Women on Boards - 20th Anniversary Series - Inspire | Influence | Impact

In this episode of the 20 Years of Women on Boards podcast, Claire Braund OAM speaks with Susan Rix AM, an accomplished business leader, chartered accountant and corporate adviser whose career has run alongside more than four decades of board service. From her first board role as treasurer of Noah's Ark Toy Library to major Queensland Government, infrastructure, education, community and private sector boards, Susan's board career has been built less around a carefully mapped plan and more around being willing to say yes, contribute her skills and keep learning. Susan reflects on growing up in Lismore, spending a formative year in Germany as a Rotary Exchange student and beginning a career in accounting that would eventually see her become a partner at BDO – and, for seven years, its only female partner in Australia. She shares how her accounting and governance skills opened doors at a time when far fewer women were sitting around board tables, and why some of the roles that mattered most were those where she could see the difference strong governance could make. Now Chair of CleanCo Queensland, Susan is still stepping into unfamiliar territory and learning new sectors – proof that a long board career doesn't mean you stop being challenged. The conversation also explores a question that has shaped Susan's approach to board service: is being a director a career, or is it also about service? Susan discusses why not every board role needs to be highly paid, what decades working with family businesses have taught her about succession, and why being the founder's son or daughter doesn't necessarily make someone the right person to run the business. She also reflects on what has changed for women in accounting and leadership, what she would tell her younger self, and why directors can't simply stay in their area of expertise as governance becomes more complex. And after 20 years as a Women on Boards member, Susan looks at what the next generation of directors will need to know – including why AI governance is something every director needs to start understanding. In this episode: Being BDO's only female partner in Australia for seven years Why a clearly defined skill set helped open boardroom doors The board role where she felt she could genuinely make a difference Why board service should be about more than remuneration The biggest mistake families can make in succession planning What has changed for women building careers and families Why directors need to keep learning beyond their area of expertise AI governance and the emerging challenges facing boards Susan's reflections on 20 years as a Women on Boards member It's a candid conversation about service, opportunity, resilience and staying curious throughout a long career – and why sometimes the most important career decision is simply being prepared to say yes.

In this episode of the 20 Years of Women on Boards podcast, Claire Braund OAM speaks with Nadia Moffatt OAM, a South Australian non-executive director, governance specialist and long-standing consumer advocate whose board career has been shaped by resilience, independence and a determination to ensure different perspectives are heard. Nadia's story begins with her Italian migrant family and an early introduction to business, helping with her father's accounts and compliance from a young age. At just 12, her life changed dramatically when she suffered a major brain haemorrhage. After being told she may never walk again, Nadia embarked on a long rehabilitation journey, eventually returning to school, completing Year 12 and beginning university. That experience would go on to influence a career grounded in consumer advocacy and representation. Nadia discusses how she moved into governance, the challenges of building a board career when you bring something different to the table, and why listening to a broad range of perspectives leads to better decision-making. She also explores the value of diversity in the boardroom, arguing that it should be embedded throughout organisations rather than treated simply as a compliance exercise. For Nadia, diversity is most powerful when combined with the skills, governance experience and strategic capability boards need. A long-standing Women on Boards member, Nadia also reflects on the role WOB has played in building her confidence and capability, including learning she believes contributed to securing an Energy and Water Ombudsman board appointment. It is a candid conversation about overcoming adversity, finding your voice, bringing lived experience into governance and continuing to pursue opportunities even when the pathway to the boardroom isn't straightforward. Asked to describe her journey in three words, Nadia chooses: "Challenging, rewarding and engaging."   Learn more about Women on Board www.womenonboards.net/join

With an extraordinary portfolio spanning health, education, water, banking and sport, Elizabeth Crouch AM FAICD has built a board career defined by leadership, continuous learning and a deep commitment to public service. In this episode of the 20 Years of Women on Boards podcast, Elizabeth joins Claire Braund to reflect on the experiences that have shaped her journey from a 16-year career in the federal public service to becoming one of Australia's most experienced Chairs. Today, Elizabeth chairs six organisations, including Sydney Children's Hospitals Network, the Customer Owned Banking Association, Catholic Schools Parramatta, Ochre Health, Hunter Water Corporation and Hearing Australia. She is also Deputy Chair of the NSW Institute of Sport, serves on the Council of the University of Newcastle and is Emerita Deputy Chancellor of Macquarie University. Despite the breadth of her portfolio, Elizabeth remains committed to making space to learn, reflect and challenge her own thinking. She is also, she admits, getting better at saying no. Leadership under scrutiny Elizabeth's career has included involvement in major public infrastructure and legacy projects, from hospitals and schools to the delivery of Sydney's Opal card. When she joined the RailCorp board, the ticketing project was already seven years overdue. As Chair, Elizabeth helped make the difficult decision to draw a line under the existing project and refocus on the outcome it needed to achieve. The experience reinforced lessons she continues to take into the boardroom: understand your stakeholders, make timely decisions and stay focused on the outcome. Above all, she says, when operating under intense scrutiny, directors need to "communicate, communicate, communicate." Staying ahead of emerging risk Continuous learning has remained a feature of Elizabeth's board career. Recognising the growing cyber threat facing organisations, she returned to university and completed a Master of Cybersecurity in 2021. It is knowledge she says she now uses every day. For directors, she believes two critical cyber questions are understanding who is in your business and supply chain, and how quickly your organisation can respond when something goes wrong. Elizabeth also discusses what different sectors can learn from each other - from the entrepreneurial thinking of founder-led companies to the close connection not-for-profits often have with their customers and stakeholders. Many pathways to the boardroom A long-standing Women on Boards member, Elizabeth recalls thinking WOB was the "missing link" when it was established - providing women with a forum and network to help build their board careers. She believes one of WOB's important contributions has been showing women that there are many pathways to achieving their board ambitions. Looking to the future, Elizabeth believes board diversity must extend beyond gender. She sees an important opportunity to bring more younger, digitally native people into boardrooms, particularly as organisations navigate AI and emerging technology. Asked to sum up her journey over the past 20 years in three words, Elizabeth chose: Opportunity. Resilience. Service. Learn more about Women on Boards www.womeonboards.net/join

Former CEO and experienced director Margie Haseltine has built an extensive portfolio career across listed and private companies, including Metcash, Inghams Group, Kennards Hire, Real Pet Food Company and Active Tree Services. In this episode of the 20 Years of Women on Boards podcast, Margie joins Claire Braund OAM to reflect on the journey from growing up on a dairy farm in New Zealand to becoming CEO of MasterFoods Australia and, ultimately, building a successful board career. Margie stepped away from executive life in 2007 after 20 years with Mars. With three young children and years of extensive travel behind her, she was ready for a different career. That same year, she joined Women on Boards. Breaking into the boardroom was not easy. With a background in supply chain rather than law or accounting, Margie recalls being told she was unlikely to secure an ASX-listed board role. Instead of being deterred, she built her experience through smaller boards and continued putting herself forward for opportunities. That persistence eventually led to ASX-listed Bapcor, after Women on Boards helped put her forward for the role. Margie later became Chair, leading the company through a particularly challenging period and learning first-hand just how different the responsibilities of a Chair can be from those of a NED. Today, Margie enjoys the different dynamics offered by both listed and private boards and continues to be drawn to organisations where she connects with the people, purpose and business. She also reflects on how boardroom risks have changed, from cyber and ESG to psychosocial safety and the rapidly evolving implications of AI. For senior executives considering a board career, Margie cautions against assuming it is automatically the right next step. Board life requires flexibility, resilience and the ability to respond when challenges arise. A Women on Boards member since 2007, Margie describes the WOB community as an important part of her journey. Looking ahead, her advice for navigating disruption and difficult decisions is simple: "Be calm, and the facts are our friends." Asked to sum up her journey in three words, Margie chose: Resilience. Determination. Passion. Learn more www.womenonboards.net/join