2024 WiBF National Industry Awards – Judges Panel

Andrew Rooke

Andrew is a former executive director from the banking, finance and technology industry who has led 100m+ companies and teams of 500+ personnel across the globe. His work has been featured on NBC, CBS, Fox News & USA Today. Andrew has been educated at London Business School and MIT, and trained by world-leading authorities in their disciplines such as Sharon Pearson, Dr. Daniel P. Brown, Paul Chek & Dr. Daniel Amen.

Calum Davis

Calum is the Senior Global Alliances Manager at Amazon Web Services and WiBF’s Board Observer. He works with Asia based technology companies (such as Atlassian and Canva) expand internationally and deliver new products to market. Prior to Amazon he worked in Microsoft’s incubation organisation, building out new businesses in advertising, cloud infrastructure and mobile device management. Calum has 15 years of experience in the tech sector leading teams to invent for tomorrow. He is passionate about how automation will affect the future of work (again).

Cathryn Lyall

Cathryn is a highly experienced senior executive, Board member and strategic adviser with over 35 years of experience across capital markets, finance, banking, government and fintech in Australia and the United Kingdom. She is a Partner at Seed Space Venture Capital, a NED for numerous Boards including Wisr (ASX: WZR) where she Chairs the People, Culture and Nominations Committee, the national industry body Fintech Australia, and several start-up and scale-up fintechs domestically and in the UK.

Cathryn’s extensive experience in the Australian and British Financial Services sectors includes an early career running derivatives broking and trading businesses at All-States Futures (one of 5 RBA Official Dealers),State Bank of NSW, and Colonial State Bank. and latterly roles at the Chicago Board of Trade, the Chicago Mercantile Exchange, Nasdaq, and the London Stock Exchange. Most notably, as Non-Executive Director Deutsche Bank UK Bank, sitting on the Bank’s Board Risk Committee, the Listed Derivatives Risk and Compliance Committee, and the Nomination Committee as Chair post the GFC at a particularly challenging time for global Banks.

She is a vocal advocate for diversity at all levels of Financial Services and has mentored numerous women in Capital Markets as well as emerging fintech entrepreneurs.

She is a capital markets and fintech specialist who has been named in the Financial News Top 100 Women, Innovate Finance Top 100 Women in Fintech and Top 35 Women in Fintech Investment, and is a mentor for Aspiring Rare Birds. She has twin 11 year olds, is a former slalom canoeist, and juggles work and life from Kiama, NSW.

Danielle Dobson

Danielle, a former CPA, honed her leadership skills in male-led finance roles for global engineering, technology, and media companies in Australia, the UK, and the US. She even worked on a steel mill in Italy, showcasing her versatility and determination. Awarded Next Level Speaker of the Year 2024 by Professional Speakers Australia, Danielle discusses finding your “success code” in business, emphasising inclusive workplaces and the importance of belonging for success.

Specialising in helping business professionals, particularly women, manage high-pressure stress, Danielle provides insights on identifying and addressing these challenges. Her extensive research, based on history, neuroscience, social studies, and interviews with over 100 high-performing leaders, examines the Gender Code’s impact on success. These insights are detailed in her acclaimed book, “Breaking the Gender Code.”

Beyond the Gender Code, Danielle explores the various “Codes” that shape our lives, including cultural, familial, and societal codes. She helps individuals and businesses expose, decode, and recode these ingrained patterns to create unique success pathways.

Working globally with organisations and featured in national media, Danielle helps leaders and teams navigate complex landscapes with practical strategies and tools to thrive in dynamic environments. In her most challenging role yet, Danielle applies her leadership insights as Lead Parent and Family CEO to three energetic boys.

Dr Juliet Bourke

Dr Juliet Bourke is a Professor of Practice in the Business School at UNSW, as well as a global workplace advisor and board member. Juliet is well known for her thought leadership including on inclusive leadership, coworker inclusion and bias. She has regularly published in the Harvard Business Review, spoken at TEDx and has received numerous global awards, including from the AFR as one of Australia’s Top 100 Women of Influence, US based Engagedly Inc as a Top 100 Global HR Influencer in 2021 and 2022, and UK based Inspiring Workplaces as a Top 101 Engagement Influencer in 2023 and 2024. She currently teaches the DEI course in the HR Master’s program at UNSW, which includes technology and bias. In February 2024 was appointed as the inaugural independent Chair of the NSW Parliamentary Advisory Group on Bullying, Sexual Harassment and Serious Misconduct. Her most recent book is entitled “Which two heads are better than one? The extraordinary power of diversity of thinking and inclusive leadership”.

Fiona Trigona

Executive General Manager, Group Treasurer, NBN Co. Fiona has been NBN Co Group Treasurer since March 2021 and is responsible for driving the strategic direction of funding, liquidity and interest rate risk management activities, growing NBN Co’s investor base and running a broad range of funding programs. In her previous role, Fiona was Head of Funding and Balance Sheet for NSW Treasury Corporation (TCorp), where she was responsible for the interest rate risk management and funding of the $120bn Balance Sheet.

Her career highlights include the issuance of NBN’s inaugural Green Bond issue. The A$800m transaction represents the largest AUD green bond offering by an Australian corporate on record. This was recently followed by NBN’s inaugural EUR1.35bn ($A2.1bn) Green bond in the European market which was the largest Green Bond issued in any currency by an Australian corporate issuer to date.

NBN Co. is now the largest corporate issuer in the Australian market and has issued nearly $17bn in multiple markets including Australia, US, Europe, Japan and non-Japan Asia.

Fiona holds a Bachelor of Science from the University of Sydney, majoring in Pure Mathematics and Chemistry, and a Graduate Diploma in Applied Finance and Investment from the Securities Institute of Australia (FINSIA). In addition to her accreditation with the Australian Financial Markets Association (AFMA), she was a member of the AFMA Market Governance Committee and AFMA Professionalism Committee and a former chair of the NSW Sustainability Bond Committee. Her passion for the profession also extends to championing diversity and development and as well as being a regular panellist and speaker at events like the Women in Banking and Finance Conference, she is an experienced mentor and has participated in a number of internal and industry programs.

Jessica Dwyer

Jessica brings over 17 years of seasoned executive experience across Institutional & Business Banking, Financial Markets, Technology, Risk, Strategy & Operations, and Carbon Markets to the table. As the former CEO of Tasman Environmental Markets (TEM), she spearheaded the transformation of the company into a leading provider of carbon services, always with a customer-centric approach and a focus on empowering people. Her leadership journey includes roles such as Executive General Manager at Commonwealth Bank of Australia, where she had accountability for Business, Institutional, and Market Operations. Jessica’s proficiency extends across corporate and institutional sales, M&A, risk management, and global regulatory engagement.

Jessica holds a Bachelor of Economics from the University of New South Wales and a Master of Commerce from Macquarie University, where her academic excellence earned her the Vice Chancellor’s Commendation. Additionally, she is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. Passionate about business growth and sustainability, Jessica leverages her expertise to drive transformative change and pioneer innovative solutions, always with a focus on developing people. Renowned for her integrity, strategic acumen, and adept talent development skills, she excels in steering development while upholding ethical standards and cultivating a culture of trust and transparency. Jessica has also been actively involved in a number of diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives, demonstrating a strong commitment to creating a more inclusive workplace and society. Jessica was also a Director of WiBF and has actively been involved in the community for the past 10 years.

Juliana Nguyễn

Juliana is a Non-Executive Director with McGrath Limited (ASX:MEA) and serves on their Audit & Risk Committee and Remuneration and Nomination Committee. She is also an Operating Advisor to AirTree, one of ANZ’s largest venture capital firms and provides advisory to a variety of their portfolio company founders and executive teams on marketing & growth strategy, new market entry, and leadership coaching/mentoring.

Melanie Willis

Melanie is an experienced Non-Executive Director and currently serves as Chair of QBE AusPac (ASX:QBE) and is on the Boards of Challenger Limited (ASX:CGF), PEXA Limited (ASX:PXA) and PayPal Australia. Melanie chairs the Risk Committee at Challenger and Audit and Risk at PEXA and Remuneration and Audit at PayPal Australia.

Melanie’s experience as a Director includes global fin tech and platform players, building new revenue streams for businesses facing disruption, transitioning businesses from singular product focus to a broader purposed led strategy, offshore expansion and mergers and acquisitions.

Melanie has a strong connection to the start-up community acting as an Adviser and Advocate. She is an Investor and Advisory Board member on the facial recognition company, Noahface, prop tech investment group, Taronga Group Ventures, and an Investment Committee member of venture capital group, Tidal Ventures. She is an Adviser to The Big Issue on growth strategies and investments.

Melanie was NSW Chapter Chair of Chief Executive Women and Chair of the Education Committee for the Australian Institute of Company Directors (AICD) 30% Club.

Melanie has held a number of senior leadership roles including CEO, NRMA Investments, with responsibility for NRMA’s $900m Investment portfolio, tourism and leisure subsidiaries and venture fund (including investments in Sendle, Airtasker and Campify), Group strategy and innovation. Prior to this she was CEO of a consumer credit start up and held senior executive roles in corporate and structured finance at Deutsche Bank and Bankers Trust.

Her core skills include strategy, innovation, mergers and acquisitions, investment, capital allocation, finance and risk.

Peter Cook

Peter is the Chairman of AUDC Pty Ltd with its multi-chain AUDD stablecoin, Executive Director of public listed Novatti Group Limited (ASX:NOV) and a Non-Executive Director of International Bank of Australia Pty Ltd. Peter’s career has been largely based on founding and leading fast growth telecommunications and payments companies in Australia, Canada, Africa and Asia. Peter is a regular speaker and thought leader on entrepreneurship, innovation, digital transformation and payments.

Peter is a graduate of the Royal Military College, Duntroon; has completed a BSc (UNSW), a Grad Dip Computing (Canberra) and the Graduate Diploma in Securities course from the Securities Institute of Australia. Peter is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

Ricky Nowak

Ricky is a highly versatile and intuitive leader, speaker and executive coach specialising in working with high-performance individuals, teams and organisations through APAC and EMEA regions. She is a true champion of leaders helping them dramatically increase their influence, build their internal and external networks and personal brand. Ricky is committed to helping clients enhance their reputation, improve their short- and long-term career objectives while maintaining their focus on wellbeing.

She is an Executive Coach for the AICD, is a Certified Human Resource Professional, Presenter for Brave Feminine Leadership Group, Advisory and Mentoring (Singapore) The CEO Institute and Hargraves Institute of Innovation. She is one of only 98 Australian women to obtain the global Certified Speaking Professional Accreditation and is certified by the Marshall Goldsmith Stakeholder Coaching Group. Ricky has thousands of hours of practical experience working with managers and leaders in professional services and 30 years of experience in education and leadership development. She has authored four leadership books and is a well-known Media resource and commentator.

Sally Loane

Sally is a Chairman, Non-Executive Director, business leader and former journalist and broadcaster. Chair of Destination NSW and Ignition Advice, she is also sits on the board of Chubb Insurance Australia and the Garvan Medical Research Foundation. She is a member of the Advisory Board of consulting firm Orizontas and a mentor with McCarthy Mentoring.
From 2014-2021 Sally was the CEO of the Financial Services Council, the peak industry organisation for financial services, members of which included global and domestic fund managers, retail superannuation funds, advice licensees and life insurers.

Sally was the first female Director of Waratahs Rugby in its 135-year history (2010-2017), and is a former Director of Venues NSW, SCEGGS Darlinghurst, and PanKind.
Sally’s passion is women’s financial independence and economic security, and to this end has utilised her experience in financial services policy development, mentoring (Minerva Network; Super Stars of STEM) and has advised government via corporate advisory boards.

She has had a long history of service to the community and charity sectors, currently as a Trustee of the ANZAC Memorial Building in NSW, Governor of the Cerebral Palsy Research Foundation, Ambassador for Business Events Sydney, a member of Chief Executive Women, patron of Lou’s Place and member of the Nominations Committee for Sydney University Sport and Fitness Ltd. Sally chaired the Salvation Army’s Sydney East Doorknock Appeal (2008-2011) and was Deputy Chair of the Committee for Sydney (2015-2018).

Sophie Ray

Sophie is an experienced Chair and Non-Executive Director. After an Executive Career as a commercial and regulatory lawyer at PricewaterhouseCoopers in Australia and the UK, Sophie is now a full time Non-Executive Director, leading organisations across a range of sectors. Currently, she is the Independent Chair of RSL NSW; Independent Chair of Peak Care Equipment Pty Ltd; Chair of ROCC for Women; and Director of Silos Estate Winery. Previously, she was Chair of NAWO (the National Association of Women in Operations); and a Non-Executive Director of GO2 People (ASX:GO2), Big Fat Smile, and Settlement Services International (SSI).

Sophie has worked in diverse sectors including law, retail & wholesale, manufacturing, logistics & supply chain, hospitality & tourism, early childhood, gender equality, education & training and social & welfare support. Having lived or worked in the UK, China, France, Uganda and Sydney, she now lives in regional NSW. Sophie is a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, an Honorary Life Member of the National Association of Women in Operations (NAWO); a graduate of the Women on Boards ASX program and a member of Women on Boards.

Teresa Curman

MSc (Coach Psych), MBA, ACC

Teresa has been a WiBF Peak Performance coach since 2022. Examples of the challenges WiBF members have addressed with her during coaching include positioning for career progression; setting up for success in a new role / restructure; addressing challenging 360 feedback; building effective leadership behaviours; strategies to avoid burnout; rekindling a sense of purpose; and harnessing strengths and other positive psychology interventions to protect well-being.

Her evidence-based approach is informed by her Master of Science in Coaching Psychology (University of Sydney) and her contextual understanding of the workplace comes from decades of experience in senior national, regional and global business development roles and an MBA (AGSM). She has ICF accreditation, Strengths Profile certification, is an approved Leadership Circle Practitioner, is ACT qualified, and is a Mental Health First Aider.

Her mantra is improving the workplace, one coaching conversation at a time.

Trent Alston

B.Build (Hons, UNSW); GMQ (AGSM); AMP (INSEAD); GAICD

Trent has a commercial and robust level of expertise combined with an ability to forge capital partnerships, work cross cultures, interpret complex data and use it for commercial advantage. This experience has been gained as an executive with over 30 years in the construction, development, real estate investment and funds management industries during his time at Lendlease, Colonial First State Global Asset Management and Challenger Limited.

More recently Trent has taken on a non-executive career with directorships at ASX listed Abacus Property Group, the New South Wales government’s state-owned corporation Landcom and Stone & Chalk. He also works as an advisor to EG Funds Management (Japan), Kokusai Business Advisors and US based Trimont.

Trent’s experience covers office, retail, logistics, residential and mixed-use assets plus real estate lending and involved establishing institutional funds and capital partnerships with leading sovereign funds and global institutions. This included delivery of complex projects with $1B+ budgets and responsibility for the investment and business strategy of a +$10bn real estate business platform across Australia and Japan.

Troy Roderick

Troy brings over 30 years of experience specialising in diversity, equity and inclusion. In his current engagements across business and government, Troy advises CEOs and other leaders on how to achieve key business objectives through all-scale, system-wide change that creates more inclusive organisations, and customer and employee experiences. This strategic approach includes initiatives focussed on gender equality, intercultural diversity, inclusive leadership, flexible work, LGBTQIA+ inclusion, pay equity, respectful workplaces and workplace responses to domestic and family violence. His consulting engagements include industries such as financial services, insurance, FMCG, professional services, legal and regulatory, higher education and mining.

Vincent Chin

Vincent was appointed to the position of Group Head of Treasury at Goodman Group in 2005. Goodman Treasury is made up of 5 treasury professionals in London, Brussels and in Sydney. It has a strong focus on Capital Management and Planning focusing on strategic management of debt, liquidity and financial markets risk. It manages exposures in EURO, GBP, USD, RMB, JPY HKD, NZD and BRL with a debt portfolio of over A$14.5bn. Goodman and its managed partnerships are active debt issuers in the Australian, New Zealand, US, Asian and Euromarkets tapping the US144a, private placements and using local and Euro MTN Programs.

Vincent has over 25 years’ experience in financial markets and treasury management spanning banking, property and construction.

He has a Master of Business (Accounting and Finance) and completed his Bachelor of Business from UTS in 1995. He is married with two children and interests include sport, travel and reading.

Will Liang

Will is an Executive Director at MA Asset Management, where he is responsible for overseeing the company’s data, technology, and Al initiatives. His extensive career includes a decade at Macquarie Group, fulfilling several key roles-notably, he served as the CIO for Macquarie Capital in ANZ and spearheaded the technology strategy for the innovative Moonshot initiative. Will’s career path led him to Harvard to further enhance his expertise in data analytics and artificial intelligence. Upon returning to Australia, he joined KPMG in a pivotal role, becoming the National Leader of Regulatory Technology.

Besides his executive commitments, Will serves as a non-executive director and treasurer for the Reg Tech Association’s board and participates as a member of the Financial Services Council technology expert group. Will is also a member of the Forbes Technology Council.

As of 2023, Will has earned recognition as a Linkedin Top Voice in Al and has been distinguished as the most influential Asian Australian under 40 in the corporate category.