CEW Brisbane Annual Dinner 2026

Helen Conway is an experienced leader, director, senior executive and lawyer who has worked in a range of organisations in the commercial, public and not-for-profit sectors.

Helen Conway is an experienced leader, director, senior executive and lawyer who has worked in a range of organisations in the commercial, public and not-for-profit sectors. Helen spent 10 years in private legal practice, including 7 years as a partner in a major law firm in Sydney, and then moved into the corporate sector where she worked as a senior executive. She has extensive experience as a Board Chair and Director in various sectors including health, transport, energy, housing and homelessness, education and training, financial services and domestic and family violence. Helen is a champion of women's rights. She has demonstrated a strong commitment to community service, diversity and inclusion and has undertaken a range of voluntary activities in the not-for-profit sector. She was previously the Judicial Head of the NSW Equal Opportunity Tribunal, set up the Australian Government's Workplace Gender Equality Agency, a statutory authority with regulatory and other responsibilities, and was until recently the President of YWCA Australia. Helen is currently the Chair of KU Children's Services, Australian Business Volunteers and Mary's House (a domestic violence service) and a Non-executive Director of the NSW Energy Security Corporation and Youth Off The Streets.

Lisa Annese commenced her role as the Chief Executive Officer of Chief Executive Women in January 2025 and is committed to the empowerment of women and girls across the economy.

Lisa Annese commenced her role as the Chief Executive Officer of Chief Executive Women in January 2025 and is committed to the empowerment of women and girls across the economy. Prior to this, Lisa spent 10 years as the CEO of the Diversity Council Australia, where she led a broad array of groundbreaking, evidence-based research, including Australia's first national index on workplace diversity and inclusion, seminal research on the economics of the gender pay gap, and original work on Counting Culture and building Asian Leadership Capability, as well as research supporting individuals being 'Out at Work', mainstreaming flexible work, and myth-busting workplace responses to sexual harassment and domestic and family violence. In 2024, Lisa was appointed to the NSW Women's Advisory Council and reappointed to the Respect at Work Council by the Attorney-General, implementing the legislative reforms from the Respect@Work Act. In 2018, Lisa was named one of the AFR's 100 Women of Influence. In 2019 she was elected to the Board of Amnesty International Australia and, in 2021, to the Board of the non-partisan organisation Women for Election. As well as being their CEO, Lisa is also a member of Chief Executive Women. Lisa has had a long career progressing positive change across the corporate, government, and not-for-profit sectors. Earlier in her career, at the Workplace Gender Equality Agency (formerly the Equal Opportunity for Women in the Workplace Agency (EOWA)), she developed the first-ever census of Australian Women in Leadership, the first-ever Business Achievement Awards, the creation of the Employer of Choice for Women citation, and the development and implementation of the policy framework for the EOWA Act 1999 with Australian businesses. For her contribution at EOWA, she was awarded a Medal for Significant Contribution to the Australian Public Service.

Robi Stanton is an experienced media executive who has held senior leadership roles across Asia-Pacific at CNN International, Warner Bros., and Turner Broadcasting.

Robi Stanton is the President, Media & Streaming and General Manager, APAC at BBC Studios. She is an experienced media executive, having previously held senior leadership roles across Asia-Pacific at CNN International, Warner Bros., and Turner Broadcasting. Robi has a track record of innovating and driving growth across digital, content and brands. Robi is a Director of Carriageworks, a vibrant multi-arts centre in Sydney. She previously served as Chair of Performing Lines. During her tenure, Performing Lines joined Creative Australia's National Performing Arts Partnership Framework (NPAPF), supported by investment from the New South Wales, Tasmania, Victoria and Western Australia governments. A passionate advocate for diversity and gender equality, Robi mentors female athletes through the Minerva Network and participates regularly in Mentor Walks. She has lived in Sydney, Singapore and rural Japan and loves television, her family and impro tapestry.

Dr Jane Wilson AO has had a distinguished 30-year career as an independent Director with a background in finance, banking and medicine, contributing to the governance of some of Australia's most consequential companies and government bodies.

Dr Jane Wilson AO has had a distinguished 30-year career as an independent Director with a background in finance, banking and medicine contributing to the governance of some of Australia's most consequential companies and government bodies. She holds a medical degree and Honorary Doctorate from the University of Queensland and a Master of Business Administration from Harvard Business School. In the 2022 Australia Day Honours, Dr Wilson was awarded the Order of Australia Medal and an Honorary Fellowship to the Queensland Academy of Arts and Sciences. In 2023 she was recipient of Life Fellowship of the Australian Institute of Company Directors after being recognised in 2016 with the Australian Institute of Company Directors (Queensland) Gold Medal Award for contribution to business and the wider community. In 2012, she was named on the inaugural AFR Top 100 Women of Influence list. Dr Wilson is Chair of Major Brisbane Festivals Board, a Director of Rugby Australia, Oceania Rugby and the Great Barrier Reef Foundation. Until recently, she was the Co-Chair of The Australian Government Advisory Board on Technology and Healthcare Competitiveness, a non-executive Director of ASX-listed Transurban Group, Costa Group Holdings and Sonic Healthcare. Her previous roles include Deputy Chancellor of the University of Queensland, a Guardian of The Future Fund, inaugural Chair of Horticulture Australia and Director of the General Sir John Monash Foundation, The Winston Churchill Memorial Trust and the Australian Institute of Company Directors. She was also a Director of Energex, WorkCover Qld, BUPA, Opal Aged Care and the National Archives Advisory Board.

Ann Sherry AO is one of Australia's leading business executives with a career spanning government, banking and tourism, and an active philanthropist focused on improving opportunities for women in STEM and sport.

Ann Sherry AO is one of Australia's leading business executives with a career that spans Government, Banking and Tourism. She is an active philanthropist with a focus on improving opportunities and removing barriers for women in STEM and sport, and supporting opportunities for Indigenous Australians. Ann is the Chancellor of Queensland University of Technology and a Non-executive Director of National Australia Bank. She is the Chair of Queensland Airports Limited, UNICEF Australia, Super Members Council of Australia, Circa Contemporary Circus and Co-Chair of the Climate Leaders Coalition. Ann is a Member of Sydney Harbour Federation Trust. Beginning her working life as a Radiographer, Ann became First Assistant Secretary of the Office of the Status of Women in Canberra before moving to the banking sector initially in HR roles, then in CEO roles with Westpac NZ and the Bank of Melbourne. She then became CEO and later Chair of Carnival Australia. The Australian Government awarded Ann the Centenary Medal in 2001 and in 2004 she was awarded an Order of Australia.

Kay McGrath OAM is an award-winning journalist, news presenter and passionate social justice advocate who presented prime time news bulletins in Queensland for more than 40 years.

Kay McGrath OAM is an award-winning journalist, news presenter and passionate social justice advocate who presented prime time news bulletins in Queensland for more than 40 years. Working with 7NEWS for the last 30 years, her brand is trusted, genuine and strong. In 2020, Kay stepped away from the news desk and now works on filing special interest news stories. For four and a half years, Kay chaired the Queensland State Government's Domestic and Family Violence Implementation and Prevention Councils established following the landmark 'Not Now, Not Ever' Taskforce headed by Dame Quentin Bryce. Kay is Patron of the Daniel Morcombe Foundation, Patron and co-founder of Protect All Children Today, and a Life Ambassador for Act for Kids. Kay is a member of Chief Executive Women and a founding member of Women in Media Queensland. In 2019, Kay was named as a Queensland Great.