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

Patrick Pathinathan Microsoft State Director for Queensland, Northern Territory and PNG +Profile Patrick is responsible for Microsoft’s operations in Queensland, the Northern Territory and the Pacific Islands. In his capacity as State Director, Patrick is charged with servicing Microsoft’s customer base and supporting the +3000 partners in the region. Patrick manages and influences Microsoft’s investment and resourcing decisions, covering a broad range of functions, from Research and Development through to marketing, business development and partner engagement. Patrick has an MBA from the University of Queensland in addition to a degree in Computer Science from RMIT. He has more than 15 years experience in the ICT industry and has been with Microsoft since 2006.

Kay Ganley CEO, Charlton Brown +Profile Kay Ganley is at the head of one of Australia’s leading training providers and job placement agencies for the nanny, child care, aged care and disability care industries. In 1995, Kay purchased Brisbane-based Charlton Brown Australia Nanny College. The company was then re-branded as CHARLTON BROWN®, amalgamating the College and Nanny Placement Agency under the one name. Business expansion then followed throughout Australia and offshore, establishing formal agreements in Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam and India. Kay is a member and Chair of numerous training and education boards, and the recipient of many awards, including the 2007 CEO Challenge, a 2008 Finalist for the Telstra Women’s Business Awards and the 2009 Outstanding Professional Contribution Award from Queensland Education and Training International (QETI).

Theodora Le Souquet Managing Director, Obesity and Mental Health Institute +Profile Before Theodora commenced her current role, she was an independent strategy director, with an international consulting career across the United States and Europe in global marketing and commercialisation. She has assisted public and private companies, NGOs and governments with project strategies, working side-by-side with senior management to project manage implementation and reportage. One of her current successes in Queensland is working with Queensland Mental Health establishing the Consumer, Carer and Families Framework which puts consumers at the forefront of mental health treatment and evaluation. Theodora serves as on the Women in Cricket board sub-committee of Queensland Cricket and is the former chair of the Queensland Writers Centre (QWC) and a former board member of Women in Technology (WiT). Using her global expertise, Theodora has developed the ability to communicate with corporate, government and non-government organisations to move projects forward. Through government and industry resources, she has secured Australian business interest in overseas markets and has been instrumental in assisting companies across-the-board with strategy and project management.

Ramila Desic Industry Engagement Officer, Construction Skills Queensland +Profile Since earning a Certificate III in Carpentry and Joinery in 1996, she has coordinated many programs for women and girls in her efforts to recruit more women to the construction industry.Radmila has led by example to challenge female stereotypes and has become a positive role model and active mentor for young women completing their construction industry apprenticeships. Through her work with Construction Skills Queensland and as President of the Queensland Chapter of the National Association for Women in Construction (NAWIC) in a volunteer capacity, she has achieved success in exposing the sector to the positive and valuable contribution women can make in building and construction. Radmila will be discussing how the construction industry is moving forward with its policies on attracting and retaining more female staff at all levels.

Karen Read GM Business Planning and Reporting, Xstrata Copper +Profile Karen holds a Bachelor of Business and is a Certified Practicing Accountant and member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. Her career has spanned more than 20 years in the mining industry in a variety of finance and management roles across numerous Xstrata operations and countries. She is a Director of the Mount Isa Water Board, Queensland Country Health, Chair of Northern Stevedoring Services and Deputy Chair of Queensland Country Credit Union. In 2009, Karen won the Queensland Hudson Private and Corporate Sector Award as part of the Telstra Business Women’s Awards.

Ms Elizabeth Fraser Commissioner, Commission for Children and Young People and Child Guardian +Profile Elizabeth commenced the role of Commissioner for Children and Young People in Queensland in January 2005. Since then, she has gone on to work nationally and internationally, working at all levels of government. Her areas of speciality include child protection, family services, community development, policy and program development, review and implementation, and organisational change and support. Elizabeth graduated from the University of Queensland with a Bachelor of Arts degree majoring in Psychology and History and a Bachelor of Social Work. She also holds a Graduate Diploma in Multicultural Studies and a Certificate in Teaching English as a Foreign Language.

Tami Harriot Women’s Markets Manager, Westpac +Profile Tami Harriott grew up in Delaware, USA. She majored in political science at University before starting a career in management in the banking, construction and health industries. With a strong interest in social justice and global issues, she went on to study women’s issues at University and complete her MBA in international business. When she married her Australian husband Pete, it wasn’t long before they moved to Tasmania where his family lived. Tami worked for a Commercial Manager for a Credit Union and her son Harrison was born not long after moving to Australia. Tami has subsequently moved with her family to Brisbane to take up the role of Westpac’s state manager for women’s markets. Tami has a strong interest in women’s issues and mentoring women in small business. She is a Committee member for the Australian Business Women’s Network and has been a judge for the Telstra Businesswomen’s Awards.

Jennifer Cullen CEO, Brain Injury Association of Queensland Inc +Profile Jennifer joined the team at the Brain Injury Association of Queensland (BIAQ) in September 2004 as the Services Manager before progressing to Director of Business and Community Services in September 2006, and being appointed Chief Executive Officer in 2008. Jennifer started her career as a diversional therapist working in a residential aged care facility and she has 20 years experience in disability and aged care services. She has worked in a variety of organisations in the ACT, NSW and Queensland in positions including lifestyle support worker, respite centre coordinator; outreach coordinator and manager. Jennifer is committed to indigenous issues and staff learning and development. Jennifer has a Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Health Science, Master of Health Science and Graduate Diploma of Public Health and is an AFCHSE. Jennifer is the Vice-President of Brain Injury Australia.

Sharon Solyma Community Grants & Research Officer, Gold Coast City Council +Profile Sharon entered local government three years ago, having previously worked in academia, the environment sector, the music industry and at a Cooperative Research Centre. Her move into local government came as a result of her interest in community development, governance, future thinking and leadership. Sharon is a strong advocate for the benefits of developing collaborative relationships, and greatly values the diversity and positive impact of working in local government. Sharon believes that women as leaders have a unique contribution to make for their strong commitment to community development, for their down to earth practicality and also for their compassion – qualities she believes contribute to strong and principle-centred leadership.

Margaret Harrison Wheat Farmer, Founder & Director, Mungindi Music Festival +Profile Originally from Brisbane, Margaret Harrison has lived in Mungindi for 25 years. It’s a small township on the banks of the Barwon River with half of the town in New South Wales and the other half in Queensland. Having learned piano as a child, she was the natural – and only – choice to be the teacher/conductor and Festival President for Mungindi’s inaugural Music Festival. Margaret was the driving force behind two highly successful music Festivals in Mungindi. In 2005 Margaret became acutely aware of the demoralising effects of the drought on her friends and their community. Margaret identified the potential benefits of the music festival as a means to unify and engage the people of Mungindi, as well as giving them the opportunity to have some fun. Through months of hard work and determination, Margaret was able to bring world-class performers to their remote community giving visitors and locals an experience to remember. Over 300 musicians and thousands of visitors flocked to the town of Mungindi to enjoy the festivals in October 2005 and 2007.

Lindy Chen Founder & Managing Director, ChinaDirect Sourcing +Profile Born in China, Lindy migrated to Australia eight years ago. Through her strong business acumen and willingness to assist Australian companies to see China not as a threat, but as their competitive advantage, ChinaDirect was created in 2005 to source products from China. She has a strong desire to raise Australian's awareness of her home country, and vice versa, so the two countries can grow harmoniously together. Recently she authored a book, Import From China…How To Make a Million and Not Get Burnt, and a DVD of the same name. Lindy holds degrees in Education and in Science, majoring in Mathematics, and often surprises people with her mental arithmetic ability! Lindy has been a finalist in several prestigious awards, including awards for her business. In 2008, ChinaDirect were honoured by winning the Business Services category of the Australian Small Business Champion Awards for QLD, and in 2007, won the Australian Home-Based Business Awards.

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