The Hon Ros Kelly AO former Federal cabinet minister chairs an ‘Inspiring Women Reflect’ session with guests Sally Capp, Lord Mayor of Melbourne and The Hon Anna Bligh AC, former Premier of Queensland and now CEO of the Australian Banking Association.

The panel will share their memories of the Whitlam era and the impact it has had on their careers.

As women leaders, they will examine the relevance of the Whitlam legacy for the future.

More about the Inspiring Women Reflect series is here.
 

The Hon Ros Kelly AO has worked across the political, private and not for profit sectors. Ros was a member of the Australian Government for 16 years serving as a Minister in a number of portfolios. She was the first woman ALP cabinet minister in the House of Representatives. Ros was Chair of the National Breast Cancer Foundation from 2005 -10, a Director of Thiess from 1998 – 2012, a Commissioner of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission for 8 years, 2012 - 20, and Chair of the Commonwealth War Graves Foundation. She currently serves as a Senior Advisor to the ANU Australian Studies Institute and as Patron of the Women’s Housing Company. Ros was made an Officer (AO) of the Order of Australia in 2004 for services to the environment, mining, women's health and the Australian Parliament.

The Hon Anna Bligh AC is a respected Australian leader and former Premier of Queensland. Since 2017, she has led the Australian Banking Association through a period of critical reform, delivering on the recommendations of the Royal Commission. While working to strengthen bank culture and rebuild trust, Anna has also driven the industry’s response to COVID-19. She was instrumental in delivering a united approach by Australia’s banks, ensuring millions of customers were supported through the pandemic. Anna was the Premier of Queensland from 2007–12. She delivered significant economic reform to the state, including investment in infrastructure, science, innovation, and the arts. In 2011, Anna managed the state’s response to a devastating series of natural disasters including cyclones and floods. After her retirement from politics, Anna was appointed CEO of YWCA, NSW with a mission to build a safer world for women and children. She was awarded the Companion of the Order of Australia in 2017 for services to the Parliament of Queensland, and as an advocate for education, the role of women in public life and services to the not-for-profit sector. Anna is a non-executive director of Medibank Private and Playwriting Australia and holds Honorary Doctorates from the University of Queensland and Griffith University.

Sally Capp was re-elected Lord Mayor of Melbourne in October 2020 after having previously been elected in May 2018 and is the first woman to be directly elected as Lord Mayor. Sally’s top priority is bringing the buzz back to Melbourne and driving the city’s economic recovery following the devastation caused by the COVID pandemic. Sally is committed to helping rough sleepers get more support and a pathway into secure housing, and ensuring Melbourne remains aglobal leader in environmental sustainability. Sally was the first woman to hold the post of Agent-General for Victoria in the UK, Europe and Israel. She has also served as the CEO for the Committee for Melbourne and Victorian Executive Director of the Property Council of Australia. A passionate Collingwood Football Club supporter, in 2004 Sally made history as the first female board member of Collingwood Football Club. Sally began her career as a Solicitor, after completing Law (Hons) and Commerce degrees at the University of Melbourne. She has held senior roles at both KPMG and ANZ, and co-founded a small business which she took to the ASX. She is involved in a number of charities, currently sitting on the board of the Olivia Newton-John Cancer Research Institute, the Mary Jane Lewis Scholarship Foundation and the Melbourne University Faculty of Business and Economics.