THE AGENDA 30 Meet the women redefining business in 2018 INTRODUCTION

Get ready to meet The Agenda 30.

hese are the women redefining business in 2018. Some Tare leading empires they created, others are driving industry bodies, others again are leading massive teams or organisations. All of them will in some way transform business this year. Learn their names, if you don’t know them already. You’ll be seeing and hearing a lot from them. We put questions to all the women included on this list and received responses from the good majority of those approached. Where possible, we’ve included their input. We’ve also asked their plans and priorities for 2018. The following will keep you in the loop of who to watch out for this year, and also offer some valuable insights into how these leading women operate, and what they know about career and business. This eBook is made possible with the support of the Australian Institute of Business, which offers a range of high quality tertiary programmes for busy working adults, including ’s largest MBA, The Agile MBA™. We thank the Australian Institute of Business for the support, and encourage you to check them out. The Women’s Agenda team. CYAN TA’EED Cyan Ta’eed is the co-founder of one of Australia’s leading tech companies Envato, a digital marketplace where people go to buy and sell creative, digital goods like music, videos and graphics

Having started the business in her 20s from her parents’ garage, Cyan is now worth more than $184 million and been featured on the BRW Rich List. She’s redefining business through her huge success and prominence as an Australian woman in tech and a role model to current and future women in STEM.

Cyan says that leadership has been a learning process, and she’s adapted to strategies that work for her.

“What makes sense to me is ‘servant leadership’, which is broadly to lead so that the people I work with (to the best of my ability) have the opportunity to develop, become more autonomous, and be more fulfilled in their work lives,” she says.

“If I reframe my leadership to serving my team and the business (and the community) it allows me to be more transparent, share failures or weaknesses, and work quite holistically. I’m in every way a work in progress, but that’s what I strive for!”

This year, Cyan is ramping her new chocolate brand Hey Tiger, a not-for-profit supporting cocoa farming communities in West Africa.

“Usually people who start social enterprises have a really clear idea about their social impact and are developing their skill-set on the business side,” she says.

“We’re going about it the other way. We understand the business side but need to do some work to wrap our heads around the impact side. We’re lucky to be partnering with The Hunger Project in Ghana to ensure we’re being impactful straight from the get-go.” “If we don’t improve gender diversity and get more women involved in the creation and development of AI, then it will never equally and fairly serve our society.”

“Artificial Intelligence is expected to be incorporated into every application, app and service, at least on some level in the coming years,” she says. “We need to be mindful that machine values are human values. If we don’t improve gender diversity and get more women involved in the creation and development of AI then it will never equally and fairly serve our society. The AI of the future should be for all, and therefore be built by all.”

As a tech entrepreneur, Ally concedes it can be difficult to ALLY WATSON separate work from life. As such, Ally Watson is the founder of ground-breaking education she plans to dedicate more time program Code Like a Girl, inspiring young women to to self care and nurturing a clear consider careers in coding and tech more broadly. headspace in 2018. “I need to make time for myself he runs events across the “I’m extremely excited to help when and where possible. Self-care country at a low cost, so women lead up this initiative as I truly S can be a term we associate with with an interest in the tech industry believe it will have an extremely bath bombs and face masks but for can participate without huge positive impact on the Australian me, it’s about parenting myself - financial stress. workforce,” she says. finance spreadsheets, savings and 2018 is set to be a big year for Code Ally is focused on keeping up-to- cooking my own meals,” she says. Like a Girl, with Ally launching a date with new tech developments “When I’m rested, well fed and paid internship program, which and sees this as imperative for happy I can tackle half a week’s will place 50 women into technical the future of Australia. At the work within a day. I’ve learned how intern roles within Australia and same time, she worries that new pointless it is to burn myself out or link them with mentors -- with an movements, like AI, could cause stick to 9-5 when I’m not in the right overall aim of eliminating gender problems for a country that is not headspace.” gaps in STEM. yet gender equal. Dina Kotsopoulos

Dina Kotsopoulos is an emerging leader in the financial sector, heading up product management for BT Financial’s, Panorama suite. Next year, she’s focussed on growing the platform and navigating upcoming regulatory change in financial services.

“Commercialising our investment in the new Panorama platform and providing a best practice customer experience will be me and my team’s key objectives leading into the new year,” she says. She’ll also be hard at work “supporting advisers and customers through upcoming regulatory change and helping them find efficiencies in their business.”

She was also able to propel her career in finance and gain new opportunities, after achieving an MBA with the Australian Institute of Business.

Heading up a team of fifteen, Dina suggests that her success as a leader, stems from those who taught her the ropes. “I’ve been very lucky in that I’ve had amazing leaders who have always given me their time and wisdom,” she tells us. This has been integral in shaping me into the leader I am today, and has helped me identify where my personal and professional development areas are.”

Although Dina concedes she’s not the best at taking up flexible work arrangements, it’s something that she strongly encourages for her team. “I have people in my team who work part time, 9 day fortnights and/or 4 day weeks from home and they love it,” she says. “I’ve always been a people leader and I’ve found that the team around you influences your experience by challenging you and teaching you how to be better (and what not to do!),” she says. “Hard work and deliberate focus on progressing my skills, capabilities and brand have also been a part of my leadership journey.” ELIZABETH PROUST Elizabeth Proust chairs the Australian Institute of Company Directors, and is one of Australia’s most influential women in business.

This year, she’ll add the board of Lendlease to her long CV of board appointments, on top of existing commitments at Nestle, and the of .

As a long-time advocate for increasing the number of women on boards, Elizabeth is regularly featured in the media for the AICD’s push to see women holding Catherine Tanna 30% of Australian board positions across the ASX 200 by the end of 2018. While the target is tough (and EnergyAustralia’s Managing Director was actually looking out of reach at the end of 2017), Catherine Tanna is transforming a legacy Elizabeth continues to campaign and initiate difficult energy retailer into a business with a strong, conversations about why this is so important for the county’s future. progressive future, and servicing 2.7 million customers in the process. Elizabeth also has some big hopes generally when it comes to shifting the dial for women in business. “I think She has a wealth of experience in the gas and energy that there has been a sea change in the acceptance of sector, having held various roles at BHP Petroleum and women in business but we still have a long way to go, Royal Dutch Shell. She was also appointed to the Board especially in executive ranks,” she says. “We need to get of The Reserve Bank of Australia in 2011. serious about ending the gender pay gap and taking advantage of the talented women in our communities Catherine has been vocal in her condemnation so that they reach their potential and the whole country of partisan politics in Australia and believes an benefits. independent approach to energy policy needs to be “Not enough women have financial experience and we delivered to achieve long-term goals. all need this in our personal lives as well as careers. I would like to see women becoming financially literate in Under Catherine’s leadership EnergyAustralia much greater numbers than is currently the case.” continues to roll out new and reliable access to affordable and cleaner energy supplies. Elizabeth says joining Lendlease will give her the opportunity to learn about a major global company and “We’ve set ourselves up to bring together in 2018 how she can make a difference within it. all the restructuring and transformation work we’re doing across the business, to create the modern She also plans on spending more time this year with energy utility. So, I am looking forward to a busy but family, and travelling. “2018 will hopefully see time for rewarding 12 months, where we accomplish something travel, time with my grandsons and extended family, and special. Personally, that will involve some juggling to a busier work year.” make sure family and friends get the attention they She continues to keep on top of new industry deserve,” she says. developments and describes why education and awareness is crucial in an era of fractured government Catherine has managed to redefine the culture at the and media. business, ensuring that 50 percent of EnergyAustralia’s senior leadership team are women and that diversity of “I read widely, seek advice from a disparate group thinking across the board is valued highly. of people, and involve myself in issues affecting not only business but the wider community. This means “I’d like to see business move a lot faster than it is right more listening than talking and playing a role in trying now. When I was younger I didn’t think quotas were to rebuild trust in business which, along with trust in the answer. Nowadays I’m not so sure. Maybe we do government, and the media, has sadly been eroded in need a blunt instrument to drive change.” the last decade or so.” SARAH LIU Although just 29, Sarah Liu’s already been transforming business and the careers of women for years.

As the founder of unique mentoring of small and micro-businesses and leadership platform The Dream rather than medium to large Collective, she has built a small enterprises,” she says. empire that works to inspire and support young women in their “Most female entrepreneurs career aspirations. Sarah and her are either sole traders or own team organise networking sessions businesses with under $2 million and deliver structured training revenue. This may not be perceived programs on topics pertinent to as an issue on an individual level,” young women in early to says Sarah. mid-career stages. “However if we are to see women In the past five years, The Dream gaining more commercial Collective has grown its presence influence, leadership representation and influence across Australia and and economic empowerment, then internationally. we need a lot more female SME owners scaling their businesses. “In 2018 we will continue our global So my encouragement would be expansion in Tokyo and Singapore to not stop at what seems to be by rolling out more of our programs comfortable, but always focus on across the region,” Sarah says. how you can scale, how you can grow and how you can be the She adds that the business is also market leader in your field.” working to cement its place in Australian leadership, has just appointed a new General Manager, and will introduce new product suites that will strengthen the business. “If we are to see women

In the near future, Sarah hopes gaining more commercial to see more female entrepreneurs influence, leadership scale their businesses and not be representation and economic perturbed by risk. empowerment, then we need “There are more and more women a lot more female SME owners starting their own businesses which is great to see, however women scaling their businesses. ” continue to be the majority owner Marita Cheng At just 28, Marita Cheng has already reached 70,000 girls globally through her work promoting women in tech.

In 2012 she won Young Australian of the Year for her work in robotics and her advocacy for women in STEM. As the CEO and founder of Aubot, Marita launched the groundbreaking ‘Teleport’-- a robot for SADHANA SMILES kids with cancer in hospital to attend school, people with disabilities to attend work and to help monitor Sadhana Smiles is the CEO of Harcourts, and socialise with elderly and isolated people. one of Australia’s leading brands in real estate. Now Marita has huge plans to evolve the business in As a female leader in an historically male-dominated 2018, as she explains just what her tech can do: industry, she’s working to redefine the sector by “Teleport is a telepresence robot where the user’s championing the benefits of greater diversity face is displayed on the robot screen and their voice and inclusion. is heard on integrated high quality speakerphone. “The conversation of diversity is an important one and The user can see/hear colleagues, family and peers, not just about how many women we have on boards or mute their voice and video, and dock their robot for in leadership positions” she says. “More importantly the battery charging. The user remotely control the robot conversation of cultural diversity needs to be had; are the to move around the classroom, office or museum - colours of our community reflected in our businesses? like playing a video game, and may move the neck up to 1.7m tall for gatherings standing up, or down “In 2018 the conversation of diversity needs to be to 1.1m high for interactions sitting down or for easy inclusive and not just about women on boards or in transportation of Teleport,” she says. leadership but more so about people who all come in different packages – ethnicity, ability and sexuality,” “I’m looking forward to launching version 2 of she says. Teleport, as well as different robots heads for At a time when just 2% of women on ASX boards are from Teleport - one that can be accessed via VR, and one culturally diverse backgrounds, she says leaders must that can speak, and a new robotic arm. address the opportunities they are missing out on and Marita is also redefining business in Australia ensure their teams are culturally diverse. through her advocacy of women in tech and was 2018 will also see Sadhana launch a new property integral to this social push with her launch of management business called Harcourts Move, nurture ‘Robogals’, a program teaching and inspiring young her 10-year old foundation Links Fiji and, “turn up the women to pursue roles in robotics. The program has volume on the issue of violence against women” in now reached over 70,000 girls across the world. partnership with White Ribbon. Sadhana continues to use her background and cultural experiences to inform her movements in business and as a leader. She says that her past experiences have helped her reject self-limiting beliefs. “As a young girl growing up in a culturally oppressive environment the most common response I heard was NO.. “I believe that this gave me the ability not to have self- limiting beliefs and the courage to simply back myself and my intuition. I always think utopia then work back from there. These combined experiences have provided me with high levels of self-confidence, pose, and over the years transformation into the leader I am today.” “After 123 flights [in 2017], travelling nearly every single week, working in every state and territory, 2018 is going to be completely difference.”

role model for her two young kids. Although she’s lived separately to them for the past two years, she’s looking forward to being together again next year. “After 123 flights [in 2017], travelling nearly every single week, working in every state and territory, 2018 is going to be completely different. Not only for me, but for my children,” she says. “I’ll be starting my new year, back in Port Macquarie, where I will relocate KRISTAL KINSELA to, and resume 50/50 shared care. As owner of Indigenous Professional Services (IPS), Kristal My children are thrilled that their is set to grow more Indigenous businesses in 2018. mummy is coming home, and will play a more active role in their life again. I have the support of he joined the business in valued at 1.4 million,” says Kristal. my business partners to make the S2016, inspired to be part of an The firm also recruited twelve new business fit me.” organisation that advocated for employees. IPS is also set for momentous Indigenous business and was itself, As a leader, Kristal is determined growth in 2018, which Kristal is majority Indigenous owned. She to encourage more Indigenous excited about. saw the opportunity to create real, kids (especially girls) to never positive change in the community. “We’re keen to extend our services underestimate their potential. in the Indigenous business sector As a new business, IPS has She’s also a mentor, running from business advisory services, come a considerable way under motivational and leadership camps to incubators and growers of Kristal’s leadership. The firm now to educate young Aboriginal Indigenous business,” she says. works with a range of clients, women. In 2016, Kristal was “We’re exploring ways we can predominantly across government. deservedly named partner and collaborate with Ambassador for Indigenous “We leveraged the Commonwealth Govt and other stakeholders to Women in Business. Government’s Indigenous create and maintain sustainable procurement policy (IPP) to our Kristal’s determination stems from Indigenous businesses. Watch this advantage, winning 13 contracts a desire to be the best possible space!” about your thought: Is it true? Do I JANE HUXLEY have data to support my thinking? Did it really happen, or was it Jane Huxley is one of Australia’s leading women in business, something I imagined? Ladies, marketing and change management. She’s helped to propel a it’s time to get out of our heads number of large global businesses into the Australian digital and into the facts. Just one small step to being able to separate the market and is set to do it again in a massive new role. personal from the professional, and get you on your way.”

Jane is hopeful that the new year will be a groundbreaking one for his year she’ll further extend work in this space,” she says. “There women in business and also spell the place of streaming music, are so many of us now sharing T a new era for men and women podcasts and other audio in our stories and lessons learned, in working together. Australia, as the managing director the hope that we strengthen and of Spotify. fast track the next lot of fabulous “I hope that we can springboard women on their way. I think it’s off the watershed #metoo And after a 6-month break between important for us to share our stories movement of this year, and create jobs this year (spent travelling with of success and failures, and any momentum around expectations family) Jane is raring for a big 2018. hacks we’ve created along the way. for the treatment of women in all “It’s time to knuckle down a little professions,” she says. “With the women I present to, talk and figure out how to integrate work with, and mentor I see a similar “We need to continue to shine the and life again, so I can get the best pattern in terms of creating light on lesser experiences, but also of both worlds,” she tells us. “Lucky roadblocks and de-railers in our to showcase the circumstances for me I’m working for a company careers and it’s this; Women tend where women and men have built which has an enormous focus on to believe what they think. I’d love strong, positive and proactive life outside of work, and being able to create more awareness around relationships. I feel like we need to work in a way that means I can this, and ask women to stop and to grab this moment and use it be a Mum and an MD (MuMD?), as question what their inner voice is for good, and not allow it to spiral well as wife, sister, daughter, friend telling them – or in short what they into accusations, denials and etc etc etc. It’s a juggle, but I have are thinking. Pause and ask yourself meaningless apologies.” strong supporters around me, and I’m not shy of asking for help!”

Jane continues to be an outspoken advocate for women in leadership “I feel we need to grab this moment and use it for positions and is active in mentoring emerging leaders and being good, and not allow it to spiral into accusations, involved in affiliated speaking denials and meaningless apologies.” engagements.

“I feel passionate about “my generation” helping the next female leaders to step up, take on challenges, find their voices and LEAD, so I’m hoping to continue my

JANE LU Jane Lu is the CEO of online fashion retailer, Showpo. She was one of the first to join the ecommerce game in Australia, and has grown Showpo into an internationally recognised retailer with multi-million turnover and a social media presence that leaves traditional retailers for dead.

he’s transforming what it means to be the Sboss of a retail business, having built her role from the ground up. Jane’s also shifting ideas around how much a CEO needs to work, making it clear she enjoys travel, flexibility and life outside of the office. But despite referring to herself as @thelazyceo on social platforms, Jane is anything but. Jane and her team are also working on a number of big tech initiatives and broadening the business’s expansion overseas. “I want women to feel empowered and have more confidence in their abilities. There’s less She’s also redefining business as an advocate women in leadership positions, studying STEM for like-minded women, by co-founding and subjects, working in the tech space, etc. and contributing to the popular Facebook group, I hope to see big changes for women in these Like Minded Bitches Drinking Wine. areas,” she tells us. “My good friend Gen and I started the group As a leader, Jane is relaxed and self-effacing, for women entrepreneurs. Recently, I made a admitting she is always learning and evolving. series of videos for this page talking about my experiences and shared where I went wrong and “My leadership journey to date has been what I learned from each obstacle along the way. nothing but a learning curve,” she tells us. I think transparency makes a great leader, if “It’s not like you can become a great leader your peers can see how hard you work, the effort overnight, but through my failures and you put into what you do and that you’re able to successes I’ve managed to learn and use these admit where you’ve gone wrong, that will not as lessons to help guide and teach others. Trust only help you lead them, but it will make you is also an important part of leadership, to give build a solid team that trusts and values you.” trust to your team as well as to earn theirs.” elanie’s brainchild came to her when she was just 19 at MELANIE Muniversity. Frustrated by the tools available to create graphic design projects, she saw the need for an accessible design PERKINS program-- one that could be used by everyone. Melanie Perkins is the 10 years on and Melanie, along with co-founders Cliff Obrecht and Cameron Adams and their team, have built a global empire with over CEO and co-founder of the 200 employees, that was recently valued at over $1 billion. ‘unicorn’ online graphic design startup Canva, a Melanie is redefining business in Australia as one of the country’s program used by more than leading tech entrepreneurs. Canva has also put Australia on the 10 million people across 179 radar of some of the biggest players in Silicon Valley. countries. She’s also open and willing to give advice to other entrepreneurs, penning lengthy opinion pieces for the startup community.

s president of the ACTU, Ged has been outspoken in her support GED Afor paid domestic violence leave and the need for greater employee support in this area. She continues to challenge the Federal government KEARNEY to commit greater funding to the crisis, and by doing so, helps to pave the way for new employment standards and greater social equality.

Ged Kearney has led the In 2018, Ged is also set to contest the Victorian state seat of Brunswick Australian Council of Trade provided she wins preselection in November. But prior to that, Ged Unions since 2010 and long looks set to continue being a strong voice on issues affecting women, been a leading voice in the particularly when it comes to speaking up about sexual harassment union movement. at work, following 2017’s monumental worldwide shift in support for victims to be heard.

She’s already advocated for systems and procedures to be changed to make it easy and safer for women to speak up, and is particularly concerned about sexual abuse in industries that aren’t as high profile as media and entertainment (like hospitality, sales and financial services).

ppointed to the role in June 2017, she is tasked with the CHRISTINE Aenormous challenge of overseeing ’s continued business transition from a legacy postal service to a full-scale digital HOLGATE network. She takes over from former CEO, . Christine Holgate is the new While Christine has never worked or led in logistics before, she has prior experience branching into Asian markets and growing CEO of Australia Post significant revenue streams. As CEO for supplements brand, Blackmores, Christine led the brand into China and subsequently grew annual stock from around $25 million to over $200 million.

She is the first female CEO of Australia Post-- an organisation that has been around for over 200 years. irstin’s objective for starting #CelebratingWomen Kwas simple: share the stories of all women, everywhere, doing amazing things. The women profiled by Kirstin are not typically household names but are entirely worthy of recognition.

“My leadership journey is very much focused on helping to develop other leaders, particularly women, and encouraging them to focus on understanding the impact they have on others in order to be the most effective leader they can be,” she says.

In 2018, Kirstin looks forward to continuing the movement of positivity and propelling the #CelebratingWomen campaign to new heights.

“My plans for 2018 are to continue to try and have a positive impact on the people around me, the organisations I am involved with and in the community at large,” she says. “I love my work as a professional company director, so professionally will be focusing on my various board commitments. I am also excited to have teamed up with Catherine Fox to write a book on #CelebratingWomen, and more generally on women supporting women, which will be published later in the year.”

While Kirstin is focussed and committed to creating positive change, she’s also concerned DR KIRSTIN FERGUSON about the status quo for women in Australia and knows we still have a long way to go. Dr Kirstin Ferguson is a well-recognised, independent non-executive director “Amongst the many inequalities facing women in on a number of ASX 200 boards and terms of rates of women on boards, or the number government boards. She is also the of women in the leadership pipeline, the most immediate issue I would like to see fixed is the mastermind behind the inspirational gender pay gap,” she says. “Not only is it just simply #CelebratingWomen campaign, that ran wrong that women doing the same work should not all through 2017. be paid the same as men, it reduces women’s ability to achieve financial independence.”

As a board director for various organisations, Kirstin is passionate about company culture and how this impacts a business’s overall worth. She’s committed to helping organisations create the best working environments for growth and future success. “Strong governance underpins strong corporate cultures and I see boards playing a crucial role in ensuring that the purpose and strategy of an organisation is driving the correct behaviours,” she says. Dr Catriona Wallace Dr Catriona Wallace is the Founder & CEO of Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning company Flamingo AI, which provides Cognitive Virtual Assistants (software robots) ROSIE & MAGGIE, to Financial Services companies.

n the cutting edge of the AI revolution, Flamingo She’s also keen to lead the global conversation around OAI’s robots guide customers through their sales AI and promote the need for more women in the and service journeys. industry. And Catriona’s position at the top of Flamingo AI “I am very interested in leading the discussion globally makes it only the second woman-led business to list on around Artificial Intelligence. In particular the areas the ASX. that interests and concerns me is that currently the vast majority of coders and engineers are male Based in NYC and Sydney, Catriona is one of the hence the programming of the AI, robots, and other world’s most cited experts on the Future of Customer automation may be configured with a bias towards how Experience, AI and Bot Strategy. Her plans for 2018 men code,” she says. involve scaling the business internationally, but also spending more time with her five kids and partner. Catriona describes the beginning of her leadership journey and launching a tech business as akin to She’s refreshingly honest in conceding that life as “jumping into the abyss.” a tech entrepreneur has disrupted conventional parenting. “Everything is dark. You hit the ground. It hurts a bit. Then you stumble forward holding onto only the vision “I have spent the last 4 years travelling extensively in your mind. You get punched in the face by unknown to build out the Flamingo AI business across the US forces as you walk towards what you hope is some and Australia and so my children – three big ones who light,” she says. Eventually you reach a point where are grown up - two step sons Jake and Dan and then nothing can obstruct your vision and you’re entirely Hunter and then two teenagers, Indigo and Saxon, have confident with what you’re pursuing. had to have unconventional parenting. I want to be able to focus on them more. Saxon recently said to me that I was an ‘un-mother’, super loving like a mother but don’t actually do anything that mothers do!” EMMA ISAACS Emma Isaacs is the CEO and founder of Business Chicks, Australia’s largest network for women, with over 45,000 members.

mma Isaacs has never had any formal leadership Etraining, but some things don’t need to be taught. As the CEO of Business Chicks, Australia’s leading events and networking community, she’s already overseen enormous growth. She also continues to be a regular on speaking circuits, lives overseas and juggles all of this with a growing family of five kids. Emma’s helping to redefine business in Australia through her acceleration of women through training, networking and events. “My leadership style has been largely driven by gut feel and being kind to people,” she says. “I think my people would say I’m a tough leader because I’m always encouraging them to think differently and to think bigger, but ultimately that’s the job of a leader – to get people to go where they wouldn’t on their own and to get them feeling a little bit uncomfortable,” she says. Emma sees 2017 as a pivotal year for women, with a number of high-profile sexual assault scandals coming to light and the subsequent #MeToo social movement. She hopes to see the positive momentum from this, trickle into 2018 and beyond. “2017 was a particularly exciting year for women, obviously felt most keenly in the entertainment and TV industries with the Harvey Weinstein and Matt Lauer scandals here in the US and with Lisa Wilkinson taking a stand back home,” she says. “I think we saw more women moving through anger and into action and that can only have ripple effect on other industries, including business. We need to harness that energy and continue to speak out when it comes to the disparity and treatment of women in tech, in all industries really. We’ve all got a part to play in that – not just profiled women at the top of their games either.” MING LONG ELIZABETH Ming Long is the former CEO of Investa Group and now a non- GAINES executive director on a number of Australian boards including, Elizabeth Gaines is the Chartered Accountants and the Sydney University Finance & recently appointed CEO Audit Committee. She’s also a passionate and vocal advocate for of Fortescue Metals greater cultural diversity in the workforce and is on mission to Group. redefine the way that Australian businesses operate. Group Chairman, Andrew “We have been talking about gender There was no one to relate to, look Forrest announced the diversity for a long time and it still up to, and she constantly felt like appointment in November feels like we are fighting in the the onus was on her to break new 2017, while also selecting trenches to convince people why it’s ground. another woman, Julie important,” she told Women’s Agenda “I needed people around me to Shuttleworth, for the deputy in 2017. “I also feel compelled and point to different ways of leading CEO position. responsible to champion cultural or different ways a problem could diversity or the “Bamboo Ceiling”. For a traditional mining be tackled, not just the anglo-saxon company, which once had Ultimately, the fact that we don’t male leadership model or their a scarcity of women in its have diversity and inclusion in solution of what had been done ranks and a few years ago organisations comes down to before,” she says. none on its board, Fortescue leadership. It is leaders that make “I don’t want future female or ethnic Metals has come a long way. this happen and the fact that it leaders to feel the same way. We have In a statement following the hasn’t is a failure of leadership, it is a many critical and complex problems announcement Elizabeth reflection on all of us,” she says. to solve and we need everyone’s said: “Fortescue is a unique As a former CFO and CEO, Ming talent and capability to solve them.” company and a feature of says she felt “lonely” in the roles. our success is the strong relationship between the Chairman and CEO. I embrace the culture and values that truly set this company apart Shemara Wikramanayake and I look forward to working Shemara Wikramanayake has been head of Macquarie Asset with Andrew, the Board Management since 2008, making her the highest-paid female and the newly appointed executive in Australia. leadership team of talented individuals to continue to She’s also regularly tipped to be the future CEO of , when deliver success and value for current CEO Nicholas Moore retires. Shemara oversees a portfolio of $330 our shareholders.” billion in assets and 1500 employees globally. Elizabeth’s appointment Despite the prestige of her role, Shemara continues to be understated in her signals a new era for women approach. She rarely accepts interviews, savouring privacy for her family and working in the mining sector. has described her leadership style as accessible and approachable. Having Her leadership, proves that been with the business for over 30 years, Shemara also holds a wealth of the industry is not necessarily knowledge and enormous clout in the financial industry. one best suited to men. As a hugely successful female executive, Shemara is a role model to many women aspiring to lead in the corporate arena. Annie Parker

In early 2018, Annie Parker was appointed Microsoft’s global head of startups. Known as a ‘tech incubator guru’, she moves into the role following her tenure as the CEO of Fishburners, and the co-founder of the muru-D accelerator program.

Annie is quick to admit that her leadership journey to-date has been far from conventional, but she’s a big believer in positive energy and harnessing this to get where she wants.

“My career path has certainly not been a predictable one,” she tells us. “I have a history of quitting jobs without actually having a plan of what’s next or of taking seemingly big risks like moving half-way around the world to pursue a dream and leaving behind everything I know.”

“I made each of those decisions based on gut instinct and thankfully for the most part those risks have paid off. I’m a firm believer in empowering your team, leading from the front with passion and paying everything I know forward without agenda,” she says.

In 2018 (and in the future beyond) she hopes to see more women pursue their dreams and take on bigger career challenges without trepidation.

“I’d like to see more women have that fire in their belly belief that they really can take on a big business challenge or start a company and not hold themselves back,” she says. “On my travels around the country I meet no shortage of super qualified women who have so much potential, but they often hold back from taking the leap of faith because they feel they might not have all the answers or experience yet.

“My message to you all is, take that leap, you’ll do just fine. Starting something new is always scary, but it’s better to have no regrets than to wonder what if. As the saying goes, feel the fear and do it anyway.” SAM MOSTYN Holly Ransom Sam Mostyn is the president of the Australian Council Back in 2017, Richard Branson for International Development and a well-recognised named Holly Ransom as a non-executive director and adviser on sustainability. She person he believes will be a sits on the boards of Virgin Australia, Mirvac, Transurban global force of the future. Group, Australia, CoverMore and the AFL he Branson endorsement comes Commission. She’s also held long executive tenures at Tfollowing some influential work by major companies like Insurance Group and Holly. Optus Australia. Still in her twenties, she’s taken on senior roles in major corporates As Deputy Chair of the Diversity Council, Sam is redefining business and was selected by a former prime through her advocacy of diversity, inclusion and, by extension, minister to chair the 2014 G20 Youth organisational quotas. Summit. “Targeted appointments are actually part of our toolkit to get people from different backgrounds into these positions so we can get the “She is already having a significant true benefits of diverse leadership,” Sam says. impact today, and will go on to do a lot more tomorrow,” Branson said, “I’ve always said that hoping and wishing and praying for the noting Holly’s efforts are helping promotion of women, in the natural course, has been shown not to to breakdown barriers to women work in Australia … there’s a point at which targets and quotas have becoming successful entrepreneurs. their place.” Holly is the CEO of Emergent, a Sam is also paving the way for a more sustainable future through her company specialising in disruptive work with ClimateWorks Australia, The Climate Council and 1 Million strategy and assisting leaders to enact Women. She’s long held and promoted the view that organisations in organisational change. She is also a Australia play a central role in actioning climate change and putting well-known speaker and mentor for pressure on the government to do more. leaders of all generations. In a 2013 address for the Green Capital Forum, she highlighted the great need for business leaders to step in and shift the dial on issues She runs the above business on top of like sustainability and the environment. a number of significant appointments, including as co-chair of the United “If I think about the sustainability community, and leadership in this Nations Global Coalition of Young community more broadly, we need lots more of us standing up on Women Entrepreneurs. our boards, in chief executive rooms, in management committees, and just saying, ‘The standard of the current way in which we think In 2016, Holly became the youngest about our economy is not good enough. It’s not valuing the things we ever woman appointed to the board know matter to our communities’.” of an AFL football club, and was subsequently appointed to the AFL’s advisory board for the launch of the “I’ve always said that hoping and wishing and Women’s League. praying for the promotion of women, in the Richard Branson said he’s impressed natural course, has been shown not to work in by Holly’s “knowledge, poise and new ideas” and believes that as Australia … there’s a point at which targets and more female CEOs come to the fore, quotas have their place.” business will be changed for the better. ANNA Cynthia Dearin As Managing Director at Dearin & Associates, Cynthia BLIGH Dearin specialises in business consulting services and government relations, with particular focus on Most people would opportunities for growth in the Middle East & North Africa. recognise Anna Bligh for her successful tenure he’s instrumental in enabling Australian businesses to go international, in politics. As the 37th Sparticularly in markets that are complex to navigate, but have huge Queensland Premier, growth potential. she oversaw a number “I want to see more small businesses looking outside the Australian of key initiatives and bubble and seeing and seizing the incredible opportunities for growing was praised for her commercially and making an impact - that exist overseas,” she says. “Part of composure, compassion my contribution to making that happen will be scaling up the International and leadership Business Accelerator, which my company, Dearin & Associates launched this year. I’m hoping that by the end of 2018, we’ll be expanding into the US during the tragic 2011 market.” Queensland floods. A former diplomat, she’s learnt what she knows on the ground, and describes Today, Anna is just as active her leadership journey as, “extremely varied and, at times, extremely in shaping society through her challenging. Sometimes exhilarating. Always interesting.” role as CEO for the Australian “I’ve managed teams in the Middle East, as a diplomat and a management Bankers Association-- the consultant. I’ve been the CEO of an industry association in Australia, I run industry’s peak lobby group. my own show these days and I’ve also been a board director.” And she looks set to have a As part of her work, Cynthia hopes to encourage greater female business busy 2018, given the recently ownership overseas, and thinks that right now, there’s great opportunity for announced Royal Commission Australian women to capitalise. “I’d like to see more women launching their into the banking sector. businesses overseas - we are grossly underrepresented in that space.” Although many questioned 2018 is unlikely to be a quiet year for Cynthia. As well as juggling a baby son her acceptance of the role and a rapidly growing business, she’s also set to publish her latest book and post politics, her leadership in aims to make more time to look after her wellbeing. a tricky and often contentious sector is hugely important. “In 2018, I’m planning to do everything better, especially where managing my time and looking after my health and vitality are concerned,” she says. Anna is effectively in a “I’m also planning to write and publish my second book (Working title position to hold Australian Business Beyond Borders) about what it takes to successfully take your small to account and ensure company international.” best practices are achieved. As such, she is committed to re-earning the trust of Australians and changing a culture which has historically hindered this for banks.

Prior to joining the ABA, Anna was the CEO of YWCA NSW, an NFP striving to build a safer world for women and children with programs and services focussed on ending the epidemic of domestic violence. uring her four-year tenure, Michelle has Dkickstarted a number of key cultural initiatives and in 2016 was awarded the Victorian Award for Excellence in Women’s Leadership. The accolade recognising her impressive efforts in pursuing gender equality and diversity more broadly in the legal sector.

“As long as I am working in the profession I will continue to be passionate about increasing diversity in law firms,” she says. “I really believe that, quite apart from it being the right thing to do, it is a business imperative to ensure that we bring diversity of thinking to every area of work that we touch, be it work directly for our clients, policy development or administrative and judicial decision making. Other than politics, it is difficult to think of a profession that ought, so obviously, reflect the society within which we exist.”

“The legal industry has been run for decades, if not centuries, with men at the helm,” she says. “Women, and people from more diverse backgrounds, will hopefully be able to bring a fresh perspective and ideas for how we structure and run our businesses.”

Michelle is also focussed on new areas of growth for the firm and recognises the need to constantly evolve. “The legal sector has been under enormous pressure over the past decade to change and adapt,” she says. “I am proud of the fact that Maddocks has confronted these challenges and still recorded strong growth and higher levels of client service during this period. However, there are still challenges that we are preparing to meet.”

On a personal level, Michelle is looking forward to MICHELLE DIXON a 2018 filled with family, friends and a plan to get fit. Michelle Dixon is the CEO of major law firm, Maddocks. “After 4 years in the CEO seat I have realised the importance of maintaining my own health and wellbeing (some would say I have been a slow learner on this score),” she tells us.

“My plans for 2018 are therefore to get fit, read more books, listen to more TED talks and spend more time doing as much as I can outdoors with my children now that they are strong enough to ride a bike, paddle a kayak and go for a hike.”

HOLLY KRAMER Holly Kramer is a non-executive board director for a number of large corporates and government organisations including, Woolworths, Australia Post, AMP and the GO Foundation. She is also a strong and active advocate for more women on boards and female leadership more broadly.

hile Holly acknowledges that meant that the playing field wasn’t Worganisations are undergoing quite as level as I had assumed,” huge transitions right now, she also she says. “And finally, as I’ve “There is significant believes that the fundamental tenets managed to achieve roles that pressure on businesses of success remain the same. She have given me a greater degree of to perform, especially is committed to making sure that influence, I’ve recognised that I now the organisations she works with have a responsibility to advocate on where revolutions in understand this. behalf of other women, and others technology and shifting in corporate life who face unfair “There is significant pressure on business models are obstacles.” businesses to perform, especially changing the rules where revolutions in technology In 2018, Holly is focused on and shifting business models are embracing the digital world more of the game. And yet, changing the rules of the game. fully, recognising the impact this the foundation of a And yet, the foundation of a sound has on how businesses of the sound and prosperous and prosperous business culture future will function successfully. is the same as it has always been: business culture is the “I need to get more digital,” she a leader who is operating within a same as it has always says. “While I do spend far too set of core values, seeking out and much time connected to my been: a leader who is valuing diverse views, listening to iPhone apps, I am amazed at how employees and putting customers operating within a set “traditional” I still am in many ways. first,” she says. of core values, seeking I will continue to stay on top of “Hence, I will spend even more time the trends in all the usual ways of out and valuing diverse in 2018 using my experience (and course: reading, traveling, attending views, listening to scars) to support individuals and conferences/speakers/events. But organisations who are dedicated to nothing substitutes for learning employees and putting getting these things right.” about the digital world more than customers first” immersing yourself as a customer Holly concedes that early on in her and a participant.” career she resisted acknowledging the disadvantages she faced as a woman in business. “I was in denial that such barriers existed for women. I didn’t see it and didn’t want to believe it,” she tells us.

“But then as my career advanced, I gained awareness and began to realise that there were some conscious but certainly many unconscious biases out there that Tracey Fellows Tracey Fellows is the CEO of ASX listed property business, REA Group, and is responsible for operations across Australia, Asia and Europe. Tracey has a strong background in IT and tech and has previously held executive roles at Microsoft, Dell Australia Post and IBM.

s one of only a small number of female CEOs she’s previously told Women’s Agenda. “Because most Aleading an ASX-listed company, Tracey is paving of us are operating in workplaces that are still very the way for future generations of women. She’s also male dominated. We’re the people who are going to positively shifted the culture at REA Group to be more change that. So help support other women along the inclusive for women. In 2016, for instance, REA Group way, whether they are peers or people underneath you. implemented one of the most generous paid parental In 2018 she hopes to see greater “recognition by policy leave schemes (6 months paid leave for primary carers makers and the education sector that far more needs and 3 months for secondary carers/partners) we’ve to be done to close the yawning gender gap when it seen in business, and encouraged all parents at the comes to science and technology.” Tracey notes that company to capitalise. “three quarters of all jobs in the future will require Tracey is likewise a strong advocate for female STEM skills, and yet today women comprise just 15% of leadership, and mentors and sponsors future leaders, the STEM workforce.” “If girls at school aren’t learning encouraging them to speak up about their aspirations. those skills, then they’re going to be automatically sidelined from jobs in the future. That, to me, sounds “If you’re an aspiring woman moving into that next like a national emergency”, she says. leadership position, there is nothing better than helping the women below you and bringing them up,”

“Because most of us are operating in workplaces that are still very male dominated. We’re the people who are going to change that. So help support other women along the way, whether they are peers or people underneath you” PIP MARLOW KAREN LAWSON Pip Marlow is the CEO, Customer Karen Lawson is the CEO of Australia’s leading Marketplace for , corporate start-up accelerator, Slingshot. responsible for Suncorp’s strategic role in market disruption. Prior to this, Pip During her time with the business she’s overseen significant was Managing Director for Microsoft growth and spearheaded a number of influential initiatives Australia. and programs, including the newly launched ‘CoVentured’ online platform. Pip continues to redefine business in Australia through her advocacy for women in tech and “We launched our online business, CoVentured this year IT fields. More broadly, she’s an emphatic which connects corporates and startups together,” Karen supporter of greater organisational diversity. says. “We realised that we wanted to help more founders and corporates than our accelerator model allows. We have “Like many industries, creating an had over 40 corporates within a few months and the results environment where everyone can thrive – not have been outstanding. In 2018 we will take this business despite of who they are but because of who they global, entering the US first,” she says. are is important,” she recently told Women’s Agenda. “The more we embrace diversity at Under Karen’s leadership, Slingshot was also named the work, the more people from different groups Number One Accelerator in the country by volume of will be able to be their authentic selves. businesses and founders accelerated, which has occured Companies need to realise that or they’ll lose through the organisation’s corporate programs. out significantly. I also believe we need to fight against the stereotypes by challenging bias A recent Slingshot Demo Day broke all records with eight where we see it.” out of the 11 start-ups featured getting deals, or deals in progress. She also hopes to see greater support for female-led start-ups in 2018. Karen attributes her success as a leader to the fact she’s avoided the easy options. “I haven’t taken easy jobs or pathways, but “Too often we see women missing out on along with the challenges, which have been daunting at times, their dream of building their business as it has been thrilling and rewarding,” she says. they struggle to break into typically male investment networks,” says Pip. “We need to She also believes the opportunities available to other women build an ecosystem around women that helps right now, are endless. “There is nothing stopping women them raise capital, launch their business and from leading now, other than themselves,” she says. most importantly encourages them to reach their greatest potential. With women making “Women now have to step up, lean in and put their hands up. up 80% of purchasing decisions and controlling Never has there been more support, awareness, goals and around 65% of consumer spending, we need to statistics tracking progress. The huge number of support be helping them pursue their business ideas. groups, mentors and media attention means there has never been a better time to be a woman. So grab your opportunity With over 20 years experience in the with both hands and for those women who are in leadership, industry herself, Pip is a formidable leader don’t throw down a ladder, get a huge fishing net.” and has significant experience and expertise across local and global markets. She’s also a non-executive director on the board of the Australian Rugby Union, sits on the Vice “I haven’t taken easy jobs or pathways, Chancellor’s Board at UTS and is a member of but along with the challenges, Chief Executive Women. which have been daunting at times, it has been thrilling and rewarding” KICK START YOUR CAREER WITH THE AGILE MBATM

WE LIVE IN EXCITING TIMES. NO MATTER WHAT SECTOR YOU’RE IN, INNOVATION AND TECHNOLOGY HAVE CREATED A WORLD THAT SEEMS TO CHANGE EVERY DAY.

THE AGILE MBATM IS SPECIFICALLY DESIGNED FOR WORKING ADULTS, SO IT’S DELIVERED 100% ONLINE TO GIVE YOU THE SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE TO GET AHEAD AND STAY AHEAD.

THE AGILE MBATM IS AUSTRALIA’S LARGEST MBA.

CHECK YOUR ELIGIBILITY TODAY. aib.edu.au/agilemba