Patron
Julia Gillard was the 27th Prime Minister of Australia and the first, and only, woman to serve in that role. Since leaving office, she has dedicated her time to advocacy, governance roles, and writing. In 2021, Julia was appointed Chair of Wellcome, a global charitable foundation based in the UK, which supports science to solve urgent worldwide health challenges. Julia is also the founder and inaugural Chair of the Global Institute for Women’s Leadership (GIWL) at King's College London and Chair of its sister Institute at the Australian National University. GIWL strives for a world where being a woman is neither a barrier to becoming a leader in any field, nor a contributor to negative perceptions of an individual’s leadership. In 2014, Julia joined the Board of Beyond Blue, one of Australia’s foremost mental health awareness bodies, and served as Chair from 2017 to 2023. As a life-long advocate for increasing access to education, especially in developing nations, Julia was Chair of the Global Partnership of Education from 2014 to 2021. She also led the Royal Commission into Early Childhood Education and Care in South Australia which concluded in August 2023. Julia wrote ‘My Story’, a memoir based on her experience as Prime Minister. Her second book, ‘Women and Leadership: Real Lives, Real Lessons’, co‑authored by Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, explores the challenges women face in leadership. Her third book, Not Now, Not Ever – 10 years on from the misogyny speech, was released in October 2022.
Advisory Board
Chair
Simon Atkinson has deep experience in public policy, national security and economic affairs. He brings a passionate interest in and understanding of leadership to the Foundation from his experience within the public and private sectors. His high-level expertise across multiple fields, together with his deep knowledge and experience of leadership, make him an outstanding individual to lead the strategic direction in the next chapter of the John Monash Foundation Leadership Academy.
As the Australian Cabinet Secretary he was responsible for the operation of the National Security Committee of Cabinet. Mr Atkinson was also the Secretary of the Department of Infrastructure, Transport Regional Development and Communications from 2019-2022 and as Deputy Secretary of the Treasury he was responsible for economic aspects of national security, including economic coercion, the operation of the superannuation industry and management of the Commonwealth Budget and balance sheet. Mr Atkinson also held senior roles in Defence and Finance and is a Distinguished Adviser to the National Security College.
He is a successful CEO, Strategic Adviser and System Thinker, who brings a unique perspective on future risks and opportunities (including cyber and geostrategic) as well as outstanding leadership capabilities, with a rare global perspective, integrating deep experience in global economics; geopolitics; national security; finance; infrastructure investment; social license; regional and resources development, and key market sectors including communications, energy and logistics.
As Secretary (CEO) he led delivery of the largest infrastructure pipeline in Australian history, while managing a portfolio of 28 corporations including Australia Post and NBN co and keeping Australia’s aviation, shipping, logistics, telecommunication and infrastructure sectors running through Covid 19. He is now Managing Director of Mimir’s Well Pty Ltd, advising and guiding Chairs, CEOs and investors on strategies for navigating complex future market issues and investments, and the impact of rapidly changing geopolitical, global economic circumstances, and policy issues on their business and investments.
Ms Liberman is Principal and Chair of the Lee Liberman Foundation, which provides strategic funding to non-profit partners in Australia, Israel and the United States. Lee is Chair of the USC Shoah Foundation. The Shoah Foundation preserves a Visual History Archive of more than 55,000 video testimonies of survivors and witnesses of the Holocaust and other genocides; the largest digital collection of its kind. The Shoah Foundation works to counter identity-based hatred by developing empathy, understanding and respect through teaching with testimony. Lee serves as Deputy Chair of the General Sir John Monash Foundation. As a committed supporter of the arts, Lee has served on the Council of the Australian National Gallery and the Australian National Gallery Acquisitions Committee. Lee is publisher and editor of A Day in the Life of Africa, A Day in the Life of Israel and Jerusalem in the Shadow of Heaven. She also is Chair of the Day in the Life of Africa AIDS Education Fund.
Wellings CBE
Professor Paul Wellings CBE joined the University of Wollongong as Vice-Chancellor in January 2012. Paul sits on the General Sir John Monash Foundation Board. Prior to his current role, he held the position of Vice-Chancellor of Lancaster University from 2002-2011. Educated in the UK, Professor Wellings’ career experience includes a NERC research fellowship and senior positions at the CSIRO and Department of Industry, Science and Resources. He has extensive board experience, including with the Australian Research Council (ARC) Advisory Committee, the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO), the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR), and some of the UK’s peak education and research bodies. He is currently a board member of the University of Wollongong Global Enterprises and a Trustee of the University of Wollongong USA Foundation. Professor Wellings also serves on the Ministerial Advisory Council for Free Trade Agreements, NSW Innovation and Productivity Council, NSW Domestic and Family Violence and Sexual Assault Corporate Leadership Group, the Global Foundation Advisory Council, Bundanon Trust and Regional Development Australia-Illawarra board. Professor Wellings was appointed Commander of the British Empire (CBE) in the 2012 Queen’s Birthday Honours list for services to higher education. He received an Honorary DSc from Lancaster University in 2014 and an Honorary DUniv from the University of Surrey in 2019.
Bob Cameron holds degrees in engineering, economics and business. He is a non-executive director in the commercial, for-purpose and government sectors. His current roles include Chairman of Zeal Futures Pty Ltd, a not-for-profit group training organisation, a Director of the UNSW Foundation, and a Member of the Library Council of New South Wales. He also chairs the Library’s Audit and Risk Committee and is a Trustee of the Library Foundation. He previously worked in the resources sector and founded Centennial Coal Company of which he was Managing Director and later Chairman. Among many industry roles, he was Chairman of the NSW Minerals Council and ACA Low Emissions Technology Limited. He has received the Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy Medal and the Hunter Business Person of the Year Award. UNSW has recognised him with the Alumni Award for Business and Innovation and an Honorary Doctorate in Engineering. Bob has been an active participant in many community and educational organisations and was made an Officer in the General Division of the Order of Australia for service to the mining industry, higher education and the people of the Hunter Valley.
As Executive Director/Owner of Anka Property Group for over forty years, Vera Boyarsky has brought to the development industry a unique blend of experience, innovation and entrepreneurship.
Vera is an Alumni of The University of New South Wales and the School of Design at Harvard University. She is the winner of the UDIA Women in Leadership Award for Excellence. Vera holds Board positions at the University of New South and is a Panel member on the Sir John Monash Scholarship Selection Panel, the Centre for Neuroscience and Regenerative Medicine Advisory Panel and the Centre of Creativity Opera House Panel. She provides scholarships at UNSW for several faculties. She is an active philanthropist, supporting a number of organisations who assist children and adults in need locally and internationally. The family are patrons of the University of NSW, Art Gallery of NSW, Sydney Symphony Orchestra, Australian World Orchestra and supporters of medical research at The Garvan Institute. Also, involved in The Choice Foundation and The Giving Circle in order to make a difference to those whose need is the greatest.
Karen Wood is the non-executive Chair of South32 Limited the mining and metals company listed on the Australian Stock Exchange with operations in Australia, South Africa, Mozambique, Colombia, Brazil and the United States of America. She is a former executive of BHP and held a number of senior roles with that company including Company Secretary, Chief People Officer and President, Public Affairs. Until 2019 she chaired the BHP Foundation, a charitable organisation funded by BHP that works to address some of the world’s most critical sustainable development challenges. She serves on the Boards of Djerriwarrh Investments Limited, State Library of Victoria and the Robert Salzer Foundation. She has worked in business, legal practice and as an academic in the Faculty of Law at Monash University. She is a fellow of Monash University.
Carolyn Hewson AO is a former investment banker with over 40 years’ experience in the finance sector. She was previously an Executive Director of Schroders Australia Limited and has extensive financial markets, risk management and investment management expertise. She has long term non-executive experience in a number of sectors bringing a breadth of experience and insight on strategy, capital management, portfolio optimisation through cycles, financial and non-financial risk, social value, organisational culture and the changing external environment. In 2009 Carolyn was made an Officer in the Order of Australia for her services to the broader community and to business.
Carolyn is currently a Director of CSL Limited, a member of the Reserve Bank of Australia Board and Infrastructure SA and is Patron of Impact 100 SA.
Carolyn is a former Director of BHP Limited, Stockland Group, BT Investment Management Limited, Westpac Banking Corporation, AGL Energy Limited, the Australian Gas Light Company, CSR Limited, AMP Limited, South Australian Water and the Economic Development Board of South Australia.
May Samali (CPCC) (MPP) (LLB) (EcoSocSc) 2014 NSW Premier's John Monash Scholar, is passionate about investing in people and ideas that can transform the world. Current Founder and CEO of Coaching by May, she works with individuals and organisations to define their purpose and unleash their potential. She is also a Venture Partner at NextGen Venture Partners, a network-driven venture capital firm providing critical advantage to entrepreneurs across a variety of industries. In addition, May boasts an impressive employment history which has revolved around advising, investing in, and coaching entrepreneurs and executives across Australia and the US. This includes providing strategic advice to Australian governments on innovation policy and working with not-for-profit organisations. May is published on topics such as leadership, entrepreneurship, impact investing and wellbeing across the world, including in TechCrunch, Forbes, VentureBeat, Stanford Social Innovation Review, The Australian and San Francisco Chronicle. She is also an Australian American Young Leadership Dialogue Fellow, a Glieitsman Leadership Fellow and a Social Enterprise Fellow at Harvard's Center for Public Leadership.
Dr Daniel Yore is the 2021 Tim Fischer, John Monash Scholar. Dan is a Principal Treaty Adviser for First Peoples' Assembly of Victoria. His expertise spans across medicine, education and public administration, and this transdisciplinary experience has enabled him to support complex, interconnected policy challenges. Dan completed a Bachelor of Medical Science and Bachelor of Surgery at Monash University, a Graduate Diploma of Teaching at the University of Melbourne, and a Master of Public Administration at University College London as a John Monash Scholar. He has worked as a Senior Policy and Campaign Strategy Advisor for the Australian Education Union in the NT, as a Project Manager for the Djalkiri Foundation Aboriginal Corporation, and as a teacher at Yirrkala School in North-East Arnhem Land. Dan was a finalist in the NT Young Australian of the Year Awards and was named the 2020 NT Secondary Teacher of the Year.
Dr Isabel Hanson is the 2022 BHP, John Monash Scholar. Isabel is a General Practitioner and DPhil candidate in Primary Care at the University of Oxford. As a General Sir John Monash scholar, her research focuses on youth mental health models of care across Australia and the UK. Isabel's clinical expertise spans paediatrics, mental health, and addiction medicine, with a commitment to serving remote Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. She was honoured with the 2021 RACGP National General Practitioner in Training of the Year and is also a Clinical Lecturer at the University of Sydney, where her research centres on public health and health equity. Prior to her career in medicine, Isabel trained as a behavioural economist and worked as a Senior Policy Advisor for the Centre for Policy Development, the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, and the Department of Human Services. She aims to return to Australia following her DPhil to work at the nexus of health policy and primary care, improving healthcare for the most vulnerable Australians and closing the gap in First Nations health.