Adelaide Symposium 2020

Thursday 23rd July 2020

Adelaide Convention Centre

Panel Members

Kirstie Parker

Director, Aboriginal Affairs and Reconciliation, Dept of State Development

Yumi Stynes

Broadcaster, Writer, Author and Social Commentator

Dr Tammie Matson

Zoologist, Author, Conservationist and Entrepreneur

Dr Terry Fitzsimmons

Managing Director, Australian Gender Equality Council

Dianne McGrath

Astronaut Candidate, Mars One

Jenny Paradiso

CEO, Suntrix

Natalie Sommerville 

Director & Co-Manager, Windjara Ag; 2019 SA Rural Women’s Award Finalist

Professor Caroline McMillen

Chief Scientist for South Australia

Agenda 

Thursday 23rd July 2020

Dr Tammie Matson is a world expert on elephants and has inspired thousands of people, to achieve their dreams through her award-winning books, and African adventures. Inspired by a visit to Zimbabwe at the age of fifteen, Tammie achieved what many said could not be done, by first becoming a wildlife researcher in Africa, then achieving a PhD in zoology and becoming a published author – all before she turned 25. From the jungles of Borneo, to the plains of Africa, to the black markets of Vietnam, Dr Matson has been on a mission for over two decades to save endangered wildlife. Today, she combines her passionate commitment to conservation with being the Founding CEO of Matson & Ridley Safaris and a mother to two young sons.

Dr Fitzsimmons is a Senior Lecturer in Leadership with the University of Queensland Business School. He is also a Chartered Accountant with over 30 years of practice. He is the director of the AIBE Centre for Gender Equality in the Workplace and Managing Director of the Australian Gender Equality Council (AGEC), a body whose members comprise of peak national bodies representing women across industry sectors in Australia. His PhD in Leadership examined successful attributes of CEOs and differing pathways to CEO roles for men and women. In June 2015, Dr Fitzsimmons and Professor Callan and working with the Committee for Perth, released ‘Filling the Pool’, a major report into gender inequality in Western Australia and what government, organisations and individuals can do to address the issue.

Professor Brenda Wilson was appointed the first female Lieutenant Governor of South Australia in July 2014. Brenda's career began as a nurse in 1973, later specialising in coronary care and intensive care. She has held many senior executive roles in the health sector and is the former Chief Executive, Cancer Council SA a position she held for 12 years. Professor Wilson is a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (FAICD), a Fellow of the Australian College of Health Service Executives (FCHSE), a Fellow of the Australian College of Nursing (FACN) and a Fellow of the Wharton School of Management. She holds a Diploma of Applied Science, a Bachelor of Business and an MBA. In 2000, Professor Wilson was named the Telstra SA Business woman of the year for the corporate and government sector.

Professor Caroline McMillen commenced in the role as Chief Scientist for South Australia in October 2018 after serving as Vice-Chancellor of the University of Newcastle from 2011. She is a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Health and Medical Sciences, a Fellow of the Royal Society of New South Wales and a Bragg Member of the Royal Institution, Australia. She holds a BA(Honours) and Doctor of Philosophy from the University of Oxford, and completed her medical training graduating from the University of Cambridge. She has served on a range of industry boards and  was honoured at the end of her term as Vice-Chancellor to be presented with the Keys to the City of Newcastle in recognition of her leadership contribution to Newcastle and the region.

Natalie Sommerville lives near Spalding in South Australia’s Mid North, is a farmer, grazier, business owner and manager, mother and proud Torres Strait Islander. Together with her husband, Natalie has been managing their farming businesses Windjara Ag & Euromina Holdings for over 15 years which includes livestock, broadacre dryland cropping and export hay. Driven by her passion of sustainable agriculture and the environment, Natalie’s focus is on influencing positive change in rural Australia and seeing greater innovation, inclusion of gender and age, and respect for diverse backgrounds. During her spare time Natalie volunteers on many community, industry and government boards including South Australian Grain Producers SA sub-committees and SA Ag Excellence Alliance. She is an advocate for long-term production and biodiversity.

Named 2016 Australian Telstra Business Woman Entrepreneur of the Year and one of AFR’s 100 Women of Influence in 2019, Jenny Paradiso is Managing Director of the national solar and battery storage company, Suntrix. Having started her career as a librarian, Jenny established the business in 2009 and has grown Suntrix from the kitchen table to a multi-million-dollar company. Jenny has been listed amongst Smart Company’s top 30 female entrepreneurs in 2014, 2015 and 2016.  She is a board member of the South Australian Entrepreneurship Advisory Board and the national Clean Energy Council.  Jenny is also a member of the Premier’s Climate Change Council in South Australia, the Don Dunstan Foundation Purpose Council and she sits on the Women in Water Leadership Committee for the Victorian DELWP.

Yumi Stynes is a broadcaster and writer who's been working in Australian media for almost two decades, evolving from music reporter to her current, "more mature" focus as a writer on Arts, Culture, Food, Gender Politics and Human Sexuality. She’s known for her honesty, warmth and humour. Like many women, Yumi is juggling — she does a daily radio show, works on several writing projects (including two cookbooks, Zero F**ks and Zero F**ks Endless Summer), and regularly runs 10km for a laugh — all while raising four children. She fronts 'Ladies, We Need to Talk', the popular podcast with ABC Audio Studios and is the host of Is Australia Sexist on SBS television.

Dianne is one of seven Australian shortlisted Mars One astronaut candidates in the remaining Mars 100. The Mars One mission seeks to establish the first permanent human settlement on Mars. Dianne’s sense of adventure, determination and fitness has seen her sail tall ships in the Southern Ocean, cycle extreme distances, jump from planes, and run marathons and an ultra-marathon. She has a special interest and growing expertise in sustainable food systems, something that will be critical in a completely new environment for human habitation. Dianne’s work experience has provided her with strong expertise in project management, marketing and government organisations in her time with the Australian Energy Regulator, Department of Resources, Energy and Tourism and GlaxoSmithKline (GSK).

09:00 - 09:05

Welcome to Country

09:05 - 09:30

Welcome and Opening Comments

Director, Leadership and Advocacy, WLA

Suzi Finkelstein

09:30 - 09:40

Sponsor Addresses

09:40 - 10:10

Opening Address

Lieutenant Governor of South Australia

Professor Brenda Wilson AM

10:10 - 10:40

Keynote Address

Managing Director, Australian Gender Equality Council

Dr Terry Fitzsimmons 

DR TAMMIE MATSON 

​Zoologist, Author, Conservationist and Entrepreneur

10:40 - 11:10

‘Use Your Fear’

11:10 - 11:30

Morning Tea

11:30 - 13:00​

Panel Discussion

'The Authenticity Paradox’

Why feeling like a fake can be a sign of growth by Herminia Ibarra

Authenticity has become ‘gold standard’ for leadership but can also hinder growth and decrease impact. Career progress requires breaking out of comfort zones but this can be risky and challenge authenticity. This session will consider the space authenticity holds for us.

Professor Caroline McMillen 

Chief Scientist for South Australia 

Director & Co-Manager, Windjara Ag; 2019 SA Rural Women’s Award Finalist

Natalie Sommerville 

A Yuwallarai woman from northern NSW, Kirstie Parker has had a long and distinguished career in Indigenous affairs. Currently Director of Aboriginal Affairs and Reconciliation within the SA Department of the Premier and Cabinet, her previous roles include CEO of the National Centre of Indigenous Excellence, elected female Co-Chair of the National Congress of Australia’s First Peoples, Editor of the Koori Mail newspaper, and Director of Tandanya – National Aboriginal Cultural Institute. Kirstie has been honoured with an Australian Centenary Medal (2001), a national Human Rights Award – Media Category (2008), an inaugural 100 Women of Influence Award (2012), and an Australian Peacewoman Award (2015). She is also a Director of Reconciliation Australia, and a signatory to the Uluru Statement from the Heart. 

​Director, Aboriginal Affairs and Reconciliation, Dept of State Development

Kirstie Parker

​CEO, Suntrix

Jenny Paradiso

13:00 - 13:40

Lunch

13:40 - 14:40​

DEVELOPMENT SESSION​

South Australia Award for Excellence in Women's Leadership

14:40 - 15:10

15:10 - 15:30

Afternoon Tea

15:30 - 16:10

Keynote Address

Astronaut Candidate, Mars One

Dianne McGrath

16:50 - 17:00

Closing Comments

Director, Leadership and Advocacy, WLA

Suzi Finkelstein

16:10 - 16:50

Keynote Address

Yumi Stynes 

Broadcaster, Writer, Author and Social Commentator

17:00 - 18:00

Networking Drinks

EARLY BIRD rates now available

Until May 29th 2020

Program Director, WLA

DR JANET SMITH

Program Director, WLA

DR JANET SMITH

Professor Brenda Wilson AM

Lieutenant Governor of South Australia

ABC Journalist, Author and Presenter

ANNABEL CRABB