10:50 - 11:10

Morning Tea

12:40 - 13:40

Lunch

15:10 - 15:30

Afternoon Tea

16:50 - 17:00 Review and closing comments

17:00 - 18:00 Networking drinks

09:00 - 09:20 Welcome and Opening comments

Leveraging growth opportunities for female talent

This panel will consider the extent to which organisational culture and personal elements need to align in order for women to flourish. How do we overcome the risk factors with regards to women's fit, functioning and growth in the workplace? What are the enablers for women leaders to flourish? And how are organisations enabling growth opportunities for female talent?

11:10 - 12:40

Panel Session

09:20 - 09:50

Keynote Address - Use your fear

Dr Tammie Matson

Zoologist, Adventurer, Author, Film Producer and Entrepreneur 

Dr Tammie Matson is a world expert on elephants and has inspired thousands of people, from children to adults, to achieve their dreams through her award-winning books, speeches and African adventures.  Inspired by a visit to Zimbabwe at the age of fifteen, Tammie achieved what many said could not be done as a young woman from North Queensland, by first becoming a wildlife researcher in Africa, then achieving a PhD in zoology and becoming a published author – all before she turned 25. Today, she balances her passionate commitment to conservation with being a mother to two sons under age 6.

09:50 - 10:20

Keynote Address - Stop fixing women in workplaces

Catherine Fox

Journalist, Author and Presenter

Catherine is one of Australia’s leading commentators on women and the workforce. A journalist, author and presenter, she is regularly invited to address audiences around Australia ranging from the Defence Force to corporates and local government, and often appears in the media. During a long career with the Australian Financial Review she edited several sections of the publication, and wrote the Corporate Woman column and for Boss magazine before leaving to set up her own consulting business in 2012. Catherine helped establish the annual Westpac/Financial Review 100 Women of Influence Awards and is on several advisory boards, including the Australian Defence Force Gender Equality Advisory Board.

10:20 - 10:50

Keynote Address

Christina Matthews

CEO, Western Australian Cricket Association 

Christina Matthews is Chief Executive Officer of the Western Australian Cricket Association (WACA) and a former Australian cricketer.

Named the country’s most capped female Test player and holding the record for the most dismissals by an Australian wicketkeeper, Christina is one of only three women in the world to hold the position of CEO of a first class cricket association. Christina is a well-respected voice within the Australian cricket community, with strong leadership qualities and 27 years’ experience in various management roles within cricket organisations, including seven years as General Manager, Commercial Operations at Cricket NSW and roles in coaching and development.

13:40 - 14:40

Development Session

Be Brave, Adaptive and Experimental

The time for action is now. It is up to each and every one of us to take accountability for our own part in creating gender equity. This session will explore the Women & Leadership Australia’s 100 Days for Change initiative which represents one hundred days of taking practical action to effect real change. We will work together to identify change levers, outcomes and commitments.

15:30 - 16:10

Keynote Address

Sadhana Smiles

CEO, Harcourts Group Victoria 

Sadhana Smiles is the CEO of Harcourts Group Victoria, the state division of one of Australia’s leading, well respected and fastest growing real estate brands. She started her career as a receptionist, is an accomplished keynote speaker, a well-known industry commentator and author of 'People Power – did you have them @ hello'. In 2013 she was named the Victorian Telstra Business Woman of the Year. In 2016 she was named one of 100 Women of Influence in Australia. She is the founder of Links Fiji, a not-for-profit taking health care to rural areas of Fiji ensuring that the incidence of cervical cancer is reduced.

16:10 - 16:50

Keynote Address - Geez Louise

Cal Wilson

Popular Comedian, Broadcaster and Actor

Cal Wilson came across the Tasman in 2003 and has gone on to become one of our most popular comedians, a perennial favourite on television shows such as Have You Been Paying Attention?, Spicks and Specks, Good News Week and Thank God You’re Here. Her stand up shows are as engaging as they are hilarious, often bringing the audience's stories to life alongside her own. Cal earned herself a seat in one of Australia’s most sought after writers rooms at the ABC for The Weekly with Charlie Pickering where she returned for its first two seasons until she landed one of her dream jobs as an ensemble cast member in Whose Line Is It Anyway? Australia alongside some of the country’s brightest improvisers. In 2017, Cal returned to the stage with her brand new solo show Things I’ve Never Said which drew sold out crowds to comedy festivals around Australia, appeared on the prestigious Melbourne International Comedy Festival Oxfam Gala and returned as live host for smash hit story telling show The Moth and their regular monthly shows.

Perth Symposium 2018

Thursday 10th May 2018

Pan Pacific Hotel

Diane Smith-Gander

Board Member, Wesfarmers Limited 

Diane Smith-Gander is non-Executive director AGL Energy, Wesfarmers Limited, Chair of Safe Work Australia, a board member of Keystart Loans, Henry Davis York, CEDA and President of Chief Executive Women, Australia’s pre-eminent women’s advocacy group. Diane has held a wide range of non-executive roles in the past including Chairman of Broadspectrum, Deputy Chairperson of NBNCo, non-executive director of the CBH Group, commissioner of Tourism WA and board member of the Committee for Perth. Diane’s last executive role was Group Executive at Westpac; a member of the leadership team of the corporation, responsible for all Information Technology, back office operations, global vendor management and property.

Jacqueline Minney

Head of Diversity, Inclusion and Aboriginal Affairs Laing O’Rourke Australia   

Jacqueline is a Yamatji Malgana woman from the Shark Bay area of Western Australia.Jacqueline is a multi-functional executive with Indigenous Affairs management experience across corporate, Not for Profit (NFP) and the government sectors. In addition she has a comprehensive knowledge of working with remote and metropolitan Aboriginal communities. Jacqueline is a culturally proficient and qualified facilitator and a well-known and respected member of a number of community organisations. She is committed to building the foundation of a cohesive and culturally sensitive platform for all Australians to gain a more meaningful understanding of one and other’s culture. Jacqueline works tirelessly to educate others in conjunction with assisting them in developing their own unique and considered understanding of the social and traditional boundaries that separate Aboriginal and Non-Aboriginal people’s culture.

Julie Adams

Managing Director, Chemo@Home

Julie has worked in the area of oncology and haematology for the past 25 years, in a number of hospitals (both public and private) in Western Australia. In 2000, she was successful in obtaining a grant from the Health Department of WA to establish the Home Cancer Care Service, which enabled oncology and haematology patients from Royal Perth, Sir Charles Gairdner and Fremantle Hospitals to receive their chemotherapy and supportive care therapy at home. Julie sits on the Leukaemia Foundation’s WA and National Medical and Scientific Advisory Committees and is a member of the Cancer Pharmacists Group of the Clinical Oncological Society of Australia.

REGISTRATIONS FOR THIS EVENT HAVE NOW CLOSED.​