Announcing the Series 1 Cohort for Future Impact Community Leadership Program
09/10/2025
CALD2LEAD and Leadership Victoria Announce the 2025 Women’s Leadership Program Scholarship Recipients
21/11/2025
We are thrilled to announce the 2026 Williamson Community Leadership Program cohort! Over the next year, these 48 leaders will engage in professional and personal growth, explore diverse perspectives and experiences of leadership, and tackle key issues facing leaders and society today.
Through deep and immersive learning experiences, collaboration and connection, they will expand the way they see the world and elevate their leadership. We look forward to supporting and witnessing their journeys as they develop their leadership capabilities and work towards leaving a lasting impact in their organisations, the Victorian community and beyond.
See below for the full list of the participants:
|
Full Name
|
Role
|
Organisation
|
|
Alan Arthur
|
General Manager
|
Alpine Resorts Victoria
|
|
Alison Jones
|
Chief Executive Officer
|
Wandin Valley Farms
|
|
Amir Brand-Abdi
|
Social Procurement & Inclusion Advisor
|
John Holland
|
|
Ann Jorgensen
|
Public Transport Ombudsman
|
Public Transport Ombudsman Ltd
|
|
Bronwyn Johnson
|
ANZ Key Account Team Lead |
Too Good To Go
|
|
Carli Springate
|
Head of Performance, Reporting & Insights
|
Bendigo Kangan Institute
|
|
Dr Catherine Lou
|
Associate Professor
|
Victoria University
|
|
Diannah Parker
|
Chief Financial Officer
|
DPV Health
|
|
Dr Domenique Meyrick
|
Co-CEO
|
Financial Counselling Australia
|
|
Elissa McKenzie
|
Head of Education Design & Operations
|
Bendigo Kangan Institute
|
|
Emma Kingdon
|
Campaigns Director
|
Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU)
|
|
Erin Dempsey
|
Policy & Regulatory Affairs Lead
|
Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman
|
|
Gillon Duguid
|
Manager - Prevention and Complex Care
|
Holstep Health
|
|
Gina Suarez
|
General Manager Facilities, Fleet Administration
|
Australian Community Support Organisation
|
|
Hannah Burton
|
Head of Transformation & Platforms
|
State Trustees
|
|
Holly O'Connell-Paladino
|
Transaction Director
|
Homes Victoria
|
|
Jade Johnson
|
Director, Prevention Portfolios
|
WorkSafe Victoria
|
|
James Smart
|
Director, Policy & Projects
|
Department of Families, Fairness and Housing
|
|
Jessica Cheers
|
Senior Manager, First Peoples Partnerships
|
Development Victoria
|
|
Karen Holmes
|
GM, System Integrity & Workforce Capability
|
Department of Justice and Community Safety
|
|
Kate Hart
|
Senior Partner
|
Kearney
|
|
Katrina Larkham
|
Operations Manager Education & Community Engagement
|
Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung Cultural Heritage Aboriginal Corporation
|
|
Kris Miezis
|
Procurement Manager
|
Department of Education
|
|
Lachlan Harlow
|
General Manager - Projects
|
Ganbina
|
|
Dr Linh Le
|
Senior Manager Education Services
|
AMES Australia
|
|
Luke Hamlin
|
Consultant
|
Hamlin Consulting
|
|
Lydia Sorenson
|
Manager Economic Development & Visitor Economy
|
Macedon Ranges Shire Council
|
|
Marie Dalins
|
Manager, Policy & Strategy
|
Victorian Disability Worker Commission
|
|
Melanie Reed
|
Director of Operations
|
Alfred Health
|
|
Melinda Collins
|
Operations Director & Director of Nursing, Surgery & Anaesthesia, |
Monash Health
|
|
Michael Bierwirth
|
Head of HR Governance, Remuneration & Analytics
|
Future Fund
|
|
Dr Michelle Telfer
|
Chief of Medicine
|
The Royal Children's Hospital
|
|
Miriam Dexter
|
Co-CEO
|
Eat Up Australia
|
|
Penelope Molnar
|
Head of Strategy & Brand
|
The Fair Co
|
|
Rebecca Hemming
|
Chief Executive Officer
|
East Gippsland Catchment Management Authority
|
|
Renee Coles
|
Head of Regulatory Policy & Legislation
|
Energy Safe Victoria
|
|
Ruth Thompson
|
Director, Energy and Carbon
|
Broadleaf Projects
|
|
Sandrine Tse
|
Senior HR Manager (Business Partnering) |
AMES Australia
|
|
Sarah Kilpatrick
|
Associate Director
|
Medicines Development for Global Health
|
|
Sarah Lorentzen
|
Chief of Staff
|
Monash Health
|
|
Sharon Joy
|
Director, Child Youth & Family Services
|
Kids First Australia
|
|
Stephanie Paul
|
British Paints Business Manager - Bunnings |
Dulux Group
|
|
Susanna Moore
|
Senior Manager Workplace Relations
|
Fire Rescue Victoria
|
|
Talei Richards
|
Director of Community Development
|
The Scanlon Foundation
|
|
Tavamalar Darakamaran
|
Director of Engagement
|
BRANDKNEW
|
|
Thuch Ajak
|
Executive Director
|
Sprout Connect
|
|
Vicky Peters
|
Director First Nations Health
|
Eastern Health
|
|
Zakaria Wahid
|
Chief Executive Officer
|
Islamic Council of Victoria
|
Diverse perspective has always been an integral part of the Williamson experience. As well as their lived experience and knowledge, the 2026 cohort represents a range of different sectors, including:
- Manufacturing
- Government and public administration
- Health and hospital services
- Financial, investment and trustee services
- Community organisations and social services
- Education and training
- Justice, regulation and safety
- Emergency services
- Infrastructure, construction and development
- Agriculture, environment and natural resource management
- Energy
- Consumer protection and advocacy
- Philanthropy and social enterprise
- Consulting, professional services and creative industries
*Employer as at time of Williamson 2026 recruitment (November, 2025) Please note that employments may change over time and will not be reflected here.
