AFRGA1 A014

Congratulations to the winners of the 100 Women of Influence Awards.Visit rubyconnection.com.au to find out more.

AFRThursday 29 September 2016The Australian Financial Review | www.afr.com

14 News AFR Thursday 29 September 2016www.afr.com | The Australian Financial Review

15News

The gamechangersLeadership From the mines to the swimming pool, fromthe stage to the board room, Australia’s next generation ofinfluencers are changing the world, writes Claire Stewart.

Clockwise from top left: LisaWilkinson, Monica Meldrumwith husband James anddaughter Chloe, Eileen Kramer,Ellie Cole, Beth Shaw andMelissa Abu-Gazaleh.

SOURCE: WESTPAC, FINANCIAL REVIEW

Category & name Role Organisation Category & name Role Organisation

Innovation (sponsored by AGSM @ UNSW Business School)Arts, culture, sport

Local and regional

Social enterprise and not-for-profit

Public policy

Young leader (sponsored by Dentsu Aegis Network)

Fiona CameronEllie ColeCatherine DeVryeMoya DoddJane FlemmingEileen KramerLisa WilkinsonMalinda Wink

Global (sponsored by United Airlines)

Julie BernhardtPatricia DavidsonMegan DavisMina GuliJocelynne ScuttNatasha Stott DespojaVanessa Zimmerman

Division head - strokeDean and ProfessorProfessor of lawCEO & founder, athleteBarrister & human rights lawyerAust ambassador for women and girlsGroup human rights advisor

Florey Institute of Neuroscience Johns Hopkins School of Nursing, USAUNSW AustraliaThirstInner Temple, London UKDepartment of Foreign Affairs and TradeRio Tinto

Diversity (sponsored by Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand)Jenine BeekhuyzenJulie Cogin

Pippa DownesMaria Katsonis

Lynn Kraus

Kristy MasellaKerryn PhelpsChristine ReghenzaniElizabeth ShawPallavi SinhaPearl Tan

FounderDirector and deputy dean

Cornerstone memberDirector, family violence and service delivery reformOceania middle market leader and Sydney office managing partnerCEOMedical founder & directorCommanderPresidentPrincipal, lecturerCo-chair

Tech Girls MovementAustralian Graduate School of Mgmt at UNSW Business SchoolThe Pinnacle FoundationDepartment of Premier and Cabinet (Vic)

EY

Aboriginal Employment StrategySydney Integrative MedicineRoyal Australian Navy ReserveUN Women AustraliaLawyers with Solutions, College of LawEquity Diversity Committee

Business enterpriseCherie BarberMelissa BrowneSue CarrKay GanleyAlison GreenConnie MckeageMonica MeldrumGabby MontagneseCyndi O'MearaGina RinehartCyan Ta'eedDiane Westaway

CEOCEOPrincipal director CEOCEO & co-founderGroup CEOCEO & co-founderDirectorFounderExecutive chairExecutive director and co-founderCEO & founder

Renovating for ProfitA&TA, The Money Barre & Thinkers.inqCarr Design GroupCHARLTON BROWNPantera PressOneVue Whole KidsNew Age CaravansChanging Habits Hancock Group of CompaniesEnvatoWild Women On Top

COOParalympian & Motivational SpeakerCEOPartnerDirectorAmbassadorToday Show co-host/editor-at-largeExecutive director

Board/management (sponsored by Trivett Bespoke)Christine CorbettJoanne FarrellKatja ForbesSusan GordonCindy HookMing LongLeone LorrimerSarah Morton-Ramwell

Philippa PattisonClare PayneJanice ReidSadhana SmilesFiona Trafford-WalkerDeanne Weir

Chief customer officerGroup Exec HSE and MD AustraliaManaging directorBoard presidentCEOMember Finance & Audit CommitteeCEOPartner, Global Head of Pro Bono and Corporate ResponsibilityDeputy Vice-Chancellor (Education)DirectorChairCEODirector of consultingMD, content aggregation and wholesale

Australia PostRio Tintosyfte WA PCYC Inc.Deloitte AustraliaUniversity of Sydneydwp sutersAshurst

University of SydneyThe Banking and Finance OathPacific Friends of the Global FundHarcourts Victoria Frontier AdvisorsFoxtel

Screen AustraliaAustralian Paralympic Committee CDV ManagementGilbert + TobinLive Life Get ActiveArts Health InstituteNine Network/ Huffington Post AustraliaGood Pitch Australia

Eileen BaldryCatherine BallEmily BanksBronwyn EvansMisty JenkinsRebecca JohnsonJennifer MacDiarmidLaura McKenzieCarolyn MeeCharlotte PetrisSue SamuelssonNatalka Suchowerska

Professor of criminology and academic chairCEO & founder Head, epidemiology for policy and practiceCEOLaboratory headDirector, Aust Museum Research InstituteJoint CEO & directorCEO & directorFounder & directorCEO & founder DirectorLeader, Medical Physics Research Div

UNSWRemote Research RangesThe Australian National UniverstityStandards AustraliaWalter and Eliza Hall Institute Australian MuseumEnGeneICScale Investorscmee4 ProductionsTimelioi-Vet (Australia)Chris O'Brien Lifehouse

Leith BoullyCheryl EdwardesTracey HayesSonia Loudon

Mave Richardson Pieta Thornton

Susan West

ChairmanChairmanCEOCo-founder, leading teacher

RetiredPresident

Associate professor

SunWaterVimy Resources NT Cattlemen's AssociationBoundless Foundation, Mill Park Secondary CollegeVolunteer community workerVictims and Witnesses of Crime Court SupportAustralian National University

Karen ChesterMary CrooksNadine EzardJane Hall

Lucy HaslamDorothy HoddinottJenny McGregorClover Moore Jerril RechterCatherine ScarthGillian Triggs

Deputy chairExecutive directorClinical director, Alcohol and Drug ServiceDirector of Strategy

Executive director & co-founderPrincipalGroup CEOLord MayorCEOCEOPresident

Productivity CommissionVictorian Women's TrustSt Vincent's Hospital, SydneyCentre for Health Economics Research and Evaluation, UTSUnited in CompassionHolroyd High School, GreystanesAsialinkCity of Sydney VicHealthAMES AustraliaAustralian Human Rights Commission

Fiona ArmstrongLibby DaviesJanelle GouldingKelly McJannettKristy McKellar

Janine MiddletonClaire RobbsKate SwafferLyn SwinburneLucy Thomas

Founder & executive director CEOCEOCEOFamily violence and social change consultant, advocate and survivor Co-chairCEOChair, CEO & co-founderFounderCEO and co-founder

Climate and Health AllianceWhite Ribbon AustraliaCity West HousingFood LadderKM Consulting Services

Australian Marriage Equality Life Without BarriersDementia Alliance InternationalBreast Cancer Network AustraliaPROJECT ROCKIT

Melissa Abu-GazalehMarina Brizar

Caitlin FigueiredoKate FitzsimonsSylvia FreedmanMelanie HillAdriana MercadoLizzie Moroney

CEO & founderHead of Corporate and Private Client, Director of AMB FoundationAmbassador and UN Task-Force memberDirectorCo-founderNurse and midwifeTeam leader, claims assistance providerCEO & founder

Top Blokes FoundationPlayfair Visa & Migration Services

Global Resolutions and United NationsNicole Fitzsimons FoundationEndoActive Australia & NZSt Vincent's Private Hospital, MelbournePlayfair Visa & Migration ServicesThe Mto Wam Bu Project

These awards uncover thoseextraordinary women whosetireless commitment to creatingchange would have otherwiseremained unrecognised.Westpac’s Ainslie van Onselen

Achance trip to help theAustralian govern-ment deliver food aidto impoverished com-munities in Indonesialeft an indelible markon Monica Meldrum.So much so, she

returned home and started not a charity, buta business.

The company, Whole Kids, manufacturesand supplies organic, hypo-allergenic,additive-free snacks for children, and is MsMeldrum’s attempt to rectify some of thewrongs she sees perpetrated by Big Food,and generate revenue to fund health andeducation programs for children nationally.

In recognition of her work, Meldrum hasbeen named in this year’s The AustralianFinancial Review/Westpac 100 Women ofInfluence Awards, announced on Thursday.

Now in it’s fifth year, the awards havegarnered interest from an increasinglybroad cross-sector of entrants, some highprofile, such as television personality LisaWilkinson, mining magnate Gina Rinehartand three-time Paralympic swimmer EllieCole, and others less well known but equallyinfluential, such as Dementia Alliance Inter-national founder, Kate Swaffer.

Westpac director of women’s markets,diversity and inclusion, and judging co-chair, Ainslie van Onselen, said finding thehidden talent as well as the more visibleleaders is what differentiates the awards.

‘‘Women deserve to be recognised as

intelligent, capable and equal and theseawards not only highlight the incrediblebreadth of talented Australian women, theyuncover those extraordinary women whosetireless commitment to creating changewould have otherwise remained unrecog-nised.’’

It’s a sentiment UN Women Australiapresident and one of this year’s 100 Womenof Influence from Western Australia, BethShaw, echoes.

She said the most heartening change nowis the willingness of more people to recog-nise that influence comes in different forms,and doesn’t necessarily rely on formal posi-tions of authority to be wielded.

‘‘It’s about recognising that people havedifferent career paths and experiences, andthat experiences we have discounted for notembodying what is traditionally seen asleadership, is actually just a different way ofbringing people along, and no less valid,’’ MsShaw said.

Dancer and choreographer EileenKramer embodies that idea. At 102 years ofage, she is still performing, and as ambas-sador for the Arts Health Institute uses herown crowd-funding projects to help fundand train artists to work in aged care.

Awards judge Paul Robertson said he wasoverwhelmed by the energy of the women.

‘‘Often people tend to concentrate on thenegative and all the problems we arefacing, yet here is a bunch of women whoare extremely optimistic and throwingthemselves into a massive amount of work

to really make a difference,’’ he said. ‘‘It’svery encouraging and very refreshing. Weall need a good dose of optimism in thecountry and here are the women who aregoing to do it.’’

Mr Robertson, who is chair of Social Ven-tures and St Vincent’s Health Australia, saidit has become apparent that influence is nolonger constrained by the boundaries of aparticular sector but is increasingly beingexercised across a variety of platforms, be iteconomic, political or social.

‘‘It’s definitely the changing face of leader-

ship and will have a huge impact on Austra-lia,’’ he said.

As with Ms Meldrum, Alison Green, whofounded Pantera Press when she was 22,exemplifies the trend towards cross-pollination between business and social good.

Ms Green said rather than start a charityto help lift literacy rates, she realised themore effective way was to start a companythat could fund the changes she wanted tomake in society.

‘‘The literacy piece had always come intoit because as the core part of the business I

thought it was really important to be invest-ing in that next generation of Australians,writers and readers.

‘‘So the business was about finding newauthors, but then at the time we had startedour Good Books Doing Good Things pro-gram, investing a percentage of the revenueinto fixing the literacy gap.’’

Ms Green said it’s a common themeamong the younger generation to start busi-nesses that have an ingrained social pur-pose from the outset. It’s what Ms Meldrumcalls ‘‘profits with purpose’’ an idea awarded

by global accreditation as a B-Corporation,which Whole Kids has.

For Melissa Abu-Gazaleh, the next step increating social change is re-engaging men,and young men in particular. Ms Abu-Gazaleh, whose organisation Top BlokesFoundation works with about 1400 youngmen each year, said people used to laugh atthe idea of a girl helping men.

‘‘’You’re a girl, you should be doing thingswith girls’, they said. ‘‘I thought yes that’strue but there’s something else to it too.

‘‘It’s root cause analysis. What is the root

cause of discrimination? It’s the embeddedviews of those in power, which is typically inmost cases still men in some countries.’’

If you want to change men’s behaviour,Ms Abu-Gazaleh said, there needs to be anongoing conversation, particularly toensure young men can engage with thebroader social culture, and to change theembedded narrative.

‘‘It can’t be a one-off conversation. If youwant to change culture, it’s not about beingthe loudest voice, it’s about being the mostconsistent voice.’’

AFR Thursday 29 September 2016www.afr.com | The Australian Financial Review

15News

SOURCE: WESTPAC, FINANCIAL REVIEW

Category & name Role Organisation Category & name Role Organisation

Innovation (sponsored by AGSM @ UNSW Business School)Arts, culture, sport

Local and regional

Social enterprise and not-for-profit

Public policy

Young leader (sponsored by Dentsu Aegis Network)

Fiona CameronEllie ColeCatherine DeVryeMoya DoddJane FlemmingEileen KramerLisa WilkinsonMalinda Wink

Global (sponsored by United Airlines)

Julie BernhardtPatricia DavidsonMegan DavisMina GuliJocelynne ScuttNatasha Stott DespojaVanessa Zimmerman

Division head - strokeDean and ProfessorProfessor of lawCEO & founder, athleteBarrister & human rights lawyerAust ambassador for women and girlsGroup human rights advisor

Florey Institute of Neuroscience Johns Hopkins School of Nursing, USAUNSW AustraliaThirstInner Temple, London UKDepartment of Foreign Affairs and TradeRio Tinto

Diversity (sponsored by Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand)Jenine BeekhuyzenJulie Cogin

Pippa DownesMaria Katsonis

Lynn Kraus

Kristy MasellaKerryn PhelpsChristine ReghenzaniElizabeth ShawPallavi SinhaPearl Tan

FounderDirector and deputy dean

Cornerstone memberDirector, family violence and service delivery reformOceania middle market leader and Sydney office managing partnerCEOMedical founder & directorCommanderPresidentPrincipal, lecturerCo-chair

Tech Girls MovementAustralian Graduate School of Mgmt at UNSW Business SchoolThe Pinnacle FoundationDepartment of Premier and Cabinet (Vic)

EY

Aboriginal Employment StrategySydney Integrative MedicineRoyal Australian Navy ReserveUN Women AustraliaLawyers with Solutions, College of LawEquity Diversity Committee

Business enterpriseCherie BarberMelissa BrowneSue CarrKay GanleyAlison GreenConnie MckeageMonica MeldrumGabby MontagneseCyndi O'MearaGina RinehartCyan Ta'eedDiane Westaway

CEOCEOPrincipal director CEOCEO & co-founderGroup CEOCEO & co-founderDirectorFounderExecutive chairExecutive director and co-founderCEO & founder

Renovating for ProfitA&TA, The Money Barre & Thinkers.inqCarr Design GroupCHARLTON BROWNPantera PressOneVue Whole KidsNew Age CaravansChanging Habits Hancock Group of CompaniesEnvatoWild Women On Top

COOParalympian & Motivational SpeakerCEOPartnerDirectorAmbassadorToday Show co-host/editor-at-largeExecutive director

Board/management (sponsored by Trivett Bespoke)Christine CorbettJoanne FarrellKatja ForbesSusan GordonCindy HookMing LongLeone LorrimerSarah Morton-Ramwell

Philippa PattisonClare PayneJanice ReidSadhana SmilesFiona Trafford-WalkerDeanne Weir

Chief customer officerGroup Exec HSE and MD AustraliaManaging directorBoard presidentCEOMember Finance & Audit CommitteeCEOPartner, Global Head of Pro Bono and Corporate ResponsibilityDeputy Vice-Chancellor (Education)DirectorChairCEODirector of consultingMD, content aggregation and wholesale

Australia PostRio Tintosyfte WA PCYC Inc.Deloitte AustraliaUniversity of Sydneydwp sutersAshurst

University of SydneyThe Banking and Finance OathPacific Friends of the Global FundHarcourts Victoria Frontier AdvisorsFoxtel

Screen AustraliaAustralian Paralympic Committee CDV ManagementGilbert + TobinLive Life Get ActiveArts Health InstituteNine Network/ Huffington Post AustraliaGood Pitch Australia

Eileen BaldryCatherine BallEmily BanksBronwyn EvansMisty JenkinsRebecca JohnsonJennifer MacDiarmidLaura McKenzieCarolyn MeeCharlotte PetrisSue SamuelssonNatalka Suchowerska

Professor of criminology and academic chairCEO & founder Head, epidemiology for policy and practiceCEOLaboratory headDirector, Aust Museum Research InstituteJoint CEO & directorCEO & directorFounder & directorCEO & founder DirectorLeader, Medical Physics Research Div

UNSWRemote Research RangesThe Australian National UniverstityStandards AustraliaWalter and Eliza Hall Institute Australian MuseumEnGeneICScale Investorscmee4 ProductionsTimelioi-Vet (Australia)Chris O'Brien Lifehouse

Leith BoullyCheryl EdwardesTracey HayesSonia Loudon

Mave Richardson Pieta Thornton

Susan West

ChairmanChairmanCEOCo-founder, leading teacher

RetiredPresident

Associate professor

SunWaterVimy Resources NT Cattlemen's AssociationBoundless Foundation, Mill Park Secondary CollegeVolunteer community workerVictims and Witnesses of Crime Court SupportAustralian National University

Karen ChesterMary CrooksNadine EzardJane Hall

Lucy HaslamDorothy HoddinottJenny McGregorClover Moore Jerril RechterCatherine ScarthGillian Triggs

Deputy chairExecutive directorClinical director, Alcohol and Drug ServiceDirector of Strategy

Executive director & co-founderPrincipalGroup CEOLord MayorCEOCEOPresident

Productivity CommissionVictorian Women's TrustSt Vincent's Hospital, SydneyCentre for Health Economics Research and Evaluation, UTSUnited in CompassionHolroyd High School, GreystanesAsialinkCity of Sydney VicHealthAMES AustraliaAustralian Human Rights Commission

Fiona ArmstrongLibby DaviesJanelle GouldingKelly McJannettKristy McKellar

Janine MiddletonClaire RobbsKate SwafferLyn SwinburneLucy Thomas

Founder & executive director CEOCEOCEOFamily violence and social change consultant, advocate and survivor Co-chairCEOChair, CEO & co-founderFounderCEO and co-founder

Climate and Health AllianceWhite Ribbon AustraliaCity West HousingFood LadderKM Consulting Services

Australian Marriage Equality Life Without BarriersDementia Alliance InternationalBreast Cancer Network AustraliaPROJECT ROCKIT

Melissa Abu-GazalehMarina Brizar

Caitlin FigueiredoKate FitzsimonsSylvia FreedmanMelanie HillAdriana MercadoLizzie Moroney

CEO & founderHead of Corporate and Private Client, Director of AMB FoundationAmbassador and UN Task-Force memberDirectorCo-founderNurse and midwifeTeam leader, claims assistance providerCEO & founder

Top Blokes FoundationPlayfair Visa & Migration Services

Global Resolutions and United NationsNicole Fitzsimons FoundationEndoActive Australia & NZSt Vincent's Private Hospital, MelbournePlayfair Visa & Migration ServicesThe Mto Wam Bu Project

These awards uncover thoseextraordinary women whosetireless commitment to creatingchange would have otherwiseremained unrecognised.Westpac’s Ainslie van Onselen

thought it was really important to be invest-ing in that next generation of Australians,writers and readers.

‘‘So the business was about finding newauthors, but then at the time we had startedour Good Books Doing Good Things pro-gram, investing a percentage of the revenueinto fixing the literacy gap.’’

Ms Green said it’s a common themeamong the younger generation to start busi-nesses that have an ingrained social pur-pose from the outset. It’s what Ms Meldrumcalls ‘‘profits with purpose’’ an idea awarded

by global accreditation as a B-Corporation,which Whole Kids has.

For Melissa Abu-Gazaleh, the next step increating social change is re-engaging men,and young men in particular. Ms Abu-Gazaleh, whose organisation Top BlokesFoundation works with about 1400 youngmen each year, said people used to laugh atthe idea of a girl helping men.

‘‘’You’re a girl, you should be doing thingswith girls’, they said. ‘‘I thought yes that’strue but there’s something else to it too.

‘‘It’s root cause analysis. What is the root

cause of discrimination? It’s the embeddedviews of those in power, which is typically inmost cases still men in some countries.’’

If you want to change men’s behaviour,Ms Abu-Gazaleh said, there needs to be anongoing conversation, particularly toensure young men can engage with thebroader social culture, and to change theembedded narrative.

‘‘It can’t be a one-off conversation. If youwant to change culture, it’s not about beingthe loudest voice, it’s about being the mostconsistent voice.’’