Future Women Leadership Series

How can leaders drive structural systems change, particularly when tackling huge issues such as gender equality? Dr Niki Vincent is Victoria's gender equality regulator. She is the state's first Public Sector Gender Equality Commissioner and leads the rollout of the Gender Equality Act. In this episode, she speaks to FW Deputy Managing Director Jamila Rizvi about gender equality, systems change an...

What is a fast, effective way to make complex leadership decisions? Todd Greenberg is one of Australia's most accomplished sports executives. Today he is the CEO of Cricket Australia. He has also led the Australian Cricketers' Association and was CEO of the NRL. In this episode he speaks to FW Deputy Managing Director Jamila Rizvi.  Join the movement to fast-track your professional developmen...

What are the big challenges facing leaders with the rapid rise of AI? Dr Sue Keay is an expert in AI, robotics and automation. In this episode, she speaks with FW Founder Helen McCabe about how she uses her expertise to advocate for change. The pair also discuss humanoid robots, the 80/10/10 rule and being a stickybeak.  Plus, this season Helen McCabe is answering your leadership questions. W...

Shannan Dodson is the CEO of the Healing Foundation , a national organisation that supports Stolen Generations survivors, descendants and communities. In this episode, she speaks with FW Founder Helen McCabe about imposter syndrome, family legacy and leadership’s emotional toll.  Plus, this season Helen McCabe is answering your leadership questions. Wait to the end of the episode t...

What are common mistakes people make when they want to seek out a mentor?  Sophie McCarthy is the CEO of McCarthy Mentoring, a company that helps to match leaders with a network of coaches. In this episode, she speaks with FW Founder Helen McCabe about mentors, how to find one and her ‘glass half full’ approach to leading. Plus, this season Helen McCabe is answering your lead...

Nathalie McNeil is one of the most accomplished leaders in Australia’s healthcare sector. A pharmacist by training, today she is the VP and General Manager ANZ at Abbvie. In this episode, she speaks with FW Founder Helen McCabe about the shift from technical expert to people leader, and what it takes to lead with clarity, trust and self-regulation.  Plus, this season Helen McCabe is ans...

What if leadership is about all the little things you choose to overlook?  Sarah Moran is the founder of Girl Geek Academy, an organisation that’s encouraging more women to stay in tech careers. In this episode, she speaks with FW Founder Helen McCabe about AI, hustlers and the importance of ignoring stuff as a leader.  Plus, this season Helen McCabe is answering your leadership qu...

What is the best and fairest way to find top talent?  Dr Siri Chilazi is a senior researcher at the women and public policy program at Harvard Kennedy School. She looks at research-backed ways to boost fairness and gender equality in the workplace. In this episode, she speaks with series producer Odessa Blain about the most common hiring mistakes and leaders should set about fixing them....

What are some of the best ways to remain relevant in the age of AI? This panel discussion, recorded live at the FW Leadership Summit, will help you to identify the skills required to futureproof your career and avoid being left behind. With Jobs and Skills Australia's Cliff Bingham, CSIRO's Stefan Hajkowicz and Hudson's Kimberley Hubble. Moderated by journalist Leila McKinnon.  Join the movem...

Why are organisations so often afraid of taking on a challenging, passionate employee?  Jasmin Bedir is a powerhouse creative and CEO of advertising agency Innocean. In this episode, she speaks with Helen McCabe about innate influence, hiring and being a self-described "annoying" employee.  Plus, this season Helen McCabe is answering your leadership questions. Wait to the end of the epis...

This panel discussion, recorded live at the FW Leadership Summit, examines how to recover from redundancy and complex workplace situations. With actor/author/podcaster Mary Coustas, The Lantern Group's managing director Victoria Buchan and FW’s learning design and content specialist Briana Blackett. Moderated by FW Founder Helen McCabe.  Join the movement to fast-track your profess...

Kerri Hartland leads Australia’s most secret organisation. She oversees our network of spies and intelligence officers as the first-ever female Director-General of the Australian Secret Intelligence Service (ASIS). But this highly-respected and accomplished leader has also had anything but a linear career path. In this episode, she speaks with FW's Helen McCabe about career pivots, keeping s...

From passive aggressive emails to a 'not my job' mentality, there are corporate habits that might seem small but can creep up and create a toxic company culture. This panel discussion, recorded live at the FW Leadership Summit, will help you identify workplace culture killers and give you the tools to set about eliminating them.  With The Mathpath's Aubrey Blanche, disability advocate Anja Ch...

For years, in every performance review, Melanie Silva was told she was “too excited”. Too passionate. Not serious enough. Then she joined Google and, suddenly, that enthusiasm was exactly what was wanted. In this episode, Briana Blackett speaks with Mel – now the Vice President and Managing Director of Google Australia and New Zealand – about taking pay cuts to chase opport...

What should you do if you are feeling stuck in your career? And what are the small, strategic steps you can make today to start moving forward?  In this panel discussion, recorded live at the FW Leadership Summit, join FW’s Head of Business Expansion, Ruby Leahy Gatfield, as she talks about the small, strategic steps you can make today to reap long-term rewards in your career. With Chie...

Over 25 years, Pamela Naidoo-Ameglio has moved from diamond mines in South Africa to copper operations in rural Australia, and then made a leap that she never saw coming: running a nuclear reactor, despite having zero nuclear experience. Along the way she’s been told she’s "too quiet", and not assertive enough. In this episode, Pamela shares with Briana Blackett why curiosity beats con...

How would intense public scrutiny impact your leadership style?  Laura Kane is one of the most closely watched leaders in the nation. At just 33, she became the first woman to serve as the AFL's top football official. Today she continues to hold one of the most prestigious football operating roles, and will lead the AFLW competition into the 2026 season. In this episode, she speaks with...

FW’s own deputy managing director Jamila Rizvi has spent her career as what she calls a “perennial number two” – from the Prime Minister’s office to media empires. She’s made bold pivots, survived life-altering health scares, and discovered that sometimes the bravest thing you can do is admit: I don’t want to do this alone. In this episode, Jamila chats wi...

What if your least favourite part of leading people is errr the people?  Nicole Scurrah is an accomplished and widely-respected leader. She was Chief of Staff to Queensland Premier Anna Bligh, Telstra Health’s Chief Operating Officer and a partner at Sayers Group. Today, Nicole is founder and executive chair of Create Advisory. In this episode she talks to FW founder Helen McC...

She was winning Olympic gold and World Championships. But at 23, Giaan Rooney was burned out. She retired from swimming, became a television presenter, then pivoted again – to a career you’d never expect. Giaan tells Briana Blackett how, at each turn, being “too invested” has seen her succeed. And how putting aside ego has given her the courage to change lanes – and h...

Natalie Wilde is one of Queensland's top public servants. She has worked across the public sector for over 23 years and is the current Director-General of the Department of Women, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnerships and Multiculturalism. In this episode, she talks with FW Founder Helen McCabe about owning ambition, the secret to managing stakeholders and why she describes 85% of her...

What does bravery mean in leadership? And are there secrets to being brave, even when you don't feel like it is possible? Ruby Riethmuller is the founder and CEO of Womn-Kind, a youth-led mental health platform. She launched the platform in 2020, after struggling with anxiety as a teenager and coming to terms with her own identity as LGBTQ in a small country town. She’s also a regional healt...

Kate Reid is the founder of the world-famous Lune Croissanterie. But before creating her own formula for the perfect buttery, flaky croissant, she was a Formula One aerodynamicist, working on some of the fastest cars on the planet. And though she’s been labelled "too lucky", in this episode, she reveals the grit behind every seemingly effortless pivot, the years of hard work, and how a battl...

What if courageous leadership isn't always about immediate action. But instead knowing how to wait and build influence to create maximum impact...  Michael De’Ath started his career as a teacher and went on to become one of the country’s most accomplished public servants before starting his own leadership advisory and executive coaching business. In this episode, he speaks with FW...

For almost two decades, Lana Jones was a principal dancer at the Australian Ballet, celebrated for lead roles in Swan Lake, Giselle, and The Sleeping Beauty. And still, she was told she was “too strong”. After an illustrious career, Jones stepped away from the spotlight to retrain as a midwife. In this episode, Lana joins Briana Blackett to discuss how being “too strong” ha...