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.

Leading Beyond Boundaries

In today’s changing and challenging work environments, effective leadership means thinking beyond previous boundaries to inspire transformative change. Effective leaders must embrace innovative strategies that prioritise adaptability, foster collaboration, and enhance communication to drive team success. In this session, our expert panel will share their personal journeys and lessons they have learned as flexible, adaptive and innovative leaders. Through their experiences, you’ll gain practical insights and actionable tools to navigate the complexities of modern leadership.

	Jessica Bulger (She/Her) Chief Executive Officer, Australian Indigenous Governance Institute Jess is Wiradjuri from Tumut and Brungle in country NSW. She grew up in a big proud Aboriginal family, connected to her culture, witnessing magnificent Eldership and effective community governance and leadership. Jess is currently the CEO of the Australian Indigenous Governance Institute (AIGI) and Co-Chair of the Board at Outward Bound Australia. She began her career as a teacher and has taught within High Schools and Universities before moving into the NFP sector where her focus has been on governance, women in leadership and nurturing emerging leaders. Jess also holds various advisory roles related to initiatives she cares about including with DFAT, Monash University, Philanthropy Australia, GHD and Optus. In her spare time, Jess is taking her young family on adventures or supporting the passions and projects of her Mum and Aunties at home in Tumut.
	Vy Pham (She/Her) Chief Information Officer, Australian National Audit Office Vy is the Chief Information Officer at the Australian National Audit Office (ANAO), where she oversees the organisation’s IT strategy, digital capabilities, and operational efficiency. In her role as CIO, Vy is responsible for managing the transition to ANAO’s new IT managed services provider, a $7 million contract that aims to enhance service delivery and support ANAO’s growing digital needs. Her work in overseeing this significant transition ensures that ANAO’s IT infrastructure is robust, adaptable, and optimised to support audit functions across the agency. Prior to joining ANAO, Vy served as Director of the Digital Partnership Office at the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations (DEWR).
	Luli Adeyemo (She/Her) Chief Marketing Officer, TenderTrace; Executive Director, TechDiversity; Director & Founder, Best Case Scenario Marketing Luli Adeyemo is an award-winning leader and visionary in the Australian technology sector, with over 30 years of experience driving transformative change. As the Executive Director of TechDiversity, she champions Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI), highlighting its transformative power in business strategy and innovation. Passionate about integrating the arts into STEM to embrace STEAM, Luli fosters creativity and inclusivity within the tech industry. An authentic advocate for DEI, Luli brings her lived experience as a Black, queer woman in tech leadership to the forefront. She bridges the gap between DEI advocacy and corporate strategy, providing actionable, data-driven solutions that help organisations realize the tangible benefits of diversity and inclusion. In recognition of her significant impact, Luli was honoured as the Emerging Leader in Tech at the 2023 Women’s Agenda Leadership Awards. She also serves as an elected Council Member of the Australian Information Industry Association (AIIA), contributing to shaping policies and advancing the ICT industry in Australia.

This interactive development session will explore the role of artificial intelligence in business and leadership. Through discussions, activities, and real-world examples, we will examine how AI can be used effectively and ethically, and when to proceed with caution. You will gain practical insights and decision-making strategies to navigate AI’s impact in your organisation.

Receiving The 2025 TAS Award for Excellence in Women’s Leadership

Justine is an internationally recognised leader in Antarctic and conservation science. Her research focuses on the interface of policy, governance and ecosystem science. She has extensive experience (25+ years) in hypothesis driven research and a proven track record of working on a diverse range of species, ecosystems and governance structures. Her work focuses on delivering novel science for real-world outcomes and has changed the shape of Antarctic biosecurity. Justine works with government, NGO’s and international advisory bodies, her research regularly receives media attention, through TV and radio interviews, print and social media.

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

Chanel Contos is the Founder and Managing Director of Teach Us Consent, a campaign that mandated consent education in Australia, and which has recently been given $3.5million by the Australian Government to continue their work. Chanel was the 2021 recipient of the Australian Human Rights Award Young People’s medal, and in 2022 she was named as one of BBC World’s 100 inspiring and influential women worldwide. Chanel was also named NSW Young Woman of the year for her persistent efforts towards eradicating rape culture. Chanel consults for a range of companies and governments, and in 2023 she was appointed by Julia Gillard to chair the Global Institute for Women’s Leadership’s Youth Advisory Committee. She is the author of Consent Laid Bare (2023).

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.