Our annual Great Debate is here once again. As our flagship and most popular event, this year we’re asking: are women natural born leaders? While we encourage serious debate, we make sure it’s a lively, entertaining and enjoyable day for all involved. Tickets will sell out soon, so make sure you book yours today.  

• Were women like Margaret Thatcher, Hillary Clinton, Condoleeza Rice and Julia Gillard born to lead, or have they exploited the feminine stereotype to break the mould and show it's not a man's world anymore?
• Is being a woman an unfair advantage?
• Is the bigger issue the "boy's club mentality" rather than women's ability to lead?

Now in its 14th year in Canberra, and 3rd year in Sydney, this leading annual event is a fantastic opportunity to discuss the balances and imbalances of the boardroom. Where do women stand and what leadership qualities can they offer the modern office?

Get your colleagues, clients and teams together as our panellists thrash it out to get their points across. With a fantastic line up of speakers to lead the debate, it's a great way to entertain clients and catch up at a (quasi) work event. Network with other leaders in management and make your opinion heard so book your place now and join the conversation.
 

We've got a fantastic range of speakers and participants planned for Canberra and Sydney. So far they include:

Julie McCrossin talks to people for a living. After 20 years as a broadcaster with ABC Radio National, ABC TV and Network Ten, she is now a freelance journalist and facilitator. She presented the radio show Life Matters on ABC Radio National for 5 years, covering countless health, welfare and educational topics with a frequent rural focus.

Julie was also a team leader on the media quiz show "Good News Week" for 5 years on Network Ten and ABC TV. Julie began working for the ABC in 1983 and she's presented many Radio National programs, as well as stints on ABC Rural Radio and 702ABC Sydney.

Julie has also worked as a TV reporter for both the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras and ANZAC DAY – and she's thrilled to live in a country where it is possible to do both. Julie is an Ambassador for CAN (Mental Health) Inc, the Fred Hollows Foundation and FRANS Inc (Making Things Happen for People with Disabilities).

Corinne Grant

Corinne got her TV kick-start as a regular Good News Week panellist back in 1999, and in no time became one of the most familiar faces on Australian television. Corinne’s first full time TV gig was as an original cast member of Rove, first shown on Channel Nine, before moving with Rove Live to the Ten Network in 2000. In 2001 she took on a second job as a founding member of ABC-TV’s The Glasshouse continuing with the show until it wrapped in 2006.

Corinne is an accomplished stand-up, MC, presenter, writer and broadcaster and has performed both nationally and internationally. In addition to her years on Rove Live and The Glasshouse, she has appeared on everything from Spicks and Specks to Dancing With The Stars to Good News Week. She has co-hosted successful national radio shows, performed countless solo live shows and appeared everywhere from the Sydney Opera House to the Kalgoorlie Arts Centre. Her natural, down-to-earth charm and her quick wit have made her one of Australia’s best known, and most warmly regarded performers. Corinne’s first book, “Lessons in Letting Go: Confessions of a Hoarder“ was released in September 2010 and went into reprint just months after its release.

Wendy Harmer

The voice behind ‘The Morning Crew’ breakfast show on 2DAYFM Sydney and the face behind gigs the likes of The Last Laugh, The Big Gig and The World Series Great Debates, Wendy Harmer is no stranger to live comedy. Wendy was the Winner of the 1992 MO Award for female comedy performer and comedy performer of the year.

In 1975 Wendy began the path to her career in media and communications (or making people laugh) with a Diploma in Vocational Writing at the Gordon Institute of Technology. Over the next 8 years, Wendy experienced first hand the ins and outs of the public relations and journalism industries. What she discovered, some would argue as a direct result, was her knack for stand-up comedy.

Wendy has now spent over 12 years on the comedy circuit and has more recently added the feather of the corporate client to her cap.

Wendy is also a published author, with titles such as “It’s A Joke Joyce” and “Love Gone Wrong” and the teenage series “Backstage Pass”.

Dominic Thurbon

Dominic Thurbon is Chief Creative Officer and Co-Founder of international behaviour change organisation ChangeLabs. He is a globally consulted thought leader in the fields of generational change, workforce trends, the future of education and organisational collaboration and innovation. Dominic graduated from the University of Sydney with a degree in political science, and was head of research on the bestselling book Flip: How counterintuitive thinking is changing everything, published throughout North America, the UK, Europe and Asia. He is also co-author of the White Paper Talent Magnets: Attracting and Retaining Top Young Staff and of the forthcoming White Paper Game On: How Computer Games are Changing the Way we Live, Work and Learn.

Dominic is an inspiring, dynamic speaker with a track record of performance at the highest level. He has spoken across Asia, Europe and the Middle East, and is also a world top-10 debater, having been grand finalist at the 2008 World Debating Championships in Thailand. He has built a reputation for his provocative, entertaining and high-energy style that leaves audiences feeling entertained and enlightened in equal measure

Jane Caro

Jane Caro wears many hats; including author, lecturer, mentor, social commentator, columnist, workshop facilitator, speaker, broadcaster and award winning advertising writer.

Today, she runs her own communications consultancy and lectures in Advertising Creative at The School of Communication Arts at UWS.

She has published three books; two non-fiction; "The Stupid Country: How Australia is Dismantling Public Education "co-authored with Chris Bonnor, "The F Word. How we Learned to Swear by Feminism" co-authored with Catherine Fox, and a novel "Just a Girl" released in 2011.

She is sought after as a speaker and workshop facilitator by a wide range of organisations, in both the public and private sectors, including most recently the AEU, ACTU, Urban Development Institute of Australia, The ATO, Sydney Leadership, Women in Finance and AMP. She is also sought after by the media to comment on a range of issues from advertising and marketing to education, feminism, women and work, and parenting.

She has appeared on Channel 7 Sunrise, ABC's The Drum, SkyNews Late Agenda, Richard Glovers Political Forum and 10 News Soapbox, just to name a few. She is also a regular panellist on the ABC's top-rating show on advertising The Gruen Transfer.

Hamish Macdonald

Hamish Macdonald is the Ten Network’s Senior Foreign Correspondent and Presenter. This photo was taken in one of the rare moments when he wasn't wearing a flak jacket.

For Hamish, a day in the office usually involves jetting off to some of the world’s most dangerous hot spots to interview some of the world’s most famous and infamous figures.

In his time, he has explored the cross-border smuggling tunnels of Gaza, investigated refugee conditions in Malaysia, and covered the Horn of Africa famine from Kenya and Somalia.

Hamish’s coverage of the Japanese tsunami was nominated for a prestigious 2011 Walkley Award. It was during that year that Project viewers became familiar with his face (or, in some cases, his voice on a phone line) as he reported from Egypt, Libya and Afghanistan.

Hamish has studied Arabic in Yemen and Indonesian in Jogjakarta. He has worked for the UK’s Channel 4 News (winning the British Royal Television Society Young Journalist of the Year award in 2008), and hosted the flagship Newshour program during five years with the international broadcaster Al Jazeera English.

Dimity Hodge

Dimity is on the Board of UN Women Australia and is passionate about achieving social change and gender equality in Australia and internationally. She has over 20 years business experience with Westpac, Qantas, Ansett, Accenture, EnergyAustralia and the Guinness Group in both corporate strategy and organisation development roles. Roles include the Head of Women in Leadership at Westpac and a partnership with the Australian Human Rights Commission to focus on the economic security of women. Dimity actively works to support strong relationships between the community, the private sector and government.

Dimity regularly addresses corporate forums on gender equality and leading practices in diversity and is passionate about everyone having the opportunity to maximise their potential. In addition to her position on the Board of UN Women Australia, Dimity is on the Executive Committee of the NSW EEO Practitioners Association and the Women in Banking and Finance Research Committee.

Corinne Grant

Corinne got her TV kick-start as a regular Good News Week panellist back in 1999, and in no time became one of the most familiar faces on Australian television. Corinne’s first full time TV gig was as an original cast member of Rove, first shown on Channel Nine, before moving with Rove Live to the Ten Network in 2000. In 2001 she took on a second job as a founding member of ABC-TV’s The Glasshouse continuing with the show until it wrapped in 2006.

Corinne is an accomplished stand-up, MC, presenter, writer and broadcaster and has performed both nationally and internationally. In addition to her years on Rove Live and The Glasshouse, she has appeared on everything from Spicks and Specks to Dancing With The Stars to Good News Week. She has co-hosted successful national radio shows, performed countless solo live shows and appeared everywhere from the Sydney Opera House to the Kalgoorlie Arts Centre. Her natural, down-to-earth charm and her quick wit have made her one of Australia’s best known, and most warmly regarded performers. Corinne’s first book, “Lessons in Letting Go: Confessions of a Hoarder“ was released in September 2010 and went into reprint just months after its release.

Jane Caro

Jane Caro wears many hats; including author, lecturer, mentor, social commentator, columnist, workshop facilitator, speaker, broadcaster and award winning advertising writer.

Today, she runs her own communications consultancy and lectures in Advertising Creative at The School of Communication Arts at UWS.

She has published three books; two non-fiction; "The Stupid Country: How Australia is Dismantling Public Education "co-authored with Chris Bonnor, "The F Word. How we Learned to Swear by Feminism" co-authored with Catherine Fox, and a novel "Just a Girl" released in 2011.

She is sought after as a speaker and workshop facilitator by a wide range of organisations, in both the public and private sectors, including most recently the AEU, ACTU, Urban Development Institute of Australia, The ATO, Sydney Leadership, Women in Finance and AMP. She is also sought after by the media to comment on a range of issues from advertising and marketing to education, feminism, women and work, and parenting.

She has appeared on Channel 7 Sunrise, ABC's The Drum, SkyNews Late Agenda, Richard Glovers Political Forum and 10 News Soapbox, just to name a few. She is also a regular panellist on the ABC's top-rating show on advertising The Gruen Transfer.

Commander Jennifer Wittwer, RAN, FAHRI

CMDR Jennifer Wittwer is currently the Navy Women’s Strategic Adviser. She has served in the Navy since 6 March 1981, and was promoted to her current rank in 2003.

For her efforts in supporting the development and advancement of Navy women, Jennifer was the 3rd place Bronze winner of the 2010 Centre for Leadership for Women inaugural national Advancement of Women in the Workplace Award. In November 2010, Jennifer was awarded Fellowship to the Australian Human Resources Institute.
Jennifer was an ACT Finalist in the 2011 Telstra Business Women’s Awards in two categories; the White Pages Community and Government Award and the Nokia Business Innovation Awards.

Jennifer was appointed as a member of Women & Leadership Australia National Advisory Board – Advanced Leadership Program in September 2011, and in 2012, she became a Trustee of the RAN Relief Trust Fund. She has also been appointed as the Navy representative of the Secretary of Defence / CDF Gender Equality Advisory Board.

Ian Fitzgerald

Ian joined the Australia Public Service Commission in January 2011 as the Chief Human Capital Officer.

His role involves working with APS colleagues and others to take a longer term view of the challenges and opportunities for the public service and the implications for leadership, workforce and agency capability. Among other delivery areas, Ian is responsible for the new Strategic Centre for Leadership, Learning & Development which has refreshed the leadership capability framework and the talent management processes required to build a strong pipeline of APS senior executives. The Centre’s work also covers SES Orientation, APS/Indigenous partnerships and core APS management and leadership skills development.

Ian started his career in the justice sector including operational and strategic policy lead roles in Australia and at the Home Office in London. More recently he worked for Westpac for many years in various roles in Australian and in New Zealand.

Ian has a BSc from the Australian National University and an MBA from Macquarie Graduate School of Management.

Stephen Fitzgerald

Stephen is Chairman of Wilmington Holdings, an investment advisory firm. He is also a member of the Board of Guardians of the Future Fund and serves on the boards of the Great Barrier Reef Foundation and the Australian Business and Community Network.

Previously, Stephen was Chairman of Goldman Sachs, Australia and New Zealand. He joined Goldman Sachs in 1992 and was named a Managing Director in 1998 and a Partner in 2002. In his time with Goldman Sachs he served on the GS Partnership Committee, the European Management Committee and the Asia Pacific Management Committee and has been based in London, Tokyo, Hong Kong and Sydney with Goldman Sachs.

Stephen earned a Bachelor of Economics degree from the University of New England, Australia in 1986.

Amanda Rose

Amanda Rose is a connection specialist and branding consultant. A regular commentator in media on personal & political branding, niche marketing and business women, Amanda has been featured on Ross Greenwoods Sunday Business, Switzer on Sky News Business and a regular on 2GB Chris Smith Afternoon show.

Amanda also produces and hosts two radio programs. My Business Help for small business owners and The Business Woman, the first and only radio program for women in business both are on Wednesdays on Alive 90.5FM.

Known as the connection specialist, Amanda uses her cutting edge ideas to build relationships and “make it happen” for business and Government – often seen working the room at many a function.