Women in Leadership Summit 2024

Following four monumental events in February 2024, we’re going to amplify the voices of women in leadership like never before! Prepare to be captivated by three trailblazing world leaders on one platform for the first time. Join us to gain not just their wisdom and insights, but understand their authentic selves and the real leader behind the title.
- The Hon. Julia Gillard, The 1st & only woman to serve as Prime Minister of Australia
- The Rt. Hon. Theresa May MP, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom – 2016-2019
- The Rt. Hon. Helen Clark, the former Prime Minister of New Zealand for three successive terms from 1999-2008
This summit isn’t just about inspiration; it’s about empowerment and an unmissable opportunity to gain invaluable advice to chart your course to success. Forge meaningful connections with fellow leaders across the nation and dive deep into discussions that blend practical guidance as we celebrate the rich diversity that unites our leaders and teams.
What to expect

Be inspired by live virtual international featured speakers The Rt. Hon. Theresa May MP, The Hon. Julia Gillard AC, The Rt. Hon. Helen Clark & Leigh Sales streaming live from Canberra

Learn from engaging, diverse & thought-provoking women in senior leadership at the top of their game

An unparalleled opportunity to network & genuinely connect with peers from across WA’s organisations

Gain career advice from diverse perspectives, learn practical tips & discover powerful lived experiences

Real world learning with practical examples & case studies

Walk away with a toolkit of resources to support you in your leadership journey

Practical & insightful workshops on crucial leadership skills for capability & high performance

A women in leadership experience like no other

The Rt. Hon. Helen Clark
1st woman to be elected Prime Minister of New Zealand
Live streamed from Canberra
The Hon. Julia Gillard AC
1st & only woman to serve as Prime Minister of Australia
Live streamed from Canberra
The Rt. Hon. Theresa May MP
Second female Prime Minister of the United Kingdom
Live streamed from the UK
Speakers
The Hon. Julia Gillard AC (She/Her)
1st and only woman to serve as Prime Minister of Australia
Jacqueline McGowan-Jones (She/Her)
Arrente/Warramungu woman, Commissioner
WA Commissioner for Children and Young People
Lorna Rechichi (She/Her)
General Manager Heavy Lift, Engineering Construction Division
Monadelphous
Josie Fourie (She/Her)
Winner 2024 Outstanding Woman in Resources, Head of Australia - Global Wells & Seismic
Woodside
Rebecca Darby (She/Her)
Senior Specialist Culture and DEI, People & Capability
Anglo Gold Ashanti
Shamsa Lea (She/Her)
Veteran, Leaders, Speaker & Facilitator, Director, Innovation and Strategy
Anglicare WA
Audience
Public Sector and Industry Professionals including:
- Current & emerging female, non-binary & gender diverse leaders
- HR, Diversity & Capability Professionals & Leaders
- Learning & Development Leaders
- Male allies & champions of change

Agenda
All times are shown in AWST
Welcome to Country
Opening remarks from The Hatchery & MC

Shamsa Lea (She/Her)
Veteran, Leaders, Speaker & Facilitator, Director, Innovation and Strategy
Anglicare WA
Unleashing the power of storytelling for women in leadership – Live streamed from Canberra
As one of Australia’s most respected journalists, Leigh Sales understands the power of storytelling, and that it is crucial that leaders use it well. Storytelling takes an idea, a change or even an experience and breathes life into it, explaining the events and decisions that led to a particular outcome, building empathy, agreement and buy-in. In this exclusive and practical keynote, Leigh will draw from her extensive experience in shaping messages, crafting questions and how stories can change the world.

Leigh Sales AM (She/Her)
Former Host of 7.30, Journalist, Author & Podcast Co-Host
Address by the Minister for Women’s Interests Hon. Sue Ellery MLC BA

Hon. Sue Ellery MLC BA
Minister for Minister for Finance, Commerce & Women's Interests
Leader of the Government in the Legislative Council
Reflections on leadership from the journey to Director General
- Career milestones from across the WA and Commonwealth Governments
- Understanding what opportunities to take in your career and when to take them
- Three pieces of advice I would give my mid-career self

Emily Roper (She/Her)
Director General
Department of the Premier & Cabinet WA
Morning tea
Leadership lessons from a career in tertiary education
- Taking the step from academic specialist to generalist leader
- Understanding the importance of authenticity as a leader
- Following your heart, as well as your head, as you navigate your career

Professor Harlene Hayne (She/Her)
Vice Chancellor
Curtin University
Leadership advice & navigating emerging workplace issues
- What is one piece of leadership, career or life advice you would give your past self?
- What is the most important thing for all leaders to know or do?
- Office, hybrid or remote: Where do you think the best work gets done?
- What are your tips for intergenerational leadership now that Boomers, Gen X, Millennials and Gen Z work together?

Melanie Samuels (She/Her)
Deputy Director General
Department of Communities WA

Lesley Walker (She/Her)
Executive General Manager, Customer,
Synergy

Kylie Maj (She/Her)
Director General
Department of Justice WA
Lunch

Pennie Snowden She/Her
Assistant Commissioner, Behaviours of Concern
Australian Taxation Office
In Conversation with The Rt. Hon. Theresa May MP: Leadership lessons & taking challenges head on – Live Streamed from the UK
The Rt. Hon. Theresa May MP became Prime Minister of the UK at a time of social and political change after the country’s historic Brexit referendum result. Over three years she led her nation while negotiating a deal to leave the EU that emphasised fairness, integrity and stability. In this exclusive live virtual fireside chat, Mrs. May will enlighten you with what she learned about leadership and taking big challenges head on.

The Rt. Hon. Theresa May MP (She/Her)
Second female Prime Minister of the United Kingdom
Interactive Reflection Activity
At your tables or at a nearby table, discuss your top takeaway from The Rt. Hon. Theresa May MP’s session and why it resonates with you.
Accelerating your public sector leadership career
- Reflecting on my career journey across the public sector
- Learnings from roles in senior and executive management as well as commissioner and how they differ
- Navigating a career from the intersectional perspective of a First Nations woman

Jacqueline McGowan-Jones (She/Her)
Arrente/Warramungu woman, Commissioner
WA Commissioner for Children and Young People
Afternoon Tea
Building your executive leadership toolkit
- Advice on transitioning from a manager of teams to a leader of people
- How to get the most out of your people and lead a thriving team
- Top three leadership tips from my career to date

Karen Willis (She/Her)
General Manager Customer & Community Group
Water Corporation
How leadership skills span roles, industries & even technical fields
- Notes on my leadership journey from consulting to construction
- The vital importance of communication to leading a thriving team
- Tips on leading in new fields, industries and team cultures

Lorna Rechichi (She/Her)
General Manager Heavy Lift, Engineering Construction Division
Monadelphous
My journey from the Emerald Isle to the land of sand
- Getting married and then moving across the world
- Navigating marriage breakdown and divorce while sustaining a leadership career
- The amazing benefits of sponsorship for women in leadership roles

Ashley McGrath (She/Her)
CEO
CEOs for Gender Equity
Closing remarks & networking drinks
Acknowledgement of Country & Opening remarks

CHAIR
Shamsa Lea (She/Her)
Veteran, Leaders, Speaker & Facilitator, Director, Innovation and Strategy
Anglicare WA
Not now, not ever! Lessons in leadership, intersectionality & empowering women – Live streamed from Canberra
Not only is Julia Gillard the first and only woman to lead our nation, she is also an author and podcast host on the topic and has interviewed countless women in a wide variety of leadership roles and with vastly diverse and intersectional perspectives. She is also the Chair of the Global Institute of Women’s Leadership, The Hatchery’s Research Partner for this summit series. With unquestionable authority on the topic, Ms Gillard will deliver a wide-ranging keynote on leadership advice, intersectionality and empowering women.

The Hon. Julia Gillard AC (She/Her)
1st and only woman to serve as Prime Minister of Australia
Interactive reflection activity
At your tables or at a nearby table, discuss your top takeaway from Julia Gillard’s session and why it resonates with you.
Advice on leadership from an extensive career in health
- Unpacking roles from clinical to academic, hospital and public service leadership
- Understanding how a diversity of experience can prepare you for senior leadership
- Top three leadership tips from my career to date

Dr Shirley Bowen (She/Her)
Director General
Department of Health
Morning tea
The role of leaders in empowering their people
- Charting the changing nature of leadership in the contemporary workplace
- How to create trust in your team to drive high performance
- Building collaborative working relationships to engage and inspire at all levels of business

Amy Stanley (She/Her)
Chief People Officer
HBF
Women, Equality, Power: Learnings & advice from a life of leadership – Live streamed from Canberra
Helen Clark has been a political leader for more than 40 years, having started her political career in the 1970s, leading the Labour Party to victory in 1999 and establishing herself as Prime Minister of New Zealand for nine years. She then took on a critical international role as Administrator of the United Nations Development Programme in New York. In this exclusive keynote, Helen will provide her advice and key insights on leadership, including realising and using your power to drive change and leaving a lasting legacy.

The Rt. Hon. Helen Clark (She/Her)
1st woman elected Prime Minister of New Zealand
Interactive Networking Activity
At your tables or at a nearby table, discuss your top takeaway from Helen Clark’s session and why it resonates with you.
Lunch
What do leaders need to learn about diverse perspectives, lived experiences & allyship?
- Please share one instance where bias has affected you in the workplace
- How did it make you feel?
- Did it affect your work or career progression?
- What are the most common types of biases that leaders or team members may have, and may not be aware of?
- What can leaders do to be better allies and create safe working environments?

Frank Flintoff (They/Them)
Neurodiversity & nonbinary advocate, Team Lead, Information Compliance
Western Power

Margaret Chinowaita
Journalist, Editor, Author & Lived Experience Speaker
Australian Red Cross

Meagan Shand (She/Her)
Experienced Disability Leader, Coach and Mentor
Disability Leadership Institute
Building an inclusive, safe & respectful workplace in the current climate

Olivia Trembath (She/Her)
DEI Specialist, Coach & Facilitator
Grace Papers
Afternoon tea
Not so secret women’s business! Menopause, endometriosis, mental health, chronic illness & leading & supporting your team through it
- In what ways can endometriosis and other menstrual disorders disrupt the careers of women who have them?
- How can menopause, or perimenopause, disrupt the careers of women who experience strong symptoms?
- What can leaders do to support women experiencing mental health issues?
- What is the best way for leaders to support team members struggling with these challenges?

Rebecca Darby (She/Her)
Senior Specialist Culture and DEI, People & Capability
Anglo Gold Ashanti

Grace Molloy (She/Her)
Chief Executive Officer
Menopause Friendly Australia

Rachel Oliver (She/Her)
Lived Experience Supervisor, Consultant, Researcher, Educator & Advocate
Fig Leaf Consulting
Closing Keynote: Groundbreaking leadership at work, home and in the community
- The journey from a conservative upbringing to overcoming barriers in a male-dominated field
- Challenge what is possible – achieving big professional and personal goals
- From adversity into advocacy – service leadership at work and in the community

Josie Fourie (She/Her)
Winner 2024 Outstanding Woman in Resources, Head of Australia - Global Wells & Seismic
Woodside
Closing remarks & close of summit
Enhance your learning from the summit with these deep-dive workshops.
All times are shown in AWST.
How to banish confidence killers & say goodbye to self-doubt
Silence your inner critic and make self-confidence a lifetime habit
This seminar will discuss how internal factors such as critical self-talk and rumination hurt our confidence. It will explore why the business of self-improvement is disproportionately directed at women while discussing what confidence is and its myths. There will be plenty of science-backed strategies that we can employ in our personal and professional lives. It will also explore how external factors such as bias, likeability traps, female rivalry, and the unequal division of household labour chip away at our confidence, while simultaneously blaming gender inequality on women’s “lack of confidence”.
Key takeaways
- Turning the dial down on critical self-talk
- How confidence myths influence our self-sabotaging behaviours
- How to navigate and recognise external obstacles to our confidence
- Strategies for women, workplaces, and allies to address broader structural factors

Professor Maja
Sociologist, Author, TedX Speaker & Confidence-Builder
The world’s foremost expert and researcher on gendered confidence inhibitors

Pricing
Save until 31 May
+GST
Early bird pricing
Save $800
Workshop
- Online Workshop $499 +GST
Applicable to Public Sector and Industry Professionals attending for learning and development purposes (excludes Vendor/Commercial Solutions Providers)
Save until 28 June
+GST
Early bird pricing
Save $600
Workshop
- Online Workshop $499 +GST
Applicable to Public Sector and Industry Professionals attending for learning and development purposes (excludes Vendor/Commercial Solutions Providers)
Save until 19 July
+GST
Early bird pricing
Save $400
Workshop
- Online Workshop $499 +GST
Applicable to Public Sector and Industry Professionals attending for learning and development purposes (excludes Vendor/Commercial Solutions Providers)
Save until 9 August
+GST
Early bird pricing
Save $200
Workshop
- Online Workshop $499 +GST
Applicable to Public Sector and Industry Professionals attending for learning and development purposes (excludes Vendor/Commercial Solutions Providers)
Standard rate
+GST
Workshop
- Online Workshop $499 +GST
Applicable to Public Sector and Industry Professionals attending for learning and development purposes (excludes Vendor/Commercial Solutions Providers)
In-person Vendor Rates
+GST
Your organisation provides product solutions or services to this industry
Bring your colleagues and save with a group discount
Groups of 5-9 save 5%
Groups of 10-19 save 10%
Groups of 20+ save 15%
To secure a table for your organisation, please book in groups of 10.
New Financial Year Offer: Secure a group of 5 in-person tickets for $12,999 +GST (ends on Friday, 19 July)
If you have the chance to attend this event, go for it – it’s a rare life experience. It’s inspiring, motivating and a good chance for allyship amongst women.”
Elizabeth Li
Analytical Chemist, Resources Safety and Health Queensland
What a fantastic collective of women in leadership, with real stories of their journeys. It was a memorable, uplifting experience to be a part of.”
Meagan Geist
Head Teacher CPALES, Western Sydney region, TAFE NSW
The Women In Leadership Summit was a great event. Truly inspiring speakers who were authentic, engaging and humble. Great conversations and practical advice.”
Alysha Abbott
Head of Inclusion and Belonging, TPG Telecom
This was amazing and mind blowing. So many exceptional stories and speakers sharing their journeys. It has made me realise I am on track, and to keep being authentic.”
Paulette Del Popolo Marchitto
Team Manager, Victorian Department of Families, Fairness & Housing
Format
FAQ
Dietary requirements and special needs are to be communicated to event organisers one week prior to the event commencing. Please identify yourself to The Hatchery staff upon arrival to ensure all your needs are met.
Most sessions are being recorded and will be made available after the event ends. They will be accessible through the “replay” button.
No problem! Visit our FAQ page here: https://the-hatchery.co/faqs/ or contact Customer Care on 1300 918 334.
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