Fearless & Future Ready: Women Leading and What's Next in Work, Leadership and AI
What does it take to lead boldly in a world that won't stop changing?
This is the question at the heart of our next Sisterhood Club evening, Fearless & Future Ready: Women Leading and What's Next in Work, Leadership and AI. We're bringing together three exceptional leaders who have each carved their own path to the top and are now shaping what comes next. Between them they bring experience leading transformation at one of Australia's most iconic retail brands, redefining what high-performing human-centred culture looks like, and turning enterprise-wide AI adoption from theory into everyday practice.
Expect an honest, unfiltered evening that goes beyond the highlight reel. We'll explore what real leadership looks like under pressure, how the future of work is already reshaping the roles we hold and the teams we lead, and what it actually means to engage with AI practically and confidently. Whether you're navigating your next career move, building a team, or simply trying to make sense of what's coming, this night is for anyone who believes diverse leadership makes work and the world better.
Meet Your Panellists
Julie Watkins
LinkedInChief People Officer at UniSuper
Julie Watkins is Chief People Officer at UniSuper, where she leads the organisation’s people and culture strategy. A senior executive with experience across sectors, geographies and boards. Julie has never had a set career plan however is passionate about the role executive women play in shaping the future of work—building inclusive, high‑performing cultures that support both people and performance. She is a regular contributor to industry conversations on leadership, culture and the future of work.
Erin Ashton
LinkedInAI Enablement Leader Oceania at EY
Erin Ashton is the AI Enablement Leader at EY Oceania, driving enterprise-wide AI adoption across 10,000 people. She helps teams move from talking about AI to actually using it with confidence and impact. Working at the intersection of technology, people and change, Erin turns fast-moving AI capability into clear pathways, practical tools and hands-on learning that scale. She is known for removing friction from adoption, balancing innovation with governance and building communities that turn curiosity into everyday ways of working.
Fiona Hayes
LinkedInChief Executive Officer and Managing Director at 7-Eleven Australia
Fiona joined 7-Eleven in 2022 as General Manager - Channel before being appointed CEO and Managing Director in July 2024. She is responsible for leading the 7-Eleven Australia team, driving the business strategy, growing the brand and maintaining the company’s position as Australia’s first choice in convenience retailing. She has extensive experience in operations and retail networks, having held a range of senior roles at Telstra for over 26 years, including 12 years on the Telstra executive team. Fiona thrives on engaging and leading large cross-functional teams to deliver strategic customer, people and commercial outcomes. Fiona is a former Telstra Foundation Board member.