With International Women’s Day 2023 highlighting the theme of embracing equity, SALIFE takes some lessons from South Australian women who are not only succeeding in their fields, but are also working to create environments where others can thrive.

Words and Photographs Ben Kelly

Amanda Blight

After a career in nursing and midwifery, which included operating her own private nursing practice, Amanda Blight co-founded HenderCare in 2004, a company which assists people to remain living independently in their own home. Amanda is the CEO of the Adelaide-based organisation which has grown its workforce to 1700 staff Australia-wide.

What advice do you give the next generation of aspiring leaders?
Think big! Find a position you are passionate about and that aspires you to be the leader you want to be. Be resilient
and agile in your approach and always remain positive and solution focused.

Is this the same advice you would give to your younger self?
Most definitely.

Can you describe a moment pivotal to who you are?
I don’t think there was a moment. My mother Suzette was such a strong role model for me as a child and teenager. She was a very successful medical specialist who continued to practise until she was 85. Suzette had the most amazing work ethic and she loved her profession and her working life. She inspired me to find something that I felt equally passionate about. Since Mark Hender and I founded HenderCare, there hasn’t been a day that I haven’t felt exceptionally lucky and grateful for the opportunity to live my professional dream.

How do you stay grounded?
My wonderful family keeps me very grounded. I have a son and a daughter, a partner of 25 years, a sister who works in the National Disability Insurance Agency, a 96-year-old mother and two young grandchildren.

Something most people don’t know about you?
Many people wouldn’t know that my mother lives with me. She is still very independent and engaged in a busy life. She continues to be an inspiration to me.

Dr Jane Lomax-Smith

As the first member of her family to complete a secondary education, Lord Mayor of Adelaide, Jane Lomax-Smith, has forged a remarkable career in medicine and politics. From managing hospital departments and pathology practices to becoming a politician in both state and local governments, Jane has also held positions on several boards.

What advice do you give the next generation of aspiring leaders?
Seek decency, not status.

Is this the same advice you would give to your younger self?
I would tell myself to keep better records, file documents in an orderly manner and retain control of the narrative.

Can you describe a moment pivotal to who you are?
I might have said leaving London to take a job at Adelaide University, but my life-changing experience was working in my mother’s hairdressing salon on Saturdays. My mother said I had to really listen and prove it by picking up the conversation seamlessly the next week. It gave me a curiosity about people’s lives. It is my greatest skill, and I am now a bit of an embarrassment to my children as I talk to people in the street, on buses and in queues.

How do you stay grounded?
Anybody who has spent their professional life dealing with surgical specimens and cadavers doesn’t need any more grounding.

Something most people don’t know about you?
l learnt how to be an egg judge as well as how to shampoo and dry competition birds as patron of the Adelaide Poultry Club.

Jane Pickering

Eldercare Australia chief executive, Jane Pickering, heads up one of the largest residential aged care providers in South Australia and is passionate about leading cultural change and inclusion within the workforce. Jane is chairperson of the South Australian Leaders for Gender Equity and is also a member of the SA Gender Pay Gap Task Force.

What advice do you give the next generation of aspiring leaders?
Work hard and avoid developing a sense of entitlement; know your personal values and don’t compromise on them, and take time to listen and learn before making major change. Acknowledge and thank your team and ensure that credit is given where it is due – never accept accolades for other people’s work without acknowledging them. Learn from your mistakes as opportunities to improve.

Is this the same advice you’d give your younger self?
Yes. But I would add: Be patient, don’t be in too much of a hurry to secure the dream job. Enjoy the experiences along the way.

Can you describe a moment pivotal to who you are?
When I took up my first chief executive role more than 20 years ago, I realised I didn’t need to emulate the masculine characteristics or behaviours of the men around me (especially the negative ones) to make a positive impact, or to reach the outcomes I needed to achieve. I learnt to be a proud woman and not make excuses for being a woman in a very male-dominated environment.

How do you stay grounded?
I live in the Adelaide Hills with my husband and lots of animals. There is nothing that keeps you grounded more than cleaning out a chook shed, trimming goat’s feet, or cleaning up alpaca droppings. My background in nursing and midwifery also helps me to remain grounded … you soon understand that you are only one small cog in a big circle of life.

Something most people don’t know about you?
I am not mysterious at all: I am an open book.

This is the first of a two-part article that first appeared in the March 2023 issue of SALIFE magazine, which is on newsstands now.