Successful leaders trust their instincts, always listen, and use their voice.
Julia Banks is an experienced Business Leader and Company Director, a former Member of the Parliament of Australia and a leadership, governance, risk, issues and crisis management expert. Julia’s extensive business experience includes positions such as General Counsel, Executive Director, Company Secretary and Head of Risk and Compliance for some of the world’s most recognisable blue-chip companies including Kraft Foods, GlaxoSmithKline and GWF (Associated British Foods).
Current Work:
Julia is a sought-after keynote speaker, MC, and panel facilitator with impeccable credentials. Julia draws on her unique dual leadership experience in the corporate business world and Australian Federal Politics as a high-profile Member of Parliament.
Julia has spoken at countless business conferences, large- and small-scale public events for organisations such as Google, L’Oreal, NAB and Marie Claire, as well as at large scale community and education forums. Given her broad and cross-functional experience, Julia can tailor her speeches to her audience. Julia has extensive media and media management experience as was the key media spokesperson for the businesses for which she worked. She has also appeared on Q&A, The Drum and The Sunday Project.
Julia Banks is the Principal Consultant in her own business providing strategic and practical business advice and mentoring and coaching to businesses and individuals. Julia has successfully created and led corporate governance training programs, is an active mentor to aspiring leaders and has authored several published opinion pieces. Julia is Special Advisor to Gender Equity Victoria where her role supports the board and staff to develop policies and programs to support gender equity in all levels of government. and Ambassador to Honour A Woman Australia.
Julia’s key areas of expertise and leadership experience are in the areas of governance, ethics and trust, reputation, risk, crisis and issues management, leadership development and workplace culture During her Parliamentary term Julia was Chair of the Social Policy and Legal Affairs Committee, UNICEF, Women’s Health and overseas country groups and a member of the House of Representatives Economics Committee
Previous Experience:
Julia Banks has led countless risk and crisis management issues for large blue-chip corporations in the food, pharmaceuticals, and consumer healthcare space. From implementing governance structures for seamless crisis issues management to managing several high profile product brand recalls, to being the key media and external stakeholder spokesperson for the companies, to dealing with issues where employees were caught in the 9/11 and Christchurch earthquake crises. Julia has extensive knowledge and hands-on general management experience and expertise in this area.
Julia’s clear analysis and advice on what needs to be done before, during, and after a crisis and special situations is exemplary and invaluable.
Julia has been a Director and Member of various Australian/NZ and Asia Pacific companies and executive leadership teams & was a Director of the “Australian Made” company and a member of the Federal Government’s Advisory Council on Intellectual Property (“ACIP”)
Education: Julia Banks graduated in Arts and Law from Monash University and is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
Talking Points
Risk, Crisis and Issues Management
Winston Churchill said “Never waste a good crisis”Risk, Crisis and Issues Management
There’s never been a more apt and timely statement about the intrinsic link between outstanding leadership and good crisis, risk and issues management. The coronavirus pandemic has been an unprecedented crisis on its own and in its consequences, namely that governments and businesses are managing micro versions of this crisis as it pertains to individual countries, industries and businesses.
Leading and managing a crisis well harnesses trust with internal and external stakeholders and maintains the high reputation of brands and companies
Julia Banks is a risk, crisis and issues leadership management expert, with extensive and cross-functional experience in this area - Julia’s clear analysis and advice on what needs to be done before during and after a crisis and special situations is exemplary and invaluable.
Julia’s speech will be tailored to the business and level of audience required. It typically pertains to middle management through to Board level.
After many years of leading crisis and issues management in large corporates and dealing with internal stakeholders (employees and matrix organisations) and external stakeholders including consumers, customers, regulatory authorities, the media and governments both across Australia and internationally - Julia Banks developed the PACCSSA approach as outlined below - which she will explain this model in detail whilst focussing on real examples and elements tailored to your business.
- Preparedness
- Authenticity
- Communication
- Courage
- Speed
- Stakeholder Engagement
- Aftermath review
Key Takeouts:
- A detailed outline of the PACCSA model to implement or harness best practice crisis management tailored to your business.
- How to build this into your strategic business plan to ensure business continuity and reputational maintenance.
- Confidence that with authentic courageous, collaborative and communicative leadership your business will survive a crisis and thrive.
Trust, Governance and Ethics
Good governance, ethics and trust have to be lived and breathed by every individual in the organisation. Good Governance is imperative in the context of crisis, risk and issues management. A company’s brand and reputation for employees, consumers, and all stakeholders are contingent upon good governance.Trust, Governance and Ethics
The hallmark characteristics of best practice crisis risk and issues management are immediate and 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 with regard to crisis risk and issues management where authentic courageous leadership should always prevail.
Every individual can make a difference and harness the reputation of any organization or brand by playing their own individual part in this.
Work Love and Life, All Work Together
For most of us, work is not separate from living our lives. Being with those with love and doing things outside of work we love are integral parts of our lives. An agile approach to flexible work practices is essential to the future of work for men and women of all ages. Work Love and Life, All Work Together
Flexible work practices, dividing the load equally at home and fostering open thinking amongst leaders will make for a better world.
Key Takeaways:
- Open thinking about work and life outside of work
Normalising working from home and fostering open thinking about sharing of home and family responsibilities for men and women.
- It’s not about work versus family.
The dignity of work is life-affirming and it has been for centuries. The most potent barrier to the joy of work for women is the belief that somehow work must always be pitched against those things and people we love. The default position becomes arguing the benefits of traditional/stereotypical roles for men and women.
- Balance is a myth.
To engage in the dignity of work, and to love family, friends and other things in life outside of your work, you need to create a mix. They don’t have to operate in parallel. Sometimes it’s a chaotic mix and sometimes it’s harmonious but it’s not about balance.
Women in Leadership
In business, the case has been made in several successful businesses that gender equality with women in senior leadership positions will deliver success. Women make up 52% of our population, yet at the highest levels of leadership in business and politics, we still don’t have gender parity. There’s more work to do on this as its been proven time and again that diversity delivers success.Women in Leadership
Key Takeaways
- The business case for gender equality has been made when targets and other mechanisms have been put in place
- Constant vigilance and utilising innovative ways to address unconscious bias and discrimination such as unconscious bias training
- Normalising flexible work practices, and childcare and aged care responsibilities as an equal consideration for both male and female employees.
Video
Julia Banks | Introduction | Saxton Speakers Bureau
Julia Banks is an experienced Business Leader and Company Director, a former Member of the Parliament of Australia and a leadership, governance, risk, issues and crisis management expert. Julia’s extensive business experience includes positions as General Counsel, Executive Company Director, Company Secretary and Head of Risk and Compliance for some of the world’s most recognisable blue-chip companies in manufacturing, consumer goods, pharmaceuticals and consumer healthcare.Julia Banks | Trust, Governance and Ethics | Saxton Speakers Bureau
Good governance, ethics and trust have to be lived and breathed by every individual in the organisation. Good Governance is imperative in the context of crisis, risk and issues management. A company’s brand and reputation for employees, consumers, and all stakeholders are contingent upon good governance.Julia Banks | Work, Love and Life | Saxton Speakers Bureau
For most of us, work is not separate from living our lives. Being with those with love and doing things outside of work we love are integral parts of our lives. An agile approach to flexible work practices is essential to the future of work for men and women of all ages.Julia Banks | Women in Leadership | Saxton Speakers Bureau
In business the case has been made in several successful businesses that gender equality with women in senior leadership positions will deliver success. Women make up 52% of our population, yet at the highest levels of leadership in business and politics, we still don’t have gender parity. There’s more work to do on this as its been proven time and again that diversity delivers success.Julia Banks visits Avila College
Julia Banks has given several aspirational apolitical speeches to senior students such as this one to the students of Avila College. To reach high for their goals based on their instinct and whats in their hearts. In these speeches Julia shares her personal story of her migrant heritage and her journey through the corporate ladder.Julia Banks - Maiden Speech to Parliament
Maiden speech to the House of Representatives by Julia Banks, Liberal member for Chisholm (Vic). Julia Banks served as a Member of the House of Representatives from 2016 - 2019. Prior to this, she held numerous General Counsel, Company Secretary and Senior Executive Director roles for some of the world’s most successful blue-chip companies. She is best known for her advocacy and policy support on workplace culture and women in leadership, governance and ethics, marriage, gender and cultural diversity and climate change action.Women in Australian politics panel | All About Women 2019
What needs to change to make more women want to run for public office in Australia? At All About Women 2019, four of Australia’s most senior politicians crossed party lines to discuss their experiences working in parliament. Labor Party's Linda Burney, Greens Senator Sarah Hanson Young, Deputy Leader of the Liberal Party Julie Bishop and Independent Julia Banks had a frank discussion about the pitfalls and rewards of their jobs, and how we can shift the culture so girls who want to grow up to be Prime Minister are inspired, not discouraged. The session was chaired by Jacqueline Maley.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 ... keep reading L'Oreal
Julia Banks is an outstanding Parliamentarian with a life’s experience in the Business world.
Great to have an opportunity to hear {Julia Banks speak} and sharing her thoughtful insights and interesting perspective.
You have moved the conversation forward about the treatment of women in politics. Thank you for your courage. Thank you for the truth you spoke and continue to do…
I feel incredibly inspired...to just go and grab the world by both hands.
