PANEL | From Challenge to Change: Women Transforming Australia’s Industries

This panel brings together three accomplished female leaders — Cathy McGowan, Radmila Desic, and Fiona Simson — moderated by Forestry Australia President Michelle Freeman, to share their experiences navigating and thriving in Australia’s traditionally male-dominated industries.

Through candid reflections, practical insights, and real-world examples, they will explore the opportunities, challenges, and pivotal moments that have shaped their leadership journeys. Participants will gain valuable advice on building confidence, influencing organisational culture, creating pathways for others, and driving meaningful change in their own workplaces.

This session offers inspiration and actionable guidance for emerging and established professionals seeking to lead with authenticity, resilience, and impact.

Date: Tuesday 12 May | Time: 12:30pm – 1:30pm (AEST)
RFP CPD Points: 1.00

Everyone who registers:

• Receives a link and joining instructions 24 hours before the webinar commences
• Receives a recording of the webinar – so if you can’t listen live, you can listen later

Forestry Australia Member: $15 | Non-Member: $70 | Student members: Free
Registrations close: 10am, Monday 11 May

Radmila Desic AM

Radmila migrated to Australia at the age of seven after an earthquake destroyed her family home in Bar in the former Yugoslavia. Growing up with two cultures shaped her determination and resilience, and helped drive her towards becoming a qualified Carpenter and Joiner. With a family construction history, she began her career as an apprentice Carpenter Joiner in 1992.

As one of only a few female carpenters in Brisbane, Radmila faced challenges but built an impressive career in construction, training, and workforce development. She actively supported programs promoting non-traditional careers for women and later developed strategies to improve the engagement and retention of women in construction. She became the first female Chapter President of the Australian Institute of Building in Queensland.

Her achievements include being named a Member of the Order of Australia in 2021, winning the 2010 CLW National Advancement of Women in the Workplace Award, and receiving NAWIC Life Membership in 2019. She has also represented Brisbane and Queensland in women’s rugby league. Radmila now works as an Organisational Change Manager and is a mother of three.

Cathy McGowan AO

Cathy came to national attention when she won the seat of Indi as an independent in 2013. The community backed her again in 2016. In 2019 Indi made Australian political history when Dr Helen Haines was elected as Indi’s second, independent woman. During her time as a politician Cathy actively worked in Parliament to develop policy around regional development, constitutional change for first nations people and was always a strong supporter of women.

Before she was in politics Cathy had a long and productive history supporting women in rural industries – and was the project leader for the Women in Timber Project in the early 2000’s.

In 2019 she was awarded The Accountability Round Table award for political integrity and in 2022 The Australia Financial Review named her as one of the top 10 ‘covert’ power players and No 2 cultural leaders in Australia. She is an Officer in the Order of Australia, a Churchill fellow and lives very happily on her farm in the Indigo Valley in NE Victoria.

Fiona Simson

Fiona has been an agricultural and community leader at a local, state and federal level since 2008. She stepped down in 2023 from a 7 year tenure as the first female President of the National Farmers’ Federation, and is currently Oceania representative and Vice President of the World Farmers’ Organisation. Her family farms on the Liverpool Plains of NSW.

As well as being a member of the federal government Trade 2040 Advisory Committee, Climate Change Authority and Nature Repair Advisory Committee, she is a Commissioner and Chair of the Australian Commission for Agricultural Research (ACIAR), Chairs the Future Food Systems CRC, and is a Director on NRMA (NSW), and Foodbank Australia. She was recognised in 2023 as Rabobank’s Agricultural Leader of the year and received an honorary ATSE fellowship in 2024. She is also the Patron of the National Rural Press Club, The Gunnedah Gatepost Community Support Centre and the NFF Diversity in Agricultural Leadership Program.