Carol Schwartz AO is one of Australia’s most dynamic business and community leaders with a diverse career across property, the arts, finance, investment, entrepreneurship, government and health. Carol is highly regarded as a public commentator and agitator on issues of gender equality, women’s leadership, governance and business.

Carol has been recognised for her leadership via a range of honours including her 2019 appointment as an Officer of the Order of Australia, an Honorary Doctorate from Monash University and Queensland University of Technology, induction into the Australia Property Hall of Fame, and a Centenary Medal. Carol was also named one of Australia’s most influential women in the Australian Financial Review and Westpac’s Inaugural 100 Women of Influence Awards and inducted into the Victorian Women’s Honour Roll. In November 2020 Carol was recognised with the nation’s highest philanthropic honour, the ‘Leading Philanthropist’ Award by Philanthropy Australia. 

Carol has chaired and participated in numerous listed and private company boards, has chaired major government boards and conducted significant inquiries on behalf of government. Carol’s current board roles include the Reserve Bank of Australia, Trawalla Group and Chair of EQT Holdings Limited.

Throughout her career Carol has been a passionate advocate for women in leadership, particularly in business, politics and the media. As Chair of the Trawalla Foundation and the Women’s Leadership Institute Australia, she has catalysed a range of practical solutions, including the Pathways to Politics Program for Women, the Panel Pledge, and the Women for Media database. Carol is also the Founding Chair of Our Community, a member of the Harvard Kennedy School’s Women’s Leadership Board, and the Global Institute for Women’s Leadership Advisory Board, Kings College.

Ryan is a former professional cricket player and founder of the charity Batting for Change, which focuses on alleviating poverty and gender discrimination in developing, cricket-playing nations by supporting access to higher education. He has worked as a consultant to state and federal governments on education and innovation policy in Australia. At Harvard, Ryan’s study focused on policy responses to confront rising economic inequality and address climate change. Through a career in policy and public service, he hopes to contribute to improved social and economic policy for a more inclusive and productive society. Ryan holds a Bachelor of Arts in economics and politics from the University of Sydney and a Master in Public Policy from Harvard University.