AIEF AMBASSADORS

Kate Howitt

Investment Committee, River Capital; Chair 9 Degrees

Kate is on the Investment Committee of River Capital, a multi-asset boutique fund manager, and she continues as the chair of 9 Degrees Pty Ltd. Included in the top 30 of Citywire’s quantitative ranking of the world’s female portfolio managers, out of 1,700 managers, for 4 years. Named Money Management’s Women in Financial Services Investor of the Year 2015 and in 2016, Lonsec’s Rising Star. 
From 2007 to 2022 Kate was a portfolio manager of Australian equities funds in Fidelity International. Previously analyst/portfolio manager with AMP Capital, and a consultant with the Boston Consulting Group in Sydney. Kate received her Master of Business Administration from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business.

Paul Whittaker

Chief Executive Officer, Sky News Australia

Chief Executive Officer of Sky News Australia, the leading provider of 24- hour television news and opinion in Australia and New Zealand and one of the nation’s biggest digital news brands. Paul is a member of News Corp Australia’s Executive Leadership Team and Chairman of The Australian newspaper’s editorial board. Former Editor-in-Chief of The Australian from 2015 to 2018 and former Editor of The Daily Telegraph from 2011 to 2015.

Prof Kerryn Phelps AM

Politician; medical practitioner; public health and civil rights advocate

City of Sydney Councillor, former federal member for Wentworth, medical practitioner, former President of the Australian Medical Association, public health and civil rights advocate.

Benson Saulo

Managing Partner, First Australians Capital


Managing Partner, First Australians Capital; Founding Director of the National Indigenous Youth Leadership Academy, former, Australian Consul-General to the USA (Houston) & Senior Trade and Investment Commissioner at the Australian Trade and Investment Commission; former Australian Youth Representative to the UN, former Treasurer of Youth Affairs Council Victoria.

Rachel Perkins

Founder and Managing Director of Blackfella Films

Award winning film and television producer, director and writer; Founder and Managing Director of Blackfella Films, Screen Australia Board member, former Commissioner of the Australian Film Commission, former President of the AIATSIS Foundation.

Amanda Green

Managing Partner and Strategic Advisor at Effective Solutions

Managing Partner and Strategic Advisor at Effective Solutions

Creator and Director at the Next Generation of IT leaders program APAC CIO Connect; Adjunct Professor and International MBA advisor at the Chinese University of Hong Kong and Hong Kong University of Science and Technology

Former International C suite Executive for Fortune 200, ASX 100, and FTSE 100 businesses; Former Global Executive General Manager, Strategy and Transformation at Tourism Australia; Former Price Water house Cooper Asian practice leader, strategic change and human capital; Former Chair at Forum for Executive Women, network for senior female business owners, entrepreneurs and executives in APAC; Former Hong Kong Women of Influence Committee, American Chamber of Commerce

Geoffrey Garrett

Dean of the University of Southern California (USC) Marshall School of Business

Dean of the University of Southern California (USC) Marshall School of Business

Fellow of the Australian Academy of the Social Sciences; sits on the Advisory Boards of the Indian School of Business and the Tsinghua University School of Economics and Management. Dr Garrett is a member of the board of directors of Park Hotels and Resorts and is a winner of the Foreign Policy Association Medal and the Advance Global Australian Award.

Former Dean, Reliance Professor of Management and Private Enterprise, Professor of Management at the Wharton School; Former Professor of Political Science at the University of Pennsylvania; Former Dean of the Australian School of Business at the University of New South Wales; Former Dean of the University of Sydney Business School; Former Dean of the UCLA International Institute; Founding CEO of the United States Studies Centre at the University of Sydney; Former President of the Pacific Council on International Policy in Los Angeles; Former Professor at Oxford, Stanford and Yale Universities.

Dr Garrett holds a BA (Honors) from the Australian National University, and an MA and PhD from Duke University where he was a Fulbright Scholar.

Annie Corlett AM

External Advisory Committee for the Dept. of Government and International Relations at the University of Sydney

External Advisory Committee for the Dept. of Government and International Relations at the University of Sydney

Former Senate Representative, University of Sydney Sport & Fitness Management Committee; former President of the University of Sydney Alumni Council; former National Board Member of Lifeline Australia and volunteer for the Homicide Victims Support Group (NSW) Support Line.

Appointed as a Member of the General Division of the Order of Australia in 2016 for significant service to the community through a range of social welfare, not-for-profit, visual arts, academic alumni and victim support groups.

Awarded an honorary fellowship by the University of Sydney 2017.

Anita Thompson

Head of Business Operations at Lawyers On Demand

Head of Business Operations at Lawyers On Demand

Proud Torres Strait Islander woman with over 20 years experience in the professional services industry.

Former Director, People and Development at Lawyers On Demand, former Senior HR Manager at Ashurst, former Senior HR Advisor at Deloitte and Deacons (Norton Rose Group).

Nova Peris OAM

Australian Olympian and former federal Senator

Australian Olympian and former federal Senator

Chief Executive Officer for the Nova Peris Foundation; Ambassador for Firesticks Alliance Indigenous Corporation; Advisor at Melbourne Water

Marina Wangurra

Director, Nawa Nawa Consultants Pty Ltd

Director, Nawa Nawa Consultants Pty Ltd

Consultant for Dhupuma Barker, Barker College; Empowered Communities, Yothu Yindi Foundation; Minerals Mining and Exploration, Aluminium Stewardship Initiative

Former Strategic Engagement Specialist East Arnhem Region, Northern Territory; Former Specialist Communities and Indigenous Affairs at Rio Tinto; Former Australian Public Servant, Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet – Indigenous Affairs

Richard Spurio

Managing Partner of global law firm Allens

Managing Partner of global law firm Allens; Chairman of Allens’ Inclusion and Diversity Council and Allens’ Community Engagement Board.

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