STORIES OF FEMALE LEADERSHIP

THE SOFL STORY

Since Jawun’s beginnings in 2001, more than 4,500 corporate and government employees have undertaken secondments to work alongside Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander leaders, organisations and communities. Through this work, Jawun has supported everything from organisational strategy and systems strengthening to business development, program design, finance, HR and communications.

Across these partnerships, one powerful and consistent theme emerged: the strength of Jawun’s network. Friendships formed, allies connected and deep cross-sector relationships grew. Yet over time, a pattern became clear — men were often quicker to form and extend their networks across sectors, while senior women had fewer opportunities to build the same depth of reciprocal connection in supportive spaces.

This raised an important question: how could Jawun create intentional space for women leaders to connect, learn and lead together?

Globally, organisations such as the United Nations, World Health Organisation and OECD recognise that elevating the status of women and girls delivers far-reaching social, economic and community-wide benefits. Guided by this understanding, Stories of Female Leadership (SoFL) was established.

SoFL brings together Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women leaders from Jawun partner regions, senior corporate and government leaders connected to the Jawun model, and trusted “Friends of Jawun” who walk alongside its broader reform agenda.

SoFL is an invitation-only network, designed for women who carry its vision into their own spheres of influence. Members connect through curated events and the biennial SoFL Gathering, where stories are shared, relationships are strengthened and collective leadership is nurtured across sectors.

OUR PURPOSE

At the 2022 Jalbu Jalbu Gathering, the participating SoFL Network members confirmed their purpose.

“Embrace the Wawu of this influential, strong community of women to protect this space for current and future generations and use it to magnify, advocate and lead change.”

The SoFL Network was gifted the word Wawu from their Kuku Yalanji and Guugu Yimidhirr sisters. Wawu means ‘heart inside, internal spirit, internal strength’.

CORE PRINCIPLES

The spirit of the Network is grounded in the strength as Manapanami (connectors), driven through Ngapartji Ngapartji (reciprocity; generosity of spirit) and underpinned by an empowered Liyan (inner strength).

Since its inception, the Core Principles that underpin the SoFL Network remain strong to:

  • Centre Liyan at the heart of the Network to tell stories in a safe space to create a shared understanding of each other.

  • Connect with each other to share our knowledge, skills and experience to solve problems and support each other; and

  • Leverage our voices and our power to create change.

OUR ADVISORY COUNCIL

Stories of Female Leadership (SoFL) is supported through a shared stewardship model between the SoFL Advisory Council and Jawun.

The SoFL Advisory Council provides guidance to help uphold the Network’s purpose, values and long-term direction. The Council brings insight from across community, corporate and government contexts, and supports the thoughtful design of SoFL gatherings, initiatives and network priorities. The Advisory Council is made up of nine members.

Jawun provides the operational and coordination support that enables SoFL to function as a connected, values-led network. This includes planning and delivering activities and events, supporting meaningful engagement across the network, and working alongside the Advisory Council to ensure SoFL continues to grow in line with its founding vision.

  • Group Chief Executive, CAPE YORK PARTNERSHIP

    Fiona Jose is the Group Chief Executive Officer of Cape York Partnership, where she leads its comprehensive reform agenda to empower Indigenous families across Cape York. A Kuku Yalanji and Zenadth Kes woman, Fiona brings lived experience, systems thinking, and collaborative leadership to her role.

    She oversees a broad portfolio spanning education, employment, health, and economic development—translating policy into practice to enable families to take responsibility, seize opportunity, and drive long-term change. Under her leadership, Cape York Partnership has grown to ten entities and enterprises, including Djarragun College, Cape York Girl Academy, Bama Services, Ngak Min Health, Cape York Solutions, Cape York Employment and the award-winning Pama Platform. The Group employs 350 staff, 65% of whom identify as First Nations.

    Fiona has led nationally recognised innovations such as Australia’s first boarding school for young mothers and disengaged girls (Cape York Girl Academy), Mayi Market (a fresh food social enterprise), and the Work Opportunity Network. CYP’s targeted jobs plan, developed under her guidance, is set to create 300 jobs across some of Australia’s most disadvantaged regions.

    Nationally, Fiona is one of ten First Nations leaders advancing the Empowered Communities initiative—shifting decision-making and accountability to local Indigenous communities. She also holds executive directorships across Cape York Partnership entities and serves on several national and regional boards.

    At the heart of her vision is a commitment to future generations:

    “Children have no time to wait. We must change their circumstances today or pay the price tomorrow.”

  • Non-Executive Director

    Cath is based in Canberra and has had a long association with the Stories of Female Leadership network since its inception. Her relationship began when she was a Partner at KPMG and has continued into her retirement from the firm after 40 years in leadership. Cath has always been drawn to the concept and construct of creating a network of Indigenous and corporate leaders where both support and problem solving can occur – the concept of reciprocity or Ngapartji Ngapartji where a network can help champion the best of female leadership. Leadership can be lonely and as women we often lead with greater empathy and along with our other family Responsibilities and it can be tiring. Strong networks of female leaders is important to nurture resilient and sustainable leadership.

    Cath was the KPMG Canberra Office Chairman where she specialised in governance, risk and assurance services to the Australian Government, often in complex IT dependent environments. She is now Principal at Cath Ingram Advisory where she provides governance services to the Public Sector and is the Chair and independent member of several Australian Government Audit and Risk Committees. She has recently been appointed to the Governance Committee of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) based in Washington DC. 

    Professionally Cath is both a Fellow of the Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand (CA ANZ) and a Fellow of the Institute of Public Administration (IPAA).

    Cath us a passionate lifelong learner and SoFL provides a wonderful opportunity to contribute to the network, learn from others and continue to grow.

  • Acting Chief Executive, NPY Women’s Council

    As former CEO of Ngaanyatjarra Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara (NPY) Women’s Council, rejoined the Council as Acting Chief Executive Officer in 2025.

    Andrea was CEO of NPY Women’s Council between 2009 and 2019 this period includes time as acting CEO and a period of secondment with Westpac based in Sydney. She brings a wealth of experience to the role.

    Andrea is well known for her passion of drawing on cultural governance principals and working collaboratively with First Nations people and the broader community. The Council looks forward to benefiting from Andrea’s reputation of bringing people together to work on common solutions for the benefit of Ngaanyatjarra Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara women and their families.

  • Chief Executive, Diversity Council Australia

    With a career spanning more than 30 years, Catherine is a purpose-driven leader who combines strategic business expertise with a passionate commitment to diversity, social justice and impact. 

    Catherine joined DCA from Woolworths Group Limited where she served as Group General Manager Inclusion from 2021. During her tenure, Catherine championed Woolworths Group’s design of the world’s first accessible checkout, embedded anti-racism in key policy, including the inaugural group anti-racism policy and Refugee Digital Cadetship program. 

    Prior to this, Catherine spent over 16 years at KPMG Australia, most recently as Partner, Corporate Citizenship. A pioneer in the social sustainability landscape, Catherine’s work in reconciliation was awarded the 2014 Business Human Rights Award, for her rights based approach in the development of KPMG’s 3 Elevate level Reconciliation Action Plans.

    Catherine has significant governance experience, having served as Chairperson of the Board of the UN Global Compact Network Australia from 2011-2017. During this time, she was a member of the global expert group that developed the UNGC Business Reference Guide for the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. 

    A graduate of the AICD, Catherine currently serves as a non-executive director on the Board of Studio Schools Australia, an innovative ‘on country’ education initiative that aims to increase education and life outcomes for young Indigenous children in remote regions. Catherine lives on Wangal land with her husband and daughter. 

  • Sustainability Executive, National Australia Bank

    Jessica leads NAB’s Sustainability function and is accountable for measuring and understanding the impact of our business on the community and environment – and developing programs and strategies to ensure we are operating in a sustainable way, consistent with the expectations of our stakeholders. In her role Jessica oversees NAB's Sustainability Performance, Environmental Affairs, First Nations Affairs, Consumer Affairs, NAB Ready Together, NAB Foundation and colleague volunteering and giving. Jess has more than 20 years’ experience in Corporate Affairs, including 14 years at NAB.

  • Partner, NORTON ROSE FULLBRIGHT

    In addition to her extensive experience in patent, copyright and trade mark litigation, Jackie has had the privilege of contributing to the social impact, sustainability, and Reconciliation initiatives and responsibilities of both of the law firms in which she has been a partner.

     

    Described as the “consummate professional” by a major client, she has demonstrated legal and technical versatility in matters across a broad range of industry sectors and is ranked in Chambers Global, Best Lawyers, Managing Intellectual Property and World Trademark Review as a leader in her field.  Jackie won the Partner of the Year Award in the 2014 Lawyers Weekly Australian Law Awards for the strength of her practice, her contribution to the Norton Rose Fulbright corporate social responsibility program and her role as a mentor to other women.

     

    Jackie was Head of CSR and National Pro Bono Partner at Norton Rose Fulbright from 2012 to 2021, is a member of the firm's National Diversity & Inclusion and Graduate Recruitment Committees, and served on the firm's Management Committee in 2016 and 2017.  Her commitment to access to justice issues saw Jackie first appointed to the Board of Governors of the Law and Justice Foundation of New South Wales by then NSW Attorney General Mark Speakman in 2020.

     

    Jackie is also the Executive Sponsor of Norton Rose Fulbright’s Disability Inclusion Action Plan and has recently been appointed as a Professional Fellow in the Faculty of Law at the University of Technology Sydney.

  • Chief Executive, BARANG REGIONAL ALLIANCE

    Vickie Parry is a proud Gomeroi woman from Moree, Northwest NSW. She has lived, worked and raised her family on Darkinjung Country (Central Coast, NSW). Vickie is the Chief Executive Officer Barang Regional Alliance, Chairperson Eleanor Duncan Aboriginal Services and founding member of the Darkinjung Language Group. At a state and national level, she was the previous Chair of the New South Wales Coalition of Regional Alliances (NCARA) and holds a Leadership role with Empowered Communities (EC). Vickie was selected as a Bicentenary Ambassador 2023 – 2024.

    Vickie has a Bachelor of Education, and multiple tertiary qualifications in Community Services. She works to better the outcomes of Aboriginal people in the areas of education, employment, housing and health. Vickie advocates at the highest levels of government to ensure her communities voice is amplified. As a result of her commitment and dedication to the plight of her people, Vickie has received several prestigious awards. These include the Darkinjung Local Aboriginal Land Council Community Medal, Aboriginal Health and Medical Research Council (AHMRC) Leadership Award and has featured in The Australians Women’s Health Diary 2020.

  • Co-Chair, Jawun

    Susan is an accomplished c-suite executive and board director with more than 17 years at the CEO-1 level and over 30 years of international experience working in Australian and global roles.

    Until August 2023, Susan was the Group Executive for People & Culture at National Australia Bank (NAB) for four years. For the previous eight years, Susan held several roles at KPMG including the Global Head of People, the Global Head of Inclusion & Diversity and the National Managing Partner for People & Culture for the KPMG Australian firm.

    Prior to KPMG, she led the HR function at the Australian law firm, Allens, for three years. Susan has also lived and worked in the UK for 15 years in global and regional roles for investment banks including HSBC, Deutsche Bank, Barclays, ING and NatWest.

    Susan has been a long time advocate and supporter of Indigenous issues having worked closely with Jawun for over ten years, led the work for the first Reconciliation Action Plans for Allens, and worked closely with the Corporate Citizenship and Social Impact teams at KPMG and NAB on Indigenous employment and talent retention.

    Susan is a non-executive director of the Sydney Symphony Orchestra (SSO) and Chairs the SSO People & Culture Committee. She is on the Board of the Financial Executives Institute and the Manly Art Gallery and is one of the External Members of the People & Culture Committee of the University of Sydney. Susan also Chairs the Nomination and Remuneration Committee of the Message Stick Foundation and has been appointed to the board of Airservices Australia for a period of four years, effective 24 March 2025. Susan’s prior Boards include the Committee for Sydney (as the NAB representative) and the Royal Women’s Hospital Foundation.

    In 2025 Susan joined Mineral Resources as an Independent Non-Executive Director and Chair of the Remuneration and People Committee.

  • Head of First Nations Strategy, ANZ

    Shelley, a proud Nyoongar woman from Perth, is deeply passionate about unleashing the potential of First Nations people through economic and financial empowerment. As Head of First Nations Strategy (Australia) at ANZ, Shelley is leading the development of ANZ's inaugural First Nations Strategy for Australia.

    Prior to ANZ, Shelley was Director of Generation One, a philanthropic initiative with the ambitious goal of supporting 300,000 First Nations people into work by 2040. Shelley’s expertise and leadership has been recognised nationally, including through her appointment to the Australian Government’s Women’s Economic Equality Taskforce, and internationally, through her advocacy at the United Nations on financial literacy.

    Shelley is also a member of Chief Executive Women and an Advisor to the Noongar Charitable Trust.

For general enquiries about Stories of Female Leadership, contact our team.

Contact Us