Panel - Women Leading in High-Risk and Complex Environments

Sam is an accomplished company director and senior executive with over 20 years’ experience leading multi-billion-dollar portfolios and shaping strategy across the private and public sectors. A Fellow of the Australian Institute of Project Management (FAIPM), Certified Practising Portfolio Executive (CPPE) and Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (GAICD), she has been serving on the AIPM Board as well as other sector boards and advisory committees, contributing to governance, risk, and stakeholder engagement at the highest level. Sam’s executive career spans national and international contexts, where she has overseen large-scale programs and delivered major projects in infrastructure, planning, education, and commercial management. Recognised for aligning strategy with delivery, she is skilled at navigating complexity, managing risk, and driving sustainable outcomes. Sam is the author of several books and numerous articles, and the recipient of multiple leadership awards.

Dr Niki Vincent is an award-winning leader and changemaker with a diverse background spanning statutory offices, academia, business, and the community sector. She currently serves as Victoria’s inaugural Public Sector Gender Equality Commissioner, where she leads the implementation of Australia’s first Gender Equality Act, driving systemic change across 300 organisations, 450,000 employees, and the broader community.

With a PhD in Psychology (adult development and leadership), Dr Vincent’s career has included statutory office and senior executive roles such as South Australia’s Commissioner for Equal Opportunity, CEO of the Leaders Institute of South Australia, Member of the Remuneration Tribunal of SA, and multiple research leadership positions. She has also worked internationally on major public health projects.

She currently holds several board and advisory roles, including with the Centre for Workplace Excellence (University of South Australia), and with Jobs and Skills Australia's Gender Economic Equality Study. She is a member of the Victoria Selection Committee for the Public Service Medal and holds an Adjunct Associate Professorship with UniSA.

A Nationally Accredited Mediator and graduate of a Harvard Kennedy School leadership program, Dr Vincent has received several honours, including two University Medals, a Telstra Business Woman of the Year SA finalist award, and an Australian Leadership Award.

Dr Vincent is known for her clarity of purpose, depth of experience, and commitment to equity and justice, as well as being an engaging speaker, advisor, and advocate. She is passionate about gender equality, inclusive leadership, evidence-informed policy, and using data to drive social impact.

She is the mother of 4 adult children, as well as 3 young adult foster and stepchildren. She is an avid hiker, nature-lover, cinema-goer and Radio National podcast listener.

Overseeing the largest local government in Australia, Dr Kerrie Freeman is Chief Executive Officer of Brisbane City Council, serving a population of almost 1.3 million residents.

Passionate about serving the community, Kerrie is committed to delivering Council’s priorities, including building better roads, improving public transport, keeping costs down for residents, and enhancing Brisbane’s lifestyle.

As Chief Executive Officer, Kerrie is dedicated to ensuring Brisbane is and always will be a great place to live, work and relax. Kerrie is an accomplished senior executive with experience in leading large complex organisations, implementing large-scale digital transformation, major infrastructure delivery and leading organisational cultural improvement.

Before joining Council, Kerrie was Chief Executive Officer of the Southern Adelaide Local Health Network with a workforce of more than 9,500 people. She was also the Chief Executive of West Moreton Health and has led health services in New Zealand, remote Queensland and quaternary health services at Children’s Health Queensland.

Kerrie has a Doctor of Philosophy (Community Health), a Bachelor of Business and a Graduate Diploma in Public Health. She is also a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and holds a Professorship at Flinders University.

Dr Jacqui True FASSA FAIIA is the Director of the Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for the Elimination of Violence against Women (CEVAW), Professor of International Relations and Maureen Brunt Professorial Fellow at Monash University. She is a leading scholar in the field of international relations, with expertise on the gender dimensions of peace and security and violence against women globally. She is the author of 22 books and over 150 peer-reviewed journal articles and has developed substantial research into policy partnerships with the UN, governments and civil society groups in more than 10 countries around the world. In 2021 Professor True was named one of the 100 most influential Persons in Gender Policy – for the gender-based violence area.