COO of Business in Heels, today she works with professional & business women to understand and articulate their value and how to make a difference in their profitability.

Kistin Gunnis has worked internationally and domestically in the Telco Industry and knows how hard it can be to succeed as a woman and on your merit. 

Kistin is passionate about supporting women to get the rewards they deserve. With over 25+years of experience within Operations Management, she has seen it all.

She is an experienced mentor working with professional women to carve out the career they desire and encouraging them to negotiate for the rewards they deserve.

In her current capacity as Broker Solutions Manager QLD, Tiana Iuvale leads a team of market-facing Account Partners and Business Relationship Partners, who are the face of the CGU brand in broker offices as far north as Cairns and as far south as Northern NSW.   Her role encompasses key metrics focused on building strong partner relationships, sustainable growth, and profitability through authentic leadership, to bring to life the IAG purpose of making our world a safer place.

After graduating with a Degree in Communication she gained leadership experience in operations, finance, project management, sales and marketing across a range of industries including advertising, retail, wholesaling and premium funding. Prior to taking on a state leadership role, Tiana gained valuable experience working as a BDM and National Key Account Manager at CGU.

As a working mother of two wonderful young gentlemen, Tiana has a deep personal interest in all aspects of diversity and inclusion.  Speaking from the heart, she is determined to share her career and life experiences truthfully and honestly in the hope of inspiring future generations of leaders to create balanced, equitable and flexible workplaces where everyone can thrive.

GAICD  Program Communications LeadProgram Communications Lead  University of Technology Sydney

I am senior business marketer with an agile and solutions-orientated approach and proven expertise in leading and delivering complex programs, events, and campaigns to effect change, build advocacy, enhance brand reputation, and generate strong ROI.

With more than 10 years’ experience in strategic communications, publishing, and brand experiences, I have a strong commercial orientation, and am adept at developing enduring and mutually rewarding relationships.

She is the Head of Corporate Sales at Medibank.  She is a self-motivated and driven Sales Leader with over 20 years of sales experience.  As an empathic leader, Natalie chooses to lead from the front and in doing so has had the opportunity to work in several industries managing diverse groups of people.  She is an example of how good leadership skills can be transferred from one industry to another and highlights the importance of an open mind.

Natalie’s great passions are personal development, constant learning and health and fitness.  She is always looking for opportunities to learn and develop both personally as well as a leader.  Her current role merges her passions and gives her the platform to engage with organisations on how best to support their employee’s health and wellbeing.

Natalie is also an active member of her community volunteering her time when she can.  She is the President of the P&F committee at Mentone Grammar where both her boys attend, and she gives her time to help develop the school community.

Parents At Work Founder and CEO Emma Walsh is recognised globally as a pioneer in the development and implementation of inclusive workplace policy. For over two decades, Emma has been a clear voice on the social, economic and business benefits of inclusive workplaces, advocating for the widespread implementation family[1] inclusive workplace policies and practices to improve gender equality, child and work-life wellbeing outcomes.

As the CEO of Parents At Work, Emma helps employers navigate the changing expectations of business to address barriers to an inclusive workplace, and to bridge the evolving work/home divide, providing the framework, tools and training to help workplaces and families build a better future together. In 2021, Emma was instrumental in developing a set of National Work + Family Standards providing employers with a benchmark to foster a family friendly culture. She led the charge in launching the Family Friendly Workplaces Certification program to recognise employers who meet the Standards.

Emma has been formally recognised by the Australian Human Rights Commission with a finalist business Award in 2015, has been shortlisted for the Telstra Business Woman of the Year and was a Winner of the Visa Business Awards. Parents At Work has also been named as a top 200 ‘Businesses of Tomorrow’ by Westpac. Emma herself is a mum of three – twin boys and a daughter. She lives in Sydney, Australia and is an author, international speaker, advocate and campaigner for improving parental leave rights for families.

SandyMcDonald.com and charity, CreateCare Global, Sandy McDonald is an author, a TEDx speaker, and a storytelling trainer, working with business and academia to improve and enhance communication through purpose-led story.

ArtWords in started out in 1992 and Twenty two years later, it had become an award-winning marketing communication solutions destination for some of Australia’s most successful enterprises. In 2008, Sandy started her first charity Knit-a-square which led to her next career. She delivered a standing ovation TEDx talk about this extraordinary adventure in 2014.

The intersection of these two experiences was to prove pivotal to the work she does now. In ArtWords, if they couldn’t get their clients clear on what they were positioning, why, and for whom, they’d failed. This became the single most important component of their work. During the formative years of Knit-a-square, they learned that online stories with a focused purpose touched lives everywhere.

They helped build a worldwide community of 20,000 people in 71 countries which is still growing. Sandy wrote the book, Get It Right Online to detail the framework for how this was achieved.

The principles that informed this govern what she did then, and still does: Clarity: getting people clear on purpose, principles, people, product, and positioning Curiosity: keeping them in pursuit of their truth Coherence: helping them articulate their purpose and brand promise truthfully and consistently. In 2012, Sandy started to coach others as a clarity guide. Soon people asked for her help to tell their stories which lead to her career today.

Stephanie Lee is an experienced professional with track record across a diverse range of industries and business contexts. Her experience in sales, business development, international business expansion and outsourcing services, particularly in the financial services, information technology, and international payment domains makes her a versatile contributor for businesses looking to start, build, and grow.

Stephanie’s experience working in different countries allow her the ability to navigate cultural differences, open doors, build relationships with stakeholders, and transformed diverse sales teams. She has networking and stakeholder management experience where she helped SME clients expand their business in and out of Asia through involvement in strategy, incorporation, outsourcing of finance, and HR functions.

Stephanie has delivered innovative and transformational technology programs to banks. Her experience working with regulators, banks and FinTech’s to rollout payment products to local markets.

Her knowledge of market dynamics and industry trends in technology and payments can provide insights to emerging technologies, consumer preferences and regulatory needs.

Stephanie’s 26 – year international corporate career experience allows her to navigate through corporate ladders and provide life experiences support for women to succeed in their careers. Her open-minded approach to continuous learning and her willingness to share her knowledge, insights, and networking make her a strong mentor to professional women.

www.linkedin.com/in/stephanieyllee

She has spent a major portion of her career life in the United Arab Emirates as a serial entrepreneur & a creative thinker. She has been contributing to the creative advertising & events technology industry for the last 23 years, with her current position as the Global Executive Vice President @option1live.

Besides her professional career, her passion for arts & craft is showcased through her brand, Candescent Art Connoisseur; an artistic candle company. Sheetal’s creative mind has helped her pave her path in the entertainment industry catering to corporates & government entities through Option 1 Group, an illustrious events technology & content company.

Being part of the founding member of this organization has helped her grow and explore her entrepreneurial skills over the past 2 decades as she actively contributed to the global growth and spearheaded several business verticals.Her passion and exposure to the knowledge and experience in the industry has motivated her to facilitate women empowerment and guide those who need a little boost to increase their confidence in being successful.

Sheetal has a knack for making meaningful connections with audiences and an insatiable appetite for helping others maximizes her potential, to rock a platform, connect with a crowd and provide guidance so that others can effectively do the same.

Sian is a regular volunteer mentor with:

• Institute of Managers and Leaders ANZ
• Business in Heels.

And is a Committee Member for Melbourne Business Network, supporting all business across Melbourne and Victoria.

Talent Development at Adobe APJ, is a strategic business executive with extensive experience creating and delivering impactful people and organisational change outcomes that build success. I have built a strong reputation for delivering value to the business with a professional approach that is commercial, creative and collaborative.

I have worked in Australia, the United Kingdom, Europe and across Asia with multi-national businesses and iconic Australian organisations.

Kylie Hull has been Head of Regional Branches for Gallagher Australia Broking operations since April 2021. Based in the regional town of Dubbo, Kylie brings not only over 30 years of insurance experience to the role but a deep understanding of the intricacies of rural broking.

Along with a strong rural background Kylie has had more than 30 years’ experience in delivering insurance solutions for a diverse range of clients. She believes that success comes from leading from the front and inspiring through example to achieve organic growth goals and client service excellence.

Kylie’s dedication, passion and results have seen her recognised by the business for key awards such as, Branch Manager of the Year for Australia in 2016 & 2019, Best Leader of the Year in 2018 and attendance at the elite Gallagher Presidents Club held in Chicago in 2019.

Professional Experience

Kylie began her career in 1988 with Commercial Union Insurance. Her roles there included claims executive and technical farm underwriter, before she made the move to a broking role in 1995.

She joined Gallagher in 2012 as Dubbo Branch Manager and was promoted to Area Director for the region in 2016. Using deep insight into what it takes to make a branch successful and working from the ground up she is dedicated to fostering an inclusive and goal-oriented culture.

Nikki Taylor is a Certified Career Transition Coach and Women’s Change Coach who is passionate about empowering women to excel in both their personal and professional lives. She is a trusted advisor who guides her clients toward self-actualization and helps them identify essential connections that lead to fulfilment.

Nikki brings a wealth of experience to every conversation, having worked with international recruiting agencies and run successful recruitment companies that have assisted individuals at all stages of their personal and professional development. She is also the founder of Nikki Taylor – Be Inspired, a coaching and unique brand empowering women to thrive offering her own label “Be Inspired”

Through Be Inspired, Nikki helps women feel empowered, capable, and worthy of achieving their dreams. She firmly believes that every individual is unique and has something special to offer the world. As the author of Be Inspired, a compilation of insights from 50 women globally, Nikki has a deep understanding of the knowledge and passion necessary to propel individuals forward.

Philanthropy and Fundraising Strategist

Known as a change maker and advocate for growing women’s philanthropy, Kimberly is a strategic thinker and communicator with executive management skills.

As CEO of The Australian Gynaecological Cancer Foundation, she is passionate about the cause and driving change. She is known as a result driven senior strategist and engagement specialist, and is an expert at driving through change by bringing all stakeholders together in positive, creative environments.

With over 30-years’ experience in fundraising, philanthropy and management, Kimberly is a recognised accomplished senior fundraising strategist with extensive experience and global voice on philanthropy in Australia. She tailors best-practice methodologies with organisational ethos and values to create a sustainable culture of philanthropy.

She has done extensive study on creating a culture of philanthropy and the motivations behind women’s giving.

She has published a research report on The Role and Influence of Women in Australian Philanthropy and is a co-author of the book Rise Above, Beyond Ordinary.

Kim has served on several NFP Boards and is currently a Co-Chair of the Australian Pituitary Foundation. She is also a specialist consultant for Giving Connect.

She has a history of presenting at EducatePlus, Fundraising and Philanthropy, Philanthropy Australia and CASE Conferences.

Linley Watson is owner and CEO of Peak Performance International and founder of REIDARTM. Over the past two decades, Linley and her team has assessed, trained, mentored, coached or advised over ten thousand leaders in a wide range of industry sectors including finance, telecommunications and professional services.

Linley has seen firsthand how the relentless demands of professional life can negatively impact people’s health and wellbeing, their relationships and their performance. That’s why she created REIDARTM Holistic Executive Coaching, to help leaders achieve success in all areas of their life.

Business leader, wife, mother of four (including triplets), walking enthusiast, aspiring yogi and Reiki practitioner are some of the roles and experiences that Linley brings to REIDARTM.

Alongside her professional qualifications that include a Bachelor of Commerce, ICF accredited Diploma in Leadership, Coaching and Mentoring, certificates in Neuro Coaching, Emotional Intelligence, Reiki Science and more, Linley has invested thousands of hours in her own personal development. Balancing her career ambitions, hectic home life and personal wellbeing has always been core to who she is.

Now Linley and her team of holistic coaches are combining their passion for coaching and energy healing to empower professionals to live a more balanced, healthy and happy life.

Aurora Sassone is the Head of Communications for Oracle ANZ, where she is responsible for the regional brand and reputation of the company.  With a unique blend of digital marketing and b2b storytelling expertise, Aurora has an impressive track record of building world-class brands and teams from fast growing start-ups to globally iconic companies.

Prior to joining Oracle, Aurora lead marketing and communications for ABB Australia Process Industries. She also spent time on the agency side at Edelman where she lead account teams for clients such as Adobe, GE and Unilever.

Aurora is a fierce advocate for diversity and inclusion, and passionate about mentoring and helping others to be successful. She is also passionate about corporate social responsibility, sustainability and the environment and regularly volunteer her time and skills to several conservation orgnaisations.