Our 2020 Sponsors
Tradeswomen Australia was established to encourage, recruit and retain women in skilled trade roles that are male-dominated. We support industries to capitalise on previously untapped workers through the engagement of all stakeholders and by leading large scale culture change projects. By recognising the need for change in social attitudes we support businesses to take the lead and remove the barriers for women who wish to enter their trade.
Tradeswomen Australia Board Members
Jane Sydenham-ClarkeChair & Non-Executive DirectorCEO of Skyline Education Foundation Australia, formerly CEO at Freemasons Victoria, Jane has held leadership roles including at Fed Square, Kidney Health Australia and Southgate Arts and Leisure Precinct. She brings a lifelong commitment to empowering women in work with senior leadership experience across marketing, commercial partnership development, community engagement, and operational management. Jane is committed to collaboration and communication, with a track record inspiring unprecedented business and social outcomes through innovative commercial practice. She is driven to make a sustained positive impact for women in trades building on contributions to Victoria’s social fabric through enabling community, cultural, education, tourism and health outcomes. Jane is a Leadership Victoria and AICD graduate, a non-executive director of Urban Camp and a mentor to emerging for purpose leaders.
Tony NobleNon-Executive DirectorTony has over 35 years of experience in the electrical and communications industries and was one of the five owners of a National Electrical Communications company, DESA Australia prior to moving into a global role with an international company with its headquarters based in Chicago. For the past 17 years, he has worked in a global role as the VP Global Sales and Technical Support at Molex Connected Enterprise Solutions. As a member of the global Executive Leadership Team, Tony is responsible for the development and delivery of Global Sales and Technology Initiatives. In alignment with the ELT, Tony develops the strategic initiatives for global markets including the risk assessment, development of new product solutions, marketing strategies and manufacturing refinement initiatives to meet local and global growth and profitability requirements. Tony is also an independent director on the National Electrical and Communications Association Careers and Education (NECA) Board of Directors and a member of the Audit and Risk Committee. He is also a member of the NECA IOT. steering committee.
Sarah PalmerNon-Executive DirectorSarah works as the Project Manager of Capital Projects at Boral. Sarah holds a Bachelor of Laws (Hons) / Bachelor of Science and is an inclusive leader with a track record of building high performing teams, creating trusting business relationships and creating strategic partnerships with suppliers and customers. Diverse leadership experience developed through roles in Australia, UK, Europe and New Zealand. Breaking down barriers to allow diversity in all its forms to participate in the industry, strengthening performance and innovation within companies and government enterprises.
Fiona McDonaldExecutive DirectorFiona McDonald’s career began as a light vehicle apprentice, during her apprenticeship and time working in the automotive industry she identified a lack of support, promotion and opportunities for women in trade industries. During her apprenticeship, Fiona started a networking group for women in trades. Building relationships and establishing partnerships with business and industry, Fiona developed and implemented strategies to increase the participation of women in trades. With rounded experience, Fiona understands the opportunities of gender equity in male-dominated industries. Fiona values workplace diversity and works with employers to help them achieve benefits such as higher employee engagement, Improved performance, Greater innovation, Retention of talent, Improved employee wellbeing and remove unlawful behaviours such as harassment and discrimination.
Ron SmithNon-Executive DirectorManaging Director of Corporate Media Communications PL has over four decades of experience in the media advising both the private sector and government in relation to media and community strategies. Ron has worked with the Urban Land Authority for twelve years; was responsible for the communication program to establish the Docklands Authority, and was the independent media adviser and strategist for the Local Government Board during the Victorian Council Amalgamations. He has been an advisor to many Councils in Victoria specialising in crisis management and has been involved in creating strategies for Kidsafe Victoria on child accident prevention and developing campaigns for the Victorian Deafness Foundation and the Royal Children’s Hospital Good Friday Appeal. Ron has an enduring commitment to fairness and is dedicated to enabling equity for women in trades.
Richard DentNon-Executive DirectorRichard has been active in Australia's civic life for more than two decades, most recently as Leadership Victoria’s Chief Executive Officer and prior leading large complex organisations, advising governments, and contributing to public policy and major social campaigns such as the National Disability Insurance Scheme campaign, as well as fostering leadership in business, government and civic organisations. Richard is proud to have helped provide services to some of Australia's most disadvantaged and vulnerable individuals and families and established a body of expertise in leadership, executive management, and NFP governance. He is deeply experienced in building NFP organisations' activities, sustainability and impact. His creed is to bring together business, government and civic organisations to make progress in complex issues for Victoria, Australia and the world, particularly relating to economic wellbeing, adapting to digital disruption, fostering social fairness, maintaining a sustainable environment and upholding human rights.
Katie GardinerNon-Executive DirectorAn experienced lawyer and former senior associate, Katie has acted for Australian and multinational companies across a wide range of complicated disputes involving energy regulation, construction, tax, employment and general commercial litigation in a variety of jurisdictions. She now manages a team of investigators as part of the business investigations function at Allens and specialises in whistleblowing laws and training.
As part of a family full of tradies, Katie is passionate about women’s equity and fiercely focussed on improving meaningful opportunities for women in trades.
CEO of Skyline Education Foundation Australia, formerly CEO at Freemasons Victoria, Jane has held leadership roles including at Fed Square, Kidney Health Australia and Southgate Arts and Leisure Precinct. She brings a lifelong commitment to empowering women in work with senior leadership experience across marketing, commercial partnership development, community engagement, and operational management. Jane is committed to collaboration and communication, with a track record inspiring unprecedented business and social outcomes through innovative commercial practice. She is driven to make a sustained positive impact for women in trades building on contributions to Victoria’s social fabric through enabling community, cultural, education, tourism and health outcomes. Jane is a Leadership Victoria and AICD graduate, a non-executive director of Urban Camp and a mentor to emerging for purpose leaders.
Tony has over 35 years of experience in the electrical and communications industries and was one of the five owners of a National Electrical Communications company, DESA Australia prior to moving into a global role with an international company with its headquarters based in Chicago. For the past 17 years, he has worked in a global role as the VP Global Sales and Technical Support at Molex Connected Enterprise Solutions. As a member of the global Executive Leadership Team, Tony is responsible for the development and delivery of Global Sales and Technology Initiatives. In alignment with the ELT, Tony develops the strategic initiatives for global markets including the risk assessment, development of new product solutions, marketing strategies and manufacturing refinement initiatives to meet local and global growth and profitability requirements. Tony is also an independent director on the National Electrical and Communications Association Careers and Education (NECA) Board of Directors and a member of the Audit and Risk Committee. He is also a member of the NECA IOT. steering committee.
Sarah works as the Project Manager of Capital Projects at Boral. Sarah holds a Bachelor of Laws (Hons) / Bachelor of Science and is an inclusive leader with a track record of building high performing teams, creating trusting business relationships and creating strategic partnerships with suppliers and customers. Diverse leadership experience developed through roles in Australia, UK, Europe and New Zealand. Breaking down barriers to allow diversity in all its forms to participate in the industry, strengthening performance and innovation within companies and government enterprises.
Fiona McDonald’s career began as a light vehicle apprentice, during her apprenticeship and time working in the automotive industry she identified a lack of support, promotion and opportunities for women in trade industries. During her apprenticeship, Fiona started a networking group for women in trades. Building relationships and establishing partnerships with business and industry, Fiona developed and implemented strategies to increase the participation of women in trades. With rounded experience, Fiona understands the opportunities of gender equity in male-dominated industries. Fiona values workplace diversity and works with employers to help them achieve benefits such as higher employee engagement, Improved performance, Greater innovation, Retention of talent, Improved employee wellbeing and remove unlawful behaviours such as harassment and discrimination.
Managing Director of Corporate Media Communications PL has over four decades of experience in the media advising both the private sector and government in relation to media and community strategies. Ron has worked with the Urban Land Authority for twelve years; was responsible for the communication program to establish the Docklands Authority, and was the independent media adviser and strategist for the Local Government Board during the Victorian Council Amalgamations. He has been an advisor to many Councils in Victoria specialising in crisis management and has been involved in creating strategies for Kidsafe Victoria on child accident prevention and developing campaigns for the Victorian Deafness Foundation and the Royal Children’s Hospital Good Friday Appeal. Ron has an enduring commitment to fairness and is dedicated to enabling equity for women in trades.
Richard has been active in Australia's civic life for more than two decades, most recently as Leadership Victoria’s Chief Executive Officer and prior leading large complex organisations, advising governments, and contributing to public policy and major social campaigns such as the National Disability Insurance Scheme campaign, as well as fostering leadership in business, government and civic organisations. Richard is proud to have helped provide services to some of Australia's most disadvantaged and vulnerable individuals and families and established a body of expertise in leadership, executive management, and NFP governance. He is deeply experienced in building NFP organisations' activities, sustainability and impact. His creed is to bring together business, government and civic organisations to make progress in complex issues for Victoria, Australia and the world, particularly relating to economic wellbeing, adapting to digital disruption, fostering social fairness, maintaining a sustainable environment and upholding human rights.
An experienced lawyer and former senior associate, Katie has acted for Australian and multinational companies across a wide range of complicated disputes involving energy regulation, construction, tax, employment and general commercial litigation in a variety of jurisdictions. She now manages a team of investigators as part of the business investigations function at Allens and specialises in whistleblowing laws and training.
As part of a family full of tradies, Katie is passionate about women’s equity and fiercely focussed on improving meaningful opportunities for women in trades.
Tradeswomen Australia Strategy Council
Chief Executive Officer for WHISE (Women's Health in the South East) and Chairperson for Gender Equity (GEN Vic) Executive Director at Apprenticeship Employment Network (AEN) Director - Industry Initiatives and Engagement at RMIT Emeritus Professor Victoria University and Non-Executive Director, Board of Chisholm Institute General Manager Primary Prevention and Community Programs at Jesuit Social Services Senior Policy Officer – Apprenticeships & Traineeships Department of Education & Training General Manager (Global Apprentice Network) Director of Health and Safety, Australia (Kirkland Lake Gold Ltd) General Manager – Human Resources (Programmed)
Tradeswomen Australia Team
