2024 Alumni Networking Event - Meet our Mentors

Alumni Networking Event 2024

Dear Pymble Alumni

You are warmly invited to attend our 2024 Alumni Networking Event at KPMG, Barangaroo, in Sydney from 6.00pm to 8.30pm on Thursday 16 May 2024.

Now in its fourth successful year, our flagship Alumni event is designed to provide mentoring and networking opportunities for Pymble graduates at key points in their careers: starting out, at mid-point, and senior executive and board entry level.

Based on feedback from prior events, this year’s format has been refined to provide greater value for you. We warmly welcome you to make the most of this exclusive opportunity by doing four things:

1. Read this brochure to view the program for the evening, which includes a keynote address by the Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director, of Qantas Group, Vanessa Hudson (1987), Q&A session with Pymble board member and Executive Director, Asset and Wealth Management of Goldman Sachs, Eve Clark (1997), opportunities to meet potential mentors and professional development workshops.

2. View the profiles of the 78 experienced professionals and industry leaders who will attend as Mentors – and choose three to meet on the night in one-on-one, 10-minute Speed-Mentoring sessions.

3. Sign-up to secure your ticket to this event

4. Why not invite your Pymble friends and use this as an opportunity to catch up. Please register early to avoid disappointment as places are limited.

The ongoing care and connections our Pymble family extend to each other, not just during school years but throughout life, is one of our greatest strengths and assets.

Our hope is that this event is one you look forward to annually as a means to support your career pathway and stay connected with your Pymble community.

Please note that Pymble is committed to providing a safe and supportive environment for our community, at all times. For this reason, we ask you to pay special attention to the Mentor/Mentee guidelines on page 39 to ensure this event and any ongoing mentoring connections that ensue are positive and respectful experiences for all involved.

We look forward to seeing you there.

DR KATE HADWEN MR CHRIS FYDLER, OAM PRINCIPAL CHAIR OF THE BOARD

6.00pm to 6.15pm Arrival and registration.

6.15pm to 7.10pm The 2024 Alumni Networking Event will commence with a keynote presentation and panel featuring members of the Pymble Ladies’ College Board.

6.15pm to 7.10pm ROOM 1

SUMMIT/HORIZON/NEXUS/MATRIX ROOMS

Welcome

Dr Kate Hadwen , Principal, Pymble Ladies’ College

Keynote presentation

Vanessa Hudson , Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director, Qantas Group

Q&A

Vanessa Hudson and Eve Clark , Executive Director, Asset and Wealth Management of Goldman Sachs

ROOM 2 BARANGAROO ROOM

Welcome

Chris Fydler OAM , Chair of the Board, Pymble Ladies’ College

Pymble Ladies’ College Board Panel

PANELLISTS

Dr Fiona Roughley SC , Barrister, Banco Chambers

Suzy Nicoletti , Managing Director and Vice President APAC, Klaviyo

Kristen Wydell , General Manager, Professional Standards, Quality and Liability Capping, Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand

FACILITATOR

Rowena Ditzell , Lecturer and Researcher, University of Technology Sydney and Pymble Alumni (1986)

Pymble Ladies’ College Board Panel

PANELLISTS

Dr Fiona Roughley SC , Barrister, Banco Chambers

Suzy Nicoletti , Managing Director and Vice President APAC, Klaviyo

Kristen Wydell , General Manager, Professional Standards, Quality and Liability Capping, Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand

FACILITATOR

Rowena Ditzell , Lecturer and Researcher, University of Technology Sydney and Pymble Alumni (1986)

Thank you

Chris Fydler OAM , Chair of the Board, Pymble Ladies’ College

Keynote presentation

Vanessa Hudson , Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director, Qantas Group

Q&A

Vanessa Hudson and Eve Clark , Executive Director, Asset and Wealth Management of Goldman Sachs

Thank you

Dr Kate Hadwen , Principal, Pymble Ladies’ College

7.10pm to 8.30pm Customise your experience at the 2024 Alumni Networking Event by pre-booking any of the sessions outlined below.

7.10pm to 7.30pm SESSION 1

One-on-one mentoring

BENNELONG ROOM

10-minute session with your pre-booked preferred mentor

HR Expertise

MULTIPLE ROOM

Gain practical advice, insights and strategies for getting started in your field

Career Resources

PHILIP ROOM

Advice on how to add new skills to your repertoire or explore growth opportunities

7.35pm to 8.00pm SESSION 2

One-on-one mentoring

BENNELONG ROOM

10-minute session with your pre-booked preferred mentor

HR Expertise

MULTIPLE ROOM

Gain practical advice, insights and strategies for getting started in your field

Career Resources

PHILIP ROOM

Advice on how to add new skills to your repertoire or explore growth opportunities

8.05pm to 8.30pm SESSION 3

One-on-one mentoring

BENNELONG ROOM

10-minute session with your pre-booked preferred mentor

HR Expertise

MULTIPLE ROOM

Gain practical advice, insights and strategies for getting started in your field

Career Resources

PHILIP ROOM

Advice on how to add new skills to your repertoire or explore growth opportunities

Women On Boards

MACQUARIE ROOM

Find practical pathways to start your Board membership career

Women On Boards

MACQUARIE ROOM

Find practical pathways to start your Board membership career

Women On Boards

MACQUARIE ROOM

Find practical pathways to start your Board membership career

KEYNOTE SPEAKER

Vanessa Hudson

Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director, Qantas Group | Pymble Alumni (1987)

Vanessa Hudson commenced as Qantas Group Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director in September 2023.

Ms Hudson was previously Group Chief Financial Officer for four years, including through the pandemic and the airline’s recovery.

She has also served as Qantas Chief Customer Officer, with responsibilities spanning all aspects of the customer experience and strategy.

Joining Qantas in 1994, she has held a variety of senior commercial, customer and finance roles across the Group, in Australia and overseas, including Executive Manager of Sales and Distribution, Senior Vice President for Qantas across the Americas and New Zealand, Executive Manager of Commercial Planning and Executive Manager for Product and Service. In these various roles her responsibilities ranged from sales channels, revenue management and network planning, to transformation in catering, airports and network.

Vanessa has a Bachelor of Business and was admitted as a Member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in 1994.

We are thrilled to welcome Vanessa as our keynote speaker at the 2024 Alumni Networking Event.

Q&A HOST

Eve Clark

Executive Director, Asset and Wealth Management, Goldman Sachs | Pymble Ladies’ College Board Member | Pymble Alumni (1997)

Eve Clark is an Executive Director of Asset and Wealth Management for Goldman Sachs principally responsible for real estate equity investing across Australia and New Zealand. Prior to this, Eve worked as a Senior Development Manager for AMP Capital. During her tenure, she managed several large developments, including Quay Quarter Tower and 33 Alfred Street in Circular Quay, along with many other projects across Australia.

Eve sits on the Property Council of Australia’s (PCA) NSW Capital Markets Committee and has held numerous committee positions for the PCA and the British Council for Offices in the UK. Prior to her career in property investment and development, Eve was a registered Architect at firms in Australia and London. Eve holds a Bachelor of Architecture (1st Class Honors) and a Bachelor of Science (Arch), both from the University of Sydney. Eve is a member of the Pymble Board, is an ex-student of Pymble (1997) and is a mother of two children.

Eve will be hosting a Q&A panel with our keynote speaker, Vanessa Hudson, at the 2024 Alumni Networking Event.

BOARD PANEL

Facilitated by ex-student Rowena Ditzell (1986), members of the Pymble Ladies’ College Board share their career stories, tips, advice and insights.

Rowena Ditzell

Lecturer and Researcher, University of Technology Sydney | Pymble Alumni (1986) | 2024 Pymble Ladies’ College Ex-Students’ Union President

Rowena Ditzell is a lecturer and researcher at the University of Technology Sydney Business School, who also advises organisations as they navigate the future of work.

After more than 20 years in leadership roles at Coca-Cola South Pacific, Unilever and Campbell Arnott’s, Rowena decided to focus on her passion - igniting the potential of the next generation.

Rowena’s recently completed PhD research is at the forefront of management studies, examining the Unilever NZ Four-Day Work Week trial. In her spare time, she loves to spend time with her family, walk her dog and kayak.

Suzy Nicoletti

Managing Director and Vice President APAC, Klaviyo | Pymble Ladies’ College Board Member

Suzy is a global technology executive who has led digital organisations from Silicon Valley, Asia and Israel. She is currently the Vice President of the Japan Asia-Pacific region for Klaviyo, having previously served as Twitter Australia’s Managing Director for five years.

A California native, Suzy was a foundation member of Google’s early sales operations in Australia in 2008 and led Google Australia’s education line of business shortly thereafter. She is a member of Chief Executive Women, and resides in Sydney with her husband and three young daughters.

BOARD PANEL

Dr Fiona Roughley SC Kristen Wydell

Barrister, Banco Chambers | Pymble Ladies’ College Board Member | Pymble Alumni (2001)

Dr Fiona Roughley is a commercial and public law barrister. She holds an LLM degree from the University of Cambridge, which was funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation as a Gates Scholar. She has also completed her PhD from the Australian National University, and her BA and LLB from the University of Sydney, where she graduated with the University Medal in Law, the University Medal in English, and the University’s Convocation Medal.

Fiona is frequently instructed in cases that involve significant financial, strategic, political, or reputational opportunities or risks for the client.

General Manager, Professional Standards, Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand | Pymble Ladies’ College Board Member

Kristen has been a member of the Pymble board since 2018 and is the Chair of the Audit, Risk and Finance Committee. She is also the General Manager Professional Standards at Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand.

Kristen previously held senior roles at Deloitte and Ernst & Young and has provided advice to the Australian Government’s Auditing and Assurance Standards Board, until her retirement from the role in December 2013.

HR EXPERTISE

Hosted by Li-Enn Koo, founding partner and Head of People and Culture at Barrenjoey Capital Partners and Kate Rimer, Chief People and Culture Officer at Pymble Ladies’ College, this session is perfect for Mentees with less than five years working experience. Both hosts have extensive experience in the human resources field and will share practical advice, insights, and strategies for making tactical career moves.

Li-Enn Koo

Founding Partner and Head of People and Culture, Barrenjoey Capital Partners | Pymble Ladies’ College Board Member | Pymble Alumni (1991)

Li-Enn is a founding partner and head of people and culture at Barrenjoey Capital Partners. She has extensive experience in the areas of people and culture, strategy and finance, having worked at global firms such as Barclays Bank, Morgan Stanley, The Boston Consulting Group and Macquarie Bank. She has an MBA from the Australian Graduate School of Management (AGSM), where she was an AGSM and Chief Executive Women’s Scholar, and was awarded an exchange to The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, USA. She holds a Bachelor of Laws (Honours) and Bachelor of Economics from the University of Sydney.

Li-Enn is a member of the Pymble Board and the Pymble Foundation Board. She is a Pymble ex-student (1991) and was previously President of Pymble’s Ex-Student Union. She has a daughter (Pymble, 2022) and son, both studying at university.

Kate Rimer

Chief People and Culture Officer, Pymble Ladies’ College

Kate’s career began as a secondary teacher in the Catholic system, however after a few years she moved into learning and development in corporate and professional services.

As chief people and culture officer at Pymble, her role is about partnering with the leadership group to help nurture an authentic and caring workplace culture for all staff. Kate also assists in finding great new employees and coming up with ways to help staff members flourish throughout their careers and embrace ways to maintain their health and wellbeing.

While Kate’s role is centred around staff, she is also a feminist and believes strongly in girls’ education, actively supports gender equity and provides young women every opportunity to flourish and reach their potential as individuals, both in the community and globally.

CAREER RESOURCES

This session has been created for our mid-career Mentees looking for advice on their next career move. Stuck in a career rut? Do you want to add new skills to your repertoire? Hosted by Growth Faculty, this session offers considered and strategic advice to ignite meaningful change and relationships.

In a world that needs great leaders, Growth Faculty are creating them.

Growth Faculty connects established and aspiring business leaders to the world’s brightest minds and latest thinking through purposefully curated global headliner events, interactive masterclasses, interviews with bestselling business authors and their on-demand leadership library.

Growth Faculty helps leaders and teams develop the mindset and skills to adapt quickly in this ever-changing environment.

A small, but mighty Australian-based company operating out of Sydney’s Northern Beaches, Growth Faculty’s diverse team is located along Australia’s eastern-seaboard and the UK.

The Growth Facility’s promise is consistently delivering exceptional, high-quality, and customer-first learning opportunities, and unreasonable levels of hospitality with a can-do attitude and team spirit.

Visit growthfaculty.com to learn more.

WOMEN ON BOARDS

For attendees who are in the later stages of their career or interested in nonexecutive director roles, join Claire Braund, Co-Founder and Executive Director at Women on Boards, for practical pathways to kickstart your board career.

Claire Braund

Co-Founder & Executive Director, Women on Boards

Claire is a social entrepreneur and businesswoman residing on the NSW Central Coast. She co-founded Women on Boards in Australia in 2006, and later in the UK in 2012, following a career in journalism and public relations. She is an experienced non-executive director on small businesses and large not-for-profit organisations and has significant expertise on board governance in many other sectors.

Claire is a highly respected facilitator and speaker on a range of topics in the area of board governance, equity and diversity. She is an informed and entertaining MC and presenter and is well known for her courage, conviction, compassion and confidence, and as someone who looks for new ideas and opportunities.

In 2011, Claire became a Churchill Fellow for her research into gender balance on boards in Norway, France and the UK. She is also a graduate of the Benevolent Society’s Sydney Social Leadership Program which has led to a lifelong interest in affordable housing and related social issues, particularly those impacting women and children.

Women on Boards (WOB), founded in 2006 in Australia and the UK in 2012, is a thriving network of extraordinary women who come together as they commence or continue their board and leadership journeys.

Their vision is to have gender balance and cultural diversity within board and leadership roles.

Since its inception in 2006, WOB vision has been to increase the number of women on boards and in leadership roles to achieve a minimum of 40% women on boards and across leadership roles. WOB welcomes the fact that many other advocacy groups have since adopted our founding vision. Many boards across many sectors have achieved this 40% milestone.

However, within gender there is now a need to look more closely at cultural diversity on boards and raise awareness and create opportunities for culturally diverse women to connect, network and interact with boards.

WOB Membership is open to all. It’s free to register with a fee to join as a Full or Premium Member.

Meet our Mentors

From health to hospitality, commerce to the creative arts, our 2024 Mentors bring a wealth of knowledge and insight from a variety of industries.

Mentors by Industry

Mentors by Industry

Ira Asthana Michelle Avis Sophia Bai

Director, Ignite Wave Pty Ltd INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

Ira has been in product development and management for over a decade and in product leadership roles for a major part of that. She has a proven track record of driving product strategies that align with business objectives and user needs.

She has a strong foundation in shaping and driving strategic product vision that prioritise user experience and business growth. Throughout her career, she has successfully managed the entire product life cycle, collaborating closely with crossfunctional teams to deliver products that meet market demands and exceed customer expectations.

She is a hands-on product leader having led cross-functional teams in development, scaling and management of customer-centric, commercially viable products, starting with proof of concept and gradually scaling them based on customer/ user feedback. Her experience has been marked by a keen focus on product vision, client value proposition, strategy, and a successful commercialisation (go-to-market) implementation. One of her key strengths lies in leveraging design thinking principles to create usercentric products - while addressing the problems of the buying centre during the process.

linkedin.com/in/ira-asthana

General Manager Australia and New Zealand, Aspire Lifestyles MANAGEMENT AND COMMERCE

Michelle is a seasoned professional with over three decades of expertise in strategic leadership, marketing, and partnership development across various industries globally. Currently serving as the general manager for Aspire Lifestyles in Australia and New Zealand, she spearheads operations with a keen focus on delivering unparalleled service experiences for her banking clients. Michelle also holds the regional senior director of partnership development and marketing position for APAC and MEA, showcasing her adeptness in navigating complex market landscapes.

With a career marked by notable achievements, Michelle previously held roles of significant responsibility, including her tenure as the Visa regional client account director for APAC and MEA. Her strategic understanding and proficiency in change management were instrumental in driving growth and fostering enduring partnerships.

Michelle is a trailblazer in her field and continues to inspire and lead by example. She is committed to driving innovation and fostering inclusive workplace cultures, which is a testament to her leadership qualities. In her free time, Michelle enjoys running marathons, training as a pilot, and writing - she’s even a published author.

linkedin.com/in/michelle-avis-7937b112

Senior Associate, Allen and Overy LAW

Sophia is a senior associate in the corporate team at international law firm Allen and Overy. She is admitted as a lawyer in Hong Kong, New South Wales and the High Court of Australia.

Sophia has broad experience in international and cross-border M&A as well as general corporate transactions. She has previously worked at leading firms in Hong Kong and Sydney.

linkedin.com/in/sophia-bai-240a7128

Dan Batten Jasjit Baveja Jane Beresford

Head of Enterprise Architecture, Nuix

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

Dan is a technology professional with over 25 years of experience delivering to international financial institutions (banking, insurance and custody). Most recently he joined Nuix, an Australian technology company that produces investigative analytics and intelligence software for extracting knowledge from unstructured data.

Dan has strong managerial and interpersonal skills which allow him to work well in teams and allow him to adapt well to any dynamic situation he encounters. Drawing on his passion, knowledge, experience and analytical skills, Dan aims to enhance, progress and deliver enterprise IT systems.

Throughout his career Dan has challenged himself to learn and embrace new technologies away from work with the goal of bringing this knowledge into a business context.

linkedin.com/in/danbatten

Associate Director, Policy, MTAA HEALTH

Jasjit has a diverse background in both engineering and regulatory affairs within the MedTech industry. After completing her Bachelor of Electrical Engineering and Master of Biomedical Engineering, as well as a PhD, all from the University of New South Wales (UNSW), she ventured into roles encompassing regulatory affairs at prominent MedTech companies such as ResMed, Johnson and Johnson Medical, and Boston Scientific. With her extensive experience in regulatory affairs, Jasjit transitioned to a broader scope within the industry, assuming the role of associate director, policy, at the Medical Technology Association of Australia (MTAA). In this capacity, she holds significant responsibilities in shaping policies concerning regulatory matters, clinical affairs, and procurement within the MedTech sector.

Jasjit is also deeply involved in academia, serving as a lecturer at both the University of Newcastle and UNSW. Her teaching focuses primarily on regulatory affairs, imparting her knowledge and expertise to the next generation of professionals in the field. Furthermore, Jasjit’s commitment to academia extends to her role on the Industrial Advisory Board of the Graduate School of Biomedical Engineering, where she provides strategic insights and guidance.

linkedin.com/in/jasjit-bavejaph-d-53963124

Director - Investor Development, Fitch Ratings MANAGEMENT AND COMMERCE

Jane holds a Masters of Commerce [Applied Finance], Bachelor of Business [Banking and Finance], and is a Fellow of the Financial Services Institute of Australasia and a member of the Certified Corporate Treasury Association. Jane holds the Applied RI certificate from the PRI Academy which provides a comprehensive examination of responsible investment from theory to practice. Other licenses include Financial Industry Regulatory Authority [FINRA] Series 7 and 63.

Jane has extensive global experience driving engagement and change at global financial market organisations, which has been defined by working with innovative firms that are committed to next generation technology.

Jane has spearheaded sales, marketing and partnership strategies since the dotcom boom and through the GFC and its aftermath. She understand the common dynamics of organisations operating in the financial services and the individual needs of businesses operating across global markets.

Jane currently heads up the investor engagement for Fitch Ratings across Australia and New Zealand. Previously she worked at Moody’s Analytics, BT Investment Management, Bloomberg, MF Global and Lehman Brothers.

linkedin.com/in/jane-beresford

Polly Blenkinship Arti Brown Vanessa Brunker

Global Head of Brand Media, Audible

MEDIA, COMMUNICATIONS AND MARKETING

Polly is currently global head of brand media at Audible, managing teams across 11 countries, responsible for the strategy and implementation of Audible’s global media budget to drive awareness and consideration of Audible and Audible content to ultimately convert listeners to subscribers.

Polly started her career in advertising agencies after completing a Bachelor of Communications majoring in advertising at University of Technology Sydney and has since held senior marketing roles both agency and client side for over 15 years. Polly has experience across brand, customer, media, acquisition, marketing strategy and a passion for analytics.

Polly started at Audible four years ago as head of acquisition for Asia Pacific accountable for trial and subscriptions numbers for Audible in India, Japan and Australia. Prior to this Polly spent eight years at Foxtel in a variety of senior marketing and strategy roles, the most recent being General Manager of Media and Insights which included the management of Foxtel’s internal digital team and trade desk. Polly is also currently a board director of the Audited Media Association of Australia whose main business is AiMCO – the Australian Influencer Media Council.

linkedin.com/in/polly-blenkinship867562b1

General Manager, Commonwealth Bank of Australia

MANAGEMENT AND COMMERCE

Arti has over 20 years of experience in public policy and advocacy, regulatory affairs, governance, risk management and organisational design. Having worked across mining, telecommunications and more recently, finance, Arti is currently a General Manager in the Chief Controls Office at the Commonwealth Bank of Australia. Arti is a graduate of the University of Sydney, is a member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and an alumni of the Chief Executive Women (CEW) Executive Leaders Program.

linkedin.com/in/arti-b-1a980aa

Director and Mortgage Broker, Mortgage Belt

MANAGEMENT AND COMMERCE

Vanessa is a skilled mortgage broker accredited with multiple lenders to find the right loan solution to help her clients meet their financial plans and goals.

linkedin.com/in/vanessabrunker-89682326

Petrina Bull Cheryl Chan Andrea Christie-David

Event Producer, Self-employed MEDIA, COMMUNICATIONS AND MARKETING

Petrina is an experienced senior event manager who has successfully lead event teams from concept to delivery of small to large events. She has produced events in many sectors, here are some of the event she has produced:

• Qantas Gala Dinner 2023

• Event Project management - Qantas Centenary Program

• Qantas Project Sunrise Test Flight Events NYC 2019

• Northern Australia Investment Forum, Austrade

• NSWALC 40th Anniversary Gala Dinner, ICC Sydney

• delicious. Tasmanian Feast of Winter, Centennial Park

• 2017 delicious. produce awards, QT Melbourne

• Qantas Annual People Leaders Conference

• Qantas 787 / new Qantas brand launch, Qantas Hangar 96

• Qantas LAX Hangar Official Opening, Los Angeles Airport

• OzHarvest Chief Executive Officer CookOff 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2022

• OzHarvest Think Eat Save 2014, Martin Place

• The Qantas Mendoowoorrji B737800 inaugural flight and launch

• Qantas epiQure food and wine annual event program, National

• National Tour of His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama - Sydney, Melbourne and Hobart

• Sydney Royal Easter Show (7 shows)

linkedin.com/in/petrina-bull-5b18552b

Legal Counsel, Aspen Legal LAW

Cheryl has broad in-house experience gained from government and private practice. She specialises in corporate and real estate matters, including transactional practice, due diligence, commercial negotiations, project finance, construction, procurement, asset management, IT and corporate governance.

linkedin.com/in/cherylwychan

Non-Executive Director, Relationships Australia NSW

SOCIETY AND CULTURE

Andrea is an experienced lawyer, company director and entrepreneur. With a background in social justice and consistent engagement in the community sector, Andrea has always been driven to create positive change.

In 2018 Andrea founded a business that offered a disruptive model of early childhood education and disability support. In 2021 the business was acquired by the largest ASX-listed early childhood provider, and Andrea now uses her expertise to mentor other startup founders, works with investors to realise the growth opportunities of their investments, and is actively involved in community organisations.

Andrea is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors; was recognised as ‘Woman Lawyer of the Year in a Community Organisation’ in 2013; and was a finalist in the Women’s Agenda Leadership Awards in 2019. Andrea is on the board of Relationships Australia NSW, the OpenField Arts Festival, the Illawarra Trauma Recovery Centre, and is an advisory board member of MYP Corporation, a private equity backed SaaS startup. Andrea holds a Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Laws, Graduate Diploma in Legal Practise, Master of International Law, and a Graduate Diploma in Educational Studies. She is also a solicitor admitted to practice in the Supreme Court of New South Wales.

linkedin.com/in/andreachristiedavid

Ashleigh Crittle Kylie de Boer

Chief Operating Officer, JANA Investment Advisers

MANAGEMENT AND COMMERCE

Ashleigh is currently the chief operating officer of a leading investment consultant with responsibility for finance, HR, legal, risk and governance. Having spent the first decade of her career as a funds management lawyer in Sydney and Hong Kong, Ashleigh brings experience in small and large corporate settings as well as professional services firms within financial services. As a senior professional who works part-time, Ashleigh has experience in developing effective strategies for flexible work while achieving a fulfilling career with purpose. Ashleigh looks to support people through discomfort – that is where the growth happens!

linkedin.com/in/ashleigh-crittle40a24a84

Chief Executive Officer, Daisee INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

Providing visible leadership in ambiguous and disruptive environments, Kylie has years of success delivering new and disruptive solutions to market, cost efficiently, and at pace. From market leading IVF services to recent experience in Artificial Intelligence (AI) software, Kylie has connected ‘science’ with sector opportunity ahead of time, leading the commercialisation/go-tomarket of products and services that meet evolving customer needs and deliver on growth objectives.

Whilst purpose and profit may not traditionally go hand in hand, as a leader in the innovation space, Kylie blends these missions as the key to sustainable business growth, and ongoing community/customer value. Kylie’s mission is to bring out the best in others. Creating value-led cultures with the accountability and expertise to positively impact our communities is a focus, bringing teams and key stakeholders together in organisational delivery.

Most recently, Kylie led the commercialisation of an AI business solution. Prior achievements include introducing several Australian-first methodologies for IVF services at Genea and building a new-era service IVF clinics from the ground-up. Kylie is also a non-executive director of the Westmead Fertility Centre, owned by The University of Sydney.

linkedin.com/in/kylieadeboer

Annick Donat

Chief Executive Officer, Clime

Investment Management Ltd MANAGEMENT AND COMMERCE

Annick believes great advice changes lives. Having worked with many financial advisers during her career, she has witnessed the positive impact these men and women have on the Australians they educate and empower. She also believes we have a responsibility to be courageous and lead the way, especially in times when others are afraid to challenge the status quo. Anick is passionate about coaching and mentoring people, to help them unlock their extraordinary potential. She has a natural curiosity for all things innovation and consumer. With a natural curiosity for all things innovation and consumer, Anick believes that change favours the brave. She loves to learn, research and implement new ideas that deliver exceptional engagement to her clients, their clients and the industry.

linkedin.com/in/annickdonat

Claudia Dzienny

Director, Boobytrap Entertainment

CREATIVE ARTS

Accomplished screenwriter, director and producer, Claudia Dzienny (née Pickering)’s feature film and series projects have achieved widespread acclaim. Dzienny’s directorial debut Frisky, a coming-of-age comedy with a $5k budget, was distributed by Madman (AUNZ)/Gravitas (ROW) and optioned by Jungle Entertainment, while off-the-wall comedy Winning Formula which she wrote and produced was distributed by Indican/ Lionsgate. Recent directorial highlights include workplace comedy Resting Pitch Face (Google) starring Nakkiah Lui, the entire first season of actionpacked drama podcast Wentworth: The Fall Girl (Fremantle/Audible), thrilling comedy Wanderbust (which headlined the St Kilda FF comedy showcase) and the hilarious cooking buddy comedy Flawsome: Sex, Drugs and Recipes (SlapBang). Claudia was selected for Screen Australia’s elite inaugural Talent LA program and completed a writer, director and showrunner attachment on Nine’s dramedy Bad Mothers

She is the founding co-director of Freshflix film festival, now in its 10th season having partnered with Australians in Film for events in Los Angeles and with Vivid Sydney for annual events at the Museum of Contemporary Art. Claudia recently founded production company Boobytrap Entertainment, focusing on elevated comedy with a genre twist.

linkedin.com/in/pickeringclaudia

Dr Sebastian Eibach

Associate Professor of Neurosurgery, Macquarie University HEALTH

Associate Professor Eibach is an Australian, European and United States trained and triple qualified neurosurgeon with expertise in paediatric and adult neurosurgery, including dysraphism, congenital malformations, neurooncology and neuroendoscopy. A/Prof Eibach graduated with honours from the prestigious Medical School Charité –University of Berlin. He completed his doctoral thesis also with honours at the affiliated Institute for Biochemistry After completing his neurosurgery training in Germany, he moved to San Francisco, California and continued subspecialty training in paediatric neurosurgery and gained invaluable surgical, clinical and scientific experience. Associate Professor Eibach qualified as a specialist in neurosurgery in Germany and was also appointed Fellow of the European Board of Neurological Surgery (FEBNS). In Australia, A/Prof Eibach underwent further neurosurgical training at Royal North Shore Hospital, Prince of Wales Hospital, Sydney Children’s Hospital in Randwick and at Macquarie University Hospital before being awarded fellowship of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons (FRACS) in neurosurgery. Besides being a passionate clinician and surgeon, Associate Professor Eibach is dedicated to education and research and an internationally recognised teacher and invited speaker.

mqneurosurgery.com.au/dr-sebastianeibach-2/

Eric Feng

Financial Controller Liquor, Metcash

FOOD, HOSPITALITY AND PERSONAL SERVICES

Eric has over 16 years of experience in commercial, financial control and management. He has a proven track record of developing and implementing successful financial strategies that drive revenue growth and profitability.

Eric has a strong focus on commercial strategy and is skilled in managing financial operations, ensuring compliance, and leading crossfunctional teams. As a senior finance leader, he is committed to simplifying complex financial concepts for the non-financial stakeholders and creating value for all in a sustainable fashion.

He has held various positions at Metcash, an ASX 100 company, for over eight years, including National Commercial Manager, Head of Finance, Transformation Manager, and Group Finance Manager. Eric also enjoys facilitating courses in Chartered Accounts Australia and New Zealand (CA ANZ) as well as coaching and mentoring Co-Op students from Macquarie University.

Eric has a Post-Graduate degree in Sustainable Finance from the University of Cambridge and a Master of Applied Finance from Macquarie University. He also holds a Graduate Diploma of CA ANZ, and a Bachelor of Commerce in Accounting.

linkedin.com/in/eric-feng-ca-54b375115

Graham Ford

Chief Finiancial Officer, Fujifilm INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

Graham is a chief financial officer and qualified accountant. His experience includes tenures at Ernst & Young, Vodafone and FUJIFILM. He has also worked in London, Germany, Singapore, Auckand and Sydney.

linkedin.com/in/grahamford

Hannah Gilbert Alex Goddard

Director, Consulting, Deloitte MANAGEMENT AND COMMERCE

Hannah is Director at Deloitte, focused on how we humanise and accelerate transformation with specialist expertise in large-scale organisational transformation, enterprise adaptability, scaled agility and applied behavioural science.

She has worked across a broad spectrum of industries including financial services, telecommunications, and more recently, she has been focused on the energy sector.

Outside of her day job, Hannah and her husband, Philippe, own and operate a wine bar, Vini Divini in Sydney CBD, with Hannah focused on the business side of things and Philippe managing the day-to-day operations. Together they have a four year old daughter, Fleur, and recently welcomed their second daughter, Romy.

linkedin.com/in/hannahcraftergilbert

External Relations, NSW State Office, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade DEFENCE

Alex is a career officer with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) and formerly AusAID. She is currently with the NSW State Office which engages with foreign missions, business, state government, academic and community leaders across Sydney and NSW on Australia’s foreign, trade and development policy.

Her previous role at DFAT was with the Australian Volunteers Program, including leading on the government campaign to discourage orphanage voluntourism. From 2001 to 2009 she worked on international projects with the Albion Street Centre, a care and treatment facility for people living with HIV/AIDS. Alex first joined the public service with the AusAID graduate program, working on gender and development, multilateral banks and development assistance to the Pacific.

Alex holds a Master of International Studies and Bachelor of Arts from the University of Sydney and Graduate Certification of Public Relations from the University of Technology Sydney.

linkedin.com/in/alexandra-goddard7ab42b10a

Maria Guo

Director, Infrastructure and Timberlands, FutureFund

MANAGEMENT AND COMMERCE

Maria is a director in Future Fund’s Infrastructure and Timberland team. The Future Fund is Australia’s sovereign wealth fund. The Fund’s purpose is to invest for the benefit of future generations of Australians. Maria joined the Future Fund in 2023 and was previously a senior portfolio manager in the infrastructure team at Australian Retirement Trust (ART).

Maria has over 19 years of experience in public and private markets. Prior to ART, Maria was an investment director at AP Capital, and previously held various roles at Commonwealth Bank of Australia, Asia Pacific Arbitrage Partnership, and AMP Capital. Maria has a Bachelor of Commerce (Honours in Finance) from the University of New South Wales, and a Master of Applied Finance and Investment from FINSIA. Maria is also a CFA Charterholder, and a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

linkedin.com/in/mariaguo

Michelle Hardie

Head of Professional Services, Amazon Web Services

MANAGEMENT AND COMMERCE

Michelle has 30 years of extensive management consulting, sales effectiveness, strategy, business and operations experience across a wide range of companies and geographies.

She is a highly motivated leader and team player who drives real business results.

linkedin.com/in/michelle-hardie8643258a

Summer Harrison

Urban Planner, Urbis

PROPERTY, ARCHITECTURE AND BUILDING

Summer is a passionate Urban Planner working for an industry leading consultancy, Urbis, helping to shape cities and communities for a better future.

Studying a Bachelor of Design majoring in urban planning, minor in architecture and graphic design at the University of Melbourne granted her a robust understanding of the built environment. She now works with a variety of property developers across a diverse mix of projects including new hotels, commercial infrastructure, school expansions, industrial infrastructure, and residential developments, and strategic advisory such as ‘The Line’ in Saudi Arabia.

Summer would describe the role of an urban planner as one who interprets various layers of planning legislation to understand the development opportunity for a site. She works alongside a roundtable of industry leading architects, engineers, ecologists, developers, and lawyers to put forward a development proposal that will be determined by government bodies.

She is passionate about translating complex problems into digestible actions that help to deliver site responsive building outcomes, in turn, shaping places.

linkedin.com/in/summer-harrisona7979b133

Georgie Harrowell Dr Lara Harvey

Commercial Specialist, U.S. Department of Commerce

MANAGEMENT AND COMMERCE

Georgie has a deep understanding and appreciation for American culture, business, and history. As Commercial Specialist at the U.S. Department of Commerce in Sydney, she helps Australian companies expand to the United States. She also plays a key role in advancing US-Australia collaboration in clean technology innovation and deployment. Previously she worked for Austrade at the Australian Embassy in Washington DC and AmCham Australia. She is a mentor for Monash International Affairs Society and was the founding Sydney Branch Director for Young Australians in International Affairs. She holds a Bachelor of International and Global Studies from Sydney University and a Masters in US Studies from the United States Studies Centre where she was the recipient of the Susan B. Anthony Scholarship. Georgie was listed in the 2020 International Womens Day “Women to Watch” in Young Australians in International Affairs.

linkedin.com/in/georgie-harrowell50a65160

Senior Research Fellow, Neuroscience Research Australia HEALTH

Dr Harvey is Senior Research Fellow in the Falls, Balance and Injury Research Centre at Neuroscience Research Australia and Senior Conjoint Senior Lecturer in the School of Population Health, University of New South Wales.

Lara is also an epidemiologist with interest and expertise in epidemiological methods, the analysis of large population-based administrative datasets including linked data, health economic evaluation and survey methodology. Her research areas of interest include populationbased trends in injury, health service research and the evaluation of health care policies and health and safetyrelated regulations/legislation.

Supported by an NHMRC Early Career Fellowship she conducted a program of innovative large scale data linkage studies which aims to examine and prevent injuries in older people with and without dementia, and to optimise models care for people with dementia who have sustained a serious injury. Lara currently leads the large NHMRC-funded national data linkage study which aims to improve care and outcomes for older people who sustain a hip fracture and the TRIPP-funded Surgical Care of Older People (SCOPE) study. Lara is currently Deputy Chair of the NSW Population and Health Service Research Ethics Committee, and Co-Chair of the SPH Ageing Research Network, UNSW.

linkedin.com/in/lara-harvey-02553360

Sarah Haynes

Managing Director, APAC Head of Employee Relations, JP Morgan MANAGEMENT AND COMMERCE

Sarah is the managing director of APAC head of employee relations at JP Morgan. In this role, Sarah coordinates and directs all employee relations activities across 14 locations including investigations, performance and advisory. Sarah has 20 years of experience working in Asia and Australia in various roles, including as an HR lawyer and an Employee Relations Advisor.

linkedin.com/in/sarah-haynes-bb19843

Douglas Henderson

General Manager Enterprise Sales, Telstra INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

Douglas is an internationally experienced senior sales leader with a passion for people, customers and distribution channels. He has over 20 years experience in IT & T including mergers, restructures, B2C, B2B and Corporate sales, distribution channel development and account management.

He is known for his calm, pragmatic and values-based leadership style, which creates an achievementfocused culture and inspires sales professionals to consistently exceed sales targets.

Renowned for his public speaking, Douglas is a compelling communicator and strategic thinker providing clear direction, motivation and coaching to enable all who work with him to succeed. Douglas works for Telstra Enterprise, spent 10 years with Vodafone and has worked across the world selling services and ERP solutions.

linkedin.com/in/douglashenderson1

Jennifer Hopcroft

General Purpose Hand Transdev SOCIETY AND CULTURE

linkedin.com/in/jenniferhopcroft-572496292

Charmaine Hopkins

Chief Financial Officer MANAGEMENT AND COMMERCE

Charmaine is a chartered accountant and has 23 years experience working at Worley Limited and KPMG and has worked in Australia and the USA.

Charmaine was most recently Worley Limited’s Deputy Chief Financial Officer which saw Charmaine responsible for a team of 1,400 across global operational finance (covering APAC, EMEA and Americas), Worley enterprise services, global planning and performance, global financial reporting, treasury accounting, finance transformation office and property.

Up until joining Worley Limited in November 2019, Charmaine was a partner in KPMG’s audit practice for six years with experience covering consumer markets, professional services, transport and energy and natural resources industries.

Currently Charmaine is undertaking the Advanced Management Program at the Harvard Business School, which she will complete on 10 May 2024.

linkedin.com/in/charmaine-hopkins

Guy Howes

Executive Manager, Credit Assurance, Westpac MANAGEMENT AND COMMERCE

Guy is a Credit Risk Manager at Westpac with nearly 20 years experience across Credit Risk practice management & leadership in Commercial Lending, Debt Recovery and Assurance

linkedin.com/in/guy-howes-9958b919

Dr Lucy Hurlstone

GP, Danila Dilba Health Service HEALTH

Dr Hurlstone is currently working as a general practitioner for the Danila Dilba Health Service.

Danila Dilba Health Service is an Aboriginal community-controlled organisation providing culturallyappropriate, comprehensive primary health care and community services to Biluru (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander) people in the Yilli Rreung (greater Darwin) region of the Northern Territory.

linkedin.com/in/lucy-hurlstone0a35701a8

David Johnson

Director, Rock Solid Recruitment MANAGEMENT AND COMMERCE

Join recruitment professional David for a discussion on how he rapidly grew his professional LinkedIn network to 30,000 accounting and legal professionals in less than five years, highlighting the importance of networking in today’s evolving employment landscape.

linkedin.com/in/david-johnson-rocksolid

Dr Kishani Kannangara

Reproductive Endocrinologist HEALTH

Kishani is a medical doctor, reproductive endocrinologist and andrologist. She treats diverse issues, including cancer patient fertility preservation, infertility, diabetes, PCOS, thyroid and pituitary disorders. She has clinics in Newtown, Westmead and Macquarie, and has had a long commitment to rural and regional medicine.

She has participated on interview panels for University of Sydney medical student selection, teaches medical students and supervises training fellows.

She holds a Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) from the University of Sydney, a Bachelor of Science (Biochemistry) from the University of Otago, and has conducted research at the University of Wollongong, the Garvan Institute and Concord Hospital.

Kishani is a Pymble ex-student (1991) and team manager for her son’s soccer team in Lindfield.

linkedin.com/in/kishanikannangara

Payal Kapoor

Chief Financial Officer, Anchor Excellence

MANAGEMENT AND COMMERCE

As a purpose-driven chief financial officer with over two decades of experience in empowering organisational effectiveness, Payal specialise in empowering and guiding growth strategies, whether navigating financial challenges organically or through mergers and acquisitions.

Gilbert Li

Partner, Allen and Overy LAW

Gilbert is a corporate Merger & Acquisitions (M&A) partner at Allen and Overy (a global elite law firm). He specialises in advising on complex and innovative public and private M&A transactions.

She brings a wealth of expertise in strategic financial management, honed across diverse sectors including aged care, healthcare, financial services, and infrastructure. In the ever-changing currents of financial challenges, whether navigating organic growth, exploring mergers and acquisitions, seeking to enhance operational efficiency post-acquisition, or ensuring that your current business is financially sustainable, Payal is here to lead with her expertise.

With a keen understanding of the unique challenges facing organisations today, Payal is dedicated to leveraging her experience to empower your success. At Anchor Excellence, she specialises in crafting tailored solutions to empower organisations to thrive in an ever-evolving landscape, offering end-of-end services from financial strategic planning to day-to-day efficiency in financial management and reporting.

linkedin.com/in/payal-kapoor-0a78453

Gilbert has advised on M&A transactions in Asia Pacific, Europe, the Middle East, North America and Latin America. He has been recognised as a “Leading Individual” by Legal 500 and ranked by Chambers and Partners.

Gilbert also sits on Allen and Overy’s Global Wellbeing Board.

linkedin.com/in/gilbertshli

Paul Liu

Director, My Emergency Doctor LAW

Paul is a General Commercial / IT lawyer with substantial private practice and in-house regional experience covering Australia and Asia. He is admitted to practise in NSW and Hong Kong.

Paul has over 20 years legal experience in the Australian and Asian markets. His areas of expertise include IT, telecoms, M&A, private equity/VC and general commercial.

linkedin.com/in/paul-liu-0a554a

Megan Lloyd

Joanne Lupton

Megan is an accomplished strategic business transformation leader, IT executive and esteemed people leader recognised for her unique approach to driving disruptive innovation. With a robust track record spanning over two decades in the healthcare industry, she brings a wealth of experience in sales, account management, business development, digital transformation, and people leadership.

In her current role at Microsoft she leads large teams in delivering complex AI transformation projects, managing operation risks to achieve project objectives. Megan’s passion lies in forging partnerships with health technology companies to drive profitable growth, deliver exceptional customer value, and create a positive community impact.

linkedin.com/in/megan-lloyd-81805956

Joanne has worked in the United Kingdom and Australia, and has over 25 years of corporate finance experience, including the preparation of public expert reports, valuation of shares, businesses and intangible assets, value analysis of business plans and corporate strategies, financial modelling and the provision of corporate advice for a variety of corporate transactions, including disposals, acquisitions and corporate restructuring. Joanne has prepared a number of public independent expert reports and expert reports for shareholder disputes. She understands the importance of clear protocols to ensure the process is independent and efficient. Joanne draws on skills from accounting, finance and valuation to deliver robust advice to corporate and government clients for transaction, financial reporting, tax, asset pricing and dispute purposes.

Joanne is also passionate about the environment and contributing in a positive way to creating a world where people live in harmony with nature. She is a Director; Treasurer; Member, Board of Directors of WWF Australia since 2021. Throughout her career she has also held additional leadership roles, including People Partner for KPMG Deal Advisory, Chair Inclusion and Diversity for KPMG Deal Advisory, and Chair of Finance, Audit and Risk Management Committee, WWF Australia.

linkedin.com/in/joanne-lupton-09407b72

Maona Matanda Dr Marion Mateos

Special Counsel, K&L Gates LAW

Maona is an infrastructure and major projects specialist:

• in legal advice and structuring of complex infrastructure, energy and resources projects

• expertise in various delivery models, including Public Private Partnerships (PPPs)/ P3/ PFIs

• extensive experience advising public and private sector clients

Maona has considerable knowledge and experience spanning the full project lifecycle and a reputation for navigating the key risks in the various stages of major projects.

She is a lateral thinker who understands the commercial drivers and legal issues from multiple perspectives and brings insights from advising a broad range of projects, sectors and a variety of clients.

Maona consistently provides strategic, commercial and innovative solutions using insights gained working in private practice and in-house with five key clients.

Her practice areas are:

• major infrastructure projects

• construction - Various delivery models including Public Private Partnership (PPPs/P3/PFI)

• commercial developments

• energy, including renewable energy zones (REZ)

linkedin.com/in/maona

Paediatric Haematologist/ Oncologist

HEALTH

Marion is a Paediatric Haematologist/ Oncologist and Clinical Research Fellow, based in Sydney. Her research is funded by a Cancer Institute New South Wales Early Career Fellowship. She works closely with clinicians and scientists to improve treatments and quality of life for children diagnosed with cancer.

Marion’s previous postdoctoral work was funded by a JGW Patterson Fellowship in the United Kingdom to undertake translational research in childhood medulloblastoma. She completed her fellowship in paediatric haematology/oncology at Sydney Children’s Hospital. Marion is also a past recipient of a three-year PhD Scholarship through Royal Australasian College of Physicians - The Kids Cancer Project.

linkedin.com/in/marion-mateos2a04353b

Jodie McBride

Photographer CREATIVE ARTS

Jodie was born and raised in Australia. She studied cinematography at USC California, then transitioned into photography. Her style has been described as soft and intimate, it comes from a place that feels real.

“I feel like a good photographer is like a story teller, they should draw you in and make you want to see more.”

Jodie has shot hundreds of weddings and fashion campaigns locally and also worked for five years in New York. From boutique elopements to huge, opulent occasions, her experience is vast.

Jodie’s backstage work at Paris and New York Fashion week have been published in Russh Magazine and L’Officiel and Vanity Teen

Editorial clients include Vogue, Bride to Be Magazine, L’Officiel, Girlfriend, and Harper’s Bazaar

linkedin.com/in/jodie-mcbride-0b23826a

Kate McQuestin

Chief Executive Officer, Advance MEDIA, COMMUNICATIONS AND MARKETING

Kate McQuestin is the CEO of Advance - The Global Australian Network (Advance). Kate is a public and private sector executive with more than 20 years’ experience in leadership, government, media, communications, public affairs and stakeholder engagement.

Kate has worked and lived in the United States of America, United Kingdom, Europe, Japan and Australia where she has embraced opportunities, worked in unfamiliar environments and established networks.

Kate’s professional experience includes leadership roles, running her own businesses and serving on other boards in the education, arts, health and not-for-profit sectors in Australia and overseas. Kate has worked with a range of global companies, industry groups and organisationscollaborating with a wide variety of stakeholders on complex issues across diverse cultures and markets.

She has also worked for a variety of State and Federal Government Ministers as well as the Prime Minister of Australia, serving in a range of roles in Government including Chief of Staff.

Kate is also a Director of the Rare Cancers Australia Board.

linkedin.com/in/kate-mcquestin

Rylie Mo

Senior Support Engineer, ServiceNow

ENGINEERING AND RELATED FIELDS

Coming from a family of educators, with her great grandfather serving as a private-school principal, Rylie inherited a passion for learning and leadership. Inspired by her family’s dedication, she pursued a career in engineering, spending 19 years in information technology. Rylie thrives on solving technical challenges and guiding others to success. With a belief in resilience and positivity, she approach life with curiosity and determination, embracing growth at every opportunity.

linkedin.com/in/ryliexlmo

Lynn Morrison

Partner, Ersnt & Young MANAGEMENT AND COMMERCE

Lynn has over 20 years’ experience across a broad range of industries with a strong focus on renewable energy and clean tech sectors, and has significant global coordination experience. Lynn has been successfully leading cross cultural teams in providing high quality professional services to her clients and the communities as we transition into a clean energy future, and is regarded as a trusted professional advisor.

Additionally, as the first assurance partner with a mainland China background in a Big 4 accounting firm within Australia, Lynn is dedicated to inspiring a future generation of leaders from a culturally diverse background.

linkedin.com/in/lynn-morrison-何 -gaicd-21319917

Penny Myerscough

National Manager – Learning and Wellbeing Culture, Centre for Corporate Health

MANAGEMENT AND COMMERCE

Penny is a national manager of learning and wellbeing culture at the Centre for Corporate Health, with over 25 years of corporate consulting experience.

Commencing her career with a global consulting firm where she was able to complete her psych registration, Penny then transferred to Singapore where she worked for five years taking on regional roles for global investment firms in their internal HR functions.

Since that time, Penny has balanced work and family and now runs the consulting arm of a company that specialises in supporting mental heath in the workplace. She partners with banks, law firms and professional services organisations where her work has included coaching and counselling, return to work as well working with clients to develop frameworks and strategy for best practice mental health and psychosocial risk management.

linkedin.com/in/pennymyerscough

Rebecca Nash

Chief People, Sustainability and Community Officer, AMP MANAGEMENT AND COMMERCE

Laura Newton

Special Counsel, Clyde and Co LAW

Rebecca is a commercially astute, strategic leader with a proven ability to implement large scale transformation to deliver key business outcomes. With more than 25 years of local and global multi-sector experience, Rebecca is a values-oriented leader who brings a deep understanding of fundamental business drivers and is passionate about building teams to enable organisations to transform. She consistently delivers strong results across profitable growth, customer and people.

Rebecca is a founding member of the Australian Hub of 100% Human at Work – a global B Team initiative to shape and identify the elements that define 100% human organisations to drive social change and is a passionate advocate of technology’s impact on business and building inclusive workplaces. Rebecca serves on the board committee of Northbridge FC and the Business Advisory Council of World Vision Australia.

Rebecca is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, Stanford Business School and Harvard Business School’s Women on Boards program (2018). She holds a Bachelor of Business degree from the University of Technology, Sydney, and a change management qualification from the Australian Graduate School of Management at the University of New South Wales, Sydney.

linkedin.com/in/rebecca-nash-35427939

Laura is currently a special counsel in Clyde and Co’s market leading cyber, privacy and data protection practice. She primarily focusses on cyber incident response management, specifically privacy obligations arising out of such incidents, including any subsequent regulatory investigations.

Laura has over 10 years’ experience in government, compliance and regulation – including experience at AUSTRAC, ASIC and APRA - with a particular focus on regulatory investigations and related litigation.

She holds an LLB/BBus and an LLM with excellence and is currently admitted to the NSW Supreme Court and the State Bar of California.

linkedin.com/in/laura-newton-6b7138109

Alicia Norman Dr Annabel Probert

Research Fellow, Macquarie University EDUCATION

Alicia is a research fellow at the Centre for the Health Economy (MUCHE). Prior to joining MUCHE, Alicia worked in pharmaceutical consulting as a health economist and the medical devices industry as a healthcare economics and reimbursement analyst and regulatory operations specialist. Alicia has eight years’ experience in presenting and evaluating clinical and economic evidence for medicines, medical services, and medical devices. Alicia’s expertise is in economic modelling and budget impact assessment. In addition to her health technology assessment work, Alicia is conducting applied research in the economic evaluation of mental health interventions, hospital models of care, and genetic testing.

linkedin.com/in/alicia-norman-19633a142

Orthopaedic Surgeon, NSW Health HEALTH

Chief

Executive Officer, Sandcastle

Sally Prowse is a passionate finance broker who specialises in educating her clients and providing tailored finance solutions to assist her clients in their journey to become financially independent. Sally provides finance solutions that involve using other people’s money – (the banks’) to help build a property portfolio that will ultimately give clients passive income.

Sally has three children and has been happily married for 26 years. Sally holds a Bachelor of Business Degree, A Diploma in Finance and Mortgage Broking, is a qualified real estate agent. She is an active member of North Curl Curl Surf club. Over the past couple of years she has helped raise funds for the farmers and for World Vision, by holding personal fundraising events. In 2023 she started working with a new organisation Womens Resilience centre to run a financial well being course to educate survivors of domestic violence on basic financial survival which included money mindset and basic budgeting. Her passion is educating her clients on how to plan for the long term, and have a secure future by helping them find the right finance to get into the property market. She has been a member of the MFAA since 2005 and she is now a qualified mortgage broker mentor which involves mentoring new brokers for the first two years of their mortgage-broking journey.

linkedin.com/in/sallyprowse

Tom Quarmby

Senior Investment Manager, Drummond Knight Asset Management

MANAGEMENT AND COMMERCE

Tom is a senior investment manager at Drummond Knight Asset Management (DKAM) and leads coverage of the cyclical financials sector, primarily for the Australian Market Neutral strategy. He joined DKAM in 2023 following his return from Boston where he was an equity research analyst at Fidelity covering Asia-Pacific financial Institutions and real estate, specialising in China and Australia. Prior to Fidelity, Tom held several lead/head of roles within investment bank research teams, including Barclays, Macquarie, Deutsche Bank, and Citigroup across Hong Kong, Taiwan and Sydney. Tom earned an MBA (Sloan Fellows) from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and a Bachelor of Commerce from the Australian National University in Canberra.

linkedin.com/in/tomquarmby

Dr Aparna Raniga

Ophthalmologist HEALTH

Aparna is an ophthalmologist, cataract and glaucoma surgeon. She feels very fortunate to have a rich and varied medical training –starting with medical school in New Zealand and then being selected as into the highly coveted field of ophthalmology as a trainee with the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Ophthalmologists. She was the only female trainee selected in New Zealand in 2010. Along the way, she fell in love with her medical school classmate and they travelled the world to learn from world experts and broaden their surgical training.

Aparna’s most cherished role is being the proud mother to two lovely daughters who are 12 and four years old. Together as a family, she is keen to maintain her connection with her Indian roots – she is fluent in three Indian languages and enjoys teaching her girls all about their culture. She also enjoys cooking/baking with them and they share her love of swimming and the great outdoors!

linkedin.com/in/aparnaraniga-644401209

Scarlet Reid

Partner, Ashurst LAW

Scarlet is a highly experienced work health and safety (WHS) and employment lawyer who works closely with both government and private sector clients on a range of workplace issues. As a former prosecutor with SafeWork NSW, Scarlet has particular expertise in WHS law and provides a wide range of WHS services including: responding to and managing serious workplace incidents, advising on WHS compliance in major infrastructure projects, conducting WHS investigations and training, appearing at coronial inquests and defending WHS prosecutions.

Scarlet’s experience as a prosecutor gives her an intimate understanding of both sides of the regulatory landscape when it comes to managing safety. Scarlet is also an accomplished litigator and conducts employment and administrative law related litigation in various courts and tribunals throughout Australia. She also assists her clients with investigations, inquiries and litigation related to workplace misconduct, including allegations of fraud, corruption and discrimination.

Scarlet is also the founder and Chapter Leader of the Australian branch of the Women’s White Collar Defence Association (WWCDA), which is a global organisation that promotes the professional interests of women lawyers who specialise in corporate crime and compliance work.

linkedin.com/in/scarlet-reid-86625879

Samantha Seaton

Board Administrator MANAGEMENT AND

Samantha is a highly skilled and organised administrator with broad Secretariat experience across education, corporate and finance sectors.

linkedin.com/in/samanthaelanseaton

Chelsea Sun

Finance Manager, TATA Group MANAGEMENT AND COMMERCE

Chelsea has been in the banking industry for last 15 years with extensive experience in finance and banking. Chelsea assists TATA Group and their future clients achieve their financial goals via a full range of property investment and construction projects.

Eva Suryapranata

Senior consultant (CE/CRM specialist), Walkerscott INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

Dr Mei-Heng Tan

Doctor HEALTH

Eva is passionate in delivering digital transformation and process automation to her clients. Having more than 20 years of experience in application development and implementation, Eva is an expert in creating an IT solution specifically in the customer relationship management or engagement (CRM/ CE) space for variety of industries, from financials, telcos, supply chains, governments and non-profits. Her wealth of experiences sees her in multi and lead consultancy roles ranging from business analysis, solution design, implementation, project management, and client management.

linkedin.com/in/eva-suryapranata

Dr Tan is a specialist consultant dermatologist with a focus on laser and cosmetic dermatology practicing in Macquarie St, Sydney CBD and Eastwood.

Dr Tan was a consultant and associate at renowned U.S. dermatology practice, Orentreich Medical Group, Fifth Avenue, New York, where she mastered the microdroplet injection filler technique and established herself as an authority on laser skin rejuvenation modalities Fraxel and Thermage.

She offers a range of innovative options for attaining better skin through combining specialist medical dermatology with cosmetic surgery, laser expertise and the most advanced technology. Dr Tan delivers the highest levels of personalised attention with ethical, skilled, comprehensive care, providing patients with unparalleled service.

drmeiheng-tan.squarespace.com

Tara Taubenschlag

Tara has worked in public affairs, strategic communications, and journalism for more than 20 years. Prior to co-founding CMAX Advisory, Tara worked as a television journalist both nationally and internationally, producing and presenting news and current affairs programs for Sky News and Channel Ten. She began her career as a print journalist for News Limited and is a published author in BroadAgenda and medical journal O&G Magazine. During her time at CMAX Advisory, Tara has counselled clients from a range of sectors including defence and national security, health, education, technology, mining and resources, and agriculture. She specialises in government relations, media relations, issue and crisis management, campaigns and strategy, and corporate social responsibility. Tara assists a number of non-profit and community organisations with their public relations and strategic communications needs on a pro-bono basis. She is a passionate maternal health advocate and has worked with charities including Every Mother Counts, Send Hope Not Flowers and The Hands of Rescue to raise funds and awareness for maternal health programs in developing countries. Tara was a founding board member of Women in Media – Canberra, was the 2013 Government Relations Practitioner of the Year, and was a finalist in the Telstra Business Women’s Awards 2015.

linkedin.com/in/tara-taubenschlag

Bronnie Taylor

Member of the Legislative CouncilNSW Parliament, NSW Shadow Minister for Regional Health, Trade and Seniors GOVERNMENT

Before entering Parliament in 2015, Bronnie spent 20 years working in health as a registered nurse, specialising in cancer care and palliative care. Through her work in these fields, she became one of the first McGrath Foundation breast care nurses and then the Director of Cancer Services in the Southern NSW Local Health District.

Bronnie was the first female in more than 100 years to be elected as Deputy Leader of the NSW Nationals and named as one of The Daily Telegraph’s 31 Most Influential Women in NSW for 2022.

As Minister for Women, Minister for Regional Health and Minister for Mental Health, she is focused on supporting women with a number of programs to build leadership and support networks, improving health outcomes in rural and regional NSW and leading the state towards the ambitious target of Towards Zero suicides.

linkedin.com/in/bronnie-taylor51975b160

Jennifer Teh

Julie Toma

Sustainability Manager, Hoyts Group

MEDIA, COMMUNICATIONS AND MARKETING

Jennifer is a values-led individual with 15 years of experience in the area of workplace relations, employment, discrimination, industrial and safety law. Jennifer has recently transitioned to a career in ESG and is now leading the HOYTS Group’s focus on positive in environment, science and governance (ESG). In Jennifer’s current role, she is responsible for partnering with the business to support delivery of its evolving ESG strategy, towards achievement of key targets for the business in the areas of emissions, energy, waste and social justice.

linkedin.com/in/jennifertehsyd

Non-Executive Director, Barbara May Foundation

SOCIETY AND CULTURE

Julie is passionate about making a difference to improving the health and wellbeing of people. As an executive healthcare leader, she provides deep insights into strategy, the customer experience, communications, brand and stakeholder engagement. Julie’s career encompasses roles with global corporations and the NFP sector, supported by qualifications in Biomedical Science and a Masters in Business Administration.

Julie’s core attributes, skills and experience encompass:

• anchors leadership in strong core values and authenticity

• curates a culture that attracts top talent and high performing teams

• builds strategic, financial, operational, community and stakeholder engagement

• delivers measurable, positive strategic and financial results

• demonstrates expertise working with boards, committees and in advisory roles.

She is currently a board director for the Western NSW Primary Health Network, Combined Dispensaries Friendly Society and the Barbara May Foundation; with previous board roles including Jannawi Connections, Australian Dental Health Foundation, LiveBetter and the Asthma Foundation ACT.

linkedin.com/in/julietoma

Ada Tong

Independent Data Product Consultant

MANAGEMENT AND COMMERCE

Ada is currently an independent consultant who provides data analytics and product strategy advice. She started her career as an actuary (doing maths for insurance companies), before moving into analytics + data science (doing maths for industries outside of insurance), and most recently she has re-invented herself as a product leader. The latest career move into product leadership is about doing all the “other” things that actually makes data usefulchange management, user design, data quality and governance, legal and compliance. She has worked in Asia and Australia and has worked in airlines, loyalty programs, banking, insurance, retail and property. She is also mother to two primary schoolaged kids, a wife, daughter, sister and friend.

linkedin.com/in/tongada

Tania Tran

Head of Portfolio, Mizuho Bank MANAGEMENT AND COMMERCE

Sophie Treasure

Director Partner Relations, Virtuoso MANAGEMENT AND COMMERCE

Tania has originated and executed structured finance transactions across Australia and the Asia Pacific. Currently Tania is Head of Portfolio at Mizuho Bank with a focus on ESG transition and asset management with a AUD 5 billion portfolio across the energy, utilities, infrastructure and renewable sectors.

Tania is a Pymble alumni and began her banking career with NAB in Corporate and Institutional Banking in Client Coverage, Credit and Turnaround/ Recovery.

From organising global events in Algeria, Asia, Europe, US and Australia, to overseeing half of Australia for Tourism Australia, Sophie’s experience in tourism and business events is very diverse. In her current role as Director, Partner Relations for Virtuoso, a luxury travel network, it is Sophie’s responsibility to ensure our global partners have a platform to work with travel advisors throughout Australia and New Zealand.

linkedin.com/in/sophie-treasurea665a028

Michelle Uhlhorn Trung Vo

Strategy and Communications Manager / Non-Executive Director, Belmadar Pty Ltd / Arthritis NSW MEDIA, COMMUNICATIONS AND MARKETING

Michelle boasts 14+ years of diverse experience in Australian and international sectors like construction, security, not-for-profit, pharmaceutical, gas and electric, and retail. Currently, she serves as the Strategy and Communications Manager at Belmadar, a leading commercial construction firm, while championing women in the industry. Michelle is also a seasoned non-executive director, lending her expertise to boards such as Arthritis NSW, Jannawi Connections, and The Cavalcade of History and Fashion. Michelle holds a Bachelor in Design and a Masters in International Marketing from the UK and is a Graduate of the Australia Institute of Company Directors. She’s currently pursuing an MBA at UNSW.

linkedin.com/in/michelleuhlhorn

Katie Viviers

Chief Executive Officer, St Vincent’s Clinic

HEALTH

Ms Viviers is the Chief Executive Officer of St Vincent’s Clinic. Through a number of senior roles across a range of organisations in the health, charity, financial and IT sectors, Katie brings extensive skills and experience in operational and strategic planning, business development, financial management and stakeholder engagement. She is committed to leading the strategic and operational management of St Vincent’s Clinic, St Vincent’s Clinic Foundation and Open Support.

Ms Viviers holds Bachelor and Masters degrees in science from Sydney University and an MBA from the Australian Graduate School of Management. She is an active mentor at St Vincent’s Health Network Sydney and for Macquarie University.

linkedin.com/in/katie-viviers-2113416

Director, ATO INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

Dr Vo is a co-founder of Clever Mushroom, where he applies cuttingedge technology, including AI, IoTs and advanced data analytics, into mushroom cultivation. Dr Vo is currently director or data science at the Australian Taxation Office. Dr Vo was a lead data scientist at Woolworths (Woolies X), Optus and Westpac where he led numerous multimillion-dollar projects. He also served as data science consultant at the Department of Home Affairs where he led the visa risk assessment program. He was a Research Scientist at the Department of Defence, where he got funded and led the development of a state-of-the-art sensing system for the anti-submarine warfare program.

Dr Vo obtained a Bachelor of Electrical and Computer Systems Engineering (1st Class Honours) from Monash University and a PhD degree in Physics at the University of Sydney (best PhD Award) in 2007 and 2011, respectively. Dr Vo published over 30 journal articles (including 2 papers in Nature) and over 60 peer-reviewed conference papers with over 2000 citations (h-index is 19).

Dr Vo has received many awards throughout his illustrious career.

linkedin.com/in/trung-vo-phd

Isabelle Whitehead

Director, Origination, Plenary Group MANAGEMENT AND COMMERCE

Isabelle is a commercial director at Plenary Group, where she focuses on developing and investing in public infrastructure projects. Her professional background is in law and geography, which has taken her to New York, London, Bangkok and Myanmar (to name a few). Isabelle is also a board member of the International Project Finance Association. She is passionate about finding ways for different stakeholders to work together to address the most pressing challenges faced by their cities and regions - from urban mobility, to affordable housing, to equitable access to health and education.

linkedin.com/in/isabelle-whitehead2932a092

Nick Willetts

Senior In-house Lawyer, Allianz LAW

Nick is a pragmatic senior commercial and IT lawyer with significant international experience gained in-house and in private practice in a variety of industries (including accountancy, construction, cyber security, defence, information technology, property, recycling, and transport.

Nick is highly adept at translating his skillsets to new environments. He is an astute communicator and energetic networker with extensive experience leading, mentoring and motivating large and small teams of lawyers and commercial managers.

He is also particularly well known for building collegiate environments based on long lasting relationships, being adaptable and remaining calm under pressure.

A former ACC Mentor of the Year and team winner of the ACC Advocacy Award, Nick is committed to supporting positive cultural transformation for organisations and their people.

linkedin.com/in/nick-willetts

Ellen Xue

Director, Ellen Zue Lending Group MANAGEMENT AND COMMERCE

Ellen has been a licensed mortgage broker for 9 years. Before this, she was a home loan manager with Westpac Bank.

A true property lover and investor, Ellen has an accounting background, and is a Certified Practising Accountant (CPA).

linkedin.com/in/ellen-xue-3444541b

Mentor/Mentee Guidelines

The purpose of Pymble’s Alumni Networking evening is to connect alumni and professionals from the Pymble community with the aim to support our Alumni for lives of professional contribution, leadership and as active global citizens.

In attending the Pymble Alumni Networking Event, and in any subsequent interactions, Mentors and Mentees are expected to behave in a professional, lawful, ethical, and responsible manner at all times.

Should Mentors and Mentees chose to continue in a professional mentoring arrangement, all participants are expected to adhere to the following code of conduct:

• Treat others with courtesy, be respectful and non-judgmental; and;

• Maintain professional standards of behaviour and safety; and

• Observe confidentiality at all times, including all contact details.

Relevant Australian Legislation

Mentors and Mentees are expected to abide by Australian laws preventing individuals from participating in the discrimination, harassment, sexual harassment or bullying or another individual or group:

• Australian Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission Act 1986

• Disability Discrimination Act 1992 (Cth)

• Racial Discrimination Act 1975 (Cth)

• Sex Discrimination Act 1984 (Cth)

Anyone who experiences any uncertainty or discomfort with a mentoring relationship should contact Yelli Kruger at Pymble Ladies’ College at ykruger@pymblelc.nsw.edu.au or 02 9497 7817 immediately.

QUESTIONS AND DISCUSSION TOPICS

What professional experiences did you have that led you to your current position?

How should I discuss a potential promotion with my manager?

What skills have been most beneficial for you?

What is the most meaningful part of your job?

How and where do you find inspiration?

What values are you committed to? How have they changed since you started your career?

What is your strongest character trait? What is your weakest?

Which leadership skills were the most difficult for you to develop?

Where or what do you turn to for continuous learning or skill development?

What habits have you found help you to be more productive?

What career accomplishments – whether it’s working through challenges to earning promotions – are you most proud of?

QUESTIONS AND DISCUSSION TOPICS

Are there certain things I should be doing so that I can learn skills that will help me prepare for my own career?

How do you establish work/life harmony?

Why did you decide to go into this field?

Do you have any networking advice?

Did you get impostor syndrome? How did you learn to get over it?

What methods do you use for effective communication?

How would you describe your leadership style?

If you could learn another professional skill unrelated to your current role, what would it be?

What are some hard choices that you made to get where you are in your career?

Did you experience some major setbacks in your business/career path? How did you bounce back?

What are some mistakes you wish you could have avoided?