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speaker

Julia
Banks

Author, Leadership Consultant, & Former Federal MP

BA LLB GAICD

Successful leaders trust their instincts, always listen, and use their voice.

Profile

Julia Banks is an author, leadership consultant, keynote speaker, opinion writer, and lawyer - who runs her own consultancy business.

An established thought leader - Julia Banks’ broad experience spans across the public and private sectors, her term in federal politics and her consulting business. Julia’s expertise and advocacy focus on leadership, safe, respectful and positive workplace cultures, governance and risk and issues management.

Julia Banks has served in the Australian Federal Parliament as both a government and Independent MP, and has held General Counsel, Executive Director, Company Secretary and Board member roles in global blue-chip companies, as well as several non-executive director and advisory roles in Australian organisations.

Julia has led large and small teams and worked in boardrooms and courtrooms predominantly in the corporate, commercial, governance, risk and issues management, and diversity and inclusion space.

During her federal parliamentary term, Julia served as a government MP and then as an independent MP. During that time, her primary areas of advocacy at a national level were in relation to gender and cultural equality, climate change action and humanitarian issues.

Julia’s consulting and speaking work across workplace sectors has harnessed her deep understanding and ability to tailor her consulting work, keynote speeches and panel discussions across workplace sectors - ranging from the law, manufacturing, professional and finance services, construction, consumer marketing and retail, sport, academia, mining, public sector organisations and local, state and federal levels of government.

An experienced keynote speaker, panel member and moderator, Julia also regularly authors opinion pieces that have been published in The Age, Sydney Morning Herald, The Saturday Paper & The New Daily and appears in radio and television and mainstream media interviews regarding current affairs.

Julia's bestselling book ‘Power Play, Breaking through bias barriers and boys’ clubs’ - part memoir’ meets resource guide for those aspiring to leadership positions - received excellent reviews and was nominated in the 2022 Australian Book Industry Awards.

Julia Banks graduated in Arts & Law from Monash University in Melbourne, Australia, is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and a Fellow of the Australian Governance Institute.

Expertise
Talking Points

Business & Organisational Workplace Culture

Based on Julia’s extensive experience in public life and the corporate sector she will tailor her speech to the level of audience across both the private and public sectors and academic sporting and other educational institutions.

She covers the topics aligned to her extensive experience in the areas of workplace culture, diversity and inclusion, trust ethics and governance, risk and crisis management and the role of trust and values of doing the right thing in authentic leadership.

Trust, Governance and Ethics

Good governance, ethics and trust must be lived and breathed by every individual in the organisation. In the private and public sector, in sports, academia, the arts and in politics and at all levels of government. An organisation’s brand and reputation for employees, consumers, and all stakeholders are contingent upon good governance.

The hallmark characteristics of best practice of good governance constructive action, authenticity, courage, and resilience. Listening to experts and feedback from all stakeholders and regular and clear communication Why? Because it's only when these things happen that the ongoing success of induvial leaders and organisations can be assured.

Key Takeouts:
- Be Strong. Be Accountable. Take Responsibility
Courage and resilience are required in good governance particularly in crisis risk or reputation management situations. These situations are disruptive and intense, but they always acutely define leadership skills

- Be yourself
Authentic leadership and trusting your instincts will rarely let you down. Speaking your truth even if it is your truth to power and staying aligned to your moral compass. Staying silent or being induced into silence is the single biggest killer of ethical behaviour.

- Listen and Communicate
Listening to experts and all stakeholders is key in harnessing good governance and authentic courageous leadership should always prevail.

Breaking through Bias and Barriers in the Workplace

Julia Banks recently released bestselling book, PowerPlay: Breaking through bias, barriers and boys clubs reveals the unvarnished realities of any workplace where power disparities and gender politics collide: from the unequal opportunities, casual sexism and misogyny to pressures around looks age and family responsibilities.

In this Keynote Julia shares personal stories of her own and others and practical advice and tailors this to the audience across any workplace sector. It contains key messages inspirational and practical for those aspiring to lead and for leaders.
Media
Feedback
Julia Banks is an outstanding parliamentarian with a life’s experience in the Business world. Her book Power Play is “Real raw human and forensic." The Hon Malcolm Turnbull, 29th Prime Minister of Australia

Julia’s presentation was thoughtful and insightful, focused on our event themes of safety, culture and leadership. Her openness and honesty in talking about her professional and personal experiences resonated particularly well with the executive-level audience.

Vic Water

It’s definitely a great day in the office when you have guest speaker Julia Banks come in to discuss ethics. Much respect can be paid to people that stand up for what is right, especially in times of resistance.

L’Oreal

Julia Banks was the best rated speaker for the day.

Governance Institute of Australia

Wonderful guest speaker and focus on authentic self.

The Leadership Institute Women in the Public Sector

The powerful cohort who run our major organisations should stop the diversity box ticking and read PowerPlay instead.

Catherine Fox - The Business of Sexism

Julia was inspiring and authentic and made our event so successful. We were so lucky that Julia was able and willing to speak at our IWD Book Club. She was inspiring and authentic and made our event so successful.

Deloitte

Julia’s session was great, she had really interesting insights and a depth of knowledge across issues from both her corporate and public career - we had great feedback

Grain Trade Australia

Great session. Very insightful into integrity and leadership.

Australian institute of Health and Safety

Great to have an opportunity to hear {Julia Banks speak} and sharing her thoughtful insights and interesting perspective.

Monark Property Partners

Julia Banks is a competent, smart woman who has moved the conversation forward about the treatment of women in politics and other workplaces. Her book Is brutal and astounding. I couldn’t stop reading.

Rachel Griffiths
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