Being on a board can be both challenging and rewarding while providing the opportunity to shape companies and industries.

The pathway to the boardroom is not always an obvious one and can seem daunting, particularly as we move towards gender balance in male-dominated industries.

Come and join our host Kate Hawke as she interviews our panelists to hear their thoughts and experiences on mapping a pathway to the boardroom, and particularly their experiences as women navigating male-dominated sectors.

More about our facilitator

Kate Hawke, who has a BA. Comms degree and a Masters of Marketing, began her career at Optus Communications where she performed a number of customer and marketing orientated roles.

In 2001 she moved to the UK and took up a role at 3UK, as product manage of voice and video services. In 2003 she transferred from telecommunications into energy as product manager at Scottish and Southern Energy where she stayed for 12 years in a number of marketing roles and ultimately head of marketing capability.

In 2015 Kate relocated back to Australia and worked for a local ISP rolling out NBN in the Southern Highlands of NSW. She joined Jemena in 2017 as marketing and communications manager.

Kate recently stepped out of her marketing role to lead Jemena’s engagement for their electricity and gas networks. She is now group marketing manager at Jemena looking after branding and marketing across Natural Gas, Jemena, Zinfra and the Ovida brands.

Our panelists

Claire Braund

Claire Braund is a social entrepreneur who co-founded Women on Boards in Australia in 2006 with Ruth Medd. She serves fulltime in the role of ED and is known for her expertise as a writer, networker and gender advocate. She is a highly respected speaker on a range of topics, including equity and diversity, and is an informed and entertaining MC and presenter.

Claire sits on the boards of Women on Boards Australia and the global group, WOB Pty Ltd. This includes a sister company in the UK, which Claire co-founded with Australian and British colleagues in 2012. She also serves as deputy chair of the Central Coast Conservatorium of Music - the third largest in NSW - and formerly served on the not-for-profit boards of the Foundation for Australian Agricultural Women and The Women's Club in Sydney.

In 2011 Claire became a Churchill Fellow for her research into gender balance on boards in Norway, France and the UK. She is also a graduate of the Benevolent Society’s Sydney Social Leadership Program.

Kathy Hirschfeld

Kathy Hirschfeld is a professional non-executive director with a background in leading complex manufacturing businesses. Her current roles include Chair, Powerlink Queensland and Director of Queensland Urban Utilities, Central Petroleum and Tellus Holdings.

She has previously served on ASX, NYSE and government boards including Snowy Hydro, ASC (formerly Australian Submarine Corporation), Broadspectrum, InterOil Corporation and Toxfree Solutions. Kathy was a member of The University of Queensland Senate for 10 years and a past President of UN Women National Committee Australia.

Kathy brings to her board roles corporate and commercial experience gained as a CEO, as well as expertise in operational risk management, safety, corporate governance and a passion for leading people. She has served as Chair of various Board Risk, People and Safety committees.

A chemical engineer, Kathy had 20 years of leadership experience with BP in oil refining, logistics and exploration, located in Australia, the UK & Turkey. Her last executive role was Managing Director of BP’s Bulwer Island Refinery in Brisbane.

Kathy was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia in 2019. She is an Honorary Fellow of Engineers Australia, a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Technology and Engineering, the Institution of Chemical Engineers and the Australian Institute of Company Directors. Kathy is a member of Chief Executive Women.

Kathy was an officer in the Australian Army Reserve for more than 20 years.

Melanie Williams

Melanie Williams is South32’s Vice President Legal (Corporate) and Company Secretariat. Before working at South32, Melanie was company secretary and general counsel at Tap Oil Limited, worked as counsel with an international law firm and has held legal and financial roles with Qatar Petroleum and Woodside Petroleum.

She holds a Bachelor of Laws from the University of Western Australia and a Graduate Certificate of Corporate Management from Deakin University and the Finance and Treasury Association. Melanie is participating in the 2020 AICD Director Pipeline program and sits on the Executive Committee of Adoption Support for Families and Children.