She Has the Courage to Lead
“The Best Protection Any Women Can Have is Courage”
Author unknown
About Our Podcast
She Has the Courage to Lead is a podcast that brings together Australia’s most inspiring and influential women to share their personal stories and experiences of leadership. Each episode explores what it truly means to lead with purpose and authenticity, and why it is crucial to support and uplift women in the workplace. These conversations highlight the challenges, triumphs, and lessons learned along the way, offering powerful insights for women looking to lead with impact and create positive change in their careers and communities. Series three (3) includes award-winning TV Personalities, Journalists, Commissioners and other Senior Government Dignitaries who highlight the significant efforts being made to advance women's experiences and opportunities in the workplace.
Series Three (3)
The inaugural Women's Safety Commissioner is Dr Hannah Tonkin. The Women's Safety Commissioner provides leadership and oversight across the whole of NSW government to strengthen responses to domestic, family and sexual violence. The role fosters collaboration and coordination across the government, the non-government sector and the broader community, as well as giving victim-survivors a greater voice in the development of policies and programs. Other key aspects of the role include awareness raising, education and public engagement to deliver improved women’s safety outcomes. You can listen to this podcast here
With a distinguished career spanning over 45 years, Anna Booth is a trailblazer in industrial relations and workplace leadership. Her dedication to fostering harmonious, productive, and compliant workplace environments under the Fair Work Act 2009 reflects her unwavering commitment to empowering individuals and organizations alike. Anna’s remarkable journey includes serving as Deputy President of the Fair Work Commission for eight years, where she shaped critical policies and resolved complex disputes. Returning to her role as Director of CoSolve Pty Ltd in 2020, Anna continues to lead with integrity and vision. Her leadership extends beyond industrial relations. She has held non-executive directorships at ME Bank, IFM, and Slater & Gordon Ltd, where she served as Chair.
Early in her career, she broke barriers as National Secretary of the Textile, Clothing, and Footwear Union and as Vice President of the Australian Council of Trade Unions, advocating tirelessly for workers’ rights. Anna’s influence spans corporate, academic, and community sectors. She has held senior roles in corporate affairs, lectured at esteemed institutions, and contributed to the boards of the Commonwealth Bank, NRMA, and the Sydney Olympic Organizing Committee. An accredited mediator and holder of a Bachelor of Economics (Hons) from the University of Sydney, Anna is a champion of fairness and collaboration. As Patron of the Industrial Relations Society of NSW, her legacy continues to inspire future generations of leaders. You can listen to this podcast here
Bridget Fair joined Free TV Australia as Chief Executive Officer in February 2018, having previously held a number of senior roles with Seven West Media responsible for corporate affairs, government relations, and business strategy. She has also worked with the ABC and SBS, and in private legal practice. Bridget is currently a Board Director for Women in Media and has served as the former Chairman of Screen Rights. She has also held positions as a Non-Executive Director of iSelect and a Director of OzTAM, Freeview and Judith Neilson Institute for Journalism & Ideas. You can listen to this podcast here
Amelia has been a journalist for over 21 years, with more than 14 of those at the Nine Network. Before joining 60 Minutes in 2022, she served as Nine's Senior Foreign Correspondent in North America, covering events like the January 6 insurrection, earning two Kennedy Awards and a Walkley nomination. She has reported from war zones in Ukraine, Iraq, and covered the 2020 US presidential election, 'Black Lives Matter' protests, and 'Make America Great Again' rallies. As Nine's Europe and Middle East Correspondent, Amelia covered Brexit, the fall of Theresa May, the 2019 UK election, the Turkish incursion into Syria, and the US assassination of Iranian General Qasem Soleimani. Her reporting also includes the Fukushima disaster and Christchurch earthquake. Amelia has occasionally hosted the Today Show and Nine's 6pm News. You can listen to this podcast here
Kerry Chikarovski, founder of Chikarovski & Associates, is a prominent figure in politics and consultancy. She made history as the first woman to lead the NSW Liberal Party and serve as Leader of the Opposition from 1998 to 2002, championing initiatives like flexible work and mentoring for women in the public sector. Post-politics, Kerry established her consultancy to guide organizations through government processes. She holds multiple board roles and supports not-for-profits like Adopt Change and the Humpty Dumpty Foundation. A sought-after speaker and event host, Kerry balances her career with her roles as a wife, mother, and grandmother. You can listen to this podcast here
Larissa is an Australian Greens Senator for Queensland, serving since 2018, and previously co-deputy leader from 2015-2017 and 2018-2022. She is the party's Senate leader, spokesperson on women, democracy, and the public sector, and co-convenes a parliamentary group on eliminating violence against women. Larissa led the push for a national integrity commission, with her bill passing the Senate in 2019. Elected in 2010, she became the first Queensland Senate representative for the Greens and made history in 2017 as the first woman to breastfeed in the Senate. An environmental lawyer, she previously worked in the community sector, advising on environmental protection. Larissa is dedicated to human rights, environmental conservation, and government accountability. You can listen to this podcast here
Gemma Acton joined Australia's Seven News as Network Finance Editor in 2017. With a background in finance and education at institutions like Goldman Sachs, Merrill Lynch, PIMCO, and the Lauder Institute at Wharton, she previously worked as an anchor for CNBC Europe. Gemma covers business and finance news with a focus on the effects on Australian consumers. She holds an MBA/MA from Wharton and is a CFA Charterholder. Recently, she was promoted to Director of News Operation as Seven Network restructured its news department. You can listen to his podcast here
Kylea is a business leader, social advocate, and mother of three who has lived in North Sydney for over 15 years. Elected as the Federal Member for North Sydney in May 2022, she serves as a community Independent focused on listening to her constituents and advocating in Parliament. Before politics, Kylea held roles as Managing Director of Edelman Australia, CEO of the McGrath Foundation, and CEO of Camp Quality. She helped establish the Pink Test cricket fundraiser and expanded partnerships beyond cricket. During her time at the McGrath Foundation, the number of breast care nurses in Australia grew significantly. At Camp Quality, she launched initiatives like the KICC Camp for children of parents diagnosed with cancer. Her 2022 election campaign prioritized climate policy and equality, and in November 2022, she introduced her first private member's bill aimed at reducing vehicle pollution.