We inspire leaders

We’re a highly skilled team drawn from a wide range of backgrounds. Working both within Australia and globally, we bring deep experience and expertise in high-level strategic consulting and transformation, particularly in the areas of gender equality, diversity and cultural renewal. We step up beside courageous leaders as they build the organisations of the future.

Our rigorous approach shifts whole system thinking to achieve:

• Sustainable organisational change,
• Social innovation,
• Government policy development and implementation, and
• Human rights based approaches.

We have a strong track record, influencing and supporting leaders across many sectors including the military, police, private corporations, professional services, academia, government, and sport.

Working in unique and complex environments (often male dominated), we inspire action at the highest levels by taking personal stories to the heart of power.

We listen to learn. We build a momentum for change. We establish deep relationships and create environments for new ideas. We pave the way for lasting cultural change. We challenge established norms. We inspire leaders to take action, combining powerful advocacy with a thorough understanding of their perspective. We understand that the collective is greater than the individual. We use our networks to influence and connect powerful, decent women and men.

Who we are

Elizabeth Broderick AO – Principal

 Elizabeth has brought together captains of industry, sport, governments and Defence Force chiefs to address gender inequality in Australia and beyond.

As Australia’s longest serving Sex Discrimination Commissioner (2007-2015), Elizabeth worked tirelessly to break down structural and social barriers faced by women and men, and to promote gender equality.

Her review into the treatment of women in the Australian Defence Force led to sweeping cultural reforms.

She established and convenes the globally recognised ‘Male Champions of Change’ strategy, enlisting a ‘who’s who’ of powerful male leaders to tackle workplace gender inequality. She is a powerful and influential voice in the struggle for gender equality, enlisting both women and men as agents of change.

In 2017 Elizabeth was appointed by the United Nations in Geneva as a Special Mandate Holder and Independent Expert on Discrimination against Women.

She is a member of the Council of the Order of Australia and in 2016 Elizabeth was appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia and was named 2016 NSW Australian of the Year.

She is an Honorary Fellow of the Australian Academy of Technology and Engineering and holds Honorary Doctorates of Law from the University of Sydney, University of New South Wales and University of Technology Sydney and Honorary Doctorates from Deakin, Edith Cowan and Griffith Universities.

Lynette Garrick – Director, Operations

Lynette brings to the team her extensive experience in managing business operations across a diverse range of settings and industries. With a background in accounting she has worked in the financial services industry, the not for- profit sector, with the School of Medical Sciences at UNSW, and more recently at the Australian Human Rights Commission. Before this, Lynette ran her own small business for 10 years.

In 2011, she began working with Elizabeth Broderick – the then Sex Discrimination Commissioner. Over this time, she was responsible for overseeing the logistics of a highly functioning, fast paced and effective team.

Alexandra Shehadie – Director, Projects

Alex brings to the team her considerable experience leading major projects that have resulted in key reforms across a range of areas. She led the team at the Australian Human Rights Commission (supporting Sex Discrimination Commissioner, Elizabeth Broderick), which examined the treatment of women in the Australian Defence Force (ADF). This work led to a major reform program for Australia’s military, and Alex assisted the ADF to embed this cultural reform across the organisation. Alex has worked with NATO on a multinational project on women, peace and security.

In previous roles, Alex has led significant social policy projects on domestic violence, crime prevention, suicide, advocacy for children and young people, juvenile justice, imprisonment, and Aboriginal affairs. She developed key strategic policies for government and other key stakeholders.

In 2014, Alex was named one of Westpac and the Australian Financial Review’s ‘100 Women of Influence’.

Dr Darren Saunders – Senior Research Advisor

Darren contributes to the team with his expertise in working in the university sector. Darren heads specific university work utilising his unique interpersonal skill set as a senior research advisor and has been influential in shaping project work.

Darren Saunders is a cancer biologist and Associate Professor in the School of Medical Sciences at UNSW Sydney. He holds a BSc(hons) and PhD from the University of Wollongong, and undertook post-doctoral training at the Garvan Institute and University of British Columbia.

Darren received an Australian Leadership Award and NSW Life Scientist Research Award, and has held fellowships from the US Dept. of Defense and Cancer Institute NSW.

Darren is resident scientist on ABC TV’s The Drum and regular science correspondent on ABC radio. He writes for ABC Online, The Conversation, and New Scientist. Darren is the Secretary of Science and Technology Australia, and was a founding member and deputy chair of the Australian Academy of Science Early-Mid Career Researcher Forum.