Simone Weston
Pronoun
Chief People Officer
Kismet
Simone Weston is a dynamic force in personal empowerment, renowned as an executive leader, keynote speaker, leadership facilitator, international coach, and women’s advocate. Blending her extensive corporate experience with a deep commitment to service, Simone is dedicated to transforming power structures and challenging conditioning.
Simone has survived extreme domestic violence and rebuilt her life. With a multi-faceted understanding of power, spanning global commercial dynamics, personal resilience and societal influence she is here to impart her strategies to regain your personal power.
Simone’s trauma-informed approach to leadership development is enriched by her studies under renowned thought leader Gabor Mate. She is a multi-credentialed coach and an experienced suicide and mental health counsellor, bringing empathy, expertise, and a holistic perspective to her transformative work.
Simone is on a mission to transform culture and to free us of our conditioning and step fully into our power. This process of self-discovery begins with understanding the new dynamics of power and how to embrace it consciously.
SESSIONS
Day 2
2:40
Mini Leadership Labs
These interactive 35-minute sessions cut straight to the skills leaders need most today. Each lab zeroes in on a specific challenge, giving you tools, frameworks, and peer insights you can immediately apply in your role. Attendees will participate in two sessions of their choosing.
Lab A: The Unspoken Rules of Progression
Career progression is rarely based on performance alone. This lab explores how power, influence, and how our own conditioning can limit or strengthen our ability to step forward. We’ll unpack how decisions about progression are really made, the signals leaders pay attention to, and the hidden dynamics that can accelerate or stall your rise. Learn how to build strategic visibility, reclaim your power, and position yourself for senior roles while staying authentic.
Skills Learned: Strategic visibility, influence and power literacy, executive presence, managing upward with confidence, and leading with authenticity.
Simone Weston, Chief People Officer, Kismet
Lab B: Change Resistance vs. Change Fatigue
Change itself is not the issue; it is the accumulation that wears people down. This lab will help you recognise the difference between resistance and fatigue, and apply strategies that re-engage teams and sustain momentum without pushing them to breaking point.
Skills Learned: Establishing feedback loops, setting clear boundaries, and navigating resistance to change.
Dr Vicky Au, Director, Strategic Advisory APAC, Wood
Lab C: Leading High-Stakes Conversations and Negotiations
From budget battles to boardroom debates, high-stakes conversations test a leader’s ability to stay composed, credible and influential. This lab equips you with the tools to prepare for difficult discussions, manage pushback with confidence, and negotiate outcomes that balance competing priorities while protecting relationships and integrity.
Skills Learned: Conflict resolution, stakeholder influence, negotiating priorities, and maintaining credibility under pressure.
Lotte Hoekstra, Sector Director – Generation & Storage (ANZ), AECOM