It is easy to see why Western Australia will be in good hands with its new Governor, Kerry Sanderson AO.
The CEO, public servant, company director and respected businesswoman, will be the first woman to hold the position in the state after being appointed to the role Monday.
Most recently she has been an active non-executive director across corporate and non-profit boards, before this she was the Agent-General supporting Australian trade across Europe, the CEO of Fremantle Ports and a senior economic policy adviser.
Often people hold but one of those positions, Sanderson has handled them all magnificently.
I’ve been lucky enough to meet Sanderson, who once mused to me about her time at Fremantle Ports. When she started she made it very clear to the overwhelmingly male workforce that she was not going to compromise her femininity.
In the midst of a barrage of issues – on financial, HR and operational fronts – she was going to continue wearing her “frilly dresses” with heels and hair as long as she wanted.
She immediately took action in the role, changing the organisation’s costing model and workplace agreements to create a more effective organisation.
When she left in 2008 it was the most productive port in Australia.
Sanderson oozes everything we expect from a Governor. She is both direct and comforting, understanding the challenges facing business and community.
It is unsurprising that she is breaking this glass ceiling in Western Australia. She proves that with conviction we can be ambitious and career-focused while maintaining strong community links.
Indeed, I can see three excellent things Sanderson’s career shows us:
- Being a Public Servant doesn’t keep us out of the loop: Sanderson, first and foremost, is a public servant. While government work can in some ways make you feel side-lined, it is how you use your position from the bench that matters. Public sector experience offers a breadth of knowledge and skills that are not offered in business. The business and community sectors can tap into this.
- Challenges are opportunities: Sanderson said that her appointment is “daunting”. She’s taken risks but had career plans. Sometimes there are no obvious next steps to where our careers lead, however if we look at these trials as opportunities we can expand our skills and networks.
- Careers can be consolidated: There comes a point in everyone’s career when we can keep doing what we have always done, or we can consolidate. Sanderson chose the latter, particularly by bringing her economic, government and management experience to directorships. Know your best skills and you can apply these directly.
Our latest generation of governors have been highly capable and qualified people, particularly Quentin Bryce and Marie Bashir, who were both stellar advocates in their careers before and during their governorships.
These posts are no longer “jobs for the boys”.
There has been an expectation for some time that WA appoints a female governor, and Kerry Sanderson is an exceptional role model and standard for the job going forward.
Her successes and ambition can inspire all of us — male and female — to consider what might next be possible in our careers.