Our expertise is workplace culture

We provide high-level strategic analysis, assessment, advice, and planning to organisations that wish to transform and strengthen their practices and workplace culture, particularly in the areas of equality, inclusion and diversity. We step up beside courageous leaders, and their employees, as they build the organisations of the future.

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

We have a strong track record of success, supporting leaders and their employees across a host of sectors, including the military, police, private corporations, professional services, academia, government, the arts, and sport.

Our highly skilled team, with a wide range of backgrounds and deep experience, consult in Australia and globally.

Through our rigorous, proven approach, we have repeatedly shifted whole system thinking to achieve:

sustainable organisational change;
workplace social innovation;
government policy development and implementation; and
human rights based approaches.

We listen to learn. We build 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 action, combining powerful advocacy with a thorough understanding and a deeply informed perspective. We understand that the collective is greater than the individual.

Liz Broderick at Woollahra
/photo Rick Stevens 20220223

Elizabeth Broderick

Who we are

Elizabeth Broderick AO – Founder & Principal

Elizabeth is a globally acknowledged leader, social innovator and advocate who has delivered major change initiatives in complex political, social and organizational environments including in government, private sector, academic, military and community sectors.

A former Australian Sex Discrimination Commissioner (2007-2015), Elizabeth has worked to break down structural and systemic barriers faced by women and men, and to promote gender equality in all aspects of society.

As principal of Elizabeth Broderick & Co. she has led significant reviews of workplace culture in global organisations across the private, public and NGO sectors.

She established and convenes the ‘Champions of Change’ coalition, a strategy engaging over 260 CEOs and their organisations to lead on diversity, equity and inclusion.

From 2017 – 2023, Elizabeth was a United Nations Special Rapporteur and Independent Expert on discrimination against women and girls, leading UN country missions in all regions of the world and engaging with nation states to lift the status of women and girls globally.

In 2016, Elizabeth was appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia and was named 2016 NSW Australian of the Year.

She has qualifications in computer science and law and has been awarded seven Doctorates of Law (Honoris causa) for her contributions to business and human rights.

Somali Cerise

Somali Cerise – Partner

Somali Cerise is a gender equality and human rights expert with 20 years’ experience leading initiatives across Australia and globally. She has a track record of designing innovative tools and influencing change at the highest levels. She has been responsible for several major global gender equality initiatives, including the OECD Social Institutions and Gender Index, UN Women’s global report on gender equality and the Sustainable Development Goals, and the UN Secretary General’s 20 and 25-year review of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action.

In 2021, Somali led the team at the Australian Human Rights Commission conducting the Independent Review into Commonwealth Parliamentary Workplaces. She currently works on a range of gender equality initiatives with EB & Co., UN Women, and the University of Sydney. With EB & Co she has been involved in cultural reviews across several sectors including mining, professional services, aviation and the university sector.

Somali is on the advisory committee for the National Women’s Safety Alliance and a board member of ACON. She is an Honorary Associate Professor at the Australian National University with the Gender Institute.

Darren Saunders

Darren Saunders – Senior Research Consultant

Darren is a Eureka Prize winning scientist, with over 20 years experience in cancer biology and neuroscience in Australia and North America. He is the NSW Deputy Chief Scientist & Engineer and Executive Director of the Office of the NSW Deputy Chief Scientist & Engineer, leading independent scientific reviews for the NSW Government.

Darren has worked with EB&Co since 2017 as a senior research advisor and data expert on numerous reviews into workplace culture, harmful behaviours and systemic discrimination in the mining, aviation, education, arts and law enforcement sectors.

Darren is an Adjunct Associate Professor in Medical Sciences at the University of Sydney, has held senior roles in peak professional bodies – leading policy and regulatory reforms in science and technology, and is a regular commentator on television and radio. Darren is also a committed thalassophile.

Lisa Pusey

Lisa Pusey – Partner

Lisa has over 20 years experience leading complex gender equality initiatives, in Australia and internationally.

Working overseas for six years in several international women’s human rights organisations, Lisa worked closely with United Nations expert bodies to advance gender equality.

More recently, she was Adviser to Elizabeth Broderick (Sex Discrimination Commissioner), and worked with her on several major projects during her five years at the Australian Human Rights Commission. She led the National Review into Discrimination in the Workplace (relating to pregnancy, parental leave, and return to work), and also led key sections of the review into the treatment of women in the Australian Defence Force.

Lisa also works closely with Elizabeth and the CEO of Champions of Change to support, grow and execute the strategy, and has led the Coalition’s work on workplace responses to domestic and family violence. Prior to this she worked in the community legal centre sector.

She currently works on a range of gender equality initiatives with the Champions of Change Coalition and the University of Sydney.

Lisa is a member of the National Women’s Safety Alliance’s Policy and Advocacy Advisory Committee, Monash University’s Safe and Equal @ Work Advisory Board, and a board member of Women’s Legal Services NSW and Women’s Fund Asia Limited.

Lisa Ryan

Lisa Ryan – Partner

Lisa brings to the team three decades of experience working in organisational culture, systems change and leadership for social impact. Lisa has worked with EB&Co on a range of high-impact projects, including most recently the Review of Bullying, Sexual Harassment and Sexual Assault in the NSW Parliament; and the review of gendered barriers to promotion within the NSW Police Force.

A social worker by training, Lisa is highly skilled in designing methods that create safety for people to share their lived experience, and in working with people across organisations to leverage organisational strengths, identify structural and systemic challenges, and building a shared agenda for change.

Lisa is an adaptive leadership specialist and brings to EB&Co a particular interest in the role of leaders in creating psychological safety and enabling both wellbeing and high performance.

Leigh Russell

Leigh Russell – Partner

Leigh is a distinguished executive and director renowned for her exceptional people-focused leadership. With a multifaceted career spanning over two decades, she has held roles such as people & culture specialist, CEO, board director, adviser, consultant, author, and speaker. Her diverse experience encompasses various sectors, including corporate environments, boardrooms, and Australia’s dynamic sporting industry.

After a successful executive career, including serving as the CEO of Swimming Australia and Netball Victoria, Leigh transitioned to independent consulting. Over the past three years, she has advised boards, CEOs, and executive teams on workplace culture, governance, HR strategy, organisational effectiveness, and adaptive leadership. Her expertise extends across sectors such as professional services, elite sport, government, and the arts, where she serves as a trusted advisor on complex workplace issues and best practice governance.

Leigh’s educational background includes qualifications in Behavioural Sciences, Business, Education, and Career Coaching. Leigh is a graduate member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, a member of Chief Executive Women, and an accredited Extended DISC Facilitator.

Lynette Garrick

Lynette Garrick – Director, Operations

Overseeing the business operations of the organisation, Lynette brings to the team her extensive experience in managing business operations across a diverse range of settings and industries. With exceptional organisation skills, and 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.