Andrea Smith
Pronoun
President
Diversity Practitioners Association
Andrea Smith is a passionate diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) practitioner with a career devoted to creating people‑centred solutions in the resources and utilities sectors. As President of the Diversity Practitioners Association and leading the DEI practice at Energy Queensland, she leads initiatives that embed sustained cultural change, strengthen organisational capability and drive meaningful business outcomes.
Andrea specialises in building ground‑up strategies that enhance organisational culture and employee engagement, underpinned by a deep understanding of how inclusion drives diversity and performance. Recognised for her impact in the field, she was a finalist for the AHRI HR Diversity Champion Award in 2018 and winner of the Be There Group’s “Inspiring Change Agent” award in 2023. Holding a Master of Strategic Organisational Development, Andrea combines academic insight with hands‑on experience to influence real‑world change.
Drawing on her work leading inclusion efforts in complex environments, she offers practical strategies for navigating resistance, fostering engagement and modelling inclusive leadership when it matters most.
SESSIONS
Day 2
9:20
Scenario-Based Session: Leading Through Equity Pushback
What happens when your commitment to inclusion is tested? In this interactive session, you’ll step into a leadership scenario where equity efforts are facing resistance, whether it’s subtle discomfort, overt backlash, or behind-the-scenes disengagement.
How to lead when inclusion efforts are questioned or politicised
Navigating pushbacks tied to intersectional identities, including race, gender and culture
Tools to hold steady, keep people engaged, and model inclusive leadership under pressure
Andrea Smith, President, Diversity Practitioners Association
Emma Elder, Vice President, Diversity Practitioners Association