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 HVTC Limited, 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. Mr Cameron 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.
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.
Thomas Hanna (BSc Advanced) (BSc Hons.) (DPhil – Quantum Physics) is a 2004 John Monash Scholar who enjoys using advanced analysis and scientific rigour to achieve real-world benefits. In 2018 he founded Hypercube Scientific to help organisations devise data-driven and mathematical optimised solutions that are efficient and sustainable. Since then, Hypercube has expanded to a team of 7 scientists across Australia, serving clients around the world. Tom's background in industry includes time as a technical consultant and then as head of Supply Chain Analysis at Fortescue Metals Group. He was a key part of Fortescue's journey of cost-reduction, efficiency enhancement, and expansion. Tom used his John Monash Scholarship to study for a DPhil in Atomic and Laser Physics in Oxford, before working as a postdoctoral fellow in the USA. Tom specialised in the theory of ultracold atomic and molecular collisions and successfully collaborated with experimental groups around the world. A family man with three children who enjoy the outdoors, Tom has served the General Sir John Monash Foundation for a long time as a reviewer and on the WA Selection Panel for the John Monash Scholarships.
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.