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Day 1 | 13 March 2024

7:50

Registration and Morning Refreshments

8:30

Welcome to Country

8:40

Welcome Address from the Women Leaders Institute

Aunty Janet Galpin, Boon Wurrung Elder 

8:50

Chairperson's Opening Address

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Rae Johnston, Award Winning STEM Journalist

BREAKING THE BIAS: REDEFINING STEMM LEADERSHIP

9:00

Government Keynote: Breaking Barriers: Leading the Way for Women in STEMM

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  • Government initiatives to support, guide, and advocate for action on STEMM gender equity.

  • Building the future pipeline of women in STEMM through education.

  • Creating a supportive Australian culture for women in STEMM through increased visibility and inclusivity.

  • Improving the retention of women in STEMM by addressing current organizational and cultural inequities.

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Lisa Harvey-Smith, Australian Government Women in STEM Ambassador

9:20

Keynote Fireside Chat: Empowering Excellence: Insights from Australia's Leading Women in STEMM

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  • Unpacking the lessons learnt from some of Australia’s most leading women in STEMM

  • Understanding your unique worth to an organisation and leveraging this

  • Navigating the unique challenges women experience in business and shedding light on the cultural change that can be engendered through leadership excellence 

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Moderator: Jacqui Kernot, Security Director, Australia & NZ, Accenture; Advisory Board Member, UNICEF; Founding Partner, Better Cybersecurity Coalition

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Lisa Harvey-Smith, Australian Government Women in STEM Ambassador

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Elizabeth Gaines, Executive Director and Global Ambassador, Fortescue

10:00

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NBCF Pink Horizon Strategy

Cleola Anderiesz, Chief Executive Officer, National Breast Cancer Foundation

10:15

Networking Bingo 

10:30

Morning Tea

DEFYING THE STEREOTYPE: NAVIGATING BIASES AND BUILDING CONFIDENCE

11:00

Interactive Activity

11:10

Keynote: Fresh Perspectives from the Next Generation: Exploring Emerging Trends in Tech and Making a Mark as a Young Leader

  • Exploring emerging technology trends and preparing for the future: How can leaders get started with new technologies and cater for the next generation of customers and employees aka Gen Z? 

  • Finding your footing as a young emerging leader in a male dominated industry and the crucial role women play in driving purpose-led innovation 

  • Strategies for managing imposter syndrome, building resilience, embracing authenticity and unlocking networks for success  

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Ashi Bhat, Founder, Native; Co-Founder, INSIDER App, Contributor: Forbes, Ad Age, The Australian, The Drum

11:50

Panel: Building an Empowering Workplace Culture for Women in STEMM

  • Challenging unwritten expectations and attitudes for women in the workplace. 

  • Dismantling unsupportive and hostile work cultures while addressing implicit and explicit biases that hinder women’s career progression.

  • Creating psychologically safe spaces for women to thrive authentically and navigate life’s responsibilities.

  • How to recognize and respond to gender based micro-aggressions at work.

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Moderator: Teeshal Bal, Head of Metro Tunnel Transition Office, Metro Trains Melbourne; Founder, Grit Leadership

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Kirsty Bateman, Chief Engineer, Mission & Support, Babcock Australia & New Zealand

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Mary-Beth Hosking, Chief Executive Officer, VIC ICT for Women

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Jamie Newman, General Manager – Digital, Dennis Family Homes

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Mark Davies, Chief Technical Officer, Rio Tinto

12:40

Networking Lunch

CLIMBING THE STEMM LADDER

1:40

Interactive Activity

2:00

Interactive Scenario-Based Breakout Sessions
Our interactive scenario-based breakouts will help you nurture core professional and personal skills. Each session will run for thirty minutes. Delegates will have the opportunity to participate in two discussions.

LEADERSHIP

Building a Personal Brand: Discover the power of personal branding in today's competitive world. This session will help you define, refine, and project your unique identity, ensuring you stand out and leave a lasting impression that fuels your career success.

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Belinda Murray, Founder & CEO, Bee Formless 

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Leading with Emotional Intelligence and Authenticity: Learn how to harness the incredible strength of empathy, self-awareness, and genuine connection to inspire and lead with impact. Embrace your true self and lead with both heart and mind to create a positive and lasting influence.

Leeat Bosco, Founder; Leadership & Teams Coach, Trainer, Facilitator, Strengths Profiler, leaat bosco Coaching  

CAREER ADVANCEMENT

Transitioning from Technical Roles to Management: Realise your full leadership potential!  Learn to leverage your deep technical prowess and explore the strategies, insights, and tools that will empower you to seamlessly transition into a management role.

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Caroline Stainkamph, Program Manager, AustralianSuper

PERSONAL GROWTH

Combatting Imposter Syndrome and Celebrating Yourself: Learn to recognise and combat imposter syndrome, enabling you to confidently pursue your goals, excel in your career, and grasp the opportunities you truly deserve. Uncover strategies to overcome self-doubt, boost self-confidence, and take charge of your professional and personal life.

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Georgia Ellis, Founder, Lead Facilitator, Mentor, Trainer & Coach, Blue Chip Minds

Balancing Career Aspirations with Personal Life Demands: Move from work-life interference to work-life integration – discover practical techniques for harmonizing your career aspirations with the demands of your personal life

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Shelley Flett, Leadership & Team Performance Trainer, Speaker, Coach, Mentor, Facilitator

3:10

Afternoon Tea

EMPOWERING INTERSECTIONALITY: DEVELOPING THE NEXT GEN OF LEADERS

3:40

Keynote Fireside Chat: Representation Matters: Building a more diverse and inclusive culture for future STEMM leaders

  • ‘You can’t be what you can’t see’ – the importance of role models in encouraging underrepresented groups to pursue STEMM careers.

  • The business case for diversity: the economic and innovation advantages of a diverse STEMM workforce.

  • Fostering an inclusive culture that recognises and actively works through intersectional bias. 

  • Reshaping younger generation’s perceptions and attitudes towards STEMM through educational initiatives that celebrate inclusivity.

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Moderator: Candice Lam, Associate Director, Aurecon, Director, Change & Advisory, Engineering New Worlds, Leadership Circle Certified Practitioner, Leadership Circle

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Muneera Bano, Senior Research Scientist, Diversity and Inclusion in AI, CSIRO’s Data61

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Dr Ruwangi Fernando, Founder/Director, STEM Sisters, Co-Founder, iSTEM Co.

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Misty Jenkins, Laboratory Head, Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Co-Chair, Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF) Indigenous Health Research Fund, Board Director, Monash Health

4:20

Chairperson’s Closing Address

4:30

Cocktail Party and End of Summit Day One

Day 2 | 14 March 2024

BRING ALONG AN ALLY FOR THE MORNING PLENARY SESSIONS

Bring along a male or non-binary ally for the morning plenary sessions (up until morning tea).

Including non-binary and male voices is crucial to accelerating change when it comes to eliminating gender bias in workplaces. Bring along the allies in your company who are true advocates for developing diverse leaders, to spark authentic conversations around supporting underrepresented employees. Send across the details of your ally to info@womenleadersinstitute.com at least 6 weeks before the event.

8:15

Registration and Morning Refreshments

8:45

 Welcome Address from the Women Leaders Institute

8:50

Chairperson’s Opening Address

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Dr Chloe Lim, Founder, Director and Science Storyteller, Twisty Science Pty Ltd

LEADING WITH EQUITY: CHAMPIONING CHANGE IN YOUR WORKPLACE

9:00

CEO Panel: Empowering Leaders to Champion Change and Challenge Gender Double Standards in STEMM

  • Undoing unconscious biases and breaking free from gendered skillset stereotypes in hiring decisions.

  • Taking a collective organizational stance against underlying sexist attitudes

  • Developing better mechanisms and strategies to support female colleagues and promote gender equality in STEMM as male leaders. 

  • The importance of accountability, honesty, and openness in achieving cultural change.

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Moderator: Carly Lynch, APAC Head of Digital Performance Strategy, Adobe 

Hichame Assi, Chief Executive Officer, Envato
 

Jackie Fairley, ex-CEO, Starpharma; Non-Executive Director, Mirrabooka Investments

Jeff Dimery, Chief Executive Officer & Managing Director, Alinta Energy

Cleola Anderiesz, Chief Executive Officer, National Breast Cancer Foundation

10:10

Sharing session: How can allies amplify your voice, provide advice, and create opportunities for advancement of female leaders?

10:20

Lessons in Chemistry 

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Christine Khor, CEO, Founder & Master Coach, Peeplcoach

10:30

Morning Tea

FROM MENTORSHIP TO SPONSORSHIP

11:00

Trivia

11:10

Keynote and Fireside Chat: Empowering Indigenous Voices in STEMM

  • Improving digital inclusion for all and empowering Indigenous youth to achieve their goals in technology.

  • The importance of Indigenous voices in shaping the future of STEMM.

  • Shaping culture from within; your power to shift the narrative and empower the next generation.

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Kim Dyball, Manager, Young Indigenous Women’s STEM Academy, CSIRO  

Sabrina Koina, Undergraduate Data Analyst, PT.20 

Ann-Maree Long, Program Manager - High School Programs, CareerTrackers Indigenous Internship Program 

Aleisha Knack, Undergraduate Research Scientist, CSIRO 

11:40

Panel: Creating the Leaders of Tomorrow: Mutual Growth through Mentoring

  • The power of mentorship: practical tips to help mentees advance their careers, develop their skills, and increase their confidence.

  • Mutual empowerment through mentorship: How mentees can uncover your hidden strengths and teach you about yourself.

  • Supporting younger women navigating discrimination and sexist workplaces.

  • How to find, build and sustain mentor relationships.

  • From mentorship to sponsorship – advocating for your juniors’ professional development.

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Moderator: Susan McGinty, Founder & CEO, Aya Leadership; Board Member Women in STEM Leadership; Leader of the Year

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Jen Martin, Associate Professor, University of Melbourne; Board Member, Australasian Dark Sky Alliance

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Ally Watson, Founder & CEO, Code Like a Girl, Non-Executive Director, Telstra Foundation

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Cara Kwok, Head of HR, Moderna

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Christine Khor, CEO, Founder & Master Coach, Peeplcoach

12:30

Networking Lunch

VOICE & VISIBILITY: DEVELOPING LEADERSHIP PRESENCE AND INFLUENCE

1:30

Prize Draw

1:40

Introduction to Mini Workshops

1:50

Mini Workshops

Emerging Leaders Workshop

Discover strategies and tips for new and aspiring leaders to excel in their first managerial roles. This workshop is tailored to empower emerging talents, providing them with the essential skills, knowledge, and inspiration to lead with confidence and innovation

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Georgia Ellis, Founder, Lead Facilitator, Mentor, Trainer & Coach, Blue Chip Minds 

Established Leaders Workshop

Enhance your leadership skills, broaden your perspective, and fine-tune your leadership expertise to drive lasting impact.

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Teagan Dowler, Director & Founder, The BCW

2:40

Afternoon Tea

CHARTING YOUR PATH TO SUCCESS

3:10

Q&A Expert Panel: Personal growth and advancing your career

  • Promoting yourself, negotiating and making an impact.

  • Embracing your squiggly career path

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 Moderator: Dr Chloe Lim, Founder, Director and Science Storyteller, Twisty Science Pty Ltd

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Kate Fox, Associate Dean Higher Degrees by Research (School of Engineering), RMIT University; 2019, 2020 Superstar of STEM; 2019 Vic Tall Poppy; 2019 Most Innovative Engineer
 

Natalie Chapman, Managing Director and Co-Founder, gemaker; Corporate Communications Manager, Alkane Resources Ltd, Adjunct Senior Lecturer & Chair of the School of Chemistry Advisory Committee, UNSW
 

Anna Collyer, Chair,  Australian Energy Market Commission (AEMC)

3:50

Delegate Spotlight

4:00

Chairperson Closing Address

4:10

End of Summit

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