* What’s the best aspect of your role?

 

I love building on the Club’s legacy – promoting its founding story and role in equal opportunities for women, and contributing to the next chapter. It’s also a joy to champion culture: curating meaningful programming, welcoming remarkable speakers, and creating platforms for female writers and musicians through our events and the Rose Scott Women Writers Festival.

* Now some Yin with that Yang – what’s the hardest aspect of your role?

 

The flip side of legacy is the responsibility it carries. Honouring tradition while making necessary change is a constant balance particularly when you’re transforming a mission-led organisation with finite resources and limited scope for rapid revenue diversification.

* How do you continue to grow and develop as a leader? 

Early in the role, the biggest shift was moving from “doer” to leader, building breadth through people and teams, not just individual output. I’ve learned that not everything on the list will get done, because so much of leadership is relationships, alignment and momentum. I’ve focused on better systems and clearer priorities, building a personal rhythm of reflection and feedback, protecting thinking time, and continuously asking: does this make things better, and can we (I) work smarter, not harder?

* What’s the best advice you’ve ever received and why? 

One of the most grounding pieces of advice I’ve received recently was: you did the best you could with the tools, information and data you had at the time. It takes the pressure off perfection and reinforces good judgement - make the best decision you can, then learn and iterate. Of course, it also means you need to have robust and accurate data to begin with, which means setting the foundations right at the start will get you farther in the long run. 

* My ideal holiday or way to unwind is…..? 

Very timely! I’m about to take two weeks of leave and bring the retreat home. For me, unwinding looks like a digital detox (no TV, no social media), plenty of reading, yoga and Pilates, hiking, good comforting food, a massage, and time in nature – lots of sun and surf. 

* Time for the shameless plug – why should someone join The Women’s Club?

This year we celebrate 125 years, and joining is a chance to be part of that story. It’s a community of interesting, dynamic women across industries, and a genuine “third place” in the city - a home away from home. Members come for the programming and speakers, and stay for the sense of belonging, connection, and continuity.

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​Thanks Danielle, we love having you in our community! Danielle can be contacted at ceo@thewomensclub.com.au and you can check out The Women's Club at thewomensclub.com.au

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