In the past quarter of a century, the vision and purpose of Chief Executive Women (CEW) has diversified and evolved as its membership has grown, reflecting the ascendency of women leaders in Australia.

CEW remains a member-based organisation where women leaders can draw strength from fellow members.  As the number of members has grown along with women’s representation in leadership positions in Australia, so too has the depth and breadth of initiatives and services provided by CEW.

The organisation now known as Chief Executive Women had its foundations as a branch of the international organisation, “Women Chiefs of Enterprise” in 1985.

“We grew from the delight of having a peer group….”  , founding President, Barbara Cail.

Underpinning the formation of the group was a mutual passion to get a fairer deal for women leaders.  CEW also provided a haven or respite for women seeking to share their experiences as pioneers in the boardrooms of Australia.

The women that started the organisation were pioneers, they had to work hard to develop something…[assisting Australia to]  accept the fact that women can run a company go away and have a family come back and continue run a business or become a professional board director. (Bonnie Boezeman, CEW Annual Dinner, 2005, captured as part of the Pathfinders CD) :
In 1991 these same women formed a new group, Chief Executive Women whose core objective was to facilitate greater representation of women at senior levels of Australian business, Government, and Not-for-profit sectors.   Initially based in NSW, CEW has grown to be a nationally representative group.

During its first decade of operation, one of the first CEW initiatives was to provide an annual scholarship to aspiring women leaders.  Many of these scholarships were focussed on equipping women with one of the most valued qualification in the business world, an MBA.

According to Wendy McCarthy, “the scholarship has been an important way for letting some women’s dreams come true about being something that they dreamt about but didn’t think they could ever be”.

The scholarship has been a very unifying act for the whole group, that’s the magic, you’ve got women from such diverse fields and they enjoy each other’s company.  It’s good. Good fun. ..There is now a good alumni group of the women who are connected through the opportunities that the CEW gave them and I hope the cascading effect of that is that in their lives they’ll reach out for other women and help them.  (Wendy McCarthy, captured as part of the Pathfinders CD) :

During the 1980s and 1990s CEW also held a series of boardroom lunches which hosted captains of industry as guest speakers such a Bob Joss.  These functions were instrumental in CEW gaining prominence as a collection of powerful women leaders.

Members of CEW are regarded as serious contenders in the business community. So when people are looking for CEOs or Board members, they will talk to members of CEW. They look to CEW as a source to recruit for top jobs. (Carla Zampatti, CEW Annual Dinner, 2005, captured as part of the Pathfinders CD) :

As the number of women in leadership positions grew, so too did the influence of CEW.    In the mid nineties CEW made a submission to the Karpin Inquiry (Industry Taskforce on Leadership and Management Skills, Enterprising Nation: Renewing Australia’s Managers to Meet the Challenge of the Asia-Pacific Century, Canberra: AGPS, 1995) on women and diversity in management and leadership in the 21st century.

According to Narelle Kennedy, this work was reflected in subsequent government policy statements, and taken up in teaching materials in university business schools. (Narelle Kennedy, captured as part of the Pathfinders CD).

During the first decade of the 21st century, CEW used the skills of its members to increase resources.  This enabled CEW to broaden the breadth and depth of its activities to include the Talent Development Program and the CEW CEO Kit.

We’re committed to a purpose and a contribution, as women both in a representation sense and in using our talents.  So having that element in common, helps the challenge of staying in the workforce when there are a lot forces out there pulling you away…  It’s the greatest contribution to its members…But I think with the mentoring program and the metrics taskforce [later evolved into the CEW CEO kit] we will make a contribution that is a bit more enduring than just the retention of the members in the workforce and their continuation of contributing their talent. (Jillian Broadbent, captured as part of the Pathfinders CD)

As the first decade of the 21st century drew to a close, membership of CEW continued to grow.  At the same time the strategy of CEW became more externally focused to reflect the changing needs of the membership.  CEW began to take a greater role in promoting women leaders in Australian business resulting in the establishment of both the Talent Development Program (TDP) and CEW CEO Toolkit. These programs have subsequently been embraced by Australia’s leading corporations.  The CEW’s current focus is reflected in its recently changed vision, “Women Leaders Enabling Women Leaders”.

With the impending implementation of ASX guidelines regarding transparent reporting of the number of women in senior leadership positions in Australia’s corporate entities, CEW is well placed to offer a greater breadth and depth of services to its members and their employers.  The recently formed Business Engagement Committee recognises CEW’s most recent role in external advocacy and direct engagement with business leaders to encourage and assist them to attract, promote and retain talented women leaders.

Click here to see the Founding and Early Members

Former Presidents

1985 to 1989 Barbara Cail AM
1990 to 1992 Imelda Roche AO
1993 to 1994 Ita Buttrose AO, OBE
1995    Wendy McCarthy AO
1996    Helen Lynch AM
1997 to 1998 Sandra Yates
1999 to 2000 Annabelle Bennett AO
2001 to 2002 Karen Wilson
2003 to 2004 Diane Grady AO
2005 to 2006 Jillian Broadbent AO
2007 to 2008 Catherine Livingstone AO
2009 to 2010 Naseema Sparks
2011  Belinda Hutchinson AM

We know we have seeded, and will continue to seed the next generation of women leaders by providing role models and reference points on how they can create their own pathways. (Barbara Cail, Founding President, 20 year anniversary speech.