Women in Leadership Summit 2025: Banking & Financial Services

Reflect on yesterday’s insights and get ready to connect with a diverse group of peers from various industries, unlocking even more opportunities for learning, networking, and meaningful connections.

All too often people wait to be pushed for promotion, pay rise or another life change. Self-empowered people take control of their own lives by setting goals and taking actionable steps towards them. Megan is a career firefighter that has risen through the ranks and overcome numerous challenges in her career. Not allowing herself to be led into traditional roles, hear how Megan has learnt to carve her own pathway as a senior officer and executive. 

- Feel empowered to drive your own career path 

- Recognise your points of difference

- Get tangible tools to build your confidence

Organisations everywhere are navigating periods of disruption and uncertainty, calling for a new style of leadership. In this session, Rowenna will focus on the importance of authenticity and share insights from challenging times in her career, including the Global Financial Crisis and COVID-19. She’ll discuss the need to adapt, recognize emerging opportunities, and how she has harnessed uncertainty to strengthen her own resilience and that of her team.

- Adapting your leadership and working style 

- Embracing authentic leadership 

- Developing personal and team resilience amidst challenges

Mix and mingle with your fellow leaders over a cup of coffee and light refreshments.

In an ever-changing world of work, resilient leadership is essential for navigating challenges and driving innovation. In this session, Liz explores strategies to build personal resilience as a leader while fostering resilient teams that thrive under pressure. Learn how great leadership inspires teams to create better solutions by cultivating adaptability, emotional intelligence, and a culture of support.

- Discover techniques to enhance personal resilience and stay grounded during adversity

- Learn how to empower teams to adapt and maintain high performance in times of uncertainty

- Build a culture of psychological safety and trust to inspire collaborative, solution-focused mindsets

The world of work looks vastly different to how it did a decade ago. Places, spaces and working patterns vary from person to person and with increased diagnoses of neurodivergent employees, organisations need to create an environment that helps each person thrive. In this session, join Lisa as she shares the innovative outlook she's placing on global workplaces.

- Gain insight into the impact of the right workspace on performance and innovation

- Understand individual differences in working preferences for your team

- Recognise your personal working needs and prioritise your wellbeing

Enjoy a midday lunch break. A time to refresh, refuel, and prepare for a full afternoon of immersive learning and inspiration.

Team members with different backgrounds, talents and experiences can add more value to tackling business challenges with innovation, resilience, and sustainable growth. Join us for this panel discussion as we delve into how a variety of perspectives strengthens problem-solving, encourages creativity, and enhances decision-making across industries. 

- Identify the role you can play in creating diversity of thought in your team

- Celebrate individual differences and create an environment of psychological safety

- Learn about others experiences and backgrounds with curiosity

Sally Connell is the Chief Transformation & People Officer at Foxtel Group, where she has led transformative cultural and operational changes since 2017. With over 20 years of experience across industries such as media, telecom, and professional services, she is known for driving large-scale workforce transformations. Join Sally for this session as she shares how she advocates for values-led leadership and a focus on employee wellness, inclusion, and sustainability throughout transformation.

- Learn strategies to spearhead major transformation across different industries

- Lead change that delivers tangible results

- Celebrate the people at the heart of disruption and innovation

A quick break to refresh and continue building your network with fellow leaders. Enjoy a light refreshment before finishing day one.

Unconscious bias subtly shapes decision-making and problem-solving, often leading to missed opportunities and costly errors. In this session, Dr Karen Whittingham shares frameworks like Edward de Bono's Six Thinking Hats and SWOT analysis to counteract biases, and uncovers six common decision traps while discovering practical strategies to mitigate their impact.

- Uncover diverse perspectives and reduce bias in problem-solving

- Implement strategies to promote critical thinking, such as reframing questions and testing assumptions

- Challenge biases and enhance collaborative decision-making

Join us for our end of day networking. Enjoy canapés and drinks whilst getting to know your peers further, build ongoing relationships, and share your highlights of the day.

We're back! Another day and a whole lot more learning to come - time to check back in with your fellow leaders.

Tick off any goals you've scored so far, develop an implementation plan for your new goals and set yourself up for another exciting day!

Christina, a visionary leader with over two decades of experience in driving organisational transformation, is renowned for her work in creating inclusive cultures and operational excellence. In this session, Christina will share her expertise on leading change, emphasizing the importance of agility, innovation, and people-centric leadership in today’s fast-paced business environment. Drawing from her extensive career in tech, she will offer actionable strategies to inspire leadership resilience and support diverse, high-performing teams.

- Reflections on the leadership journey of a C-Suite leader

- Embrace flexibility and agility to adapt to new technology

- Support others to navigate change

When people feel psychologically safe they are more creative, honest, and accountable. As leaders it's our responsibility to provide an environment that's free from blame and criticism to allow people to thrive. In this session, Nic shares how she prioritises psychological health and safety for her team and encourages them to speak out.

- Create meaningful connections to foster trust

- Improve innovation by instilling confidence to take risks

- Reduce burnout by removing emotional load

Mix and mingle with your fellow leaders over a cup of coffee and light refreshments.

The inner critic is an internal voice that often highlights our perceived flaws and shortcomings, acting as both a source of self-doubt and a potential motivator. In this session, Kylie challenges the conventional idea of silencing the inner critic, instead exploring its potential to drive growth and self-awareness.

- Understand how the inner critic can serve as both a motivator and a barrier

- Learn strategies to reframe negative self-talk into constructive dialogue

- Gain practical tools to balance self-assessment with self-compassion

Gone is the 9-5, Monday-Friday working week. People's lives are changing and therefore people's needs are different when it comes to working. Traditionally people have been forced to fit in with mainstream working structures but the organisations with the most engaged and productive workforces are the ones with leaders who are reimagining what work means to people. In this session, Jodi shares her passion for thinking creatively and finding better solutions that support her people.

- Think outside the box to challenge norms

- Put people at the forefront of your business solutions

- Balance your peoples and the businesses needs

Enjoy a midday lunch break. A time to refresh, refuel, and prepare for a full afternoon of immersive learning and inspiration.

Whether you're an intern or the CEO at a company, it's vital that you understand working relationships and can identify the power dynamics at play. Being able to navigate power structures can give you influence over others and helps to get projects over the line, ensures your voice is heard in meetings, and reduces the chance of conflict. In this panel session we discuss the move away from traditional hierarchy and how to navigate relationship dynamics.

- Identify different types of relationships at work

- Explore hierarchical vs matrix structures and the considerations for both types of organisation

- Gain strategies for mastering relationships and navigating complexities

A quick break to refresh and continue building your network with fellow leaders. Enjoy a light refreshment before finishing day one.

Traditional leadership styles often fall short of addressing the complexities of today’s modern workforce. As the needs of the workforce change, so must the style of the leaders. In this session, Liana shares her fresh approach which helps her create an environment of innovation, creativity and high performance.

- Embrace forward thinking leadership practices

- Inspire and engage your team for better results

- Break free from outdated management models

We wrap up our two days of insight and inspiration with this interactive roundtable session. This is your chance to table any topic or trend for a final group discussion. Network with your peers, reflect on your journey so far and create an action plan to carry you forward!

- Reflect on your key takeaways from the Summit

- Identify opportunities for career progression and growth

- Create an action plan for your leadership journey

In this foundational coaching session, you’ll refine your leadership approach and build the confidence to lead with purpose. Explore key leadership principles and learn to identify your unique strengths as a leader. With tailored guidance, you’ll develop actionable strategies to inspire your team, drive performance, and make a lasting impact in your organisation.

Effective leadership starts with powerful communication. This session focuses on sharpening your ability to convey ideas clearly, build trust, and engage diverse audiences. Learn techniques to enhance your influence, navigate challenging conversations, and foster collaboration – ensuring your message resonates and drives action.

Equip yourself with the skills to make smarter, faster decisions under pressure. This session will strengthen your ability to analyse complex challenges, think strategically, and approach problems with clarity. Develop practical frameworks to evaluate options, weigh risks, and deliver solutions that create measurable results.