Sam Turner
Chief People Officer
Sam Turner
She/They
Chief People Officer
Allens
Sam Turner is an influential global people, inclusion and cultural reform leader with 25+ years’ experience across the financial services, technology, higher education, arts, community, and natural resources sectors. Sam is known as an innovator, a strategic thinker, and someone who is passionate about community and the power of positive change.
Sam is the Chief People Officer at Allens, a leading Australian law firm. She is the previous Chief of Staff for Microsoft Asia, and previously served as the Head of Inclusion & Diversity for the Westpac Group. Sam has held senior commercial roles at Microsoft, Westpac, NAB, BHP, and Deloitte.
Sam worked as an independent consultant alongside Elizabeth Broderick, and the Australian Human Rights Commission in their highly respected and public reviews of workplace culture. Sam’s focus is specifically on gender and race equality, LGBTIQ+ inclusion, and cultural transformation. She recently co-led the Australian Music Review into sexual harm and harassment.
Sam was the winner of the 2016 Women of Influence Awards and was named one of Australia’s Outstanding 50 LGBTIQ leaders in the Deloitte/Google 2018 list and is a Churchill Fellow. She is the Chair of The Aurora Group, one of Australia’s largest not for profit LGBTIQ+ Foundations.
Sam holds an Honours degree in Commerce, and a Postgraduate Diploma of Psychology.
SESSIONS
Day 1
11:40
"How-To" Leadership Toolkit
Personal Leadership
1. How can you communicate your worth effectively to advance your career?
Anna Cheney, Communication Performance Coach, Bendelta
2. Which strategies are effective for making decisive leadership decisions under pressure and communicate effectively and confidently?
Hanna Fold, Sales Director, Kenvue
3. How should you balance ambition with your well-being to avoid burnout and sustain long-term success?
Mariam Veiszadeh, Former Chief Executive Officer, Media Diversity Australia, Advisory Group Member, Yindyamarra Pledge for Democracy, Charles Stuart University, Chair and Founder, Islamophobia Register Australia, Ambassador and Advisory Panel, Welcoming Australia
Team Leadership
1. How to lead teams through uncertainty and change, while maintaining team morale and focus during transitions?
Kerryn Coker, Co-chair Australasia, Arup
2. How to coach and mentor team members for development and growth?
Professor Susan Rowland, Vice Provost, University of Sydney
3. How do you delegate effectively, empower your team, manage team performance and accountability?
Kristen Sweeney, Group Executive, People & Corporate Affairs, Sydney Airport