Impact | Influence | Inspire As we celebrate 20 years of Women on Boards in 2026, we are proud to launch a new podcast and vodcast series - 20 Years of Women on Boards. This series captures the story behind the movement; how it started, the challenges along the way, and the impact it has had on boardrooms across Australia and beyond. Delivered as both a podcast and vodcast, the series allows you to listen on the go or watch the conversations as they unfold, bringing the voices, stories and insights of our community to life. Across 2026, we will release a collection of episodes featuring our founders, key contributors and long-standing members. Together, they will reflect on the evolution of Women on Boards, the progress made, and the work still to be done. The series will explore: • The origins of Women on Boards and why it was needed. • The introduction of the 40:40:20 framework and its influence. • The role of research, including the Board Diversity Index, in driving accountability. • The lived experiences of members who have built board careers over the past two decades. • The future of governance, diversity and leadership. Visit our website www.womeonboards.net Watch the Vodcast at https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLaYKLvbTeR00Oj3GqMWbjEDcID1YevTVW
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August 24, 2026Episode 1718 min
E17: Kerry Skellern OAM: Engineering a Board Career and Making a Difference
Chemical engineer and experienced director Kerry Skellern OAM has built a board career spanning infrastructure, financial services, housing and community organisations. In this episode of the 20 Years of Women on Boards podcast, Kerry joins Claire Braund to discuss how her technical background has shaped her approach to governance and why boards benefit from a broader mix of professional perspectives. Kerry's executive career included roles with ICI, James Hardie, CSR and GE, often in heavily male-dominated environments. It taught her the importance of speaking up and being prepared to make a point more than once. Her first board roles provided an opportunity to develop her governance experience while contributing to organisations making a difference in their communities. Today, she sits on the board of ASX-listed Fiducian Group and is a Chair with Vistage. Her pathway has not always been predictable. Kerry became the first female president in the 92-year history of her golf club, a role that ultimately led to connections that helped open the door to further board opportunities. For engineers and scientists who question whether their technical background is relevant to boards, Kerry's advice is clear: "Question that assumption." A Women on Boards member for almost 20 years, Kerry also reflects on the importance of maintaining momentum on board diversity and continuing to build the pipeline of women ready for senior leadership and board roles. Asked to describe her journey in three words, Kerry chose: Diverse. Rewarding. Unexpected. Kerrie Skellern OAM Claire Braund OAM Join or learn more about Women on Boards
August 17, 2026Episode 1632 min
E16 | Joanna Brand: From Brazil to Boards to Bitcoin
Senior executive, lawyer, company secretary and experienced director Joanna Brand has built a career across corporate governance, capital markets, infrastructure, energy, aviation and the arts. In this episode of the 20 Years of Women on Boards podcast, Joanna joins Women on Boards CEO and Co-founder Claire Braundd OAM to reflect on the experiences that shaped her career, the value of curiosity and adaptability, and the governance challenges boards cannot afford to underestimate. Born in Brazil, Joanna spent her early childhood moving between Trinidad, the United States, the Netherlands and Australia before returning to the US alone at 17. She credits this international upbringing with building the resilience and adaptability that have remained central throughout her career. Her father's strong belief in education also had a lasting influence. Joanna went on to study commerce and law at the University of Melbourne, arts and political science at Duke University and law at Harvard. While learning has always supported her career, Joanna says curiosity is also deeply personal. "I am an intensely curious person. I get bored really easily, so I read a lot and I go to a lot of CPDs and I'm always thinking about what course I can sign up for." Joanna's executive career has taken her across banking, energy, retail and aviation, including senior legal and governance roles in complex, highly regulated organisations. She describes her preferred roles as 'T-shaped': positions that combine deep functional expertise with the opportunity to contribute across the whole business. At Jetstar, being part of the executive team meant having a view not only on legal and governance matters, but also on issues such as aircraft interiors, catering and operational crises. Her career has included helping complete a NASDAQ listing, selling a bank, responding to regulatory investigations and working across multiple jurisdictions. Yet one of the achievements she values most is the impact she has had on people. During a Powerlink board exercise, fellow directors were asked to identify each other's 'superpower'. Every response Joanna received focused on the genuine care she showed for people across the organisation. "If that is what people take away from working with me, I'm super happy with that." Joanna also offers a practical perspective on the evolving role of the company secretary. While the position can include a great deal of administration, she believes its strategic importance is often underestimated. Company secretaries work closely with chairs and directors, observe board dynamics and play an increasingly pivotal role as governance, risk, cyber, artificial intelligence and ESG converge. That intersection is particularly important in fast-moving sectors where there is no established governance playbook. Joanna shares lessons from her time at IREN, a renewable energy-powered data centre business that began in Bitcoin mining before expanding into AI computing. She explains that emerging industries can face additional complexity because regulators, investors and service providers may not fully understand the business model. Governance systems must therefore evolve quickly while the organisation continues to operate and grow. Looking ahead, Joanna believes boards are still underestimating the scale and speed of change that artificial intelligence will bring. Rather than maintaining a separate AI strategy, she argues that boards must consider how AI supports the organisation's core objectives, how returns will be measured, what the organisation's risk appetite is and when decisions should be escalated from technology to people. She also cautions that the human impact of AI will be critical. "How your organisation does with AI will be made or broken around that human engagement with your staff and your employees." A long-time Women on Boards member and participant in the Next Generation of Female Leaders program, Joanna also reflects on the importance of networks and community throughout a board career. One piece of advice has stayed with her: "It's not who you know, it's who knows you and what you want to do." As technology becomes an even greater part of professional life, Joanna believes these human connections will become more valuable, not less. Asked to describe her journey in three words, Joanna chose: Resilient. Adaptable. Curious. Learn more about Women on Boards www.womenonboards.net
August 10, 2026Episode 1527 min
E15 | Helga Svendsen OAM — Stronger Together
In this episode of 20 Years of Women on Boards: Inspire | Influence | Impact , host Claire Braund sits down with Helga Svendsen OAM, facilitator, leadership and executive coach, non-executive director and podcaster, for a conversation that traces a career built on empowering people. Helga takes us from her formative years in a close-knit Melbourne community, through leadership roles in government and as CEO of the Hotham Mission Asylum Seeker Project, to building an extensive board portfolio across health, government and the not-for-profit sector. She shares how the Williamson Community Leadership Program shaped her network for life, and the biggest misconception people have about landing their first board seat. She also opens up on why she believes "brain space" - long hikes with no phone, no podcasts, just thinking time - is part of a director's duty of care, and where she thinks boards need to go next on diversity, equity and inclusion. Helga closes with a message to Claire Braund and Ruth: thank you for the advocacy, the community, and a jobs board she calls "the best one out there" . All of it, she says, has made her feel "supported and seen." Asked to sum up her 20-year journey in a few words, Helga doesn't hesitate: stronger together. Connect with Helga: linkedin.com/in/helgasvendsen Connect with Claire: linkedin.com/in/claire-braund
August 3, 2026Episode 1428 min
E14 | Robin Buckham's Unexpected Path to the Boardroom
What do steelmaking, universities, ports, family businesses, cemeteries and rowing have in common? For experienced chair and non-executive director Robin Buckham , they've all played a role in shaping a remarkable governance career built on curiosity, transformation and making a meaningful contribution. In the latest episode of the 20 Years of Women on Boards podcast, Robin reflects on a career that has never followed a conventional path. From an Arts degree and teaching, she unexpectedly found herself leading a major steel manufacturing business before moving into senior executive roles in higher education and, ultimately, a portfolio of board positions across the public, private and not-for-profit sectors. Rather than carefully planning every career move, Robin describes her journey as one shaped by opportunity, curiosity and a willingness to say yes. She believes careers often only make sense when viewed in hindsight, with each experience building the skills and confidence needed for the next challenge. Throughout the conversation, Robin shares practical insights on board leadership, succession planning and strategy. She argues that one of the biggest mistakes boards make is becoming distracted by the latest trend instead of maintaining focus on long-term strategic priorities. Whether discussing AI, financial performance or organisational transformation, she believes boards must continually ask the right questions while remaining grounded in their purpose. Looking back on her own governance journey, Robin says Women on Boards has played an important role by providing a practical, supportive community where aspiring and experienced directors learn from one another. She describes WOB as professional, realistic and refreshingly down-to-earth, helping women understand that successful board careers are built over time rather than achieved overnight. As Women on Boards celebrates its 20th anniversary, Robin believes the next frontier for governance is broader diversity around the board table. While significant progress has been made in increasing the representation of women, she argues boards should continue expanding opportunities for people from different cultural backgrounds, regions and lived experiences, recognising that stronger governance comes from hearing a wider range of voices. For Robin, the past two decades can be summed up in three words: diverse, fulfilling and useful —a fitting reflection on a career dedicated to making organisations stronger and leaving every board better than she found it. >> Learn more about Women on Boards
July 27, 2026Episode 1319 min
E13 | From Opera to the Boardroom: Ditta Zizi's Governance Journey
In this Episode, Claire Braund OAM sits down with long-term Women on Boards member Ditta Zizi —corporate governance strategist, arts leader, opera-trained singer and experienced non-executive director—to explore the experiences that have shaped her unique governance career. Drawing on senior executive roles with Airservices Australia, the Department of Industry and the Department of Education and Training, together with board appointments across the arts and cultural sectors, Ditta shares why the fundamentals of good governance remain the same regardless of whether you're serving on a commercial, government or not-for-profit board. She reflects on leadership, risk management, stakeholder engagement and what she learned navigating governance during the Global Financial Crisis and through her work on international OECD committees. A passionate advocate for music, Ditta also explains how music develops empathy, teamwork and communication—qualities that are just as valuable in the boardroom as they are on the stage. Reflecting on her long association with Women on Boards, Ditta describes WOB as an advocate, a reality check and a trusted source of advice. She speaks candidly about the value of receiving honest feedback from Ruth Medd—even when it was difficult to hear—and why organisations that champion women in leadership remain as important today as they were 20 years ago. She also acknowledges Claire Braund and Ruth Medd for building a community that advocates for women, provides practical support and offers honest feedback that helps members grow as directors. When asked to sum up her board journey in just three words, Ditta's answer perfectly captures the reality of a governance career: 'Challenging, but fun.' Listen now to hear Ditta's thoughtful reflections on governance, leadership, lifelong learning and building a meaningful portfolio career. Learn more about Women on Boards
July 21, 2026Episode 1231 min
E12 | Andrea Staines on Building a Board Career That Lasts - Professional Diversity, Personal Flexibility
Most directors focus on securing their first board appointment. Andrea Staines OAM took a different approach. Nearly 20 years ago, she made the deliberate decision to build a portfolio career as a full-time non-executive director, long before it became a recognised career path. Today, Andrea is regarded as one of Australia's pioneers of the professional portfolio director, serving across transport, infrastructure and retail while continually evolving her career. Speaking on the latest 20 Years of Women on Boards podcast, she shares the principles that have guided her journey. One of Andrea's strongest messages is that directors need to manage their careers with the same discipline they would apply to running a business. " You have to think of yourself as a business," she says. That means continually building your network, keeping your profile current, investing in your professional development and always looking ahead to the next opportunity. Building a board portfolio doesn't stop once you've secured your first appointment, it requires ongoing business development and a clear understanding of the value you bring. Rather than pursuing every opportunity, Andrea carefully identified where her executive experience would have the greatest impact. She deliberately built a portfolio across transport, infrastructure and retail services, creating diversity while staying true to her expertise. Perhaps her most memorable observation is that the greatest rewards of board work aren't financial. "Don't do board work for the money. If you want the money, stay as an executive." Instead, she believes board careers offer something far more valuable: professional diversity, personal flexibility and the opportunity to keep learning. After nearly two decades in the boardroom, Andrea's message is simple. A successful board career isn't built on a single appointment, it's built through continuous learning, thoughtful choices and a willingness to keep evolving. Learn more about womenonboards Host: Claire Braund OAM Guest: Andrea Staines OAM
July 13, 2026Episode 1136 min
E11 | Chris Franks AM: Governance with Purpose
What does great governance look like after more than two decades in the boardroom? In this episode of 20 Years of Women on Boards – Inspire | Influence | Impact , Claire Braund speaks with Chris Franks AM, an accomplished non-executive director whose governance career spans mutuals, financial services, international development, health and the not-for-profit sector. Chris reflects on an extraordinary career journey from nursing to research, international development and some of Australia's leading member-owned organisations. She shares how purpose has shaped every board appointment, why strong chairs matter more than ever, and why board performance and accountability remain among governance's biggest challenges. They also discuss: • Building a purpose-driven board career • The evolution of governance over the past 25 years • Why women have transformed the boardroom • The importance of board evaluations and performance • Leadership, culture and organisational purpose • Advice for aspiring directors Whether you're beginning your board journey or are an experienced director, this conversation offers practical insights into effective governance and values-led leadership. >> Learn more about Women on Boards
July 6, 2026Episode 1030 min
E10 | Toni Brendish FAICD: From CEO to Chair – Building a Purposeful Board Career
How do you successfully transition from leading global businesses to building a rewarding portfolio career in the boardroom? In this episode of the 20 Years of Women on Boards – Inspire | Influence | Impact podcast, Claire Braund OAM speaks with Toni Brendish FAICD about the experiences, decisions and leadership lessons that have shaped her journey from CEO to Chair and Non-Executive Director. Toni reflects on an adventurous childhood spent in remote Australia and Papua New Guinea, explaining how resilience, independence and adapting to change became the foundations of her leadership style. She also shares how an unexpected graduate role at Unilever launched a distinguished executive career spanning Australia, New Zealand, Asia and Europe with global organisations including Danone, Coca-Cola, Colgate-Palmolive and Kimberly-Clark. Now Chair of Fresh Produce Group and a Non-Executive Director of Cobram Estate Olives, Prolife Foods and Clover Corporation, Toni discusses the deliberate planning behind her transition into the boardroom, why purpose and values have always guided her career, and what executives should consider when preparing for their own portfolio careers. From building high-performing teams and leading business transformation to embracing new opportunities and preparing for a second career, this engaging conversation offers practical insights for aspiring and experienced directors. If you're thinking about your own board journey or curious about boards, Toni's story will leave you inspired to plan ahead, back yourself and lead with purpose. Visit www.womenonboards.net LinkedIn Facebook
June 29, 2026Episode 929 min
E9 | Victoria Weekes on Building a Meaningful Board Career: Adventure, Courage and Joy
What does it take to build a successful board career that spans healthcare, financial services, housing, agriculture and listed companies? For experienced non-executive director Victoria Weekes, it starts with being willing to learn, embracing uncertainty and remembering that board service is about purpose, not prestige. In the latest episode of the 20 Years of Women on Boards podcast, Victoria joins Women on Boards CEO and Co-founder Claire BraundOAM to reflect on her remarkable governance journey, from her first board appointment in 2008 to a portfolio spanning some of Australia's leading organisations. Drawing on an executive career in banking and financial services, Victoria explains that her move into the boardroom wasn't driven by a desire to leave executive leadership behind. Instead, she wanted broader impact across different sectors while applying her governance and risk expertise to organisations facing complex strategic challenges. One of her earliest board appointments, Cure Brain Cancer Foundation, proved transformational. Beyond strengthening governance in a growing organisation, it reinforced the importance of deeply understanding an organisation's purpose and the sector it serves. "You really have to understand both an organisation, its purpose and deeply understand what it does." Throughout the conversation, Victoria shares practical insights for aspiring and experienced directors alike. She encourages directors to plan their board careers deliberately while remaining open to unexpected opportunities, acknowledging that even the best-laid plans often take unexpected turns. She also challenges the perception that board careers are glamorous. "Sometimes it's just a long, hard slog. Things always happen a little slower than you think." Reflecting on board effectiveness, Victoria believes the best boards are characterised by trust, respect and the ability to come together during periods of uncertainty. In times of crisis, successful boards remain cohesive, have difficult conversations respectfully and keep their focus firmly on the organisation's long-term interests. She also offers an insightful perspective on board culture, suggesting that warning signs are often found in seemingly small behaviours rather than major governance failures. Respectful interactions, strong board hygiene, timely information and directors who genuinely identify with the organisation all contribute to healthy governance. As a long-time advocate for gender equality and one of the founders of the Australian Gender Equality Council, Victoria reflects on the significant progress women have made in Australian boardrooms while cautioning against complacency. Although female representation has improved considerably over the past two decades, she believes true success will only come when diversity extends beyond gender to include cultural diversity, age and broader lived experience. Looking ahead, Victoria sees the next frontier as increasing the number of women board chairs, expanding diversity across all sectors and continuing to create pathways for the next generation of directors. Having been a Women on Boards member since 2008, Victoria credits the organisation with providing not only practical support and board opportunities, but also a community of women travelling similar governance journeys. Asked to describe her own board career in just three words, Victoria chose: Adventure. Courage. Joy. Those three words capture not only her own experience, but also the spirit of a governance career built on curiosity, resilience and a genuine commitment to making organisations stronger.
June 22, 2026Episode 827 min
E8 | Dr Bronwyn Evans AM: Engineering Intelligence, Leadership and the Boardroom
Inspire | Influence | Impact As Engineers Australia celebrates International Women in Engineering Day under the theme Engineering Intelligence , our latest 20 Years of Women on Boards podcast with Dr Bronwyn Evans AM provides a powerful reminder that engineering is about far more than technology. One of Australia's most respected engineers, Bronwyn was the first female CEO of both Engineers Australia and Standards Australia, has held senior executive roles at Cochlear and GE Healthcare, and now serves as a non-executive director across a range of sectors. She is also a long-standing Women on Boards member. In conversation with Claire Braund, Bronwyn reflects on a career shaped by curiosity, pragmatism and a willingness to seize opportunities. Growing up in Wollongong during a period of significant industrial growth, she developed an appreciation for practical problem-solving, multicultural collaboration and the belief that education could create opportunities regardless of background. A recurring theme throughout the discussion is the value engineers bring to leadership and governance. Bronwyn believes engineers are uniquely equipped for board roles because of their systems thinking, ability to understand complex problems and disciplined approach to decision-making. While engineers are often associated with technical expertise, she notes that many progress into executive leadership, strategy, operations and transformation roles, making them valuable contributors in the boardroom. The conversation also explores the evolution of technology, from punch-card programming and early automation systems through to today's AI-enabled world. Having completed a PhD in real-time robotic control systems, Bronwyn reflects on how rapidly technology has evolved and why engineers must continue to adapt and embrace new tools while maintaining a focus on solving meaningful problems. As discussions around artificial intelligence continue to dominate board and executive agendas, Bronwyn offers a thoughtful perspective on both the opportunities and challenges ahead. She highlights the importance of maintaining trust, integrity and standards while recognising that AI will continue to reshape how organisations operate and innovate. Bronwyn also reflects on the important role Women on Boards has played throughout her governance journey. Having joined WOB in 2007 while working at Cochlear, she describes the organisation as an egalitarian community where women can test ideas, learn from one another and access opportunities. She recalls the influence of early WOB conferences and the insights gained from global discussions about increasing women's representation on boards. Looking to the future, Bronwyn sees the next challenge as increasing diversity in all its forms, including bringing younger women, culturally diverse women and more engineers into boardrooms. Her message is clear: diverse perspectives lead to better thinking, better governance and better outcomes. Asked to summarise her journey over the past two decades, Bronwyn chose three words: opportunistic, enjoyable and learning. They are fitting reflections from a leader who has spent her career embracing new challenges, championing engineering and helping create pathways for future generations of women leaders. Learn more about Women on Boards
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