LeadHERship Labs
Whether you are interested in becoming a leader, an experienced professional, or someone seeking a career change, this event will provide you with the inspiration, knowledge, and tools you need to move forward with confidence.
Welcome to our second Sisterhood Club event of 2024! Prepare to be inspired, empowered, and motivated to pursue your technology dreams.
On Wednesday, July 24th, we will have the privilege of learning from three exceptional leaders in technology: Georgia Patin (Head of Commercial & Strategy at Coles), Colleen Pender (Head of Technology at NAB), and Karen Symes (CTO at TelstraSuper)
They will share their insights, experiences, and valuable lessons they have learned along the way. Through their stories, you will gain a deeper understanding of what it takes to thrive in the tech industry, how to overcome obstacles, and how to chart your own path to success. Each of them brings a unique perspective to the table, having navigated the challenges and triumphs of leadership roles in tech.
We look forward to welcoming you to 'LeadHERship Labs"
Meet Your Panellists
Georgia Patin
LinkedInHead of Strategy and Commercial at Coles
Georgia leads Technology Strategy for Coles Group, where her focus is on leveraging technology to deliver corporate strategy and drive growth and transformation. She is based in Melbourne and has 20 years of experience in shaping and driving large-scale business and digital transformations in Retail, Healthcare, Utilities and Telco. She is an expert in aligning technology with overall business objectives to enable organisations to realise the full potential of their tech investments. With expertise in corporate strategy, operating models, workforce, and talent strategies, she takes a holistic approach to improve speed to market, customer experience, empower the workforce and reduce cost to serve. She is passionate about harnessing the power of technology to drive positive change and is co-chair of the Coles Gender Equity Team Member Network.
Colleen Pender
LinkedInHead of Technology at NAB
Colleen is a technology leader with over 20 years working in various industries including IT, Finance, Logistics and Local/State Government. She has significant experience leading technology transformations, large-scale releases and projects. Colleen is currently working as the Head of Technology Services at National Australia Bank where she has been for the past 14 years. She has worked with senior client and vendor stakeholders spanning over multiple international locations. She has a strong delivery focus and excels at finding solutions to challenges. Her strong communication and negotiation skills help her to operate effectively in complex environments and achieve the best outcomes for organisations and customers. She is a passionate leader and coach who empowers individuals and inspires teams to drive change and continuous improvement.
Karen Symes
LinkedInCTO at TelstraSuper
Karen is responsible for leading the technology and operations functions within TelstraSuper. Karen joined TelstraSuper in January 2018 and brings over 25 years’ experience in leading Technology functions within the financial services sector both in Australia and UK and is also skilled in implementing new ways of working based on Agile, LEAN and Innovation practices. Her most recent role was Chief Information & Innovation Officer at Guild Group Holdings with similar executive and senior roles held at Equity Trustees and ANZ Bank. She has a proven track record in developing people, building high performing teams and mentoring with a strong desire to see the next generation of talent evolve in their personal and career life journeys.