Leaders today need gravitas to make an impact and be heard. Gravitas is the quiet confidence that takes you beyond your qualifications and experience to be the obvious choice to be listened to and heard. Your gravitas takes you further in the boardroom and in your career, and shows you to be the person to turn to when times are uncertain and decisions need to be made. What Women Need to Know to Build their Gravitas is your opportunity to make the practical and mindset changes needed to move to the next stage in your career.

You will explore how to:

• Get out from behind your “invisibility cloak” and project more authority
• Inject your input and feedback at meetings with more gravity and importance
• Expand your circle of influence
• Be the revered example of grace under pressure; and
• Evoke the level of respect and trust that gets you noticed, listened to and heard.

By the end of the morning you will have a personalised plan to build your gravitas that will have you seen as a serious contender for major role advancement/promotion/project lead/overseas secondment/board appointments.This is a collaborative and highly interactive experience for women, in a safe environment free from judgement, censure, politics or organisational power plays.

Workshop Facilitator:

Amanda MacLean has spent the last 20 years in executive positions and on advisory boards. From heading up global programs and being Chief Operating Officer of a $100m private company she knows how women can be heard at a senior level. Amanda's time working in various senior positions has provided insight as to the complex and opaque structures that limit people in their quest to advance in their careers, and for the past 20 years she has been assisting CEOs to apply these insights to grow their businesses.

All leaders manage, great leaders teach
There’s a difference between a manager and a leader. Great leaders are also great coaches, mentors and sponsors. If you want to be a great mentor, you need to have the skills to share your knowledge and empower the people around you. Sharing your skills, knowledge and expertise can benefit any workplace. It opens the doors for younger women to climb the corporate ladder as well as retaining institutional and practical know-how in your organisation. This afternoon masterclass will give you the skills to build informal and formal mentoring relationships with your peers.
Learning Outcomes:
• Discuss the differences between coaching, mentoring and sponsorship
• Identify a variety of situational coaching approaches and effective coaching mindsets
• Enhance your capability to give effective performance feedback and developmental suggestions
• Produce an effective coaching plan and approach, based on the individual needs of your coachees
• Utilise an effective coaching framework
• Building the confidence to coach individuals in your organisation
• Establishing shared values and expectations for your mentoring relationship
• Setting objectives for your mentee to help them achieve their goals
• Strengthen your organisational culture by building rapport with peers and colleagues

Workshop Facilitator:

Nell Wilson is a senior, experienced, accredited and accomplished HR Leader/Specialist and Executive Coach with over 25 years’ experience in leadership and learning & development roles within large Australian corporations. She has helped hundreds of leaders identify their strengths and barriers to success, many of whom have taken on more significant and sometimes global roles as well as high potential leaders who are being developed as part of a talent/succession plan. Nell has a Bachelor of Adult Education from the University of Melbourne, has studied Executive Leadership at Harvard University, and is an Accredited Executive Coach with the Institute of Executive Coaching & Leadership. Nell is also an accredited practitioner with the Human Synergistics LSI/GSI instruments, DISC, Situational Leadership II and a number of other psychometric tools and professional development programs. Nell designs and facilitates advanced leadership development programs for women in Australia, the UK and US and is a highly sought Executive Coach of leadership from a variety of sectors and disciplines.

Ann Sherry is a legend in the Australian Business landscape. She is one of the nation’s leading executives with a career that spans Government, Banking and Cruise Tourism. She is currently the Chairman of Carnival Australia, the largest cruise ship operator in Australasia. After joining as Chief Executive Officer in 2007, she has transformed the industry and growth has been in double digits each year since. We can’t think of any seasoned executive more fitting to show you the ropes how to get that top job and grow the business while you’re at it.

Angela Mentis is a trailblazer, in January 2018 she became the first woman to take the Bank of New Zealand’s top job. But this position is just the cherry on the top of an extremely productive and transformative career in the male-dominated finance sector. In the words of Karen Maley at the AFR, ‘Before taking the helm at BNZ, Mentis ran NAB's critically important business banking operations, which generate around 45 per cent of the bank's earnings and are widely considered NAB's “jewel in the crown”.’ Angela will share her wealth of experience on how to perform at your best in that top job when you get it.

Catherine Reynolds | Head of Marketing| Open Universities AustraliaIn 2012 OUA was at the pinnacle of its growth. University funding was limited and OUA was perfectly placed to enrol more students on behalf of the universities. Then entered the demand-driven system, lifting previously imposed limits on the funding of bachelor-degree students at public universities, and forever steering OUA in a new direction. What followed was a journey of re-discovering the heart of the business - providing access to higher education for everyone, no matter their background. Catherine Reynolds is the Head of Marketing and sits within the Executive team at Open Universities Australia (OUA). Catherine was drawn to OUA due to her belief that everyone should have access to quality higher education, whether it be making the first step towards studying a degree, or to progress and continually evolve through postgraduate study.

Carmen Wells is a true inspiration. Finishing high school in 1997 without the grades to get into university, she quickly decided that nothing was going to stop her from following her dream of working in the criminal justice system. In 1998 Carmen began studying a Diploma of Liberal Studies (Criminology) with Griffith University through OUA and by 1999 had joined the NSW Police Force. Continuingto learn and upskill via study the whole time, Carmen joined Corrective Services NSW as a Probation and Parole Officer in 2005, whilst simultaneously completing a Graduate Certificate in Criminology and Criminal Justice also through OUA.From a disappointing year 12 result through to her current position managing Newcastle Community Corrections, the largest office in the region, Carmen is proof that education has the power to transform lives.

Marnie has been with the Bendigo and Adelaide Bank Group since 1989 and an Executive of the Bank since 2000. She knows better than anyone how staying true to yourself is an essential leadership foundation, and she has the track record to prove it. Marnie has 30 years’ experience in financial services in diverse positions, this has given her the scope of knowledge to fully comprehend the needs of contemporary businesses and how leaders can only add value if their values align with their organisation’s. Marnie will show you how to ensure you are as effective as possible by aligning yourself with the right organisation.

At the helm of Australia’s number one employment portal, SEEK, Kendra Banks is committed to encouraging women at all levels to carve out careers in the tech industry. SEEK is dedicated to creating an environment where women thrive, through providing a supportive culture and career development initiatives. It also strives to use technology to help employers drive diversity and equality within their own organisations. Kendra will take you through her own career, as well as strategies to create pathways and opportunities for women in tech and support their success in the world of work.

Ovarian Cancer Australia

Not everyone wants to live in the spotlight, particularly when life throws you some of the highest highs and lowest lows imaginable. But for Carrie Bickmore, life out of the public eye is not an option, nor is letting the emotional roller coaster or the massive workload and public scrutiny get to you. She’s so good at it that she’s become Australia’s most popular television celebrity. At WILS 2019 she will tell you how it feels to be at the top of your game, but also how to keep going and thrive in the rollercoaster ride of life and work.

Founding BELLA models in 2002, Executive Director Chelsea was determined to redefine beauty and the boundaries placed on fashion models. Chelsea’s passion for body positivity and mental health in the industry caught the attention of clients on a Global scale and became the mantra of her BELLA tribe. Now an internationally respected agency BELLA boasts ‘World First’ covers and main fashion editorials for curve models in Sports Illustrated, Women’s Health, Seafolly, Vogue, ELLE, Cosmopolitan and Marie Claire to name a few.

An award-winning journalist and digital leader, Alison started her career at The Walkley Foundation for Excellence in Journalism before going on to lead and launch U.S. media brands POPSUGAR, Who What Wear, Byrdie and MyDomaine in Australia. Alison is a known mentor in the media industry and beyond, and continues to pioneer brand, audience and editorial strategies that empower the country's next generation of female leaders and entrepreneurs. Alison lives by her "pull up" leadership philosophy — grab as many hands as you can and take other women with you.

Erica Berchtold is a passionate, energetic and highly-driven female business leader who continues to break through the glass ceiling and thrive in traditionally male-dominated executive positions. Erica is passionate about supporting women in both business and sport, and actively mentors women within these fields. She is an accomplished keynote speaker on a variety of topics, whether it be the leadership journey for women in business or the future of retail. Erica values courage, humility, resilience and curiosity, with her attitude towards change best summed up by one of her favourite quotes: “The illiterate of the 21st Century will not be those who cannot read and write, but those who cannot learn, unlearn and relearn”.

World Vision Australia CEO Claire Rogers is a social innovator who is passionate about creative and agile engagement with World Vision supporters. She is inspired by the organisation’s vision of a just and peaceful world, where every child can experience life in all its fullness. Claire has been supporting women in developing communities for years, where world vision development funding provides local women with the skills they need to help their communities thrive. She has also volunteered as a mentor for Springboard Enterprises, supporting women entrepreneurs as they take concepts to market in the technology and digital sectors. Claire will share her inspiring stories of supporting women in leadership in some of the world’s most challenging conditions.

Gabby Costigan is a trailblazer in male-dominated industries. As CEO of BAE Systems, Gabby is responsible for one of the nation’s largest defence companies, one that has supported the Australian Defence Force for more than 60 years. Gabby is also a former Colonel in the Australian Army and has been honoured for her military service by the Australian and US Governments and NATO. Prior to joining BAE Systems she was the CEO for logistics giant Linfox International Group. Gabby knows first-hand the challenges facing women in male dominated sectors, and what support, mentoring and sponsorship women need to break through into leadership positions.

The engineering and mining industries are a long way off gender parity. For whatever reasons, and seemingly despite increasing quotas and pathway programs, it remains a highly male-dominated space. For a woman to earn the top job in a major mining and resources company is remarkable, and Elizabeth Gaines will tell you how she got there, what challenges she overcame and what lessons she learned in the process. Elizabeth is a highly experienced business leader with extensive international experience as a Chief Executive Officer and group executive. She has a proven track record in financial and operational leadership across a number of industries, including resources, construction and infrastructure, financial services and travel and hospitality.

Annette is the Chief Executive Officer & Managing Partner of top-tier international law firm MinterEllison. Annette is a recognised leader in empowering women and supporting entrepreneurship. In 2012 she co-founded Australia's first seed capital organisation, Scale Investors, focused on equipping women with education and deal flow opportunities to invest in high growth, early stage, female-led businesses. Scale is rapidly empowering women entrepreneurs and the women who invest in them.

With an executive-level career spanning over 20 years, Ms. Rechter is known as an innovator, a leader and an influencer. She is an experienced CEO who over the last seven years has played a significant role in promoting health, well-being, sport and physical activity in her role as the CEO of VicHealth. Under her stewardship, VicHealth ran the very successful This Girl Can campaign to create safe, social and fun ways for women and girls to participate in sport at all levels. Ms. Rechter has a personal passion and interest in basketball and its important role in connecting with women and men, girls and boys across the country.

Alannah Hill is one of Australia’s most loved fashion designers, and author of the bestselling memoir, Butterfly on a Pin. Alannah’s ornamental vision is a far cry from her childhood tainted with poverty, fear and abuse. One of five kids of neglectful parents, she grew up in a milk bar in the deep south of Tasmania. At sixteen, she left that past behind, a nobody traveling alone to Melbourne with an impossible dream of becoming a somebody. Here Alannah adopted a veneer of fearlessness and embraced the breaking 1980s New Wave immersed in glamour and make-up. She knew intuitively what women wanted to wear and built an instantly recognizable brand. In 2019, Alannah was named Momentum's Wonder Woman of the year.

Suzanne is a customer-centric leader who understands the importance of client relationships to competitive differentiation and growth. Adobe ANZ is at the forefront of a market where no industry is immune from digital disruption. In her role, Suzanne is responsible for driving the ANZ business to new levels as well as supporting customers realise their mission of delivering exceptional experiences. In 2013, Adobe boldly decided to throw out its annual performance review process and change its approach to employee growth and development in order to help employees keep with the pace of business transformation. What it led to was an empowering process, resulting in time saved for managers, more impactful conversations and more engaged employees.

Over many years as a leader within the Johnson & Johnson Family of Companies, Sue Martin has heard women at all stages of their careers pose questions such as, “What if I can’t do it?” For Sue, it’s an illustration of just how engrained old perceptions and cultural norms still are in the minds of emergent female leaders.Sue knows because this was her inner-voice too, until she realised that the only thing truly limiting her potential was the story she was telling herself. In this finalsession of the day, Sue will explore the unconscious limits we place on ourselves
and how achieving freedom from those limits starts with changing the monologue, not the architecture.

Women’s elite sport is booming in Australia. The creation of elite women’s competitions in Rugby Union and League on top of the continued growth of women’s cricket, football, basketball and netball marks a new era for the pursuit of equality in high performance sport. Foxtel is leading the way in this growth, by making sure its coverage of women’s sports, not to mention its rollcall of on-camera experts, is not just comprehensive, but getting even bigger. Patrick Delany is the Chief Executive Officer of the combined Foxtel and FOX SPORTS organisation. He joins us to outline Foxtel’s commitment to women’s sport and those who lead the way both on and off the screen.

This is experiential learning at its best: negotiation simulations, activities and implementation of strategies and tactics within the group. You will gain tools to identify optimal negotiation results and to achieve them, and tools to build log-term, profitable and surprising relationships. There is an opportunity to expose talent, such that participants may identify mentors to continue learning from after the workshop has ended.

Benefits of Attending:
1. Visible, measurable, immediate improvement in negotiation results and process.
2. Stronger and more loyal relationships with clients.
3. Better representation of the organisation and its values.
4. Culture creation: Where negotiation is considered a craft, worthy of planning, assessment and reflection.

Agenda:
• Identifying potential for value in a relationship.
• Identifying the most ambitious attainable targets.
• Negotiation strategies.
• Persuasion skills.
• Best practices in planning and preparation for negotiations.
• Maximising our power in the negotiation.
• Tactics.
• How to represent our superiors/constituencies.
• How to measure the success of a negotiation.

Facilitator:

Noa is a lecturer at the UNSW School of business, currently teaching the postgrad course Negotiating in the Global Context. She is a researcher in the field of negotiation theory and is co-authoring the 4th edition of the book Effective Negotiation: From Research to Results with negotiation expert Ray Fells. She founded Sheer Negotiations with the aim of bringing evidence-based negotiation practices to practitioners, and has been working with companies such as Uber, Westpac, Hubspot and PwC to bring them the best and most relevant insights to aid them in their unique negotiation contexts.