Adjudicator:
Fiona De Jong
The Outstanding Leadership Awards are ecstatic to announce Fiona De Jong as the night’s esteemed adjudicator. Fiona is the head of Australia’s nation Brand at the Australian Trade and Investment Commission (Austrade).
Alastair
Dawson
Senior Deputy
Vice-Chancellor CQUniversity Australia
Sonia
Cooper
Deputy Commissioner with the Public Service Commission (PSC)
Michael
Reid
QLD, NT & Papua New Guinea General Manager for Cisco
Amanda
Flemming
Chief People and Technology Officer at Viva Energy Australia
Gary
McConaghy
CEO | Managing Director – McConaghy Properties
Mike
Morgan
Vice President & Managing Director Insight APAC
Stephen
Tait
CEO of the Chamber of Commerce & Industry QLD
Faith
Rees
CEO & Founder of SixPivot and
Cloud Ctrl
Mark
Beitz
Managing Director and Owner of Bartons
Liana
Callaghan
Co-founder and Director of Troocoo
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Fiona De Jong
The Outstanding Leadership Awards proudly announce Fiona De Jong as the night’s esteemed adjudicator. Fiona is the head of Australia’s nation Brand at the Australian Trade and Investment Commission (Austrade).
A values-based and results-focused leader, Fiona’s proven ability to lead highly complex international organisations positions her as a figure of influence across Australian business in both private and government sectors. Fiona is known as an astute global leader who is currently entrusted with the promotion and re-imagination of Australia’s Nation Brand. Known for her bold strategic decisions, Fiona brings fresh insight and approach through her leadership, having worked for the Australian Olympic Committee and worked as a lawyer earlier in her career.
Committed to broadening Australia’s international reputation through innovative leadership and a passion to stand up for what is right, no matter how difficult the circumstances.
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Alastair Dawnson
Alastair Dawson is the Senior Deputy Vice-Chancellor of CQUniversity Australia. He is an expert in transformational leadership that guides organisations through periods of disruption and change. He prioritises disruptive innovation, global leadership and team building to garner results.
Alastair boldly lead the initiative to successfully open Australia’s first Indonesian campus through CQUni and reduced costs of international university operations by 40 per cent in 16 months through his executive leadership. The outstanding success of CQUni’s first international campus can be credited to Alastair’s emphasis on accountability, authenticity and charitability to incite positive change.
Likewise, Alastair has also held key community positions such as CEO of Beaudesert Shire Council and Rockhampton Regional Council. Alastair’s success across a breadth of roles and industries is attributed to his focus on operational and financial stability across his 25 years of executive leadership.
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Michael Reid
Michael Reid is the Queensland, Northern Territory and Papua New Guinea General Manager for international tech conglomerate, Cisco. Here, Michael oversees all operations and leads with an international attitude and experience paired with a local focus and feel. Michael has worked in the IT industry for more than 15 years and began his journey with a degree in Aerospace Engineering from the Queensland University of Technology. Prior to his role at CISCO, Michael worked in executive roles across major financial and banking institutions.
Going beyond his expert understanding of all things IT and finance, Michael is passionate about inciting authentic and inclusive leadership. He is a board member of the Australian Information Industry Associations and advisory member for Women in Digital, championing women’s roles and contributions across IT. Michael is an accomplished industry speaker, having shared his knowledge across multiple podcasts, TV interviews, panels and case studies.
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Amanda Flemming
Amanda Flemming is an internationally recognised global leader with results in growth, transition, human resources and turnaround environments across a number of multinational organisations.
In November 2019, Amanda was appointed Chief People and Technology Officer at Viva Energy Australia. Amanda is a high energy business leader with exceptional communication who leads with vision and innovation. From 2015-2017 Amanda was the Director of human resources for the Coles Group, reporting to the managing director and responsible for all HR activities for more than 100,000 team members. Combined with her previous 20 years of experience in Business Transformation and Human Resources, Amanda has achieved great success across her career and tangibly elevated multiple high-volume organisations. Amanda is known for her focus on growth, culture and structural change from the inside out for enhanced business outcomes. Amanda has worked for international organisations across the US, Europe and Australia with her approach to leadership grounded in her morals and Masters in Organisation Change at Hult Business School.
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Sonia Cooper
Sonia Cooper is currently a Deputy Commissioner with the Public Service Commission (PSC) in the Queensland public sector.
Sonia has worked in eight organisations over a 30-year career across the public and private sectors. During this time Sonia has built capabilities and experience in organisational leadership, strategy, governance, corporate risk, finance, information and communication technologies, culture, people, change management and performance.
Sonia has worked as a CEO leading an organisation in difficult times, in establishing governance and mobilising new organisations. She has brokered partnerships with industry and the tertiary education sector to deliver more capable and future ready workforces and provided change leadership through a merger and acquisition process.
Sonia holds a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Queensland and a Bachelor of Business from Queensland University of Technology. Sonia is a graduate and member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
Sonia is passionate about authentic and courageous leadership providing the environment for people to flourish, perform at their best and deliver outstanding services and outcomes for customers and stakeholders.
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Gary McConaghy
Queensland Retail Property business McConaghy Properties develops, builds, owns and manages shopping centres throughout Australia. Established in 1969, the family owned business recently celebrated 50 years as industry leaders in their market.
With a brand promise of “McConaghy Properties – For People”, the company recognizes what it takes to make kind and courageous leadership choices to create enduring value and long-term success for their team and business.
Led by Gary McConaghy, the business has benefited from his extensive leadership and industry experience as he celebrates his 25th year in the Construction and Property industry.
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Mike Morgan
Mike Morgan is an executive leader specialising in large high-growth tech companies. His current role as Vice President and Managing Director APAC at Insight combines his expertise in computers and digital innovation with his strong vision for effective and empowering leadership. Mike has always been a problem solver and innovator, having built his first computer at aged eight and has always helped clients solve everyday challenges with modern technology. Mike is at the forefront of digital innovation and uses his unique leadership style to foster stronger workplaces, in turn creating more creative and effective software and services for businesses.
Mike has extensive experience in the IT sphere, having worked as Executive General Manager at IT companies Oakes and Empired and was appointed CEO of Australasian company, Intergen. Across these critical leadership roles, Mike strives to support a culture of innovation by clearing roadblocks and providing hands-on coaching to empower his teammates.
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Stephen Tait
Stephen Tait is the Chief Executive Officer of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry Queensland. Beginning his position in 2011, over the past eight years he has been fiercely committed to ensuring Queensland’s 400,000 small businesses continue to be the driving force of the state’s social and economic prosperity.
Stephen leads by championing small Queensland businesses by supporting innovation and increasing adaptability. A future-focused and strategic leader, Stephen advocates for businesses and the economic wellbeing of Queensland communities across private and government sectors. He is dedicated to generating a stronger, more prosperous and resilient business environment. Known as an entrepreneurial and commercially astute business leader, Stephen is a member of multiple government enterprise and non-profit boards to help be a driver for positive and collaborative change. Prior to joining the QLD Chamber of Commerce, Stephen was appointed the Group Commercial Director at APN Australian Regional Media and Commercial Director at News Limited.
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Mark Beitz
Mark is a Wynnum Manly Local born and bred has been with the company for 19 years and is now the Managing Director and Owner of Bartons. Bartons are an Automotive Retail Business who sell and service motor vehicles. They represent the brands of Holden, Hyundai, Mitsubishi, Nissan and Subaru and have locations at both Wynnum and Capalaba. Bartons have a turnover of $210 Million and employ 230 staff. Bartons lead the way in the Automotive Industry with their dedication to providing a flexible workforce that encourages Women in Business. Now with 71 Females across all facets of the operation including Senior Leadership it is no surprise they excel with exceptional customer service and year on year turnover growth now for the last 15 Years.
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Liana Callaghan
Liana is a Co-founder and Director of Troocoo and a senior executive search specialist. Liana has developed an extensive connection to senior leadership teams in ASX listed businesses, not for profits, statutory authorities, government entities, SME’s and private equity firms. During the past fifteen years, she has undertaken many executive search assignments and these were focused on C-suite appointments. Liana is also a Co-founder and Director of the Troocoo Venture Fund, which was established in 2017 to invest in a diversified portfolio of technology start-ups. The fund’s investment objective is to focus on scalable, capital-efficient technology start-ups where the strategy is to invest early and assist from a people advisory perspective.
Liana co-founded Troocoo in 2017 and this high performing business has been recognised by BRW as one of Australia’s top 100 fastest growing organisations. Liana attributes this success to a creating a diverse and inclusive culture where leaders are empowered and supported to be their absolute best.
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Faith Rees
Faith Rees is an established speaker, mentor and board member at the forefront of Australian tech innovation. Faith is the founder and director of SixPivot, a cloud-first software development consultancy and Cloud Ctrl, a leading cloud-billing management platform. With more than 20 years of industry experience, Faith created both companies to help foster tech innovation for governments, start-ups and organisations.
Faith is a committed leader and mentor to several innovative start-up boards as well as the Queensland Government Mentoring for Growth Program. Her commitment to innovation has seen her meet with former Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull to discuss Australian innovation along with being a guest judge on Channel Ten’s Shark Tank. Faith was also the winner the Women in Technology Start-up Entrepreneur award in 2017.