Sarah commenced as an ASIC Deputy Chair on 1 June 2021.

Prior to joining ASIC, Sarah was a Commissioner at the ACCC for three terms from May 2008 to May 2021. At the ACCC, Sarah led the Commission’s enforcement and investigation work and contributed extensively to strategic priority setting, statutory decision-making and leadership across the agency on a range of complex economy-wide legal and economic issues.

Before her time at the ACCC, Sarah was a Senior Executive Lawyer and Director at the Australian Government Solicitor, where she led national teams in government litigation, including restrictive trade practices, competition and consumer law, administrative law, employment law and law enforcement litigation.

Sarah has held board positions with the Law School and Centre for Regulation and Market Analysis at the University of South Australia.

Sarah holds a Bachelor of Arts (Jurisprudence) and a Bachelor of Laws (Honours) from the University of Adelaide and a Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice from the Australian National University. She is a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
Appointment as Deputy Chair, Treasurer’s media release, 29 April 2021.

Jade is a proud Ngarrindjeri, Arabana and Pitjantjatjara woman, growing up in regional South Australia in Port Augusta, she understood the complexities of living in country town were accessing to services, jobs and training opportunities can be limited. She has worked in the public sector for 21 years from a trainee in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission (ATSIC) to now as the Deputy Director for Aboriginal Strategy across Department for Infrastructure and Transport. She is passionate about providing opportunities for staff, Aboriginal communities and Aboriginal business when they arise.

Marina has led and collaborated on national and state health policy, strategy, and prevention programs throughout her career. This includes leading legislative change; implementing statewide and community-based programs, including social marketing programs; developing, implementing and evaluating whole of government strategies; partnering with government, non-government, and Aboriginal community controlled agencies to implement evidence based approaches; developing specific programs for disadvantaged and marginalised populations; and implementing business systems to support effective governance and the achievement of measurable outcomes.

In her current role she is responsible for South Australia’s new prevention agency, Preventive Health SA.

Dr Robyn Lawrence is the Chief Executive of the Department for Health and Wellbeing. 

She is responsible to the Minister for Health and Wellbeing for the governance, leadership and management of the South Australian health system. This includes being the direct employer of more than 45,000 staff and managing a budget of $7.4 billion.

Robyn has more than 16 years’ experience as a senior health care executive in predominantly change roles. She has led many transition projects, including capital developments and commissioning, cultural reform and governance changes. 

She led the WA COVID-19 response as Deputy Chief Health Officer and Incident Controller and has a medical background and a strong focus on clinical governance and excellence in her most recent roles as Assistant Director General with the WA Department of Health.

Kim Little is the inaugural Chief Executive of the Office for Early Childhood Development.

She is tasked with leading the design and implementation of landmark reforms in early childhood in South Australia, to increase the number of children starting school developmentally on track. 

With expertise in education and social policy, Kim was most recently the lead Deputy Secretary for the implementation of the Victorian Government’s ambitious Education State kindergarten reforms. This included the introduction of universal 3-year-old kindergarten and successful programs to lift the quality of kindergarten-offering services.

Kim has held leadership roles in the areas of early childhood, higher education and skills, with a focus on policy matters, market design and intervention. She has also worked as a philosopher at Monash University and a corporate lawyer.

Kim grew up in rural Queensland and Papua New Guinea and is married to a South Australian.

Chancellor Australian National University
38th Foreign Minister of Australia

The Hon Julie Bishop is Chancellor of the Australian National University, appointed in 2020.

On 5 April 2024 the Secretary General of the United Nations announced that he had appointed Julie as his Special Envoy on Myanmar, effective from 26 May 2024.

Ms Bishop served as Australia’s Minister for Foreign Affairs from 2013 until 2018. She was the first female to hold the role as well as the first female Deputy Leader of the Liberal Party, serving for 11 years. She was the longest serving Member for Curtin in the House of Representatives, elected in 1998 until 2019.

As Foreign Minister, Ms Bishop was responsible for strengthening Australia’s key strategic and economic relationships and enhancing engagement with Pacific Island countries, including normalising relations with Fiji, leading international recovery and reconstruction efforts in Vanuatu and establishing a school of government in Papua New Guinea. With Ministerial responsibility for more than 5,000 departmental staff, 110 overseas missions, and several government agencies, including the Australian Secret Intelligence Service and the Australian Centre for International Agriculture Research.

She led the single largest expansion of Australia’s overseas diplomatic presence in 40 years, increasing to 110 diplomatic missions. Ms Bishop developed the 2017 Foreign Policy White Paper, providing a comprehensive policy framework for the next decade; and established the New Colombo Plan, enabling Australian undergraduates to live, study and work in the Indo-Pacific region. Within five years, more than 40,000 students have participated in the Plan.

Bringing her experience from the private sector, Ms Bishop established the innovationXchange within DFAT to develop bold and creative solutions to longstanding overseas development assistance challenges and overhaul Australia’s foreign aid focus.

Ms Bishop promoted Australia’s interests at the United Nations Security Council. In 2014, she led the international response to the downing of Malaysian Airlines flight MH17 over Ukraine and was awarded the Commander of the Order of Merit of the Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

For her contribution to the US-Australia alliance, in 2018, Ms Bishop received the inaugural Eleanor Roosevelt US Mission Award for Leadership Excellence.

She previously served as a Cabinet Minister in the Howard Government as Minister for Education, Science and Training and as the Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for Women’s Issues. Prior to this, Minister Bishop was Minister for Ageing.

Before entering Parliament, Ms Bishop was a commercial litigation lawyer at Perth firm Clayton Utz, becoming a partner in 1985 and managing partner in 1994. Ms Bishop graduated with a Bachelor of Laws from the University of Adelaide in 1978 and attended Harvard Business School in Boston in 1996, completing the Advanced Management Program for Senior Managers.

In 2017, the University of Adelaide awarded Ms Bishop the Honorary Degree of Doctor of the University for her contribution to Australian parliamentary service, and in 2020 she was also awarded an honorary doctorate from ECU.

In 2020 Julie was awarded a Fisher Family Fellowship for the Future of Diplomacy Project at Harvard Kennedy School Belfer Centre for Science and International Affairs. In 2021 Julie was awarded the Kissinger Fellowship at the McCain Institute of International Leadership at Arizona State University.

In 2021, the UK Government appointed Julie to the G7 Gender Equality Advisory Council (GEAC). She is also a member of the Trilateral Commission Capitalism Task Force.

Julie was chosen by Mattel Australia as the 2021 Aus Shero Official Role Model as part of the Barbie Dream Gap Project for her inspiring career and iconic contribution as Australia’s first female Foreign Minister.

In 2022 Ms Bishop was awarded the Sir Edward “Weary” Dunlop AsiaLink Medal for her contribution to Australian diplomacy, women’s empowerment and Australia’s integration with the Indo-Pacific. In 2023 Julie has joined David Jones as an official Friend of the brand.

Julie is Chair of the Board of The King’s Trust Australia, Trustee of King’s Trust Group Company and Member of the International Advisory Board of Council on Foreign Relations.

She is also the Patron of Shooting Stars (an education programme for young aboriginal girls) and was an ambassador for Football Australia’s Legacy ’23 program in the lead up to the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023.

She has also established a boutique consultancy, Julie Bishop and Partners, offering strategic advisory services.

Ms Bishop has previously served as Chair of the WA Town Planning Appeal Tribunal, Director of SBS Media, Director of the West Coast Eagles AFL Club and on the Murdoch University Senate

Dr Natalie Pelham
Chief Executive – ONRSR | National Rail Safety Regulator
Natalie has more than 25 years in the public sector, leading significant safety regulation, policy, strategy and reform at both state and national levels. She is passionate about rail safety and is a strong advocate for safety improvement. Natalie is the third National Rail Safety Regulator and ONRSR Chief Executive.

Emma Rosenzweig is the Deputy Commissioner for Superannuation and Employer Obligations at the ATO.

Emma is responsible for ensuring that a complex ecosystem of employers, workers, retirees, and super funds operates efficiently, supports willing participation, and safeguards entitlements.

Emma has worked for the ATO for 25 years in a wide range of leadership roles across law, compliance, and service delivery. She is passionate about developing future leaders and invests time in mentoring and coaching individuals and groups. Her most important leadership happens at home, where she is a mum of two girls, aged 12 and 14.

Emma holds a Bachelor of Laws, a Bachelor of Commerce and a Masters of Tax.

Matt Opie commenced as Chief Executive of Defence SA in April 2024. Matt’s priority is to support and grow the defence and space sectors in South Australia to contribute to the state’s prosperity and national defence capability. His role also encompasses the Chief Executive of the South Australian Space Industry Centre and responsibility for the Defence Innovation Partnership and Veterans SA.

An Australian Defence Force Academy and Royal Military College Duntroon graduate, Matt has held senior defence positions across government, industry and academia throughout his 35-year career.

He served as an officer in the Royal Australian Corps of Signals in Australia, Europe and the Middle East.

Matt has worked on high-tech defence projects in the Asia-Pacific, US, and Europe with defence forces, governments, research organisations, and the private sector.

Before joining Defence SA, Matt served as Director of Defence and Space at the University of South Australia, where he was responsible for the university’s research strategies and engagement with the defence and space sectors. He has also held various roles at Saab and BAE Systems in program management, business development, and industry engagement.

Matt has a Bachelor of Science and a Master of Business Administration.

Jessica Hernandez commenced with Defence SA as Events Coordinator in October 2011. Primarily responsible for the coordination and execution of Defence SA minor events, sponsorships and trade shows, Jessica was part of the broader Marketing and Events team. Jessica’s role expanded to include marketing activity for the agency. Now, as Director of Marketing and Communications, she is responsible for overseeing and managing all marketing and communication activities for Defence SA and the South Australian Space Industry Centre.

After tertiary education, where she completed a Diploma in Event Management, Jessica began her career in events with a South Australian professional conference organiser, All Occasions Group, in 2006. Her role as Senior Event Coordinator saw her coordinate all aspects of conferences and events around Australia for a wide variety of associations and private companies, with up to 2,500 delegates at a time.

Prior to joining Defence SA, Jessica worked as a program manager for Advantage SA (formerly SA Great). In her role at Advantage SA, she managed the successful Speakers In Schools program, which exposed South Australian students to the vast range of career opportunities available within the state. She also managed the South Australian of the Year and Regional Awards Programs, which recognised the excellence and innovation of individuals and businesses.

Jessica is a member of Defence SA’s Executive Team.

Jayne Flaherty has been the Chief of Staff at Flinders University since October 2022.

In this role, she oversees the University’s government and external relations, media and communications, alumni relations and advancement, business intelligence and planning, and strategic policy.
Jayne brings extensive experience in strategic communications, policy, and government relations, having led these functions in both the public and private sectors, including the Department of the Premier and Cabinet (SA), and prominent South Australian organisations such as ASC, BankSA and RAA.

Recognised for her expertise in managing high-profile advocacy and public awareness campaigns, crises, and providing strategic advice on complex issues, Jayne is a respected leader in her field.

She holds a Bachelor of Arts (Psychology and Cultural Studies) from The University of Adelaide, a Master of Communication Management, and a Master of Marketing from the University of South Australia.

A graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, Jayne is an experienced non-executive director. She has served on the boards of the South Australian Tourism Commission and UniSA Business School. Currently, she is a member of the State Advisory Committee for the Committee for Economic Development Australia and a governor of AmCham.

Hannah is an Adelaide born and educated, internationally trained, executive leader in the research, development and innovation sector. She is the Executive Director of the South Australian Research and Development Institute (SARDI), the research organisation based in the Department of Primary Industries and Regions in South Australian Government. She previously led Strategy, Innovation and Operations at the Victorian Heart Institute (VHI), in Melbourne, Australia. 

Having trained and worked as an academic, she now enjoys the challenge of sitting at interface between science and the rest of society, helping to turn ideas into impact through relationships, partnership and deals with industry, end-users, and key stakeholders. A key part of her role is to remove and break down barriers which would otherwise prevent turning new knowledge into action.

She believes in the power of storytelling, and that creating clear and consistent narrative, engaging broadly with consumers, and embracing authenticity, integrity and humour are the keys to effective communication, and relationship building.

Over a number of years, Hannah has consulted on a range of projects in the communications, research/business strategy and diversity, equity and inclusion fields and is a former Board Director for Women in STEMM Australia.