A structured networking opportunity to connect with other event attendees.

Sanjugta has over twelve years’ experience working in the South Australian State Government, serving across a range of human services agencies including disability, public housing, education, and child protection. She currently holds the position of Director, Office for Women in the Department for Human Services where she oversees a range of portfolio areas promoting the safety of women and girls and gender equality more broadly. She is passionate about leading work that is evidence informed and engages with different sources of data and information, including the voices and stories of people and communities. Prior to her work in State Government, Sanjugta completed her PhD in political science and engaged in international consultancy, advising the government and non-government sector on gender and youth sensitive policy development and public expenditure management (working in Samoa, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, India, Indonesia, and Cambodia).

Dr Charles Lo (He/Him)

MBA Course Leader, Australian College of Applied Professions (ACAP)

Dr. Charles Lo is the Course Leader of the MBA and Master of Professional Accounting at the Australian College of Applied Professions (ACAP). He has over two decades of experience in business studies. His expertise is not just limited to the theoretical aspects of business studies; it is deeply rooted in practical experience gained from a thriving career in Accounting and Finance. Transitioning from the corporate world to academia, Charles chose to dedicate his career to education, driven by a belief in its transformative power and this journey led him to various roles in both public universities and progressive independent institutions. He has served in various capacities including as Director of Teaching and Learning, a role where he refined academic processes and pedagogies. Dedication to education is at the heart of Charles’s ethos, he always prioritised not just disseminating knowledge but also forging meaningful connections with students. Passionate about their success, he relishes the opportunity to guide students, helping them navigate their academic pursuits and achieve their goals.

Allyship in the Workplace: Building Collaborative Networks for Impact

Allies play an important role in advancing inclusion in our workplaces and communities by supporting people or groups who are underrepresented, marginalised, or experiencing discrimination. As leaders, engaging allies and collaborating with other supporters is key to increasing our impact. Our diverse panel will share their real-world experiences of allyship in action: what it looks like, what the challenges are, and what can be achieved. We’ll explore practical tips for being a better ally, how we can work with allies to advance change, and how we can all take small actions every day to drive lasting change.

	Nicole Gollan Director & Founder, Nik&Co. Consultancy Nicole is a Ngarrindjeri woman who has resided in Adelaide on the Traditional Country of the Kaurna people for much of her life. After completing her bachelor’s degree in education, she taught for five years as a primary school teacher – all in the midst of becoming a Mother to a gorgeous boy. Nicole has worked across many sectors, ensuring that a cultural lens is prioritised to advocate genuine ambitions in the corporate setting. In 2021, Nicole launched her consultancy business, Nik&Co. Consultancy, transforming lived experiences of both Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people by weaving genuine reconciliatory practices into government, business, education, health, philanthropic and community settings. Since launching, Nik&Co has garnered recognition from acclaimed award programs, including 2023 SA In Daily 40 Under 40 Award Recipient, and 2022 First Nations SA Woman In Business Peoples Choice Award Recipient.
	Kween Kong (She/Her) Founding Director; Haus of Kong Kween Kong, founding director of the House of Kong and drag superstar, is known for her standout performance as a finalist on Drag Race Down Under Season 2. Beyond the drag scene, Kween Kong has showcased her talents as a Choreographer/Dancer and has lent her voice to current affairs, appearing as a Guest Speaker on The Project, Today Extra Show, NITV, and Q&A, addressing a range of topics. Kween has served as Festival Ambassador for the Adelaide Fringe Festival and Sydney World Pride as well as a Brand Ambassador for Virgin Australia, Sally Hansen, Sims 4, Kayak, Wyndham Hotel, and Selfie Kit. Recognising her rising star, Kween Kong received a Logie Nomination in 2023 for the Graham Kennedy Award for Most Popular New Talent. With her diverse talents, influential partnerships, and commitment to various causes, Kween Kong is making her mark as a drag superstar, breaking barriers and redefining the world of drag.
	Andrew Kay Chief Executive Officer, South Australian Business Chamber Andrew Kay is the CEO of Business SA, the SA Chamber of Commerce and industry. He has worked with large multi-national corporations, small family businesses and everything in-between, across the financial services, FMCG and wine sectors both here and overseas and believes South Australia is one of the best places in the world to do business. Andrew has a Bachelor of Business degree, an MBA in International Business and in 2014 spent time at Harvard Business School, so it is fitting that he finds himself working with SA businesses to remove complexity and create opportunity. Andrew has also had significant experience as a board member in the private sector and with State and Federal Government agencies. He currently sits on the Board of the Botanic Gardens and State Herbarium where he is also Chair of the Foundation; the Pikes Wines Advisory Board and is a member of SA Leaders for Gender Equity.
	Natalie Wade (She/Her) Founder and Principal Lawyer, Equality Lawyers Natalie is a respected disability rights lawyer and advocate. Based in Adelaide, South Australia, Natalie is the Founder and Principal Lawyer Director of Equality Lawyers, a disability-led, disability rights law firm providing premium legal services to the disability community. Natalie is an authentic leader that believes in designing law reform, public policy and community campaigns through lived experience and expertise. In 2021, Natalie authored Disability Rights in Real Life, a practical handbook for disabled people, their families, and allies on everyday disability rights law. Natalie holds several senior advisory roles including on the Australian Disability Strategy Advisory Council and the Premier’s Council for Women.

Build your Personal Board: Cultivating Strategic Relationships

As leaders, our relationships with others can be one of our greatest assets. Even the most casual lunch-room conversation can lead to a new idea or opportunity. And with research showing that women feel less safe in the workplace than men, having a trusted group of supporters can be an important step towards improved psychological safety. So, how can we leverage our existing contacts, identify gaps in our professional network, and initiate new connections to help us achieve our strategic and career goals? In this practical session we’ll explore the power of strategic alliances and develop an authentic approach to building a personal ‘board’ of trusted advisors and supporters, at any stage of our career.

Sonny Jane is a powerful voice in the neurodiversity space with a mission to challenge neuronormativity and build a neurodiversity-affirming future where neurodivergent folks are no longer labelled as disordered.  After starting their advocacy and speaking career in 2018, they have since become a relatable and passionate queer, neurodivergent and disabled public speaker with both a national and international presence. They are a published author with their first book ”The Neurodivergent Friendly Workbook of DBT Skills” and a second just released “We’re All Neurodiverse: How to Build a Neurodiversity-Affirming Future and Challenge Neuronormativity.”. They have worked with organisations and services around Australia and the world to help change the narrative around neurodivergence and create a more neurodiversity affirming society.

The SA Award for Excellence in Women’s Leadership

Erin Phillips, a prodigiously gifted athlete, played AFL as a child but a lack of female pathways saw her give it up to pursue basketball at age 13. She played in the Australian WNBL before being drafted in the American WNBA and winning two Championships. She also represented the Australian Opals at two Olympic games, winning a silver medal, and played extensively in the Polish league. In 2017 when the AFLW competition was announced, she jumped at the chance to go back to her first love. She captained the Adelaide Crows to the premiership, was named best on ground, and won the league MVP all in the inaugural year. As a leader, she brought her elite high-performance background to bear on the AFLW, setting the benchmark for others to aspire to and instilling a culture of hard-work and professionalism across the competition.

Jan Fran is a Walkley-winning journalist, TV Presenter and social commentator. She is the co-host of ABC’s Question Everything and is well known for her work on Channel 10’s The Project and SBS’s The Feed and as host of Listnr’s flagship new podcast, The Briefing. Jan is the creator, writer and presenter of the online opinion segment, The Frant, which has been viewed more than 25 million times on social media and earned Jan a 2019 Walkley Award for Best Commentary, Analysis, Opinion and Critique. Jan is an ambassador for Plan International Australia where she advocates for women and girls and her strong reporting on women’s issues also earned her a 2018 Walkley nomination for Women’s Leadership in Media.