Australia’s premier annual event for women in leadership

Every year the Australian Women’s Leadership Symposium provides an unparalleled opportunity for hundreds of Australian women to gather together to explore contemporary leadership theory and observe current ‘best practice’ examples.

Through participation in the two-day program, female leaders from all sectors and industries are exposed to state-of-the-art leadership thinking, delivered first-hand by Australia’s most inspirational leaders, trainers and academics.

Symposium speaker bio's Melbourne | Sydney | Canberra | Brisbane | Perth

Claire Hooper Stand Up Comedian / Writer +Profile Claire Hooper is best known for her role as a Team Captain on Network TEN’s Good News Week. Claire also appeared on Rove Live, ABC TV’s The Sideshow, The Comedy Channel’s Stand Up! Australia and the Melbourne International Comedy Festival’s Great Debate with Stephen K Amos and Greg Fleet. Claire began her comedy career in Perth in 2004 when she won her state finals of Triple J’s Raw Comedy. In 2005 she was selected to perform in ‘The Comedy Zone’ at Melbourne International Comedy Festival and won ‘Best and Fairest’ at the National Improv Championships. In 2006 she scored a Best Newcomer nomination at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival and went on to earn a place in Scotland on Sunday’s top five comedy picks of the Edinburgh Fringe. Since then she has written and performed three solo shows: Showgirl, Storybook and Forget Your Troubles, C’mon Get Hoopsy.

Glenys Shearer Senior Executive and director, The Just Group +Profile Glenys Shearer left a department store chain to manage a Just Jeans store in 1982. After a career spanning 27 years with the Just Group she is a Senior Executive and a director on the Just Group Board. Her current direct responsibilities are as a director of brands JacquiE, Smiggle and all brands within the NZ operations. Glenys also chairs the JV board of the Jay Jays South African operations. Along the way there have been "some massive learning curves" including establishing Just Jeans in New Zealand. An ongoing challenge is engaging a changing workforce comprised of 90 per cent women, 70% of who are under 30. She attributes her success to working with a great company which has offered continuous opportunities and retained the easy communication style of a family business. Glenys was the 2005 national winner of the Australian Government Private & Corporate Sector Award in the Telstra Australian Businesswomen of the year Awards.

Captain Jacqueline King, Royal Australian Navy +Profile CAPT Jacqueline King joined the Royal Australian Air Force in 1983 as an Engineering Cadet Officer, graduating in 1986 with a Bachelor of Engineering Degree in Chemical Engineering, and was promoted to Flying Officer. In 1987 Jacqui transferred to the Royal Australian Navy as an Explosive Ordnance Engineering Officer. In 1989 she was posted to the Royal Military College of Science in Shrivenham, England for specialist studies, culminating in a Masters of Science in Explosive Ordnance Engineering. Over the past 20 years Jacqui has held a variety of Navy postings including Assistant Director Armament in the Directorate Naval Weapon Systems, Director Naval Weapon Systems, Australian Exchange Officer to the UK MOD Directorate Ordnance Safety Group and Director Ordnance Safety. Jacqui is currently Director General Navy Certification and safety.

Dr Kate Auty BA(Hons) LLB, MEnvSc, PhD Commissioner for Environmental Sustainability +Profile Dr Kate Auty is a graduate of the University of Melbourne (Arts (Hons)/Law), Monash University (Masters in Environmental Science), and La Trobe University (PhD in Law and Legal Studies). She also holds a Diploma of International Environmental Law from UNITAR. She has worked as a lawyer for the Victorian Aboriginal Legal Service and the Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody; as lecturer and project coordinator in the Graduate Certificate in Environment and Heritage Interpretation at the Institute of Koori Education, Deakin University. As a barrister she established the first Victorian Koori Court and acted as inaugural magistrate. She has undertaken a number of consultancies including a project on local government and climate change for the National Environmental Law Association and in 2008 Dr Auty was appointed a Charles Joseph LaTrobe Fellow with the Centre for Sustainable Regional Communities, La Trobe University. Dr Kate Auty accepted the appointment as the new Commissioner for Environmental Sustainability effective from the 19th June 2009.

Dr Kerry Ferguson Pro Vice-Chancellor (Equity and Student Services), La Trobe University +Profile Dr Ferguson has over thirty years of experience in Tertiary Education and prior to her appointment as Pro Vice-Chancellor, her positions included Head of the School of Occupational Therapy; Deputy Dean and Dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences at La Trobe University. Her current portfolio includes responsibility for student services, student equity, equal opportunity including equal opportunity for women in the workplace, Indigenous education, counselling services, careers and employment services, student engagement and the University ombudsman. She continues to be a Clinical Member of the Family Therapy Association and a recognised mediator in conflict resolution.

Maxine Morand MP State Member for Mount Waverley, Minister for Children and Early Childhood Development, Minister for Women’s Affairs +Profile Maxine was a health professional prior to being elected to Parliament in 2002. Maxine trained as a general nurse and specialised in renal nursing, then spent five years as a Victorian Transplant Coordinator. After starting a family, Maxine undertook further University study which led to a research position at the Cancer Council of Victoria, working in behavioural research. Following the election of the Bracks Government in 1999, Maxine was appointed as an advisor to then Minister for Health. Maxine was elected to Parliament in November 2002, and re-elected as Member for Mount Waverley in November 2006. In 2007, Maxine was appointed as Minister for Children and Early Childhood Development, and Minister for Women’s Affairs, in the Brumby Government.

Emma Cassar General Manager, Women’s Prison Region, Corrections Victoria, Department of Justice +Profile The Women’s Region consists of a maximum security prison located in Deer Park, Melbourne and a minimum security prison located in Maldon. The region manages approximately 310 women. Emma Cassar manages all functional areas of the prison including custodial operations, vocational services, business and finance, clinical services and research/quality assurance. Emma has a Doctorate of Forensic Psychology from Melbourne University and has worked within Corrections Victoria as a Forensic Psychologist, Custodial Operations Manager, Clinical and Offender Programs Manager and Project Manager. Emma also has a private practice, Myndscape Consulting, which focuses on providing clinical supervision, organisational consultancy work, training and program development. Prior to her psychological training, Emma managed several small businesses, and has lectured at several universities. More recently, Emma won the Victorian Telstra Young Business Women of the Year. She then went on to win the National Telstra Young Business Women of the Year, sponsored by Marie Claire.

Dr Helen Szoke BA (University of Tasmania), M A Preliminary (Deakin University), Graduate Diploma in Public Policy (University of Melbourne), PhD (University of Melbourne) Commissioner, Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission +Profile Helen Szoke is the Commissioner with the Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission. She has held this position since 1st October 2009. Previously she was the Chief Executive Officer and the Chief Conciliator for the Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission, a position she held since December 2004. She has previously held positions relating to management, community development, organizational development and regulation in the education and health sectors. Helen is currently a Director of the Adult Migrant Education Services, and a Board Member of Multicultural Arts Victoria. She has held various other statutory and Directors positions including the National Health and Medical Research Licensing Committee, the Scientific Advisory Committee for the Key Centre for Women’s Health, a Director with Women’s Health Victoria and various community agencies. She also served one term as a local city councilor.

Jocelyn Bignold CEO, McAuley Community Services for Women +Profile Jocelyn Bignold is the CEO of McAuley Community Services for Women. With 25 years in Community Development, Policy and Management Jocelyn was Community Services Manager at Melbourne City Mission for five years and has contributed to conference papers. Her extensive work includes; aged care, children and adults with chronic illness, adults with intellectual and psychiatric disabilities, children in residential care, homelessness, imprisonment and family violence. Jocelyn’s work has led to an extensive involvement with Government and other NGO’s to improve the policy response and service systems designed to support those in need. In 2009 Jocelyn was inducted into the Victorian Women’s Honour Roll in recognition of the work undertaken on behalf of women in prison.

Katie Lahey Chief Executive, Business Council of Australia +Profile Katie Lahey took up the position as Chief Executive of the Business Council of Australia in September 2001. The Business Council of Australia is an association of Chief Executives of the top 100 companies. It was established in 1983 to provide a forum for Australia’s business leadership to contribute directly to public policy debates. Previously, Ms Lahey served five years as the Chief Executive of the State Chamber of Commerce (New South Wales), during which time the organisation went through dynamic change and growth. Ms Lahey moved to the Chamber after three years as Chief Executive of the Sydney City Council, during which time she succeeded in turning a $22.5 million deficit into a $14 million surplus. She has also held a range of senior management positions in the Victorian Public Service. Ms Lahey is a Director of David Jones, Chairman of Carnival Australia and an Ambassador for the Australian Indigenous Education Foundation. In 2003, Ms Lahey was awarded a Centenary Medal for her contribution to Australian Society in the area of Business Leadership.

Fiona Hodges General Manager Community Wellbeing, Cardinia Shire Council +Profile Fiona has been with Cardinia Shire Council since 2001, leading the Community Wellbeing Division for the past seven years. She has a Bachelor of Education as well as business management and board of director’s qualifications and is a member of Local Government Professionals. Her extensive community experience includes 10 years in secondary education, various roles in the sport and recreation sector, including at club and state level, as well as small-business management. This broad experience has equipped her with a sound foundation to set direction across her portfolio in regard to the community services, arts, culture, recreation, leisure and employment needs of the current and future population. Fiona is committed to ensuring Cardinia’s communities are well connected, vibrant and sustainable.

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