Is this event for you?

Priority registration for this event is exclusively for Professional Members. 

Join us for an unforgettable morning with Julia Gillard, a trailblazing leader and advocate for change. At this exclusive event, we delve into the inspiring journey of a woman who defied expectations and left a lasting mark on the political landscape of Australia. 

Driven by purpose in her public sector work, Ms Gillard championed the nation through the Global Financial Crisis, First Nation’s changing policies, and Emissions Trading Schemes.

An advocate for causes including education, gender equity, and mental health, she recently told the Simmons Leadership Conference, “If you are really passionate about something and raise your voice, you can make a difference.”

Inspiring a nation and instilling in Australians the confidence to lead and drive transformation, Julia Gillard's legacy is a testament to the impact of purposeful leadership.

What will you gain?

Hear insights from Julia Gillard, the first woman to ever serve as Australia’s Prime Minister.

Madeleine Culbert, CEO, IPAA NSW will lead an engaging discussion with Ms Gillard, as she shares insights, experiences, and wisdom gained from her remarkable career in politics. Ms Gillard will reflect how connecting our work to a deeper sense of purpose helps us to be more effective, gain energy, and be more resilient in the face of uncertainty. 

You’ll have the chance to engage with Ms. Gillard directly as she answers your questions on leadership, gender equality, and more.

Following Ms Gillard’s presentation, you’ll also be able to connect and network over lunch with like-minded individuals who share your passion for purpose-led work and making a difference. 

The Hon. Julia Gillard AC
Former Prime Minister

Julia Gillard was sworn in as the 27th Prime Minister of Australia on 24 June 2010 and served in that office until June 2013.

As Prime Minister and in her previous role as Deputy Prime Minister, Ms Gillard was central to the successful management of Australia’s economy - the 13th biggest economy in the world - during the Global Financial Crisis and as Australia positioned itself to seize the benefits of Asia’s rise. Ms Gillard delivered nation-changing policies including reforming Australian education at every level from early childhood to university, creating an emissions trading scheme, improving the provision and sustainability of health care, aged care and dental care, commencing the nation’s first ever national scheme to care for people with disabilities and restructuring the telecommunications sector as well as building the National Broadband Network

In foreign policy, Ms Gillard strengthened Australia’s alliance with the United States, secured stronger architecture for the relationship with China, upgraded Australia’s ties with India, and deepened ties with Japan, Indonesia and South Korea. Ms Gillard has represented Australia at the G20, including winning Australia’s right to host the 2014 meeting, the East Asia Summit, APEC, NATO-ISAF, and chaired CHOGM. Under Ms Gillard’s leadership, Australia was elected to serve on the United Nations Security Council. As Prime Minister, Ms Gillard developed Australia’s guiding policy paper, Australia in the Asian Century.

Ms Gillard is the first woman to ever serve as Australia’s Prime Minister or Deputy Prime Minister. In October 2012, Ms Gillard received worldwide attention for her speech in Parliament on the treatment of women in professional and public life. In February 2014, Ms Gillard was appointed chair of the Global Partnership for Education, a leading organisation dedicated to expanding access and quality education worldwide. Ms Gillard also serves as Patron of CAMFED, the Campaign for Female Education, which tackles poverty and inequality by supporting girls to go to school and succeed, and empowering young women to step up as leaders of change.

In 2017, Ms Gillard became Chair of Beyond Blue, Australia’s leading mental health awareness body. In April 2018, Ms Gillard was appointed Inaugural Chair of the Global Institute for Women’s Leadership at King’s College, London. Through research, practice and advocacy, GIWL is addressing women’s under-representation in leadership, and the way gender negatively impacts the valuation of women leaders. A sister institute has been launched at the Australian National University. In April 2021, Ms Gillard was appointed Chair of Wellcome, a global charitable foundation that supports science to solve urgent health challenges. It focuses on the effects of mental health issues, escalating infectious diseases, and climate change.

In October 2022, Ms Gillard was appointed to lead South Australia’s Royal Commission into Early Childhood Education and Care. The Royal Commission’s line of inquiry includes how families are supported in the first 1000 days of a child’s life, how universal quality preschool programs can be delivered, how all families can access out-of-school hours care and the benefits of increasing workforce participation from parents through improved access to care. Ms Gillard is a Distinguished Fellow with the Center for Universal Education at the Brookings Institution in Washington. Ms Gillard serves as an Honorary Professor at the University of Adelaide and is Patron of the John Curtin Prime Ministerial Library in Perth, Western Australia. Ms Gillard is Patron of Western Chances, which provides scholarships to help young people in Melbourne’s west who are facing financial barriers achieve their potential. Ms Gillard is Founding Patron of A Monument of One’s Own, a community campaign for more statues of Australian women. Ms Gillard is Patron of The Museum of Australian Democracy in Canberra, a living museum of the nation’s social and political history. Ms Gillard is Patron of The McKinnon Prize, an independent, non-partisan award that acknowledges outstanding political leadership.

Ms Gillard is the author of three books: My Story, which provides a detailed account of Ms Gillard’s time as Prime Minister, was published in September 2014. Her second book ‘Women and Leadership: real lives, real lessons’ which she co-authored with Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala was published in July 2020. It analyses the influence of gender on women’s access to positions of leadership, the perceptions of them as leaders, the trajectory of their leadership and the circumstances in which it comes to an end. Her third book ‘Not Now, Not Ever: Ten years on from the misogyny speech’ was published in October 2022. A decade on from the speech that stopped people in their tracks, the book asks where were you then? And where are we today? With contributions from others including Mary Beard, Kathy Lette and the Global Institute for Women’s Leadership, it explores the history and culture of misogyny and the roadmap for the future.

On Australia Day 2017, Ms Gillard was honoured to be awarded a Companion of the Order of Australia.

The Hon. Julia Gillard AC appears by arrangement with Michael Cassel Group, represented by Saxton Speakers Bureau

Madeleine Culbert
Chief Executive Officer
IPAA NSW

Madeleine Culbert is the Chief Executive Officer of IPAA NSW. Her appointment in July 2016 follows 18 years of membership of IPAA NSW. She brings more than 25 years of experience to the role having worked in the public, private and not-for-profit sectors across a range of senior executive positions. Madeleine has a deep understanding of the public sector and a commitment to delivering public good.

Prior to assuming the role, Madeleine was on the IPAA NSW Council for seven years, serving as Vice President for five years. She was also Chair of IPAA NSW’s Audit & Risk Committee and the Women’s Leadership Network, and the co-founder of the Young Professionals Network.

Madeleine has always been attracted to challenging roles that require the fine balance of delivering public value while operating commercially, and in partnership with the private sector. Her expertise in partnership management, stakeholder engagement, strategic planning and positioning, and governance provide her with a sound foundation for increasing business performance and organisational growth.

Madeleine commenced her work in the NSW public sector with QStores – the government’s consumer goods business – and moved quickly from Marketing Manager to General Manager. She led the commercialisation of the operation prior to its sale to the private sector. She later joined the Department of Public Works & Services executive team as Director Corporate Strategy & Asset Management to lead the Department’s new organisational strategic direction.

Following three years in the not-for-profit sector with UnitingCare Ageing, where she led organisational and governance reform and reported to an independent external board, – Madeleine returned to the public sector to build the major property development capability in Housing NSW, now the NSW Land and Housing Corporation.

Madeleine has a graduate diploma in business and a degree in classical ballet. She is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and graduate of the Executive Fellows Program of ANZSOG.

How to register