Penny George
Pronoun
Director of Corporate Affairs
AstraZeneca
Penny George is an executive leader in public affairs and communications, currently serving as Director of Corporate Affairs at AstraZeneca. Her career spans local government, ministerial advisory roles, and senior positions in the healthcare sector, giving her a unique perspective on the intersection of policy and business.
Elected to local council at 18 years old and later working as a ministerial staffer, Penny has championed policy for families, communities, urban renewal, and women’s issues. Raised in a single-parent household and without exposure to executive role models, she developed a deep sense of drive and resilience, which now fuel her passion for leading with authenticity and a commitment to inclusion.
Penny is recognised for her clarity, authenticity, and ability to foster dialogue and build trust. Living with type 1 diabetes fuels her commitment to empathetic advocacy and accessible leadership, inspiring others to lead with purpose and effect positive change.
SESSIONS
Day 1
3:25
Mini Leadership Labs
Lab A: Resilience in High-Pressure Environments
How do you keep people motivated when the pace is relentless? This session helps you sharpen the ability to make clear decisions in uncertain conditions, sustain your team’s energy, and remain composed when pressure builds.
Skills Learned: Decisive decision-making, stress management, sustaining team motivation, and role-modelling resilience.
Jaki Virtue, Chief Operating Officer, Soul Patts
Lab B: Building Authentic Executive Presence and Self-Belief
Executive presence is critical for leaders who want to influence decisions and advance their careers. This lab will help you strengthen self-belief, communicate with confidence and authority, and position yourself effectively for progression opportunities while staying authentic to your leadership style.
Skills Learned: Strengthening executive presence, communicating with authority, building self-belief, and strategic self-advocacy.
Penny George, Director of Corporate Affairs, AstraZeneca
Lab C: Leading Inclusion with Impact
Inclusive leadership requires confidence, capability and the courage to challenge bias. This lab will show you how to build equity into everyday decision-making, create belonging across diverse teams, and set the tone for a culture where everyone can contribute and thrive.
Skills Learned: Building inclusive cultures, addressing bias, fostering equity, and empowering diverse teams.
Dr. Ashley McGrath, Chief Executive Officer, CEOs for Gender Equity
Lab D: Leading High-Performing Teams
What separates good teams from great ones? This lab explores the leadership practices that create accountability, trust and sustained performance. You will learn how to lead effectively through conflict, address underperformance and bring out the best in diverse teams.
Skills Learned: Building trust, fostering accountability, and resolving conflict to sustain performance.
Anne Cavalieros, General Manager, Performance, Reward and People Technology, nbn Australia