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

Shelagh Magadza Associate Director, Perth International Arts Festival Denise is a non-executive director and chairman holding board and committee positions with Cronulla Sharks, KEA Australia, UnitingCare NSW/ACT and NSW Bar Association. In addition she runs her own business delivering practical solutions to individuals and businesses in the areas of governance and leadership. She has nearly 40 years of business experience, including at CEO level, in both large and small businesses in more than 20 different countries. After a long career in commercial banking in New Zealand she spent more than 12 years with the International Finance Corporation (IFC) – the investment banking arm of The World Bank Group. Her last executive role was as CEO of the IFC Sydney, the only woman in Australasia to have held this position.

Kirsty Sutherland Partner, Corrs Chambers Westgarth +Profile Kirsty is a partner of Corrs Chambers Westgarth, a leading national law firm. Kirsty heads up Corrs’ Litigation and Insolvency Groups in Perth. She is on the firm’s national board. Kirsty has acted in high profile litigations including the Esso/Longford class action, the inquiry and civil actions arising out of the explosion on HMAS Westralia and the inquiry into kickbacks paid to Saddam Hussein's regime. In addition, Kirsty has been integrally involved in some of the largest insolvencies in Australia, including the receivership of various entities in the Westpoint group. Kirsty has also been recognised as a Best Lawyer (Litigation, Alternative Dispute Resolution, Class Action Litigation and Insolvency and Reorganisation) in the 2010 Best Lawyers peer review and a Best Lawyer (Litigation and Insolvency and Reorganisation) in the 2009 edition, as published in the Australian Financial Review.

Erica Smyth Chairman, Toro Energy Ltd +Profile Erica is the Chairman of publicly listed Toro Energy Ltd, and is a Member of the Board of the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation and the State Government’s Interim Council for Science and Innovation. She is also Chairman of the interactive science centre - Scitech, the Diabetes Research Foundation of WA and the State Government’s screen industry funding body - ScreenWest. Erica holds a Bachelor of Science from UWA and a Masters of Science from McGill in Montreal, where she spent 15 years as a minerals exploration geologist before focusing on project approvals, community consultation and external affairs in the minerals and later the oil and gas industries with BHP and Woodside.

Joanne Farrell Vice President Organisational Resources, RioTinto Today, the $80M company boasts over fifty Concept Stores and over 35 David Jones counters throughout Australia, complemented by over 650 salon and pharmacy stockist’s of the brand throughout Australia, NZ, USA and Canada. The brand has also recently launched itself successfully in the USA and Canada. As the world’s largest makeup academy, Napoleon Perdis Make-Up Academy boasts 7 world class campuses in Hollywood, Paddington, Sydney, Parramatta, Melbourne, Gold Coast and Brisbane. The programs teach pupils make-up techniques that range from the most natural looks to the latest in fashion. Emanuel Perdis has been an instrumental figure in the creation of the Napoleon make-up phenomenon and is now the companies Managing Director. Emanuel is also an inspiring and passionate Executive Coach, Speaker, Mediator, Mentor, Trainer, and Homeopathic Counselor.

Angela Whittington CEO, Imaging the South Lisbeth started as a graduate in ANZ and then transferred into another superannuation and investments organisation at the time of a Joint Venture. Lisbeth has held a number of roles within the HR department including recruitment, strategy and policy, and HR generalist. Over the past couple of years, Lisbeth has worked extensively with the Advice & Sales departments, Finance department & Superannuation & Investments departments, providing comprehensive HR strategy, support and guidance to these groups. Lisbeth has a Bachelor of Commerce (UNSW) with a major in HRM and is currently studying her Masters degree. Lisbeth has two young girls, aged seven and five, and in her leisure time enjoys spending time with her husband and children. Lisbeth was awarded the AHRI HR Practitioner of the Year award in 2009.

Justine Guest Managing Director, Babes on the Run Ms Manton is a strong and respected advocate for community development, particularly in relation to employment, housing, health and education. She has been actively involved with NSWALC, the state’s peak democratically elected Aboriginal body, since its inception, and is a former Chairperson and founding member of the Karuah Local Aboriginal Land Council. Ms Manton has had a lifetime commitment to improving the health and wellbeing of her people, particularly through education and training. In addition to her duties as Chairperson of NSWALC, she represents her people on a number of boards, including the Worimi Conservation Lands, Aboriginal Community Environment Network and the Northern Alliance. She is also a member of the State Government’s Ministerial Advisory Panel on child sexual abuse. Ms Manton was nominated for NSW Woman of the Year in 2007. She has been married for 41 years, has four children and nine grandchildren.

Clare Allen CEO, Community First International Ltd +Profile Claire has over 18 years experience in senior management roles and currently runs Community First International, a high performing employment and community service organisation with nine Job Service Australia sites. It delivers Home and Community Care services, the Personal Helpers and Mentors Program and is a Registered Training Organisation. Claire has a Masters in Leadership and Management and is currently undertaking the Doctorate of Business Administration at the University of Western Australia. She also holds a Diploma from the Australian Institute of Company Directors. Claire is passionate about effective leadership, sound strategic planning and people.

Rebecca Moore Director of Community and Strategy, Community Services of City of Nedlands +Profile The past 16 years has seen Rebecca work in places like Geraldton, Bunbury, Perth and Tennant Creek, working in local government, state government and private enterprise. She has worked with farmers groups, overseas trade delegations, local councils from Esperance to Kununurra, mining companies and small communities. She has held seven different roles in that time and spent the last seven years in local government, initially transforming libraries and organisational culture, with a current focus on driving strategic and corporate planning as well as managing community services and communications and marketing. She was named the Home Building Society’s Public Sector Manager of the Year in 2007 and Telstra WA Community and Government Business Woman of the Year in 2008.

Linda Wayman CEO, Austereo +Profile Linda began her career as a cadet journalist with the The West Australian newspaper and nowadays works for Australia’s largest radio network where she oversees two radio stations in Perth, MIX 94.5 and 92.9, where she is responsible for 90 staff and a budget of $42 million. Her path to this position has not been straight forward. She has worked in a variety of career avenues including journalism, public affairs, marketing, public relations, government, events management, business development and administration in many cities throughout Australia. Some of Linda’s major career achievements to date include being an instrumental part of the management team running the America’s Cup media centre in Fremantle, Group Editor of five award winning suburban newspapers in Melbourne, Senior Executive communication positions with the Victorian Government, EventsCorp General Manager overseeing all aspects of events including business development, event management, contract management and public relations. Linda was the WA Winner of the Telstra Businesswoman of the Year for 2003.

Jonathan Throssell CEO, The Shire Mundaring Neryl East is a writer, speaker, academic and communication specialist, with extensive experience on both sides of the microphone. She currently manages the communications and media function for Shellharbour City Council – an organisation in a period of transition following the dismissal of its elected Councillors in July 2008. Neryl’s previous positions include Head of Communications and Marketing at the Australian War Memorial, Manager Communications and Public Relations at Wollongong City Council, Manager External Relations at the University of Western Sydney Macarthur, and journalist, presenter and producer at WIN Television, Wollongong. Neryl has a PhD and a Master of Arts in Journalism from the University of Wollongong. She is the author of Named and Shamed: Rod Oxley’s inside story of the Wollongong corruption scandal, released in December 2009. In 2010, Neryl was selected as an Ambassador for the Year of Women in Local Government.

Joanne Nova Author The past 16 years has seen Rebecca work in places like Geraldton, Bunbury, Perth and Tennant Creek, working in local government, state government and private enterprise. She has worked with farmers groups, overseas trade delegations, local councils from Esperance to Kununurra, mining companies and small communities. She has held seven different roles in that time and spent the last seven years in local government, initially transforming libraries and organisational culture, with a current focus on driving strategic and corporate planning as well as managing community services and communications and marketing. She was named the Home Building Society’s Public Sector Manager of the Year in 2007 and Telstra WA Community and Government Business Woman of the Year in 2008.

Ros Worthington Founder and Patron, Breast Cancer Foundation of Western Australia Linda began her career as a cadet journalist with the The West Australian newspaper and nowadays works for Australia’s largest radio network where she oversees two radio stations in Perth, MIX 94.5 and 92.9, where she is responsible for 90 staff and a budget of $42 million. Her path to this position has not been straight forward. She has worked in a variety of career avenues including journalism, public affairs, marketing, public relations, government, events management, business development and administration in many cities throughout Australia. Some of Linda’s major career achievements to date include being an instrumental part of the management team running the America’s Cup media centre in Fremantle, Group Editor of five award winning suburban newspapers in Melbourne, Senior Executive communication positions with the Victorian Government, EventsCorp General Manager overseeing all aspects of events including business development, event management, contract management and public relations. Linda was the WA Winner of the Telstra Businesswoman of the Year for 2003.

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