A structured networking opportunity to connect with other event attendees.

Elizabeth Lee is Member for Kurrajong, Leader of the Canberra Liberals, Shadow Treasurer, Shadow Minister for Climate Action, Energy and Emissions Reduction , Shadow Minister for Education, Shadow Minister for Economic Development, Tourism and Major Projects and Shadow Minister for Housing Affordability and Choice. Prior to her election to the ACT Legislative Assembly in 2016, Elizabeth was a lawyer in government and private practice and a law lecturer at The Australian National University and the University of Canberra. Whilst practising as a lawyer, Elizabeth served as Chair of the ACT and Australian Young Lawyers Committees and Vice President of the ACT Law Society. Elizabeth is the first Australian of Korean descent to be elected into an Australian Parliament and the first Asian-Australian leader of a major political party in Australia having been elected leader of the Canberra Liberals in 2020. Elizabeth lives in South Canberra with her partner, Nathan, and two young daughters.

Professor Ryan is the inaugural Director of the Global Institute of Women’s Leadership (GIWL) at The Australian National University (ANU). While she studied psychology at ANU at both an undergraduate and PhD level, she has spent the last 17 years in the UK. She is a Professor of Social and Organisational Psychology and involved in a number of research projects. She currently holds a European Research Council Consolidator Grant examining the way in which context and identity shape and constrain women’s career choices. With Alex Haslam, she uncovered the phenomenon of the glass cliff. Since its discovery, the term ‘glass cliff’ has entered public discourse and the concept informs and shapes debate and the public understanding of women’s leadership positions. The New York Times named the glass cliff as one of the Top 100 ideas that shaped 2008.

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.

	Rachelle Towart OAM (She/Her) Managing Director, Pipeline Talent Rachelle Towart OAM, Managing Director, is recognised nationally in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander leadership, governance, and education. Rachelle received her OAM in acknowledgement of her achievements in these areas. As the former CEO of the Australian Indigenous Leadership Centre, Rachelle trained thousands of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander leaders and was recognised with a wide range of awards. This included the prestigious Westpac Community CEO of the Year (2014). She is also one of Australian Financial Review’s Australian Women of Influence. Rachelle is passionate about supporting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to reach their leadership potential.
	Dr Shamaruh Mirza (She/Her) Scientist, Scientific Evaluation Branch, Therapeutic Goods Administration; Founder, SiTara’s Story; ACT 2023 Local Hero, Australian of the Year Awards Dr. Shamaruh Mirza is a medical scientist working in the Australian Public Service (APS). Before joining the Australian Public Service, Shamaruh was conducting research in the John Curtin School of Medical Research to understand cytokine regulation mechanisms in allergy and leukemia, and cardiac and skeletal muscle function. Her commitment to providing underserved communities with access to quality healthcare has also led her to conduct research at the International Center for Diarrhea Disease Research Bangladesh. Dr Mirza’s positive impact extends beyond her career; as co-founder of SiTara’s Story, a non-profit organisation, she works to advance the rights and status of multicultural women in Australia and rural Bangladesh.She has been awarded the 2021 ACT Mental Health Month Award, was a finalist for the Canberra Community Spirits Award 2021, the ACT Multicultural champion award 2022,  ANU International Alumnus/Alumna of the Year 2023,  and was awarded the 2023 ACT Local Hero for this work.
	Han Worsley (They/Them) Education Coordinator, Country Universities Centre Snowy Monaro Han is a passionate educator, advocate, and proud non-binary person. They work on Ngarigo Country in Cooma, at the Country Universities Centre Snowy Monaro, coordinating outreach and engagement programs to support locals to access tertiary education despite their geographic isolation. Prior to this, Han was the CEO and an Executive Director of Country to Canberra, a not-for-profit empowering young rural women and non-binary people to reach their leadership potential. Han was named ACT Canberra’s Community Champion Under 40 and in Out For Australia’s 30 under 30 Awards in 2021, and a recipient of an Australian Institute of Company Directors Women’s Rural, Regional, and Remote Diversity Scholarship for 2022. Han is currently undertaking a Master of Education by research, focusing on the drivers of aspiration in primary-aged children in rural Australia.
	Eliza Littleton (She/Her) Senior Policy and Parliamentary Advisor, Office of Senator Barbara Pocock Eliza Littleton is an economist with an interest in alternative economic analysis that prioritises social and ecological justice. Her work focuses on the employment and labour markets, gender inequality, reining in public contracting of consultants, and making the case for major tax reform. She is currently a senior policy and parliamentary advisor to Senator Barbara Pocock and her previous roles include senior economist at The Australia Institute, and policy work in the community and NGO sectors. Eliza holds an Honours degree in Political Economy from the University of Sydney and a Master of Public Policy from Hertie School of Governance in Berlin.
	Wayne Phillips Commissioner, ACT Emergency Services Agency Wayne Phillips started his career as a Firefighter with Fire & Rescue NSW (FRNSW) on 23 February 1990, in Sydney and signed his contract to become the sixth Commissioner of the ACT Emergency Services Agency (ESA) on 23 February 2024 – thirty-four years to the day when he started as a recruit firefighter. In his career as Chief Superintendent for FRNSW and then as the Assistant Commissioner Corporate for ESA, his focus was on gender equality and diversity capability; he established the Inclusion and Organisational Development Branch and the first Inclusive Culture Council within FRNSW. He is a major influencer at a national level within the AFAC network in the Champions of Change Implementation Leaders: Diversity and Inclusion Council. His unwavering commitment towards inclusion and diversity enables his staff to feel valued, promotes equality and free to contribute to making their workplace a better place to be! As he leads the Agency through the recent ESA Review, his focus will be his staff’s well-being and commitment to lead the ESA to be more agile and responsive in all that they do to keep Canberra safe.

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.

The ACT Award for Excellence in Women’s Leadership

We will acknowledge Sam Mostyn AO as the National Winner of the Australian Awards for Excellence in Women’s Leadership.

Anoushka Gungadin is a cross-border executive, CEO, Non-Executive Director, speaker, researcher, and author. With a diverse background spanning multiple, Anoushka’s global perspective has allowed her to develop a deep understanding of different cultures, societies, business environments and leadership. She is currently the Executive Vice President ANZ for HeraMED, a femtech ASX-listed company. She is on the Council of Deakin University and serves as a NED on the boards of GetMEE, ImageryWorks and Anglo African Group, leveraging her multidisciplinary background and expertise across finance, legal, education, technology, startups, and non-profit organizations. She is currently editing her book on Cultural Intelligence and modern leadership. 

Born in the UK, Mel moved to Melbourne with her mother at a young age and became one of Australia’s biggest Stars of Women’s Cricket. After retiring from her playing career, Jones has focused on supporting, developing, and expanding opportunities and careers for women in sport both on and off the cricket field. Jones has hit many milestones including one of the first ever female commentators for the IPL and the first female cricket lead in T20 in Australia. In 2018, Mel was announced as part of Fox Sport’s Cricket team. In January of 2019, Jones was presented with one of Australia’s highest honours; the Medal of the Order of Australia for services towards cricket and the community. Mel is a regular when it comes to getting involved in charity work and initiatives surrounding equality. Mel is currently an ambassador for Victoria University and Red Dust.