The last Director Lunch series for 2023 all lunches will follow WOB’s LinkedIn half-day workshops.
“Many of these women have been part of the WOB network for more than 15 years. Weve been privileged to walk with them on their director journey - many of them to major listed and global boards. We know that the insights they obtained along the way, and will be sharing with our members, will be of value to anyone who attends.”
All the lunches are being held at Clayton Utz, while the Adelaide breakfast is being held in partnership with Andreyev Lawyers.
Adelaide - Sandy Verschoor
12 October (breakfast, 7.30am-9am)
Chair of Art Gallery of South Australia and SA Heritage Council, Sandy Verschoor is the first female to hold the positions of Lord Mayor, Deputy Lord Mayor, Councillor, and General Manager with the City of Adelaide.
Elected as Lord Mayor of Adelaide from 2018-2022, she was the City’s third female Lord Mayor and the first in almost 20 years. Sandy was elected City of Adelaide Area Councillor in 2015 and served as Deputy Lord Mayor 2017-2018.
Her career spans public and private enterprise, not-for-profits, and local and state government, including three years as General Manager City Culture and Community Services for the City of Adelaide (2012-2015). Sandy has developed and delivered some of the most significant cultural events for the State during her time as CEO for the Adelaide Fringe and the Adelaide Festival, and in 2018 produced the Adelaide Festival of Ideas.
Register here
Sydney - Helen Wiseman
13 October
Seasoned board Chair and Non-Executive Director, Helen is recognized for her expertise in audit committees across listed (JSE, ASX) and unlisted multinational groups. Holding dual UK and Australian citizenships, Helen's professional influence extends globally, with a diverse industry background encompassing food, pharmaceuticals, professional services, as well as mining and energy sectors.
President of INSEAD International Directors Network, Helen is also Independent Chair and NED with Elixinol Wellness Limited (ASX:EXL), NED and Audit Committee Chair with Bid Corporation and Director of Imalia financial services business. Furthermore, she has amassed insights into the realm of ESG through her active involvement in the Bid Corporation Social and Ethics Committee.
Drawing from her 15-year tenure as a facilitator, mentor, and coach to CEOs and senior executives, Helen has earned recognition as an ICF Professional Certified Coach and former counsellor.
Register here
Canberra - Christine Hawkins AM
19 October
Board and Governance Principal at Directors Australia, Christine is a national governance advisory and director recruitment organisation. She is a leading governance specialist, with deep experience as Chair, non-executive director and adviser to boards and CEOs.
Christine is a member of the NSW Parliament Legislature’s Audit and Risk Committee and of Sydney Anglican Diocese Glebe Administration Board and Chair of the Australian School of Accounting.
With core skills in economics and finance, strategy and business development, risk management and corporate restructuring Christine has a successful track record in start-up companies, member organisations, difficult stakeholder management environments, organisational regeneration and complex decision making in difficult environments.
In 2019 Christine was admitted as a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) for significant service to business and commerce and primary industry.
Register here
Perth - Andrea Hall
23 October
With an extensive NED portfolio, chartered accountant Andrea Hall has experience in the mining and mining services, transport, healthcare, insurance, superannuation, property and government sectors.
She sits on the board of Commonwealth Superannuation Corporation and Core Lithium, is NED and Chair of the Audit and Risk Committee and People and Remuneration Committee member for Perenti, Chair of Audit Committee and Chair Audit Committee, Risk & Sustainability Committee member for Evolution Mining; NED, Chair of Risk Committee and Finance Committee member for the Fremantle Dockers; and NED and Audit and Risk Committee member with Insurance Commission of Western Australia.
A Chartered Accountant with over 30 years’ experience in the financial services industry, Andrea started her career at KPMG in 1987, before retiring from the firm in 2012 as a Partner in Charge of the Perth Internal Audit, Risk and Control Services division.
She has also previously held non-executive directorship roles at several other prominent entities, including Automotive Holdings Group, the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Western Australia, and Lotterywest. Andrea served on the WA Council for Chartered Accountants Australia New Zealand for seven years until 2011, the last year as the Chair.
Register here
Melbourne - Philippa Taylor
25 October
Philippa is an experienced non-executive director with over two decades on boards, including as Chair of Remuneration & Nominations Committees. Her board experience includes ASX, commercial, government and not-for-profit boards, including APRA and other regulated industries.
Philippa sits on the board of We Make A Difference (Australia), Apollo League and Raiz Invest where she is also Chair of the Remuneration, Nomination and Culture Committee.
She was previously NED and Member, FInance, Audit & Risk Committee with Western Leisure Services and NED and Remuneration and Nomination Committee Chair of the International Women’s Development Agency.
Philippa has an extensive executive career with over 30 years as a professional human resources expert and board advisor to ASX-listed, commercial, government and not-for-profit organisations in financial services, professional services, tourism and recreation. Philippa brings a wealth of experience in workforce and executive governance, organisational culture and engagement.
Register here
Leeanne Bond - Brisbane
30 October
Leeanne Bond is a widely known and respected Engineering Executive, Independent Non-Executive Company Director and Board Chair with a passion for business and the profession of engineering.
Leeanne is the owner of Breakthrough Energy and currently the independent non-executive chair of ASX listed engineering and technology group Synertec Corporation Limited (SOP) and Mining3, an industry directed research and technology organisation formerly known as CRCMining in partnership with CSIRO. She is also a non-executive director of Australian government owned Snowy Hydro Limited and Clean Energy Finance Corporation as well as an investor in new technology start-ups.
Leeanne’s expertise in business strategy, energy and resources, technology and innovation, risk management, infrastructure and governance of major capital projects has helped shape many organisations based on her 30-year career in engineering projects and professional services. Her executive career covers general management, engineering projects and professional services across a broad range of industrial sectors including leadership roles at board/senior management level in infrastructure, water, energy, power, oil and gas, minerals and postgraduate education.
Leeanne is committed to improving diversity and inclusion and encouraging women in STEM and personally sponsors a scholarship for a female engineering undergraduate student at the University of Queensland. She served as the first female President of Engineers Australia in Queensland in 2002 and is a past Deputy Chair of the Board of Professional Engineers. Leeanne was named Australian Professional Engineer of the Year in 2007 by Engineers Australia and has served on the national board of Engineers Australia.
Register here
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