Carrie Leeson, CEO Lifeline Canberra

Carrie – Ann Leeson  is CEO of Lifeline Canberra. She is also the President of the Workplace Health Association, Advisory Council to Aspen Corporate Health, and a Director of the Uniting Early Morning Centre in the ACT. Carrie worked as a volunteer telephone crisis supporter for Lifeline and was a director on the board for the organisation.  She completed her degree in Psychology, and Diploma in Public Relations in South Africa prior to moving to Australia and running her own preventative health company. Carrie has used her experience and knowledge to create awareness around the importance of prevention, in both the physical and mental health arenas, and has worked with government, community, schools and businesses to generate sustainable health outcomes.

Dawn Hough, Director, Pride in Diversity

Dawn Hough is Director at Pride in Diversity, Australia’s first and only (national) not-for-profit employer support program for all aspects of LGBTI Inclusion.  In this role Dawn was instrumental in the development of the program offerings and the development of the Australian Workplace Equality Index (AWEI), Australia’s definitive benchmark on LGBTI workplace inclusion (and the Top 20 Employers for LGBTI employees awards). Dawn has authored four LGBTI workplace publications and been the producer of the annual Pride in Practice LGBTI workplace conference for the last four years. Previously Dawn introduced and managed the Diversity function for ING Australia, heading up a team of 8 responsible for L&D, Talent Management, Organisational Development and Wellbeing. Prior to INGA, Dawn ran a boutique consultancy for 14 years consulting in organisational development, leadership development, L&D and training.  She has worked on projects in the UK, Amsterdam, Singapore and speaks regularly on LGBTI inclusion nationally in Australia, at Out & Equal’s Conference in the United States and Stonewalls Diversity Champions Conference UK (2013). 

Georgia Prattis, Managing Director, MyriaD Consultants Pty Ltd

Georgia is Director of Myriad International Consulting Services Pty Ltd. She has over 20 years experience specialising in training development and delivery, research, evaluation, strategic planning, policy development, facilitation and stakeholder consultation. Areas of expertise include access and equity, cultural diversity, gender equality, equal opportunity, gender based violence, preventing bullying in the workplace and human rights. Gorgia is an accomplished consultant in diversity related organisational change programs and strategic planning that promote access and equity and develop workforce capabilities. She has extensive policy reform experience in the field of diversity working with the public sector, non-government organisations and community based agencies. Georgia has also participated on a wide range of Boards and committees.  Her qualifications include a Bachelor of Arts, Diploma in Education and a Master of Educational Studies.

Graham West, National President, St Vincent de Paul Society & Consultant

Graham West is a National President of the St Vincent de Paul Society, Management Consultant in the NFP sector and a former CEO of St Vincent de Paul Society in NSW. Graham was a Member of Parliament in NSW for 10 years representing the Campbelltown area, and held a number of Ministerial positions including Juvenile Justice and Youth and has been active at a board level in the community sector for many years, especially in community development and youth drug and alcohol education and support. In addition, Graham has a continuing interest in community engagement policies, environmental strategies at the local level, and issues concerning indigenous youth, especially in the areas of employment and education. Graham has written on youth engagement in decision-making using social networking and Web 2.0 and is a regular speaker on the importance of community development. Graham holds a Bachelor of Commerce in Management, a Master of International Studies, is an Advanced Fire Fighter with the NSW Rural Fire Service, and a Chartered Member of the Institute of Logistics and Transport.

​Helen Wiseman, Non-Executive Director & Professional Mentor

Amongst the 2014 Australian Financial Review and Westpac 100 Women of Influence, Helen Wiseman is a businesswoman, non-executive director, Chartered Accountant, professional mentor and social justice advocate. She has clocked up more than 22 years in professional accounting firms in both the UK and Australia including as a former KPMG partner.  In 2011, Helen co-founded Imalia, a financial services business and is currently a Chair with The Executive Connection.  In her board roles, she is Chair of several audit committees the largest of which is the Bidvest Global Foodservice Audit Committee, and sits on the boards of Choice and the War Widows Guild of Australia (NSW). Since 2004, Helen is the Chair of Shine for Kids, a national organisation that supports children of prisoners.

Janine Middleton, Co-Chair, Australian Marriage Equality

Janine has spent the majority of the last 20 years in Europe, she has in excess of 25 years’ experience in the Financial Services industry, working in both Australia and the United Kingdom.  She spent 13 years with J.P.Morgan in London, working in Debt Capital Markets, covering both high grade and high yield transactions, in a range of industries across Europe and the Middle East.  She has extensive management experience and held the title of Managing Director for her last five years with J.P.Morgan.  She spent four years as a founding partner of an Australian private equity firm, Tasman Capital Partners and  is a member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. Since returning to Australia in 2012, Janine has become heavily involved in the non for profit sector and is a Director of Outcomes Australia and ShareLife.  Janine is also the Co-Chair of Australian Marriage Equality. Janine also volunteers for Glengarry Aged Care Facility for dementia patients and is a foster carer with the RSPCA.

Katy McDonald, National Director of People & Development, Sydney Opera House

Katy commenced her legal career working as a judge’s associate for a judge of the Federal Court of Australia and the then President of the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission.  She practised law in private practice for about 8 years; first as a commercial litigator at Barker Gosling and then she joined the Human Resources and Industrial Relations Practice Group iat Minter Ellison.  Katy left private practice in the mid 1990s to work to work at the University of Sydney as the Director of Equal Opportunity.  In 1999, she joined Westpac where she was Head of Employee Relations Legal and then the Head of Employee Relations, Diversity and Employment Policy. She spent 10 years at the bank and was HR Director for Minter Ellison for 5 years from 2010 to 2015.  Katy is currently the Director of People & Culture at the Sydney Opera House.  Katy has always been passionate about human rights and talent.  In all her roles Katy has focused on women’s equality in the work place.

Maria Dimopoulos, Managing Director, MyriaD Consultants Pty Ltd

Maria Dimopoulos is nationally and internationally recognised as an expert specialising in the intersections of cultural diversity, gender equality and the law. As Managing Director at MyriaD Consultants she has had extensive experience in policy formulation for Government, research for social planning and in community education. Much of Maria’s work has been aimed at promoting and enhancing cultural diversity and gender informed approaches in the ongoing complex legal and political reform processes and in ensuring the meaningful inclusion of diverse voices and perspectives in those reform processes. She also continues to deliver judicial education programs across Australia. Maria’s expert contributions have included knowledge provision and advisory roles in access and equity, multiculturalism, gender justice, advocacy, bridging and supporting participation in mainstream processes, coordination, capacity-building, and piloting innovative projects. In 2008, she was appointed by the Federal government to the National Council to Reduce Violence Against Women and their Children. Maria was also a member of the Access and Equity Inquiry Panel which reported to Government in 2012 on the accessibility of government services to multicultural Australia.

Nareen Young, Director, Pricewaterhouse Coopers Indigenous Consulting; Fmr CEO Diversity Council Australia

Nareen Young is one of Australia’s leading workplace practitioners and thinkers and managed, with enormous success, in the not for profit sector for over 15 years. She has received numerous awards and acknowledgements for this work, including the inaugural 100 Women of Influence honour for Diversity. Nareen is currently a Director at Pricewaterhouse Coopers Indigenous Consulting, spent 8 months in 2014 as Strategic Adviser – Flexibility at Westpac, is a mentor for the AFR Boss Emerging Leaders Program and utilises her knowledge as a reporting CEO for 15 years through governance. She is non-executive Director of Indigenous Business Australia, Netball Australia and the Institute for Cultural Diversity and the Chair of Groundswell Arts NSW.

Nick Guggisberg, Manager Community & Cultural Development Kiama Municipal Council

Nick spent the first half of his adult life experiencing broader Australia, playing and teaching music throughout the whole continent while largely based in Alice Springs.  Nick draws on his broad range of life experiences during his studies to hone and shape these experiences and insights into skills and knowledge that he could apply professionally as a Social Worker. Since graduating with a Social Work degree, Nick has largely worked in the Community Development field working with Social Housing Tenants, managing a Youth Service, managing a Foster Care program, and currently works as the Manager Community & Cultural Development for Kiama Municipal Council. As a Social Worker, social justice is at the heart of everything Nick turns his attention to. Nick believes that “leadership development is integral to empowering people and communities to identify and achieve what they identify as most important to them. Supporting and empowering women isn’t just about equity, it’s about being strategic in creating a better world, because if we empower women, we empower all.”

​Padma Raman, Executive Director of the Australian Human Rights Commission

Padma Raman has a long and established career committed to protecting and advancing human rights. She is the Executive Director of Australia’s national human rights institution, the Australian Human Rights Commission and came to the position after establishing the Victorian Law Reform Commission which she ran for nine years. During that time, Ms Raman was also a member of the Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission (VEOHRC) for 4 ½ years. She was instrumental in assisting the Victorian Government develop and implement the Victorian Charter of Human Rights and Responsibilities Act 2006. Prior to this, Ms Raman worked extensively in the community and academic sectors. She holds a Masters of Law by research, specialising in the experiences of immigrant and Indigenous women under the Australian legal system.

Dr Patricia Hamilton, President of National Rural Women’s Coalition (NRWC)

​Dr Patricia Hamilton has a PhD in Rural Sociology. Patricia is President of the National Women’s Rural Coalition Ltd, a collaborative national voice for women living in rural, regional and remote Australia and a Board Member of the Regional Development Australia Yorke and Mid North. Patricia is a former Secondary Principal. Her leadership and management skills and the involvement in research and evaluation with both education and rural enterprises have equipped her with a wide range of processes and experiences to be a valuable contributor to the advancement of women in rural Australia as Patricia consistently highlights women’s critical role in sustaining and increasing the prosperity and productivity of family farming businesses and rural communities. In 2009, Patricia was acknowledged on the South Australian Women’s Honour Roll in recognition of her dedication and continuous commitment as an advocate and mentor for rural women and youth across the country.

​Roy Rogers, CEO The Flagstaff Group

Roy Rogers is the CEO of the Flagstaff Group, a commercially focused Australian Disability Enterprise operating in the Illawarra and Shoalhaven regions. Roy joined Flagstaff in 2005 and became CEO in 2011. Roy is a Chartered Professional Engineer with a degree in Civil/Structural Engineering and an MBA from Wollongong University. Roy is a member the Illawarra Community Advisory Panel, Light & Hope Mental Health Clubhouse committee and is on the Board of Family services Illawarra. Before moving the NFP sector Roy had over 30 years’ experience in corporate sector in both senior and general management roles, including BHP and various national and international manufacturing and supply businesses. Roy has been successful in the disability sector for raising the bar to create a variety of mainstream employment opportunities by building vocational skills and developing a strong work ethic that improves self-esteem and confidence.

​Shirley Chowdhary, Counsel,  Group Treasury Westpac

Shirley Chowdhary is a Sydney based lawyer and advocate for gender diversity in the workplace. Her career has taken her from a top tier New York law firm and a US global bank in Japan to leading  teams of volunteers and writing a biography for a WW2 Prisoner of War. She is currently a lawyer at one of the BigFour banks in Sydney and is raising three children with her husband of 21 years. Shirley is the recipient of a 2015 Cultural Diversity Scholarship jointly funded by the Australian Government and the Australian Institute of Company Directors. The scholarship is aimed at supporting an increased representation of women on Australian boards and fostering emerging female talent.

Professor Shirley Randell, Gender Equality Specialist

Professor Shirley Randell AO, PhD was educated at Perth Modern School and the Universities of Papua New Guinea, Canberra, New England and London. As a leading expert in public sector and institutional reform, teacher education, gender mainstreaming and human rights in developing countries, Prof. Randell has provided specialist technical assistance to governments in the Asia Pacific Region and in Africa over the last 18 years. After working with UNDP and the Ministry for Women’s Affairs on a gender mainstreaming training program for senior public servants in 2004-5 in Bangladesh, Prof. Randell  returned to Dhaka in 2014 on a three year project with ADB and the Ministry of Education as Pre-service Secondary Training Program Specialist, Bangladesh Teacher Quality Improvement Project ll, with Development Strategists International Consulting. In 2009 she established and directed the Centre for Gender, Culture and Development at the Kigali Institute of Education, now the Centre for Gender Studies at the University of Rwanda. She is the author of numerous journal articles and books and is a renowned international speaker. Prof Randell was one of Australia’s 100 Inaugural Women of Influence in 2012 and one of the International Alliance for Women’s 100 World of Difference Awardees in 2013. She is a Distinguished Alumni of the University of Canberra and University of New England Armidale, Patron of the Australian Centre for Leadership for Women and Sunshine Foundation Australia, and the Global Ambassador- Rwanda for The International Alliance of Women.    

Sue Conde AM Former President, United Women Australia

Sue Conde AM is a former President of Unifem Australia. Sue has held various executive leadership positions at State and National levels of Girl Guides Australia serving as Deputy Chief Commissioner from 1998-2002. International experiences include attending the UN General Assembly Special Session on Women in New York in 2000 and as a member of the Australian Government delegations; she has attended the UN Special Session on Children in 2002 and the Commission on the Status of Women in 2006 and 2010.  She joined the UNIFEM Australia National Committee in 2002 and was elected Vice President in 2005. From 2003-2007 she was actively engaged as a member of the National Leadership Group in UNIFEM Australia’s launch of the new Australian initiative – the White Ribbon Campaign. Sue served as President of the AWC for three years from 2003-2006. In January 2005 Sue was appointed as a Member in the Order of Australia for service to the community through organisations and advisory bodies that promote the interests of women, to youth through the Guiding movement and to the Uniting Church in Australia.

Susan Ferrier, National Head of People, Performance & Culture, KPMG​

Susan Ferrier is an accomplished senior executive with more than 30 years of international experience working with boards and executive teams in professional services, technology, financial services and legal organisations.  Susan has been the CEO of a small technology start up and is a Director on The Royal Hospital for Women Foundation Board. She is passionate about leadership, indigenous issues and gender equity. Susan is committed to helping people achieve their full potential by building conversations and initiatives around inclusivity and curiosity – whether it is at work or with her four children.

Tanya Hosch, Joint Campaign Director, Recognise

Tanya is the Joint Campaign Director for Recognise, a position she shares with Tim Gartrell. Prior to this, Tanya has been in advocacy and consulting roles with the aim of increasing philanthropic investment into Indigenous development. Tanya was an integral member of the team responsible for the model design and establishment of the National Congress of Australia’s First Peoples. More recently Tanya worked with a steering committee to establish the Australian Indigenous Governance Institute. For the past 15 years Tanya has sat on a number of boards and committees. Tanya currently sits on the boards of the Australian Indigenous Governance Institute, the National Board of the Australian Red Cross, and has recently been appointed as the Independent Chair of the new company Price Waterhouse Coopers Indigenous Consulting. In 2013 Tanya was named in the South Australian Women’s Honour Roll and for the past two consecutive years has been recognised in the list of ‘100 Women of Influence’ Awards run by Westpac and the Australian Financial Review to recognise women who are achievers in Australian business and society. In 2014, Tanya was appointed to the Review Panel for the Act of Recognition (2013) to provide a report (delivered in September 2014) to the Minister for Aboriginal Affairs.

Terese Edwards, CEO, National Council of Single Mothers & their Children

Terese Edwards is the CEO of the National Council of Single Mothers and their Children Inc since 2009. She is also Chair of the South Australian Women Services Network. Terese is an ambassador for single mother families and speaks for women and children who contend with poverty, hardship and violence.She is also the Deputy President of ACOSS since February 2010. She is a Steering committee member of the Equality and Rights Alliance (National Women‘s Alliance) since 2012 She is a Member of the Economic Security for women since October 2012 and a Child Support National Stakeholder Engagement Group Member since 2009. Terese has a Masters in Public Administration, a Graduate Diploma in Management and a Graduate Certificate in Public Policy. 

Dr Diann Rodgers-Healey, Director ACLW