Empowering Panel
Dr Anne Aly MP
By her late twenties, Anne was a single mother of two young boys earning the minimum wage to put food on the table. She went on to study her Masters and PhD and worked as a professor, academic and practitioner in counter terrorism and countering violent extremism. The founder of People against Violent Extremism, Anne was the only Australian representative to speak at President Obama's 2015 White House summit on countering violent extremism. Inducted into the Western Australian Women's Hall of Fame in 2011, Anne was nominated for Australian of the Year in 2016 and received the prestigious Australian Security Medal.
Kay Dunkley - Executive Officer, Pharmacists’ Support Service (PSS)
Kay is passionate about the health and well-being of health professionals. After forging a career based in hospital pharmacy prior to having children, Kay has over the years also been involved in roles providing services which support pharmacists and other health professionals. These roles have included working for the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia (Victorian Branch), the Victorian Drug Usage Advisory Committee (VDUAC), the Victorian Medicines Advisory Committee (VMAC) and the Victorian Therapeutics Advisory Group (VicTAG). Currently Kay is employed as the Executive Officer of the Pharmacists’ Support Service (PSS).
The role with PSS lead to employment by AMA Victoria to establish and coordinate their Peer Support Service for doctors and medical students which is based on the PSS model. At AMA Victoria Kay also coordinates the Peer Visitor Program matching elderly isolated doctors with volunteer visitors who are medical students or doctors. In addition she shares the role of coordinating the doctor in training mentoring program at AMA Victoria.
Kay has also until recently worked as an accredited consultant pharmacist undertaking medication reviews. In 2020 Kay was awarded the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia Symbion Pharmacist of the Year.
Collette Burke - Inaugural Victorian Chief Engineer
Dr Burke has spent more than 25 years in the Engineering and Construction Industry with major contractors moving through a variety of roles from site engineer, executive manager to managing Director of many organisations. She is an internationally acknowledged researcher, with a PhD in risk management and value for money on major infrastructure project.
Her passion to give back to the industry has lead the creation of Engineering Consultancy and Education firms, Exner Group and Karsta in the Middle East, in the position of Managing Director. Recently Dr Burke was registered by Engineer’s Australia as EngExec & CPEng. Dr Burke was also the former National Director of the National Association of Women in Construction (NAWIC), with a focus on building skills through education for members in the industry.
She has since been appointed a Director or VicTrack and Victorian Chief Engineer.
Dr Burke has a strong industry research background which includes but not limited to her work as a senior lecturer and course advisor at University of Melbourne, RMIT University in collaboration with Victorian Department of Treasury and Finance. She has a drive for greater operational outcomes, a focus on strategic and forward planning, people development, effective delivery and commercial strategy. She has studied extensively at Harvard Business School to ensure she motivates her entire team and business to maximise their potential.
Her appointment as the first Victorian Chief Engineer will allow her to provide expert advice to the Government on major project design and engineering, including the Metro Tunnel and level crossing removals. Dr Burke will also help the government establish a registration system for engineers ensuring the industry is properly regulated for safety compliance and competency.
Master of Ceremonies - Katie Havelberg Professionals Australia member and President of the Professional Science division