Libby Lyons

Chair

In addition to her role as Chair of SAGE Ltd, Libby Lyons is the inaugural Chair of the Aged Care Workforce Industry Council. The Council was established to implement the 14 strategic actions of A Matter of Care: Australia Aged Care Workforce Strategy. Libby is also a Board member and the WA Chapter Chair for Chief Executive Women.

Most recently, Libby joined CGM Communications as Strategic Counsel. From October 2015 to April 2021, Libby was the Director of the Workplace Gender Equality Agency. She oversaw the statutory reporting process that gathers gender equality data from more than 10,000 employers, covering more than 4 million employees.

As agency head, Libby led a program which transformed WGEA into a national powerhouse in promoting evidence-based change for gender equality in Australian workplaces. WGEA garnered international recognition over this period, with Libby invited to speak to governments, private enterprise, industry bodies and unions in Singapore, Chile, Argentina, Mauritius, Indonesia, Vietnam, the Philippines, South Korea, the United States and Japan. She also presented at the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women in New York in 2018 and 2019.

Prior to joining the Agency, Libby had a distinguished career in corporate affairs and government relations, including leading BHP’s Olympic Dam corporate affairs division, as well as senior roles at Atlas Iron, CITIC Pacific Mining, Alcoa of Australia, the Western Power Corporation and Telstra.

Libby was featured in Apolitical’s 100 Most Influential People Working in Gender Policy in 2018 and 2019 and the book 200 Women Who Will Change the Way You See the World. She was awarded Woman of the Decade for Gender Policy by the Women Economic Forum in 2019.

Libby has a strong personal commitment to public service, having started her career as a primary school teacher. She also sat on the boards of non-profit organisations SIDS and Kids WA, and was Executive Chairman for Kalparrin, a charity that supports the families of children with special needs and disabilities.

In February 2022, Libby was awarded the Curtin University Honorary Doctorate of Letters in recognition of her outstanding contribution to the social sciences as one of Australia’s most influential advocates for gender equity.

Professor Marilyn A. Anderson AO FAA FTSE

Non-Executive Director

Professor Marilyn Anderson has over 40 years’ experience in plant biochemistry and genetics research. After completing a BSc Honours at the University of Melbourne and a PhD in Biochemistry at La Trobe University, Marilyn spent seven years in the United States studying diabetes at the University of Miami and oncogenes at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory. 

Marilyn is currently a Professor of Biochemistry at La Trobe University and a Member of the Australian Academy of Science Council. She is a founding scientist of the biotechnology company Hexima and was appointed Hexima’s Chief Science Officer in July 2009 and then to its board of directors in 2010. Marilyn was a director at South East Water Limited for over 10 years, prior to a 6-year term on the board of City West Water. 

She is a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Science, the Australian Academy of Technology and Engineering and the Australian Institute of Company Directors. 

Marilyn was made an Officer of the Order of Australia in 2016. 

Professor James A. Angus AO FAA

Non-Executive Director and Chair, Audit and Risk Committee

Professor James Angus is an Honorary Professorial Fellow and Professor Emeritus in the Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences (MDHS) at the University of Melbourne. 

James has held several major leadership roles at the University of Melbourne, amongst them President of the Academic Board (2000–2001), Pro Vice-Chancellor (1999–2001) and member of University Council (1999–2001). In 2013, he completed a 10-year term as Dean of the Faculty of MDHS. Prior to that, he was Professor and Head of the Department of Pharmacology and Deputy Dean of the same faculty. 

James was awarded the Gottschalk Medal of the Australian Academy of Science (1984), is a Fellow of the Academy and has been a member of its Council. He is an Honorary Fellow of the Australian Academy of Health and Medical Sciences. In 2003, he was awarded the Centenary Medal for service to Australian society and science in pharmacology. 

In addition to his university appointments, James was a First Vice-President of the International Union of Pharmacology and President of the Australasian Society of Clinical and Experimental Pharmacologists and Toxicologists. He was also President of Medical Deans Australia and New Zealand (2009–2011). 

His current roles include: Director, National Stem Cell Australia Foundation; Director, Jack Brockhoff Foundation; Director, Royal Children’s Hospital Foundation; Chair, Campus Council at RCH; Chair, Australian Advisory Council on the Medicinal Use of Cannabis; and member of the Melbourne University Publishing Advisory Board. 

He was appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia in 2010 for distinguished service to biomedical research as a leading academic and medical educator, and for his contributions to a range of advisory boards and professional organisations both nationally and internationally. 

Dr Katherine Woodthorpe FTSE FAICD AO

Non-Executive Director

Dr Katherine Woodthorpe FTSE FAICD AO is an experienced Chair and Non-Executive Director serving for 20 years on the boards of a variety of organisations including listed entities, government boards and for-purpose organisations. She has a strong track record in a broad range of innovation-dependent industries including healthcare, renewable energy and environmental and climate science.  She has been cited in various media as one of Australia’s most influential people in innovation.  Katherine also has a long experience and track record in public affairs including media and government relations, working with governments and oppositions over 20 years to achieve outcomes for the industries in which she has worked.

Dr Richard Sheldrake AM FTSE FRSN

Non-Executive Director

Dr Sheldrake had a 38 year career in the NSW Public Service, and was Director-General of four Departments (Agriculture, Natural Resources, Industry and Investment and Primary Industries) between 2002 and 2013, when he retired.

Richard is currently Vice-President, Diversity and Inclusion, of the Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering (ATSE), and a member of The Crawford Fund (CF) Board. He Chairs the NSW Committee of CF.  He is also a member of the NSW Innovation and Productivity Council.