janette has strong analytical and strategic skills honed through extensive experience in credit and risk analysis. She has senior leadership, project management and committee experience and has completed of the AICD Company Directors Course.

Janette has more than a decade of credit ratings and risk analysis of companies in a broad range of industries, including mining, chemicals, airlines, consumer products, media, gaming, retail, building & construction, property trusts, and oil & gas.  

She spearheaded Standard & Poor’s enterprise risk management (ERM) initiative embedding ERM analysis into the credit ratings of industrial and infrastructure companies.   She has done pro bono Enterprise Risk Management consulting for a large not-for-profit organisation   and was project manager for the Federal Government’s Comcover Risk Management Benchmarking Survey, 2007 & 2008.

She is a Member of the Working Group on Risk Management Handbook for Not-For-Profits and Chairs the rating committees at Standard & Poor’s. She is interested in extending her board work.

Ms Susan Whillas

Director - DC Workplace Consulting
susiewhillas@people.net.au

Susan Whillas Director DC Workplace Consulting brings to each project the accumulation of over 18 years unique and practical experience in design, development and direct implementation of workplace Diversity programs and services producing sustainable results and outcomes. This range of practical experiences gained while working in state and local government, numerous national and global corporations and in remote Aboriginal communities is complemented by tertiary qualifications and relevant peak body affiliations.

Susan is a highly regarded Diversity Consultant and particularly skilled in the effective management of workplace conflict, through mediation, conflict coaching and tailored workplace skills training and the application of diagnostic instruments to identify the strengths and areas for improvement in workplaces cultures. These specialist services identify barriers operating in workplaces that impact negatively on individuals or groups reducing team cohesion and business outcomes and impart a range of direct skills for individuals, entire teams and workforces to reduce these risks and improve workplace cultures.

Judith Winn

Senior Advisor
Effective Governance Pty Ltd
Judith.Winn@effectivegovernance.com.au

Judith is a Senior Advisor at Effective Governance, a privately-owned consulting firm that delivers advice on corporate governance to clients in Australia and New Zealand.  

Judith has a good understanding of all aspects of corporate governance having had extensive experience with assisting directors and boards to improve their understanding of their role. She has worked with clients to deliver in-board programs that met their needs in governance, strategy, board evaluation, financial understanding and risk ensuring best practice delivery of director education programs.

Helen Wiseman

Partner, Government Advisory Services, Energy, Industrial Markets Groups
KPMG Sydney
hwiseman@optusnet.com.au

Helen has significant and diverse experience as a chartered accountant specialising in taxation where she provides advice to a broad range of public and private sector, domestic and multinational corporate groups.

She has Industry experience across electricity, water, climate change, NSW State Government, mining, pharmaceutical, manufacturing and distribution of industrial products.  She is a member of the Climate Change Committee, Taxation Institute of Australia and a member of the KPMG Diversity Advisory Board

She is the Chairman of Shine for Kids and chairs the Audit Committee of the Sydney Community Foundation.   She is interested in extending her board work.

Vicki Woods

info@bushrangersbar.com.au

Vicki Woods in partnership with her husband Bruce own and operate the Bushrangers Bar & Brasserie at Largs. The hotel is a multi award-winning hotel since 1989, and in 1998 won the National award for the Australian Hotels Association.

Vicki was elected to Maitland City Council in 1999, and again in 2004. She is currently Deputy Mayor. Vicki has completed Level 3 and Level 4 in commercial cookery, (2000 –2002), completed Train the Trainer in 2005, and is a Certified Professional Restaurateur and had her restaurant accredited in 2006. She completed the ACID director’s course in April 2008 and is also a practising JP.

Vicki is the Chairperson of Maitland Tourism, she is a director of Hunter Regional Tourism Organisation, she is Vice-President Regional for the Restaurant & Caters Association (NSW), as well as Chairperson for the Newcastle Hunter region. She is a board member and Vice Chair for Hunter Councils and a director on the Hunter Environment board of Councils. Vicki is also an Ambassador for the Multiple Sclerosis  Society of NSW/VIC.

Anita Yadav

Director, Credit & Hybrid Research, UBS

Anita is currently Head of Credit and Hybrid Research at UBS in Sydney. Prior to joining UBS, Anita has worked in a variety of roles in corporate finance industry covering marketing and relationship management at ANZ, credit approvals and risk management at HSBC and as an infrastructure analyst at Moody’s Investors Service. For two consecutive terms between 2001 and 2003, Anita also held honorary post of Secretary General for Australia India Chamber of Commerce. Anita holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Delhi University and completed her MBA in 1994. She also has Diploma in Applied Finance from Securities Institute of Australia and is a member of Australian Institute of Management. Anita is on board of some private companies and is a member of Australian Institute of Company Directors.

Suzanne Young

Suzanne Young is Group General Manager of Qantas Shared Services responsible for HR, Finance, Payroll, Property and Facilities with a budget exceeding $5.2 billion and management of more than 700 people. Her roles over the last 10 years have involved the development and implementation of strategic change within two large corporate organisations (Qantas Airways Limited and Unisys Corporation).  She has acted as a coach and mentor to identified "talent" at both Qantas and Unisys, establishing the Qantas Finance Mentoring Program and as a founding member of the Qantas Diversity Council. She has participated in the Women @ Qantas Executive Development Program and the Qantas Senior Executive Program.  Previously she was part of the Global Leaders Program at Unisys.  She commenced her career at KPMG and then worked at Greenwoods and Freehills.

Suzanne has an active involvement with Surf Life Saving Australia.  She was previously the Chief Instructor and the first female Club Captain of North Bondi SLSC and was a member of  the President's Advisory Board (1997- 2001). She is currently a member of the Finance, Audit and Compliance Committee and the Board of Development for Surf Life Saving Australia.  Suzanne was the Australian Surf Life Saver of the Year (1995/96).