The 2014 NAB Women's Agenda Leadership Awards winners were announced. Ann Sherry AO was inducted into the Hall of Fame for her work promoting gender equality. Bridget Loudon won Emerging Entrepreneur of the Year for her business Expert360. Rachelle Towart won Emerging Leader in the Not-for-Profit sector for her work leading the Australian Indigenous Leadership Centre. Lynn Kraus won Mentor of the Year for her mentoring work at EY.

1. Media Release
3pm AEDT Thursday 6 March 2014
2014 NAB Women’s Agenda Leadership Awards
WINNERS Announced
For interviews with winners and event photos, please contact Samantha Dybac - Sammway
e: sjdybac@sammway.com.au p: +61 411 251 373
Ann Sherry AO was inducted into the NAB Women’s Agenda Leadership Awards Hall of
Fame at an awards ceremony in Sydney today, where hundreds of men and women
gathered to celebrate emerging female talent as well as those passionate about helping
women achieve.
Other category winners included EY Sydney managing partner Lynn Kraus, who was
named “Mentor of the Year”, and Sageco general manager Allison Monroe, named the
2014 “Agenda Setter”.
In the “emerging talent” categories, Bridget Loudon from Expert360 was named “Emerging
Entrepreneur of the Year”, while Matthews Folbigg Lawyers’ director Fay Calderone was
named “Emerging Leader in the Private Sector”. See below for the full list of winners and
finalists.
Former Queensland Premier and now CEO of YWCA NSW, The Hon. Anna Bligh spoke
about resilience at the event, and congratulated all the finalists on dealing with their own ups
and downs in reaching their goals.
“Coming from the tumultuous world of politics, I know how hard it is to keep going, to push
through the difficult times and dust yourself off and get back up; only to face another
stumbling bock or someone else telling you, ‘You can’t do it’”, Bligh said. “There are so
many examples of women who have forged the path that we now walk whose achievements
may not have been recognized and we salute them for their courage, their tenacity and their
resilience. I congratulate every woman who has made the short list for the awards and every
person who took the time to nominate someone they thought deserved recognition for their
achievements.”

2. Women’s Agenda received hundreds of nominations for the awards, with Editor and event
host Angela Priestley saying the calibre of entrants exceeded expectations. “Just getting to
the finalist stage is an incredible achievement given the number and quality of nominations
received.”
Major partner for the second year running, NAB, will continue its involvement with the
Women’s Agenda Leadership Awards in 2015, with Jacinta Carboon, Project Director,
Women and Money, NAB, saying: “Since launching the inaugural Awards in 2013, we have
and will continue to share with the Women’s Agenda team a passion for seeing women
succeed and helping them feel empowered economically. It is through these Awards that we
can together help unearth amazing talent, who are an inspiration to us all”.
Full List of Award categories, finalist and winners (*) (winners detailed below)
EMERGING ENTREPRENEUR of the Year
Jane Wright/ Lauren Barel, Work Dynamic
* Bridget Loudon, Expert360 (Sydney, NSW)
Lorraine Murphy, The Remarkables Group
EMERGING LEADER in the Not-for-Profit Sector
Lisa Dempster Director/CEO, Melbourne Writers Festival
Anita Peiris Program Manager, Kalparrin
* Rachelle Towart, CEO, Australian Indigenous Leadership Centre (Canberra, ACT)
EMERGING LEADER in the Private Sector
Edyta Torpy, Diversity & Inclusiveness Leader,Oceania, EY
Tharani Jegatheeswaran National Director, NFP, Deloitte
* Fay Calderone, Director, Matthewsfolbigg lawyers (Parramatta, Sydney, NSW)
REGIONAL/RURAL ENTREPRENEUR OR MANAGER of the Year
Tanya Dupagne, Camp Kulin Manager, Camp Kulin (Shire of Kulin)
Yvette Pietsch, Managing Principal, Central West, Crowe Horwath
* Zoe Waters Director, Volunteer Services, Barwon Health (Geelong, Melbourne, VIC)
AGENDA SETTER
Kate McClymont, Investigative Journalist, Fairfax
* Alison Monroe, General Manager, Sageco (Sydney, NSW)
Juliet Willetts, Research Director, Institute for Sustainable Futures at the University
ofTechnology, Sydney
Lisa Messenger Founder & Director, Renegade Collective
EMERGING LEADER in the Public Sector
Jane Polak Scowcroft Manager, Web and Social Media, James Cook University
Karen Webb Commander, State Surveillance Branch, NSW Police Force
* Michelle Bennetts Executive GM, Aviation Rescue & Fire Fighting, AirservicesAustralia
(Canberra, ACT)
BEST EMPLOYER initiative
* Caltex
Rice Warner

3. MENTOR of the Year
* Lynn Kraus Sydney Office Managing Partner, EY (Sydney, NSW)
Di Ryall Managing Director, Xplore for Success
Penny Munro Director of Allied Health, SA Health
MALE OR FEMALE CHANGE CHAMPION of the Year
David Overall Chief Executive Officer, Downer EDI Mining
Andrew Brewer Manager Kurnell Refinery, Caltex Kurnell Refinery (Sutherland Shire,
Sydney, NSW)
(highly commended)
Amanda Mostyn Group Executive Human Resources, ASX
* Carol Schwartz AM Founding Chair, Women's Leadership Institute
Australia (Melbourne, VIC)
Major event sponsor: NAB
Other event sponsors included; Audi, The Darling, Paspaley Pearls, Moet Hennessy
Australia, Revlon, My Agenda, Megan Dalla-Camina.
ENDS
For hi-res event images, Winner interviews or further information,
please contact Samantha Dybac
e: sjdybac@sammway.comn.au p: +61 411 251 373
LIST OF CATEGORIES & WINNERS WITH BRIEF DESCRIPTION
Hall of Fame Entrant
Awarded to an inspiring woman who has made a significant and long-term business
contribution
Ann Sherry, AO is a successful and highly effective business leader who has actively
promoted gender equality throughout her career. She is currently the chief executive of
Carnival Australia, the largest cruise ship operator in Australasia and prior to this spent 12
years working for Westpac.
Arriving at Westpac in the 1990s Sherry was asked by the then chief executive Bob Joss, an
American who had arrived and asked where all the women were, what could be done to
make the bank an employer of choice. Her answer was simple: offer paid maternity leave.
Less than a year later, under her leadership, Westpac did and it created a domino effect in
corporate Australia, with other big businesses racing to introduce their own policies.
Countless Australian women are indebted to Sherry for her perseverance and courage in
successfully introducing what was a bold and ambitious policy.
Taking that risk paid off as it lifted her profile within Westpac as a leader capable of driving
cultural change. She eventually became chief executive of Westpac in New Zealand where
she stayed until 2007 and commenced with Carnival Australia.
Before joining Westpac, Sherry was the First Assistant Secretary of the Office of the Status
of Women in Canberra, advising the Prime Minister on policies and programmes to improve
the status of women and was Australia’s representative to the United Nations forums on
human rights and women’s rights.
In 2004, Sherry was awarded an Order of Australia for her contribution to the Australian
community through the promotion of corporate management policies and practices that
embrace gender equity, social justice and work and family partnerships.

4. Whilst forging her own impressive corporate career Sherry has championed the importance
of gender equality.
----------
Emerging Entrepreneur of the Year Award
Awarded to a woman who has established a new business or significantly progressed an
existing business in the last 12 months
Bridget Loudon ExPERT360 was working at global management consulting firm Bain &
Company when she realised how many businesses -- of all sizes – needed to engage
expertise to complete certain projects. More often than not, finding flexible talent to provide
that expertise in house was difficult and expensive. She also noticed there was a growing
pool of quality executives who were working freelance in search of flexibility, mobility and
diversity of work. So she conceived a platform to connect the two parties safely, efficiently
and enjoyably. That platform went live in July 2013 and is now her business called
Expert360.
----------
Emerging Leader in the Not-for-Profit Sector
Awarded to an emerging leader in the not-for- profit sector who has demonstrated a positive
and measurable impact in her field of expertise
Rachelle Towart
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER, AUSTRALIAN INDIGENOUS LEADERSHIP CENTRE
Rachelle Towart is leading the Australian Indigenous Leadership Centre (AILC) to help turn
the tide of disadvantage. Since joining AILC in 2007, Towart has tripled revenue and more
than doubled the number of course places available to Indigenous people, without
compromising quality. She has developed strong partnerships with major Australian
corporations and government departments, and has leveraged those relationships to
improve governance, strategic planning and efficiency.
----------
Emerging Leader In the Private Sector
Awarded to an emerging leader in the private sector who has demonstrated a positive and
measurable impact in her field of expertise
Fay Calderone DIRECTOR, MATTHEWSFOLBIGG LAWYERS
Fay Calderone was a founding member of MatthewsFolbigg Lawyers workplace relations
team. In 2010, she was promoted to director and rebranded the practice group as
Workplace Solutions in 2013. In the same year, at the age of 35, Calderone was made one
of 10 equity directors in the business. Under her leadership the Workplace Solutions group
has experienced extraordinary organic growth, resulting in a 220% increase in top line
revenue. This is attributed to Calderone’s unique and innovative approach to managing
people, clients and budgets.
----------
Regional/Rural Entrepreneur or Manager of the Year Award
Awarded to the most inspirational and successful female entrepreneur or manager who runs
her own business or business unit in a regional or rural location, and makes a contribution to
the local community
Zoe Waters DIRECTOR, VOLUNTEER SERVICES, BARWON HEALTH
Zoe Waters has been instrumental in creating major change in the volunteer sector. The
director of volunteer services for Australia’s leading regional healthcare service, Barwon
Health, she successfully lead are brand of their volunteer program, working with a network
of 1000 volunteers who contribute the equivalent of $1.5 million in paid work. Her team
managed to recruit 220 new volunteers in 2013, most under the age of 60.

5. ----------
The Agenda Setter Award
Awarded to the most inspirational and successful woman who makes a difference, provides
real solutions in the world today and is instrumental in building a smarter planet
Alison Monroe GENERAL MANAGER, SAGECO
Alison Monroe co-founded Sageco in 2004 to redress the age balance in the workforce and
create an optimum late career and transition to retirement experience for older workers.
Monroe’s tireless efforts in the area of mature age employment have resulted in more
organisations taking action to tackle age balance in the workforce and remove barriers to
employment participation for older workers. Monroe is also the president of NSW Equal
Employment Opportunity Practitioners’ Association and a board member of HRExL.
----------
Emerging Leader in the Public Sector Award
Awarded to an emerging leader in the public sector who has demonstrated a positive and
measurable impact in her field of expertise
Michelle Bennetts
EXECUTIVE GENERAL MANAGER, AVIATION RESCUE AND FIRE FIGHTING,
AIRSERVICES AUSTRALIA
Michelle Bennetts has lead over 850 members of the ARFF group through an
unprecedented period of change. Joining the ARFF in 2012 she encountered a workforce
that was passionate but disillusioned. Since commencing the role there is now a single,
cohesive management team and staff who are engaged and committed to their organisation
and a more empowered management team. As a non-uniformed female with no fire-fighting
training or experience leading a uniformed male-dominated workforce, Bennetts established
the Operational Capability and Advisory committee to ensure members of the Air services
were able to drive initiatives and remain committed to improving the organisation.
----------
Best Employer initiative for Women Award
Awarded to the organisation that can best demonstrate how a new or reinvigorated gender
diversity initiative is supporting the recruitment, retention and advancement of women.
Caltex
Caltex introduced its Baby Care package in late 2012, which is in addition to providing three
months’ paid parental leave, which has been company policy since 2007. Caltex pays a 3%
bonus each quarter to a primary carer once they return to work up until their child’s 2nd
birthday. Employees can access five “emergency child care” sessions per annum, valued up
to $300 each. New parents are connected with external providers to help them locate
childcare before their return to work. The company also provides nursing mothers’ facilities
at key workplaces to provide privacy for employers needing to breastfeed or express milk.
----------
Male or Female Change Champion of the year Award
This Award recognises the significant contribution of a man or woman whose determination,
commitment and dedication has changed the landscape for women within their organisation
or more broadly across Australian society
Carol Schwartz AM
FOUNDING CHAIR, WOMEN’S LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE AUSTRALIA
Carol Schwartz formalised her ambitions and advocacy for Australian women through the
creation of the Women’s Leadership Institute Australia in 2010. The organisation has been
highly influential in shaping public debate as well as implementing high-level practical

6. solutions to rectify the imbalance of women in leadership positions. The Institute has
developed programs to increase the number of women on boards, boost the visibility of
women in the media, provide executive education to potential female leaders and ensure
more women are considered for honours. Schwartz continually seeks to challenge public
perceptions to raise awareness of the benefits of gender diversity in leadership.
Highly Commended Award
Andrew Brewer
MANAGER KURNELL REFINERY, CALTEX KURNELL REFINERY
Andrew Brewer is an engineer and manager who continually advocates for the success of
women at Caltex. He has actively challenged the recruitment processes to ensure female
talent is considered for all managerial positions, he sponsors several female leaders and
potential leaders and champions policies and initiatives to better support women at work. His
initiatives have tripled the number of female superintendents (mid-level supervisory level
managers) at the refinery. He is a founder and an active steward of the Kurnell Women’s
Network, which is now a vibrant and thriving support network for females on site.
----------
Mentor of the Year Award
Awarded to a woman who issuing her achievements, experience and high profile to mentor
or sponsor other women, and help more women to excel in their careers
Lynn Kraus
SYDNEY OFFICE MANAGING PARTNER, EY
As one of the most senior women within EY in Oceania Lynn Kraus is regarded as a role
model for many women inside EY and actively mentors as many up and coming females as
possible. In addition to mentoring Kraus leads by example; she is a mother of two who has
attained and maintained seniority whilst working flexibly. She is willing to share her
experiences to help women in her organisation and has been a staunch advocate of
women’s advancement in the workplace.
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Judging Panel - NAB Women’s Agenda Leadership Awards 2014
Janine Allis, Founder and Managing Director, Boost Juice Bars
Mark Britt, CEO, mi9
Jacinta Carboon, Project Director, Women and Money, NAB
Sharon Cook, Managing Partner, Henry Davis York; Chair, SCEGGS Darlinghurst
Dr Judith MacCormick, PhD, Partner, Heidrick & Struggles; Visiting Fellow, AGSM;
Chairman, Queenwood; Facilitator, Australian Institute of Company Directors
Romilly Madew, CEO, Green Building Council of Australia; Board Member, World Green
Building Council; Deputy President, Australian Sustainable Built Environment Council;
Member, National Sustainability Council Climate Futures Reference Group
Wendy McCarthy AO, Chair, headspace, Circus Oz, McGrath Estate Agents and Pacific
Friends of the Global Fund; Board Member Goodstart Early Learning Ltd; Non-Executive
Director, Bentham IMF Limited (Hall of Fame Winner 2013)
Julie McKay, Executive Director, UN Women Australia
Tara Moss, Novelist; TV Presenter; Journalist
Sam Mostyn, Non-Executive Director, Citibank Australia, Transurban, Virgin Australia; Board
member, Diversity Council of Australia, Australia Council for the Arts, Sydney Theatre
Company, Australian Volunteers International; Member, National Sustainability Council;
Commissioner, National Mental Health Commission, Australian Football League
Carol Schwartz AM, Founding Chair, Women’s Leadership Institute Australia; Non-Executive
Director, Qualitas, Yarra Capital Partners; Founder, Trawalla Foundation, Chairman Our
Community

7. Nareen Young, Australian Employment/Governance Diversity Leader; Board Member,
Netball Australia, Indigenous Business Australia, Institute for Cultural Diversity
Peter Strong, Executive Director, Council of Small Business of Australia
Women’s Agenda is the digital destination for career-minded women, where women (and
men) help women achieve. We support women in business, women on boards, women in
media, women in leadership and all aspirational women in the workplace.
Editor, Women’s Agenda, Angela Priestley
http://www.womensagenda.com.au
Women’s Agenda is a digital publication of Australia’s leading independent digital publisher,
Private Media.
http://www.privatemedia.com.au
CEO Marina Go
Chairman Eric Beecher