Avril Henry is the Founder, CFO and Executive Director of Avril Henry & Associates. She is an acclaimed keynote speaker, consultant, coach, mentor, and author, who is passionate about diversity and inclusion, developing collaborative leaders and positive workplaces.
Over 20 years her consulting business has worked with organisations to change their culture and build their leadership capability. Avril’s career has spanned senior roles in finance, project management, change management and human resources in South Africa, Australia, NZ, the UK, and the USA.
Avril was awarded a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) in the 2024 Australia Day Honours List for significant service to business consultancy, project management & advancement of women.
In 2015 Avril was named one of the AFR Westpac 100 Women of Influence in Australia, and one of the 10 most influential women in the diversity space. She has been recognised by the Human Rights Commission and received business awards in Australia and the USA, for her diversity programs. She has received the prestigious Lifetime Achievement in HR Award at the Australian Human Resources Awards and received a global award for Excellence in Leadership Coaching.
Avril has been a senior advisor on cultural transformation, gender and diversity to the Chief of Defence, Chiefs of Army & Navy, Australia; the ACT Commissioner of Emergency Services and was a member of the Australian Navy People & Capability Committee for a decade. Avril has coached Generals and Brigadiers in the Australian Army, the Chief of the Army, Heads of Special Forces, past and present, ambassadors, emergency services executives and CEOs in the private sector, in Australia and globally. Her clients include banks & financial services, mining, construction, IT, health & aged care, universities, pharmaceuticals and biotechnology, and state & federal government departments.
Avril has a degree in accounting and economics from the University of Cape Town, is an accredited coach and did postgraduate studies in Human Resources at AGSM and leadership at Harvard Business School. In 2020 she completed post-graduate studies in Positive Psychology & Wellbeing. She is a Fellow of CPA (Certified Practicing Accountant) Australia, a Senior Fellow of the Financial Services Institute of Australasia, a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Managers and Leaders, a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (GAICD), and a member of AHRI (Australian Human Resources Institute). Avril has served on multiple boards and several industry association bodies, as a director, Deputy Chair or Chair.
She is the author and co-author of several books on leadership, the different generations at work and gender. Avril was a panellist on TV on ABC’s The Drum, ABC national radio, writes for several business magazines and is the convenor/interviewer of the podcast, AHAA Moments which covers current affairs. She lives in Mollymook and Sydney with her husband and three Spoodles, who keep her grounded!
Talking Points
Opening Our Minds to Diversity
Diversity leadership is about understanding the value and strength of difference. It is about harnessing the strengths of gender, age, culture, disability, flexibility, and different ways of thinking, working, managing and leading. True diversity leadership results in creativity, innovation, and an environment where employees are encouraged to be the best they can be. On the other hand, conformity delivers more of the same old attitudes and problems, and cannot solve the problems of the future with existing thinking and methodologies.
Opening Our Minds to Diversity
The Rrecipe For Success = EQ + Resilience
According to Harvard Business School research, the greatest predictor of success in the future will not be in an individual’s IQ, it will be their EQ (Emotional Intelligence), and their resilience; their ability to pick themselves up from personal or professional hardships or problems, and move forward in a new, positive way. Their EQ will determine their success at influencing people, building relationships and valuing diversity. Are your people, and is your organisation emotionally intelligent and resilient?
The Rrecipe For Success = EQ + Resilience
Engaging and Understanding All Generations
Each generation in the workplace has different expectations of the organisation, career development, learning and development and their leaders, and are motivated by different things. Understanding these differences and harnessing the uniqueness of each generation enables managers and leaders to motivate and manage each generation for maximum employee engagement, productivity and performance.
Engaging and Understanding All Generations
The Leader of the Future
What will it take to lead the workforce of the future? By 2020 40% of the workforce will consist of Gen Ys, and Gen Zs will then be part of the workforce. Generation X will be the new senior managers and Baby Boomers will dominate boards in the private sector. This keynote is based on extensive interviews with over 100 successful leaders and future leaders and will give you a detailed insight into the characteristics required of future leaders.
The Leader of the Future
Leading the Future Workforce
In the year 2050... rapidly ageing populations and workforces in educated societies over the next three decades, global skills shortages and population growth confined to the 50 poorest countries in the world will create new and complex problems in society and business. Will you be prepared?Leading the Future Workforce
Technology, science, medicine, agriculture, mining, and the way we live and work will have changed radically and nothing will be as it was. Business models, strategic workforce planning and leadership styles will need to adapt now to ensure sustainable, corporate socially responsible and profitable businesses in the future.
Self-Leadership = the Power of One
You cannot lead others unless you know how to lead yourself first. Self-leadership is about choices, self-awareness, self-belief and backing yourself. It is about taking care of yourself, before taking care of others. Self-care leads to self-preservation and a greater ability to lead others successfully. It is about the Power of One.
Self-Leadership = the Power of One
Video
GLAM - Avril on...her experience
Great Leaders Are Made GLAM is a three month leadership programme lead by Avril Henry. Participants attend one full day workshop per month for three months. Over the duration of the programme the participants embed their learnings through homework and practice in their day-to-day lives.GLAM - Avril on...coaching
Great Leaders Are Made GLAM is a three month leadership programme lead by Avril Henry. Participants attend one full day workshop per month for three months. Over the duration of the programme the participants embed their learnings through homework and practice in their day-to-day lives.GLAM - Avril on...the need to develop women in leadership
Great Leaders Are Made GLAM is a three month leadership programme lead by Avril Henry. Participants attend one full day workshop per month for three months. Over the duration of the programme the participants embed their learnings through homework and practice in their day-to-day lives.Ita Buttrose up close and personal with Avril Henry and Steve Van Aperen
Ita Buttrose talks with Avril Henry and Steve Van Aperen at the Saxton Corporate Luncheon in Sydney, July 2011. Avril Henry is a game-changer who tells it like it is. She is an internationally-acclaimed keynote speaker, author, leadership strategist, coach and provocateur who is passionate about diversity, and transforming old leadership models and workplace practices.Avril Henry was brilliant! I really enjoyed the topic - very well presented, informative, entertaining and one of the most thought-provoking topics I have listened to in a long time. She's a ... keep reading IBM New Zealand
Avril's knowledge of the global situation was impressive, extremely well planned, insightful and interesting. It was a lot of fun, hardly noticed the learning aspect; Avril had great energy... a practical session, especially on giving constructive feedback... the understanding of self was excellent.
Ms Avril Henry has been working closely with the Royal Australian Navy through the 'Sea Change' program for approximately eight months. She was appointed as a Navy Strategic HR Advisor, not only to the program, but more broadly to all Senior Leadership of the RAN up to and including the Chief of Navy. This relationship has already proved to be most successful with significant momentum already achieved. She has provided invaluable contemporary HR insights that have greatly assisted the shape and direction of the Sea Change program that aims to improve retention within the Navy. Indeed, cultural reform is at the heart of the program! Avril is a highly dynamic and credible HR professional who has (at our request) challenged/confronted some of the more traditional HR practices of Navy. Avril has greatly assisted Navy to understand that there MUST be changes to the entire HR system such that it is far more responsive to the generational expectations of a contemporary workforce. Ms Henry is an outstanding and integral part of Navy's Workforce Retention and Cultural Reform agenda.
For the past five years Avril has been working with Fund Executives Association Ltd to help the CEOs of Australia's largest superannuation funds to become better leaders. Through keynote presentations and workshop facilitation, Avril has equipped fund executives with essential people management strategies and guided our members to consider and understand the critical role they play in establishing a workplace culture that values individuals and encourages team members to give and achieve their very best. Avril Henry has the unique ability to engage an audience, impart knowledge, inspire thought and motivate the change that leads to better outcomes for individuals and organisations.
Thank you for delivering a brilliant keynote presentation at TUF23. Your presentation set an extremely positive and enthusiastic vibe running through all delegates. Comments from your presentation were popping up everywhere, quoted in other sessions throughout the forum. There were plenty of references to Gens X and Y, the baby boomers and veterans. I think people had seen the light and felt empowered to make changes for the better, based on this new insight into generational differences. I can't stress enough how many people commented on your presentation and how fabulous it really was. I would like to also thank you for the time spent in preparing your presentation, traveling to and from TUF23 and speaking with delegates to answer their questions afterwards.
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