Thursday, May 26, 2022

Women in Business Discussion Group Tuesday 31 May 2022 | 6 – 8pm | Via Webex

We are thrilled to welcome Melbourne-based strategic communications firm, Michelson Alexander, a, to our May event. The session will be led by Senior Associate Elyse Gatt and Founder and Director Steve Michelson who are strategic communications experts with extensive experience advising a range of corporate, government and not for profit clients at the nexus of policy, politics, and public affairs.

In this session, Elyse and Steve will explore a range of themes, including:
· How women are perceived when they communicate, compared to men
· Rising above these biases to communicate with purpose
· Tailoring your messages to your audience and context
· Managing and communicating around change
· How to communicate in times of crisis
The session will be interactive and will feature several opportunities to work through case studies and share personal experiences.
Further information on Michelson Alexander can be found here: www.michelsonalexander.com.au
Background on the speakers
Elyse Gatt
Elyse has a long track-record of providing policy and communications advice in difficult sectors. As well as working as a press secretary to a Federal Cabinet Minister, she spent close to a decade at bp Australia, driving the implementation of the company's net-zero ambitions and leading government relations and communications campaigns for low-carbon projects.
Steve Michelson
Steve is Founder and Director of Michelson Alexander and a respected corporate advisor and political campaigner. He's worked in the private sector, politics, and the law, and was a key architect in the fight for marriage equality in Australia. Steve advises a range of government agencies and ASX companies, including those in the financial services sector.
We look forward to seeing you on line! To join, look for the details in your email from CPAWomen@gmail.com

Wednesday, April 20, 2022

The Influential Accounting Business Partner to a Sustainable Business Organisation

Women in Business Discussion Group Tuesday 26 April 2022 | 6 – 8pm | Via Webex

For our April session, we are pleased to welcome James Barnes, Director of SmartBA to present The Influential Accounting Business Partner to a Sustainable Business Organisation.


There is a building trend for organisations to move to a sustainable business operating model. So what can we as business partners within the accounting profession do to help deliver business transformation for a sustainable future?


James will share what the influential business partner can do to influence an organisation on this transformation by looking at our partnering skillset, the circular economy model and the financial and reporting impacts we can utilise for decision making.


Look for the Webex details in your email from cpawomen@gmail.com.

 We are delighted to welcome back Maria Pantalone, Business Communication Consultant, Infinite Growth, for our session on 29 March to present insights on Providing Clarity in Business Writing.

In this session, Maria will be providing business writing tips and applying them to the writing of emails.
The areas that will be covered include:
1.         Dealing with email fatigue
2.         The tone of words and their impact on your message
3.         How your choice of words can bring clarity to your message
This will be an interactive event and one activity will require members to use a piece of paper.  Please have this ready to use during the session.
Maria Pantalone is an experienced facilitator, coach and business writer.
Organisations that have engaged Maria’s services include Surf Life Saving NSW, Amway, NSW Police, Aussie Home Loans and the Parramatta College, to name a few.
Maria works with both individuals and teams. She conducts workshops and coaching sessions to help professionals confidently deliver their verbal and written messages.
Her company, Infinite Growth, has been recognised for its commitment to excellence in both regional and national business awards.
Look for the registration link in your email from CPA Women.

Tuesday, February 15, 2022

Women in Business Discussion Group 22 February 2022

To kick-start our WiB DG Community for 2022, our first session will be a reflection on 2021.  This will include a special visit from fellow discussion group member and immediate past President of NSW Divisional Council, Lisa Gill. 


Lisa will share with us her learnings and achievements as President.  You will also have the opportunity to share with your fellow discussion group members what resonated with you from our discussion group in 2021 and what you want to see more of in 2022.


No need to register for this event.  Link to the Webex link will be emailed to you the day prior to the event.


We look forward to seeing you all virtually on 22 February, starting promptly at 6pm!

Tuesday, November 16, 2021

Leveraging your Superpower

Women in Business Discussion Group Tuesday 30 November 2021 | 6 – 8pm | Via Webex


Did you know that being a female CPA is a secret superpower? When you use it wisely it can supercharge your career and when combined with solid support networks, your professional and personal opportunities are amplified. If you would like to learn more about this superpower and some tools and tactics to leverage it, this session is for you.


Danielle Dobson is a former CPA and over her 14-year career held almost every finance role you can imagine and worked in private practice, NFPS and global Fortune500 companies. Living and working in 5 countries Danielle learned the importance of perspective, empathy and connection and how they can be the foundation for personal and professional success. Now the Founder of her business, Code Conversations, and a leadership coach, facilitator, speaker and advocate, Danielle focuses on supporting professional women to use the strengths and attributes they already have, to achieve their own unique version of fulfilment and success. Danielle is also an author of the book, Breaking the Gender Code and is given plenty of opportunities to practice her leadership insights in her most challenging role of all - being Lead Parent and Family CEO to three rather energetic boys!

To register, use the link in your email from CPA Women@gmail.com

Wednesday, October 20, 2021

Creating Authentic Connections

 Women in Business Discussion Group Tuesday 26 October 2021 | 6 – 8pm | Via Webex

How we connect with colleagues, business partners and clients in an authentic way that feels good and fosters productive relationships is essential to business and career. It is an interactive session where you will learn to recognise four primary behavioural styles and how they connect and interact. We will also be looking at what separates us from each other and how we can close the gap. If you are a logically / technically minded professional, this session is for you.  


Anna Bashkirova, CPA, is the founder and the Principal Consultant at EQuilibrium Consulting & Coaching (www.equilibriumconsulting.com.au). Anna is a human behaviour specialist and a self-leadership coach focusing on sustainable high performance. 

Prior to coaching, Anna had a successful career in accounting and IT where she consulted accountants and CFOs around accounting systems. This path led her to the realisation that most software implementation issues turned out to be people related. As a result, she devoted a few years to become a human behaviour specialist. Anna is a Professional Coach, qualified Extended DISC behavioural profiler, Meta Dynamics practitioner and a PROSCI certified change manager. Anna is passionate about helping accounting, finance, IT, and legal professionals unlock their potential as organisational and business leaders by enhancing their soft skills, particularly emotional intelligence and fitness.  She works with clients individually and in groups. Anna’s clients appreciate her empathetic and personable coaching style.  

Anna is also a property developer and a mum of a 22-year old engineer. 

To register, follow the link in your email from CPA Women

Deepening relationships for well-being and success

 Women in Business Discussion Group Tuesday 28 September 2021 | 6 – 8pm | Via Webex


Science shows that supportive relationships are the single most important factor in our health, happiness and success. To thrive, we need them in all areas of life: work, home, friendships and communities, local and professional. Yet building and maintaining caring, beneficial connections can be challenging, particularly in these times. The result is soaring levels of isolation, stress and mental and even physical illness globally. Presented by Dr Alicia Fortinberry, an organisational psychologist, best-selling author, business advisor and executive coach, the session will give you science-backed facts and tips to help you find and strengthen relationships that boost your confidence and wellbeing. You will have a better understanding of obstacles in yourself and circumstances that might hold you back from the relationships you want, and how to overcome these. Come prepared to ask questions, share feelings and observations and enjoy your community of CPA women.

Dr Alicia Fortinberry is an internationally recognised keynote speaker, best-selling author, teacher, business advisor and executive coach. An organisational psychologist who draws on the latest research in a wide field of behavioural sciences, Alicia offers proven, practical concepts and tools that enable individuals and organisations to achieve successful relationships, resilience, culture, leadership and strategy. Alicia works extensively with top-tier professional and financial service organisations as well as Global Fortune 500 companies in the US, Europe, Asia and Australia, including all the Big Four accounting consultancies and Australia’s major banks. Books with her partner Dr Bob Murray include two New York Times best-sellers Creating Optimism and Raising an Optimistic Child (both published by McGraw-Hill, New York) and two business best-sellers: The Human Science of Strategy: What works and what doesn’t and Leading the Future: The Human Science of Law Firm Strategy and Leadership (both ARK Group, London).  

To attend, use the registration link in your email from CPA Women.