Winners of the 2024 Outstanding Leadership Awards

18th May 2024 in Sydney at the Outstanding Leadership Awards Gala Event was about Role Models.

Role Models. Leadership. Courage. Hope. Light.

Leadership, the cornerstone of progress, is now more crucial than ever. I am driven by a mission to nurture a new generation of great, kind, and courageous leaders.

She was sitting on a bus on 1st December 1955, and at that moment, she decided not to give up her seat for a white male. She was tired of the racial inequality. She became the mother of the civil rights movement. This act of courage was instrumental in the course of history. Rosa Parks is one of my role models, and when I doubt this mission, I think of her.

Since starting LeadershipHQ 16 years ago and last week as our 16th Birthday as well – I have heard from and worked 1000’s of people who want those role models today. Those humans lead because they want to make a difference, an impact.

I knew I couldn’t just take a seat where we create and build leaders; we have created thousands of them and needed to do more. We needed to make a stand.

I didn’t grow up with social media or the news we are exposed to today. Our generations today and tomorrow need greater role models. They need to see more extraordinary Leadership, Courage, and Hope. We do what we see.

We do what we see.

We needed a platform to showcase, inspire, and celebrate outstanding leadership and great humans. We wanted a platform that celebrates leadership that is urgently needed today—kind, courageous, inclusive, and authentic leadership.

We want the world to see you—the world to see more extraordinary role models.

Standing at the Gala Event, I was grateful to everyone in that room. They, the 220 great leaders and humans in this room, embody hope, courage, and leadership.

I loved celebrating every one of you. The lights in this room.

I also want to thank…

The LeadershipHQ team and volunteers – you are beyond outstanding.

I want to thank our esteemed judges.

To our incredible partners and supporters, Insight, Scout Talent , Mars Snacking and The Big Smoke.

Thank you to another incredible role model and inspiration, Paul Scurrah , our keynote speaker tonight and another role model of mine.

I want to thank my darling daughter, Abby, who is why I do what I do for her. And for your sons and daughters, nieces and nephews, all our future leaders and generations.

Finally, I want to spotlight the finalists—the outstanding leaders.

We will all make a difference through unity, community, and courage.

You are all the light of leadership. You are the hope.

Martin Luther King Jnr once said I have a dream.