Announcing the appointment, WOB co-founder Claire Braund, said Sheena was a long-standing member of WOB who would bring deep knowledge of the network, great energy, a commitment to women and diversity, significant NED experience and years of international business expertise to the role of Chair.
“We are absolutely delighted to have Sheena, who is known to many in the WOB network having been a lead presenter and advisor on our signature leadership programs and a WOB mentor for many years.”
Sheena said, “I am honoured to step into the Chair role at Women on Boards Australia. I particularly admire that WOB is not a ‘club’ requiring a particular qualification, job title, sector/industry, or other credentials as a condition of membership.
"WOB’s founders, Ruth Medd and Claire Braund have ensured that WOB remains open to all – and that has been integral to its success in facilitating positive change for individuals, for organisations and Boards who are genuinely determined to ensure greater access to opportunities for female leaders and to aspiring female leaders and directors.
“Women on Boards has tirelessly ‘broadened the pool’ of candidates for Board nomination over many years, rather than spotlighting a specific cohort – and that has and continues to be of enormous benefit in Australia. The extraordinary individuals I have met and worked with over the years across the entire WOB membership group augurs well for the future, and I look forward to engaging as widely as possible during my time as Chair. To outgoing Chair Ruth Medd, I say simply ‘thank you’ for the awesome work you have done – for all of us.”
WOB Co-founder, Ruth Medd, stepped down from the Chair role in early April, 17 years to the day she and Claire Braund co-founded WOB in Australia together in 2006.
Speaking about her 17 years with Ruth, Claire said she would be forever grateful for the opportunity they had to work together to change the boardroom landscape and make it far more accessible to women.
“Ruth has been a friend, mentor and woman of wisdom to so many at WOB over the years and will be missed by them, as she will by me,“ Claire said, adding that Ruth would still ‘be around in an Emeritus capacity’ curating the vacancy board and co-presenting on the Board CV masterclass.
About Sheena
Sheena is an Independent Non-Executive Director, business executive, leadership consultant and career development specialist with multi-disciplinary experience on a global scale. She is a long-serving member of WOB, having first joined in the UK where she was concluding her international business career, which included a significant period working internationally at The Bank of New York Mellon (BNY Mellon) where she was a member of the firm’s global Operating Committee. Over a 12-year period, she was successively BNY Mellon’s Head of HR (International), CEO of BNY Mellon (India), and ultimately Global Head of Talent Strategy.
Returning to Australia in 2014, Sheena joined the board of Herron Todd White Australia, became Deputy Chair in 2015, and Chairs the board’s People, Performance, Nominations and Governance Committee. She is also a founding director of Parents on Leave® Pty Ltd; and Principal of Sheena Wilson Consulting, providing board, executive and career coaching services.
Sheena is an international award-winning expert in the fields of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion; has worked on the ‘people aspects’ of many cross-border M&A deals; and has built two successful businesses from scratch. She has a particular passion for helping others succeed; and deep expertise in assisting people making career choices and transitions at different stages of their lives. Sheena has lived and worked extensively in Australia, New Zealand, the UK, India, the USA, and Europe, for a range of organisations in Banking & Finance; Business Services; Management Consulting; NGOs; Higher Education; and other arenas.
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