With Vanessa Hudson officially beginning her role as CEO of Qantas this week, we decided to take a look at the rest of the women currently at the helm of ASX 200 organisations.
Currently, only 10.5 per cent of ASX 200 leaders are women.
Helen Lofthouse, ASX, CEO since August 2022
Lofthouse has been working as a financial markets executive for the past two decades, holding roles in companies including UBS and J.P. Morgan. When she stepped into her role as ASX managing director & CEO in August last year, she was the first women ever to helm the position.
Her wide-ranging expertise in the financial markets include clearing and settlement services, OTC clearing, derivatives prime brokerage, credit markets and cash equities. In 2021, she was announced as one of the World Federation of Exchanges’ (WFE) Women Leaders.
Susan van der Merwe, The Lottery Corporation, CEO since June 2022
van der Merwe stepped into the role of CEO of The Lottery Corporation after the demerger from Tabcorp Holdings last year. Prior, she had leading Tabcorp Holdings’ Lotteries & Keno. Over the past three decades, she has been a key figure in Australia’s lottery industry, helping acquire multiple lottery licences and successfully integrating businesses.
As the Chairperson of the Asia Pacific Lottery Association, she sits on the World Lottery Association Executive Committee. In 2016, she was inducted into the Public Gaming Research Institute’s (PGRI’s) Lottery Industry Hall of Fame.
Jolie Hodson, Spark New Zealand, CEO since July 2019
Before heading New Zealand’s largest telecommunications and digital services company, Hodson had worked at Spark for a number of years, leading different areas of the operating business including Customer Director, CFO and Board Director.
As a passionate climate advocate, Hodson became the Convenor of the Climate Leaders Coalition in 2022, along with a group of New Zealand businesses that account for almost 60 per cent of the country’s gross emissions in an effort to make more businesses climate accountable.
She is also a strong advocate for diversity and women’s leadership — she is the founder of On Being Bold — an organisation that empowers women towards purposeful leadership, and a member of Global Women.
Last year, she was named Deloitte Top 200’s CEO of the year. After her win, she gave aspiring female CEOs some advice: “Aim high, be courageous and curious enough to try new things and keep learning, build the teams around you that will help you drive the change you want to see, and never lose sight of ‘your crew’ — the people who will support and challenge you through the good times and the bad.”
Amanda Margaret Lacaze, Lynas Corporation, CEO since June 2014
Lacaze heads the world’s second largest producer of rare earths, Lynas, helping to supply our most advanced technological devices including electric vehicles, electronics and renewable energy.
She began her career in marketing, working for Nestle before moving onto the role of Managing Director of Marketing at Telstra.
Throughout her diverse career, she has worked a number of industries. She is currently a Non-Executive Director of ING Bank Australia Ltd, a board member of the Minerals Council of Australia and a member of Chief Executive Women and the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
For her role as CEO of Lynas, she has received several public nods, including being listed as one of the Top 10 Australian Financial Review Magazine’s ‘Power List’ in 2019, and named CEO of the Year in 2018 by MiningNews.Net Awards.
Tennealle O’Shannessy, IDP Education, CEO since August 2022
As a recognised leader in global education, O’Shannessy was picked to lead IDP Education after a world-wide search last year.
As the former CEO of Adore Beauty, she has spent years building successful digital businesses with a customer-centric approach. Before her leadership role at Adore, O’Shannessy worked at SEEK within a range of global leadership roles, including the role of Learning Head of Strategy — helping to expand the company’s multinational education services and digital platforms.
Marnie Baker, Bendigo and Adelaide Bank, CEO since July 2018
Prior to her role as CEO of Bendigo and Adelaide Bank, Baker held executive roles within the bank, including Chief Customer Officer, Executive Customer Voice and Corporate Resources. She has been part of Bendigo and Adelaide Bank, one of the largest retail banks in Australia, since 1989, extending her wide range of financial services expertise across multiple sectors within the industry.
As the daughter of dairy farmers from Cohuna, a small farming town in Northern Victoria, she decided to study accounting at university before venturing into business studies, eventually graduating with a Bachelor of Business from La Trobe University in 1994. In 2003, she became the first female CEO and Managing Director of Sandhurst Trustee.
Katie Page, Harvey Norman, CEO since 1999
High-profile CEO of Harvey Norman, Katie Page began working at a Harvey Norman store in Sydney when she was still in her 20s. In 1988, she became the second wife of the company’s co-founder, Gerry Harvey. In 1999, she became the CEO of the company, with her husband as executive chairman.
Since then, she has been involved in backing several professional sports and sports teams — in 2004, she was the first woman to be elected to the board of the National Rugby League (NRL) and helped introduce the NRL’s Women in League a year later.
Her company sponsors the Women in League round and Indigenous All Stars matches.
She co-owns (with her husband) the Magic Millions bloodstock sale. They also sponsor the Gatcombe Three Day Event in the UK.
Julie Coates, CSR Limited, CEO since September 2019
Coates has spent decades holding senior roles at other ASX 200 companies, including Woolworths Limited and food manufacture Goodman Fielder in Australia and New Zealand.
She has also been the managing director of Big W, utilising her expertise in supply chain efficiency, optimisation and operation processes. Coates is an avid supporter of getting more women into leadership roles. She was a member of the Champions of Change National Group in 2017, along with other leaders within male-dominated spaces.
Jane M. Hastings, Event Hospitality & Entertainment (EVT), CEO since June 2017
Before heading the entertainment provider business, EVT, Hastings was the CEO of The Radio Network between 2012-2014 and CEO of New Zealand Media and Entertainment until 2016. She began her career as a management trainee at Air New Zealand before venturing into several roles across the tourism, hospitality and entertainment sectors.
Throughout her career, she has consulted for major companies in Asia, including Cathay Pacific, Singapore Airlines, Shell, Pan Pacific Hotels & Resorts and Mars Inc. In 2007, she became the Group General Manager of SkyCity Entertainment Group.
Maxine Jaquet, Healius, CEO since March 2023
When Maxine Jaquet was appointed CEO of pathology and diagnostic imaging company, Healius, last December, she became one of the youngest of the 14 female CEOs on the ASX 200.
Now 45, Jaquet leads the company, formerly known as Primary Health Care — which has 97 medical laboratories and employs over 11,000 people across Australia. Jaquet has been with Healius since 2015. In August 2019, she became the company’s Chief Financial Officer. In January 2021, her role expanded to include Chief Operating Officer.
Carrie Hurihanganui, Auckland International Airport, CEO since February 2022
Carrie Hurihanganui has been Chief Executive of Auckland International Airport since February 2022. Before that, she was Chief Operating Officer at Air New Zealand, overseeing a global workforce of more than 9,000 across 16 countries at its peak. Hurihanganui has over 22 years of operational and strategic experience in the aviation industry, having held several senior roles at Air New Zealand. She has a Bachelor of Business Studies from Massey University and has completed a number of advanced programmes of study, including INSEAD and Harvard.
Alexis George, AMP, CEO since August 2021
Alexis George has been Chief Executive Officer of AMP since August 2021. She’s also been part of the AMP Limited Board and AMP Bank Board for that time period. With more than 30 years experience in the financial services industry in Australia and overseas, George has spent seven years at ANZ, including most recently as the Deputy Chief Executive Officer. She’s a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants and a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. George is an active member of Chief Executive Women as well and is a passionate advocate for women in leadership roles.
Antonia Watson, ANZ Bank New Zealand, CEO since December 2019
Antonia Watson has been Chief Executive Officer of ANZ Bank New Zealand since December 2019. Before that, she was General Manager of Morgan Stanley’s business services and technology centre in Budapest and held various finance roles in Sydney and London. Watson has over 25 years experience in the professional services and financial services sector in New Zealand, the United Kingdom, Australia and Hungary. She holds a Bachelor of Commerce with Honours from the University of Otago.
Shemara Wikramanayake, Macquarie Group, Managing Director and CEO since late 2018
Shemara has been Macquarie Group’s Managing Director and CEO since late 2018. She’s also been the Executive Voting Director since August 2018 and a Member of the Executive Committee since August 2008.
Having first joined Macquarie in 1987, Shemara has worked in six countries and across several business lines, establishing and leading Macquarie’s corporate advisory offices in New Zealand, Hong Kong and Malaysia, and the infrastructure funds management business in the US and Canada.
Meg O’Neill, Woodside, CEO and Managing Director since August 2021
O’Neill has 27 years experience in the global oil and gas industry, working in the USA, Europe, Africa, Asia and Australia. She’s now the Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of Woodside, having first joined the company in May 2018 as Chief Operations Officer.
Along with leading Woodside’s producing facilities, and supporting production, logistics, drilling HSEQ and reservoir management activities, O’Neill is on the Boards of West Australian Symphony Orchestra, APPEA, AMMA, GLX Digital and the University of Western Australia Business School. She’s originally from Colorado and graduated from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology with degrees in Ocean and Chemical Engineering.
Vicki Brady, Telstra, CEO and Managing Director since September 2022
Brady became the CEO and Managing Director of Telstra in September 2022, having first started with the company in 2016. Most recently, she was the Chief Financial Officer and Strategy & Finance Group Executive with Telstra. Before that, she was Telstra’s Head of Consumer & Small Business function.
Prior to working at Telstra, Brady gained extensive leadership experience in telecommunications and services companies in Australia and internationally, including roles at Optus, SingTel and KPMG. She holds a Bachelor of Commerce from the Australian National University and a Master of Science in Management from Stanford University’s Graduate School of Business.
Michelle Jablko, Transurban Group, CEO and Managing Director since August 2023
Jablko became the CEO and Managing Director at Transurban Group in August 2023, having first joined the company as Chief Financial Officer in early 2021. She has had a broad portfolio of responsibilities while also playing a strategic role in major projects and transactions.
Prior to her positions at Transurban, Jablko was Chief Financial Officer at ANZ for just under five years, following almost 20 years of experience in investment banking and commercial law. She holds a Bachelor of Laws with honours from Monash University.
Leah Weckert, Coles Group, CEO and Managing Director since May 2023
Weckert became CEO and Managing Director of Coles Group in May 2023, having first joined the company in 2011– she held several senior roles across Coles Group in that time. Most recently, she was Chief Executive, Commercial and Express leading the supermarkets business units and the Coles Express business. Before this, Weckert was Chief Financial Officer and played a role in the demerger from Wesfarmers in 2018.
Prior to joining Coles, she worked at McKinsey & Company and Fosters Group. Weckert holds a Master of Business Administration from Harvard Business School, a Bachelor of Engineering (Hons) from Adelaide University and a Bachelor of Science from Adelaide University.
Sukhinder Singh Cassidy, Xero, CEO since February 2023
Cassidy became CEO of Xero in February 2023. She’s an experienced CEO, digital leader and board member with more than 25 years experience building and scaling global companies such as Google, Amazon, Yodlee Joyus and StubHub.
With deep international and fintech experience, Cassidy started her career in investment banking with Merrill Lynch in New York and London. She is a Canadian national, and is strongly associated with technology companies in Silicon Valley. Along with this, Cassidy is an advocate for advancing diversity and inclusion, having founded the BoardList– an online talent marketplace connecting CEOs with qualified diverse board candidates who are peer endorsed.
Carmel Monaghan, Ramsay Australia, CEO since October 2020
Carmel became CEO of Ramsay Australia in October 2020, having worked across hospital, corporate and global positions in Ramsay for more than two decades, including as Group Chief of Staff and Group Head of Marketing and Public Affairs.
Before joining Ramsay, Monaghan was the Manager Public Relations and Media for the Queensland Branch of the Australian Medical Association. She holds a Bachelor of Business (Communications) and a Master of Business Administration