Building Inclusive Leadership Pipelines: Data-Driven Succession Pathways for Diverse Talent

Alicia ‘Cia’ Kouparitsas is an award-winning executive manager who has spent 15+ years leading teams in the IT sector across the Asia Pacific, UK, USA and Canada. Now, as Chief Customer Officer at WithYouWithMe, Cia dedicates her efforts to building highly skilled, innovative and thriving workforces while also creating opportunities for people from underserved communities.

Across global markets, Cia is a passionate advocate for building skills-based workforces that allow all individuals to realise their full potential, regardless of their cultural, social or employment backgrounds. She also works alongside leading organisations to support the strategic upskilling of diverse individuals.

Gina Meibusch has dedicated herself to the Mentoring and Coaching industry to support varied organisations achieve strategic objectives, through cultivating impactful human connections. With 12+ years in designing, implementing, and managing mentoring programs, Gina has earned various accreditations from the European Mentoring and Coaching Council (EMCC) at Senior Practitioner Level. This includes the Individual Programme Manager Accreditation (IPMA) - making her the first holder of this esteemed international accreditation in Australia.

Holly is a passionate founder, leader, mentor and specialist recruiter who is driven to help progressive organisations source and attract emerging and accomplished female leaders in the digital, technology and cyber sectors.

As the founder and CEO of Women in Digital, a national membership-based entity, Holly connects, educates and empowers women in digital and harnesses the power of technology to create a better future for all. For more than 10 years, Women in Digital has been collaborating with some of Australia’s leading technology organisations and industry heavyweights to deliver forward-thinking events, workshops and awards designed to promote diversity in the industry and encourage professionals to confidently move up the ranks of leadership.

Annie Mulders is the National Partnerships Director at Year13, a business 100% committed to helping young people live happier, healthier more fulfilled lives by upgrading the school to work transition.

Annie has 25 years leadership experience in multi-media content integration, marketing and sponsorship, and now dedicates her time to working with Government, Industry and Employers to help them connect with young people and their next generation of employees. Annie advocates for young people to prioritise their personal passions and what they love to do to inform their pathway and career choices.

Annie also works with brands to support young people with valuable life skills and wellbeing support as they navigate being young and becoming adults.

"In my work I'm proudest when I see young people progress into roles they love, that challenge them and enable them to thrive and when we as a team achieve great outcomes for our partners".

Lucy McClean is a passionate advocate and leader in the resources industry, first starting over 25 years ago in a resources exploration company. Over her career, Lucy has been a pioneer in ESG (environment, social/community, governance), champion of diversity and inclusion and has had extensive experience in advocacy, policy and strategy across multiple sectors in energy and resources.

Lucy received international recognition in 2022 as one of ‘100 Global Inspirational Women in Mining’ (WIM100) and in 2023 she was named as Inclusion and Diversity Champion in the Australian National Women in Resources Awards and the NSW Women in Mining Awards. Lucy is the inaugural Chair of ‘WIMARA – Women in Mining and Resources Australia’ and Past Chair of ‘Women in Mining NSW’.