Mentor List

Learn how Marcelle’s background in occupational therapy has enriched her current role at KMart Group, before becoming privy to some of her core findings in diversity and inclusion. We discuss shifts she has observed in flexibility and accessibility over the past few years, and why it is important to admit that you don’t know everything. Marcelle explores the power of making changes within systems to change attitudes and behaviour. She has seen increasing demands and expectations around inclusivity and highlights some key things you can do to push the agenda even further. Marcelle also gives us some practical examples of what KMart, Target and Catch have done to implement the principle of inclusivity for their customers, and we discuss mentorship and role models in the workplace.

An organisation that practices diversity and inclusion has not just checked a box but set itself up to flourish. This is because a team defined by different voices and an atmosphere of safety does not just have happy members but has a far better chance of being truly innovative. Joseph Ghaly shares what he has learned about D&I during his professional experience that has spanned five continents. During his career, Joe has worked as State Relationship Manager of CSIRO, and Incumbent Director of Mobile Internet with Ericsson Telecommunications during the .com era. He also started the professional network, Brilliant Women Global. Joe covers the state of D&I as he has witnessed it in his experience in the tech sector across the globe. We talk about the need to break the traditional gender roles and what people can do in the workplace to take steps toward this aim. Joe talks about what led him to start his organisation, how D&I is approached at Brilliant Women Global, and all the amazing women who have joined the group. Our conversation also covers the impact of COVID on D&I in Australia and what the future holds!

Not only is Fujitsu paving the way of the future through the technological services and equipment it provides, but also through its commitment to diversity and inclusion, environmental sustainability, and social impacts. These three spheres intersect in the space that Fujitsu has called the Office of Purpose, and today’s guest, Nicole Forrester, sits at its helm. Nicole’s 30-year career has consisted of many different roles in many different organisations, but the connecting thread through all of them has been her drive to bring together principles from Western science and traditional knowledge to create meaningful change across multiple domains. In today’s episode you’ll gain an understanding of why an Office of Purpose is so important in a corporate setting, hear examples of how Fujitsu is putting its principles into action, and how Nicole plans to expand on these in the future. Nicole also shares some valuable advice around decision making, finding balance, being brave, and embracing every kind of mentor who comes your way!

Tania is a senior executive with 15 years of experience in leading Remuneration & Benefits functions, HR systems and talent management. She has a significant technical depth and breadth in reward strategy including executive compensation, incentive designs, benefits offering, recognition and global mobility.

Tania is an advisor to a board and senior executives with a passion for leading HR transformation through the application of contemporary HR strategies and large-scale projects. She has a mix of consulting and corporate experience in large ASX listed organisations with significant international presence.

Jennifer Rebeiro is the Chief Information Officer at Greater Western Water. Jennifer has led teams across a wide range of industries and functions, challenging and transforming each one to respond to the evolving business environment and changing community expectations.

Jennifer was named as one of the Top 50 CIO’s in Australia in 2020.

Jennifer has managed a number of operational areas and projects ranging across a wide set of industries, from Banking and Finance, Transport, Manufacturing, Property Services, Telecommunications and Government.

She has over 20 years across diverse industries where she has gained excellence in transformation, project management and change management.

Jennifer has a Master of IT Management, Master of Business Administration, a Bachelor of Business, is a Graduate member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and has a range of ICT and project management industry accreditation's.

Jennifer sits on IWN Executive Group, SWAN Global Council and Wyndham Tech School Committee.

Jennifer’s core strengths are her people focus, business mindset and having the courage to bring bold ideas to life through determination, influence, cross organisational collaboration and hard work. Continually learning from her own successes and challenges and those of her team’s and with over 10 years’ experience in the public sector, Jennifer demonstrates her unwavering commitment to living the values of the public sector every day.

Lee Anne commenced her career at the Commonwealth Bank of Australia where she spent 16 years and gained broad experience across a number of areas of the Bank including both technical and operational accounting areas and banking services.

After leaving Sydney to move to Melbourne she worked in; Not for Profit, Oil and Gas, Philanthropy, Property and IT Business Consulting. In 2015, Lee Anne moved to the public sector and worked at the Victorian Department of Treasury and Finance in the Budget and Finance Division, prior to commencing at VicTrack, where she is currently the EGM Business Services.

Lee Anne has an Executive Master in Public Administration (EMPA) through the Australian and New Zealand School of Government (ANZSOG) and the University of Melbourne, CPA, Graduate Certificate in Applied Finance and B.Com. She volunteers at Brighton Secondary College as School Councillor and Treasurer.

Dr. Catherine Lopes is a strategic team leader, an outcome and value focused data scientist, a data and business driven consultant, and a passionate educator in data and analytics. Her recent focus is on helping organizations to uplift business performance by developing data and analytics strategy, applying broad range analytics including machine learning and AI through a governed enterprise data management framework and process.

Dr. Lopes worked in the data and analytics domain for more than 20 years internationally across a wide range of sectors. She has a unique suite of skills including deep technical background, focused business delivery mindset, strong story telling communication, and excellent leadership skills. Her specialties are in Machine Learning, Analytics Transformation, Data Strategy and Management, and end-to-end delivery.

Catherine is an entrepreneur in AI and data analytics space and an advisor for start-ups. She is also an active mentor and advocate for supporting women in data analytics and data science, and bridging gaps between academia and industry.

Helen Souness is a senior executive with a career that spans more than 30 years of commercial experience working in digital strategy, marketing and product across market-leading companies including Lonely Planet and ground breaking marketplaces SEEK, Envato and Etsy. She is a Non-Executive Board Director at Sendle, Australia's first 100% carbon neutral shipping service and Camplify, a leading marketplace for RV hire. As CEO of RMIT Online, Helen has grown a 130+ strong team to support a thriving community of learners to successfully navigate the world of work through relevant, accessible and flexible education online. She has spearheaded a suite of Australian first courses in areas like blockchain, AI, 5G and IoT technology, in partnership with over 70 global and local industry partners, including Salesforce, AWS and REA Group. Through Helen’s leadership, RMIT Online has disrupted education models, tripled in size and helped to upskill over 26,000 online students in 2020.

Claire Rogers: Return to Work Mums — A Fresh Perspective

Chief Executive Officer of World Vision Australia, Head of Digital Banking, Strategy and Innovation at ANZ and Director of Melbourne Business School are just some of the many impressive titles that you can see on Claire Rogers’ resume. On top of that, Claire is also a mother of two. In line with Mentor List Talent’s diverse initiatives to support women in leadership, women in technology and return-to-work mums, Sharon Daly, our own Managing Director, chatted to Claire about her experience as a mum returning to work. We talk about how societal challenges, discrimination, and even our own mindsets can become obstacles to a woman’s desire to return to work after having a child. Claire shares valuable advice from her own experiences on how to overcome ‘mummy guilt’, manage your expectations for yourself, and establish boundaries with your employer. She also discusses how to maintain balance in your life and how to ask for what you need. Finally, we talk about some of the ways Mentor List Talent can support you if you are a return-to-work mum, and some of the exclusive key offerings and opportunities we offer. Be sure to tune in!

Jacob Varghese is Chief Executive Officer at Maurice Blackburn. An experienced litigator, he leads Australia’s number one plaintiff law firm from its Melbourne office. Since becoming CEO in 2017 Jacob has led the development and implementation of a new strategy to strengthen the firm’s financial and business foundations. Together with an experienced and highly skilled leadership team, he has built a “one firm” organisational structure and culture around a shared ambition to widen access to justice on a scale with no precedent in Australia.

Jacob started his legal career in the medical negligence team at Maurice Blackburn in 2002. Leaving the firm a few years later to work as a political adviser and parliamentary researcher, he returned in 2006 to its pioneering class actions team.

Jacob established himself as one of the country’s top class actions lawyers and has run some of the firm’s biggest cases. Becoming a principal of the firm in 2011, his achievements include working on four shareholder class actions which each achieved settlements in excess of $100 million for shareholders, and leading the team that achieved Australia’s largest food safety class action settlement. Prior to taking up the CEO role, he established Maurice Blackburn’s Australian litigation funding business, which focuses on providing funding to parties involved in commercial disputes. He also led the firm’s social justice practice, where he contributed to important victories for the rights of some of the most vulnerable in our society, including acting for 109 babies of asylum seekers which resulted in the babies and their families being given visas and released from detention. Jacob chairs the Board of Per Capita, one of Australia’s leading policy think-tanks.