Summit overview

The Australian Health Sector Women’s Leadership Summit is a major event for women leaders at all levels and across all facets of the health sector.

The Summit supports leadership development for current and aspiring leaders through strategic industry-based networking, targeted skills development and opportunities for women leaders to share their ideas and experiences. This fully interactive and collaborative online development experience will also provide unique access to an unparalleled group of inspirational women leaders and role models.

Created by Australia’s leading authority on women’s leadership, Women & Leadership Australia, the Summit has been developed in consultation with a broad range of stakeholders across the industry.

Drawing together the sector's most respected practitioners and thought leaders, the Summit will celebrate women’s leadership and equip participants with the skills, confidence, and connections to consolidate their skills and plan for future career success. ​​

Supporting leadership equality and excellence

During the Summit, participants will hear from many inspirational practitioners about their leadership and career journeys, and the key elements that have contributed to their success. Armed with this valuable insight, participants will identify their own unique gifts and talents and begin to create their personal brand and message.

Inspiration and insight​

Replenishment and Sustainability for Women in Health

Where to from Here? Learning from challenge, complexity, and uncertainty

Summit speakers

Summit details

Date: Friday 25th March 2022

Held: Interactive Online Event
Start/Finish: Attendee registration will commence at 08:40
Summit sessions will conclude at 16:30

Dr Janet Smith

Director Programs, Women & Leadership Australia

Dr Janet Smith is the Program Director for the Australian School of Applied Management (ASAM), Women & Leadership Australia (WLA) and the National Excellence in School Leadership Institute (NESLI). Her role involves workshop facilitation, leading national and international leadership summits, teaching face-to-face and online leadership courses, course design and executive coaching. Janet has previously worked extensively as a senior consultant, focusing on leadership, coaching, mentoring, emotional intelligence, communication, mindfulness, reflective practice and well-being.

Summit themes

Workers in the health sector are the people called on right now to keep all of us going but who cares for us? How do you put the boundaries in place and understand your own limit of tolerance? And what tools and techniques can you draw on to top up your own batteries when they are continually being drained? This session will help you understand your own limit of tolerance, replenish yourself, and create sustainable strategies to look after yourself and others into the future.

Guiding our organisations through the coronavirus pandemic and continuing to prioritise patient care has placed extraordinary demands on health sector leaders across Australia and the world. The world as we knew it has changed, and for many, some level of ambiguity and change will remain. This critical juncture presents a timely opportunity to reflect and learn from our recent experience and rethink the way we have done things in the past.

Summit Facilitators

The Australian Health Sector Women's Leadership Summit​

Supporting and empowering women leaders across all areas of Australia’s health sector. A national platform for leaders at all levels to connect, share ideas, and benefit from expert knowledge and advice.​

Friday 25th March 2022 | Interactive Online Event

Samantha Tomkinson

Senior Facilitator and Executive Coach, Women & Leadership Australia

Samantha Tomkinson began her career as a psychologist in the UK in 2002, and in 2013 she moved to New Zealand and has been supporting the growth of New Zealand leaders with a focus on developing their emotional intelligence. Samantha has worked extensively with senior leaders and organisations across the public and private sectors in both NZ and the UK. She is passionate about bringing the knowledge of human development, neuroscience, and her experience as a leader to help others develop their leadership capability and realise their true potential.

Dr Mellissa Naidoo

Chief Health Officer, Viridis Consultants; Clinical Reference Lead, Australian Digital Health Agency; Non-Executive Director, Royal Australasian College of Medical Administrators

Dr Marrwah Ahmadzai

Obstetrics and Gynecology Registrar; Freelance Writer; Equality Advocate

Professor (Practice) Alison McMillan PSM

Chief Nursing and Midwifery Officer, Australian Government Department of Health

Suzi Finkelstein

CEO, Women & Leadership Australia

Dr Christine Lai

Surgeon and Senior Staff Specialist, Breast and Endocrine Surgical Unit, The Queen Elizabeth Hospital; Chair, Women in Surgery and Fellowship Services, Royal Australasian College of Surgeons

Lucy Byrne

Managing Director, Healthy Tasmania

Esha Oberoi

Founder and CEO, Afea Care Services

Aminata Conteh-Biger

Founder & CEO, Aminata Maternal Foundation

Professor Margaret Hellard AM

Deputy Director (Programs), Burnet Institute; Head, Hepatitis Services, Department of Infectious Diseases The Alfred Hospital; Adjunct Professor, Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, Monash University; Adjunct Professor, Doherty Institute and School of Population and Global Health, University of Melbourne

Dr Christina Igasto

Chief Digital Health Officer and CIO, Western Sydney Local Health District

Professor Nicola Spurrier PSM

Chief Public Health Officer, SA Health