Summit: 25-26 November 2025
Workshop: 27 November 2025
Ivy Ballroom at Ivy Precinct
Key Highlights
Master decision-making under pressure through proven frameworks from Jess Fox, 3 x Olympic Gold Medallist, giving you practical tools to turn high-stakes situations into breakthrough performance.
Gain insider strategies from top CEOs navigating AI integration, workforce transformation, and global uncertainty – learn where industry leaders are placing their boldest bets and how to turn challenges into competitive advantages.
April Palmerlee, Chief Executive Officer, AmCham Australia, AFR Women in Leadership 2025 Finalist
Nadia Stone, Vice President and Managing Director, Australia and New Zealand, Kenvue
Helena Turpin, Chief Executive Officer, Go Figur
Suzana Ristevski, Chief Marketing Officer, Australia and New Zealand, Google, Non Executive Director, Australian Association of National Advertisers
Haidee Kozman, Chief Operating Officer, ANZ, Salesforce
Lead with clarity in a rapidly evolving AI landscape: Cut through the noise and learn where to focus as AI reshapes leadership, teams, and performance expectations.
Go deeper in refreshed Leadership Labs: Strengthen your core leadership toolkit through immersive sessions on executive presence, team performance, and managing pressure.
Our Speakers
Agenda
Day One | Tuesday 25 November 2025
8:00
Registration and Morning Refreshments
8:30
Welcome to Country
8:40
Women Leaders Institute Welcome Address
8:50
Chairperson’s Opening Address
Georgina Williams, Board Chair, UN Women Australia
STRATEGIC LEADERSHIP IN AN AI-DRIVEN ENVIRONMENT
9:00
Keynote: Leading Through Complexity
What leadership looks like when you’re constantly preparing for the next disruption – the behaviours that deliver clarity without becoming reactive
Harnessing AI to lift productivity and reimagine how leaders engage their people
Leading with calm, conviction and foresight to inspire confidence and bring teams on the journey
Julie Coates, Non-Executive Director, Wesfarmers
9:30
CEO Panel: The Leadership Balancing Act
How are CEOs adapting their leadership to meet the moment? This panel brings together senior executives to discuss the top trends keeping them up at night – from AI integration and workforce transformation to global instability and cost constraints.
What trends are keeping leaders up at night, and where are they placing their boldest bets?
How AI is reshaping productivity expectations and leadership priorities – and how to turn AI anxiety into advantage
Strategies for managing fatigue, maintaining trust, and building resilience in high-pressure environments to ensure long-term business performance and adaptability
April Palmerlee, Chief Executive Officer, AmCham Australia; AFR Women in Leadership 2025 Finalist
Nadia Stone, Vice President and Managing Director, Australia and New Zealand, Kenvue
Helena Turpin, Chief Executive Officer, Go Figur
Suzana Ristevski, Chief Marketing Officer, Australia and New Zealand, Google, Non Executive Director, Australian Association of National Advertisers
Haidee Kozman, Chief Operating Officer, ANZ, Salesforce
10:10
Networking Activity: Get to know your fellow attendees
10:25
Morning Tea
LEADING THROUGH ADVERSITY & DISRUPTION
10:55
Keynote: Leading with Courage, Calm and Conviction
Staying composed and decisive under pressure
Communicating with clarity across complexity
Leading with resilience and integrity when the stakes are high
11:25
CEO Fireside Chat: Making the Call When There’s No Playbook
How to lead decisively when visibility is low and pressure is high
Balancing stakeholder demands, values, and performance under fire
What grounded their leadership during the most difficult moments
What they’d do differently and what they stand by
Kristin Stubbins AM, Chief Executive Officer and Founder, KSIB, Chair, Taronga Conservation Society, Board Member, Mindgardens; Co-Chair, Women for Change, Former Interim Chief Executive Officer, PWC
12:05
Networking Lunch
STRENGTHENING LEADERSHIP CAPABILITY
1:05
Trivia
1:10
Fireside Chat: Leading Multigenerational Teams with Purpose
Harnessing generational diversity to drive innovation, collaboration and results
Supporting and empowering women across all career stages and transitions
Adapting your leadership approach to bring out the best in every generation
Moderator: Charlotte Anderson, Head of People Experience, Canva
Kate Aitken, Chief People Officer, Optus
Lucinda Gemmell, Chief People and Culture Officer, Seven West Media
1:50
Conversation Starter: What’s one leadership strategy that’s helped you stay focused during periods of uncertainty?
2:00
UN Women in Conversation Keynote
Moderator: Georgina Williams, Board Chair, UN Women Australia
2:50
Afternoon Tea
3:20
Introduction to Mini Leadership Labs
Step into a focused 45-minute session which are designed to help you deepen key leadership capabilities skills. Each lab offers a chance to explore real-world challenges, exchange ideas with peers, and walk away with tools to accelerate your impact.
3:25
Mini Leadership Labs
Lab A: Resilience in High-Pressure Environments
The rules keep changing. Priorities shift. Teams are stretched thin. Learn how to lead decisively through ambiguity, protect momentum when others are burning out, and stay anchored when the pressure builds.
Jaki Virtue, Chief Operating Officer, Soul Patts
Lab B: Building Authentic Executive Presence and Self-Belief
Develop your leadership confidence by understanding how to back yourself, speak with authority, and position yourself for progression.
Penny George, Director of Corporate Affairs, AstraZeneca
Lab C: Leading Inclusion with Impact
Build the confidence and capability to lead inclusively, challenge bias, and drive a culture of equity—wherever you sit in the organisation.
Ashley McGrath, Chief Executive Officer, CEOs for Gender Equity
Lab D: Leading High-Performing Teams
Unpack what it really takes to build and sustain a team that consistently delivers results. This lab focuses on the behaviours, systems and leadership practices that drive accountability, trust and performance for long-term success – even in the face of conflict, underperformance, or team dysfunction – to support long-term success.
Anne Cavalieros, General Manager, Performance, Reward and People Technology, nbn Australia
SUCCESSION PLANNING
4:10
Fireside Chat: From Pipeline to Performance
How boards and executive teams are building sustainable leadership continuity and future-ready leadership pipelines in a volatile landscape
Where the biggest risks and gaps lie – and what’s being done to address them
Rethinking succession: from names on a list to building capability, adaptability and leadership depth
Making succession a leadership priority, not a background process
Angela Coble OAM, Executive Program Director, Australian Energy Market Operator, Co-Founder and Executive Research Director, Leadonera
Hannah Venn-Brown, Director – Inclusion and Diversity, Services Australia
4:50
Chairperson's Closing Address
4:55
Networking Drinks & End of Summit Day One
POST-SUMMIT WORKSHOP
Leading High-Performing Teams with Clarity and Confidence
The workshop aims to equip leaders with the tools, skills and practical learnings to effectively lead diverse teams.
Learn how to:
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Communicating with Clarity and Confidence
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Building and Leading High-Performing Teams
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Adapting Leadership Across Generations
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Enhancing Decision-Making and Resilience for Sustainable Leadershi
FACILITATOR:
Shelly McElroy, Chief Executive Officer, Dream Culture