The 11th WOBSX syndicate - chaired by experienced Chair and NED,
Zita Peach - gathered for the graduation ceremony on 6 June which included an afternoon catch-up to regroup and reflect and a celebratory dinner at Bank on Collins.
The graduates are Sarah Fairhurst, Theodora Elia-Adams, Nicolle Rantanen, Tracey Groves, Jill Rossouw, Jen Johanson, Alix Doherty, Melanie Eagle, Lindi Deguara, Michelle Lawson, Claire Elkin, Ren Barlow and WOBSX adjunct Avanti Gosavi.
Back Row L-R) Nicole Donegan, Jill Rossouw, Claire Elkin, Jen Johanson, Lindi Deguara, Alix Doherty,
Michelle Lawson, Nicolle Rantanen Reynolds, Tracey Groves, Theodora Elia-Adams
(Front Row L-R) Avanti Gosavi, Ren Barlow, Zita Peach, Margie Haseltine, Sarah Fairhurst, Melanie Eagle
The afternoon started with each participant presenting their reflections and updating the group on recent progress and appointments. Key reflections included:
- The importance of having a Board CV and updated LinkedIn profile, which were.
- Why it is vital to be able to tell your story and to have your elevator pitch ready. Participants did a lot of work on this as part of both the group and one on one mentoring sessions with Zita. Feedback was that their story and pitch changed dramatically through the self-reflection work done during the program.
- Why networking is key to building your network and identifying opportunities
- The importance of group connection
Following reflections the group was fortunate to have the syndicate's namesake Margie Haseltine, Chair of Bapcor Automotive, who provided her insights and answered questions. The group was also joined by Shelly Park, a 2022 WOBSX Graduate, who shared her board journey and inspired the group with her progress since her WOBSX graduation. Shelly is currently the Chair of Ambulance Victoria, Non Executive Director St John of God Health Care, Advisory Board member, Australian Organ and Tissue Authority.
“The overwhelming theme for the day was resilience,” said WOB’s Nicole Donegan who was a guest at the graduation.
“This message came through in the key learnings shared by the group. It was agreed that you need to be prepared to make multiple applications, learn to take rejection and no response as par for the course (and not to take it to heart). It was also established that once you are appointed, there will always be challenges and issues that you need to be able to manage, and that many of these will not be easy.”
Congratulations to our graduates:
Ren Barlow
Lindi Deguara
Alix Doherty
Melanie Eagle
Theodora Elia-Adams
Claire Elkin
Sarah Fairhurst
Avanti Gosavi
Tracey Groves
Jen Johanson
Michelle Lawson
Nicolle Rantanen Reynolds
Jill Rossouw
Find out more about WOBSX here