Our work is guided by a group of highly talented and thought-provoking leaders, including:

Dr Wendy Attwater has more than 25 years experience in business, working as a human resources executive in a number of industries including IT, Finance and Manufacturing. She also ran her own successful consulting and training business for a number of years.

Wendy has worked in the domestic and international markets and has a multifaceted understanding of business operations.

In addition to degrees in commerce and industrial law, Wendy has a Doctor of Business Administration in the area of executive remuneration. She is also a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

Wendy is involved in a number of organisations concerned with advancing the status of women. She is a passionate advocate for women's rights and has a special interest in pay equity issues.

Ita Buttrose AO OBE is a businesswoman, editor, journalist and author. She was the first woman appointed editor-in-chief of a major Australian metropolitan newspaper and the youngest person to be appointed editor of the Australian Women's Weekly. Ita was also the founding editor of Cleo and Itamagazine. In 1993 Ita was the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation's Australian of the Year and in 1992 she was the first women to be awarded the Harnett Medal, bestowed by the Royal Society for the Encouragement of Arts, Manufacturers and Commerce for professional achievements in publishing, journalism, radio and TV broadcasting as well as for her extensive community service record.

Ita was made an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 1979, and became an Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) in 1988. In 2003, she was also awarded the Centenary Medal. Ita has authored and co-authored 10 books including How Much Is Enough? Your Financial Roadmap To A Happy Retirement, A Word to the Wise and A Guide to Australian Etiquette.

Ita has served on the board of News Limited and was Chair of the National Advisory Committee on AIDS (NACAIDS), to name a few. She is a former President of the Chief Executive Women.

Ita appears weekly on Channel Seven's Sunrise program, is host/interviewer for the Ovation Channel, and travels on the professional speakers' circuit. She is president of Alzheimer's Australia.

Kerry Chikarovski is one of Australia’s most respected and admired former female politicians. Kerry’s achievements extend far beyond her leadership of the NSW Liberal Party (1998-2002) and her twelve years in politics. Since retiring from politics in 2003 she has successfully carved out a career in government relations, as a corporate advisor, event speaker, leadership mentor and media personality.
Kerry is a highly sought after successful businesswoman, regularly presenting at corporate and charity events.

Kerry enjoys lending her support to various charities and not for profit organisations. She currently sits on the Board of the Humpty Dumpty Foundation, is Chair of NSW Women’s Rugby Union and is an Ambassador for the Eggtober Foundation, Australian Indigenous Education Foundation (AIEF) and YWCA NSW.

Of recent years she has become a regular on television and radio discussion panels and thoroughly enjoys the atmosphere of live commentary and debate. Her credits include ABC The Drum, Planet America, Sky News, The Nation, Election Coverage and ABC702.

Judi Hausmann is CEO of Hausmann Communications, a full service public relations agency that she established in 1990. She also heads up Open Haus and Health Haus, two subsidiary PR agencies that form part of the Hausmann Group.

Hausmann specialises in brands that target the consumer and over the years has been retained by many of the world's leading brands to oversee their public relations efforts in the Australian market. Past and present clients of Hausmann include Virgin, Sony, Nokia, Coca-Cola, Procter and Gamble and Unilever.

In addition to her business activities Judi is involved in supporting numerous charities and Arts organisations. She is a Trustee of the Sydney Theatre Company and works closely with them on their fundraising efforts.

Deborah Hutton is one of the most recognisable, respected media personalities in Australia. She has influenced the Australian public throughout her career and continually exudes a persona of trust, intelligence and loyalty. Australians look to Deborah Hutton as a barometer of good taste, style and professional achievement.

Deborah was an editor for The Australian Women's Weekly for more than 10 years. She hosted several top rating programs including Location Location, Amazing Homes and Celebrity Overhaul as well as being a regular contributor on the Nine Network's Fresh Food programme and guest reporter on Getaway.

Deborah has been an on-going ambassador for many iconic Australian companies including Qantas, Holden, Mirvac, Lend Lease and is the face of Proctor and Gamble's OLAY Regenerist Skincare range.

Deborah launched her range of home-wares Living with Deborah Hutton for Kmart in 2004; she re-launched the much-loved brand online and through direct mail catalogues a few years later.

She has also created her own brand of eyewear Deborah Hutton Optical.

In 2009 Deborah began recording The Money Show on 101.7 WSFM, a national one-hour radio programme offering straightforward financial advice with business guru Paul Clitheroe.

Wendy McCarthy AO is an experienced company director and currently chairs headspace, Australia's National Youth Mental Health Foundation, Circus Oz, McGrath Estate Agents and Pacific Friends of the Global Fund. In 2010 Wendy became a Non-Executive Director to GoodStart Childcare Limited.

Wendy has held many executive director roles in leading national bodies including eight years as deputy Chair of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation; Executive Director, Australian Federation of Family Planning Associations; General Manager of Marketing and Communications, the Australian Bicentennial Authority; Chair of the National Better Health Program; Executive Director of the National Trust; Chair of the Australian Heritage Commission; and Chair of Symphony Australia.

In 1989 she was appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia for outstanding contributions to community affairs, women's affairs and the Bicentennial celebrations. In 2003 she was awarded a Centenary of Federation medal for business leadership.In 2009, after 13 years of service to Plan International, she retired from her most recent role as Global Vice-Chair.

Wendy began her career as a secondary school teacher and is passionate about the power of education. For four decades she has been a teacher, educator and change agent in Australian public life.

The Sydney Morning Herald nominated Wendy, in 2005, as one of Australia's Top 100 Public Intellectuals. Her national consulting business McCarthy Mentoring specialises in providing mentors to major corporations, the public sector and not-for-profit organisations. She is the author of seven books.

Pauline Mueller has extensive experience across the government, consulting and corporate fields gained over the past 25 years. Commencing practise as a lawyer, Pauline worked as a solicitor with the Director of Public Prosecutions. Her government experience also includes policy advice to Premier and Cabinet in Victoria, legislative development and regulatory affairs. Pauline held senior positions in government  including Chief Executive Officer of the County Court of Victoria and Assistant Director of the Office of Fair Trading, where she was responsible for business licences and regulation.

As a consultant with one of the big four audit and professional services firms, Pauline was responsible for developing a successful justice practice. Pauline's corporate experience has been gained in senior positions in major banks where her responsibility included managing regulatory and compliance issues. She also served as a Director on a number of Trustee Boards of Superannuation Funds.

More recently, Pauline has used her government and corporate experience to mentor and assist other executives to reach their potential through her career management practice. She is committed to social equity and access to enable women to gain full participation and recognition in the workplace. She is a qualified Lifeline counsellor.

 

Wendy Simpson is the Chairman of Wengeo Group, an innovative diversified industrial group with investments in manufacturing, precision engineering, industrial property development, venture capital and new media.

She has been a senior executive with QBE Insurance, TNT and Alcatel. Wendy lived and worked in China for seven years serving as Asia Pacific Senior Vice President for Alcatel and then North Asia Trade Commissioner for the Victorian Government.

Wendy has been nominated three times for the Telstra Business Woman of the Year and was a finalist in the Shanghai Business woman's awards in the category of business leadership. In 1993 she was one of the founders of Australian Council of Businesswomen.

Wendy's community contributions include being Chairman of the Australian Springboard, a venture catalyst program for women-led high growth companies and mentoring entrepreneurs.

Phillip Weinman is driven by passion and an eye for business opportunity. He turned his self-made business model into a flourishing success. Since founding Australia's largest privately owned IT compnay in 1983, with a turnover in excess of $300 million, his entrepreneurial prowess has seen him repeatedly succeed in business grouth and development. Philip is currently Chair of Deasil Management Group; the group strategically invests and partners with businesses seeking to grow.

Deasil Management Group gives partners access to capital, infrastructure and management expertise to help drive and maximise long term returns

Philip has undertaken numerous philanthropic activities. He has sat on a number of boards including The Crisis Centre, The International Diabetes Institute and Catalyst as well as the Melbourne Jazz Festival. Philip is Executive Chairman of one of Australia’s leading technology based corporate travel and leisure groups, Plan B Group.

Katherine Woodthorpe is the Chief Executive of AVCAL, the Australian Private Equity and Venture Capital Association.

Dr Woodthorpe has an extensive background as a management adviser and professional director, including working with Australian technology companies seeking venture funding through to being a board member of listed companies.

She has consulted to government groups on innovation and commercialisation. With more than 25 years in the technology and commercialisation industry, Dr Woodthorpe has held a broad range of management and board positions.

She is currently a Board member of Commercialisation Australia and the Chair of the Antarctic Climate and Ecosystems Cooperative Research Centre. She has previously been a Director of a number of listed life science companies and is a former Council member of The University of Technology Sydney.