Judging Panel

Charlotte Young

2024 Asian Australian Leadership Awards - Overall Winner

Charlotte is dedicated to challenging the Australian community and policymakers to think differently. With a vision for Australia to become a global leader in sustainable, intersectional policymaking, Charlotte advocates for a Parliament and corporate leadership that truly reflect the country’s diverse communities.

As a fellow with the Clinton Global Initiative University, Charlotte champions the rights of young people with disabilities—particularly Indigenous youth in rural areas and those in the justice system—ensuring they receive proper medical care and fair legal representation. On the global stage, Charlotte represents Australia in the Global Network of Young People with Disability, providing advocacy at an international level.

Charlotte serves on the board of Children and Young People with Disability Australia (CYDA), the country’s leading youth disability advocacy organization, where they previously chaired the National Youth Disability Summit. Their work extends across initiatives with the U.S. Embassy in Australia, Women with Disabilities Australia, and past leadership roles, including as a board director of Burgmann College.

In addition to their advocacy work, Charlotte is a student at the Australian National University, studying PPE and Arts, and an affiliate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. They are also a passionate contemporary dancer and enjoy mentoring young women to help them find and amplify their voices.

Tan Le

Founder & CEO EMOTIV, Non-Executive Director QBE

Tan Le (BCom (Hons), LLB (Hons)) is an inventor, entrepreneur, business executive and sought-after speaker. In 1998, Tan was named Young Australian of the Year for her community work, catapulting her into a prominent role as a social activist and public speaker. Before EMOTIV, Tan co-founded and ran SASme International, a pioneer in providing Short Message Peer-to-Peer (SMPP) platforms to telecommunication carriers and content aggregators, with branches in Asia and Europe.

She was part of negotiating a successful merger for SASme in 2003. She has been honored by the World Economic Forum (WEF) as a Young Global Leader since 2009 and served on the WEF’s Board of Stewards on Shaping the Future of Information & Entertainment & the Global Future Council on Neurotechnology. Tan was featured in Forbes’ 50 Names You Need to Know in 2011 and named a National Geographic Emerging Explorer in 2013. She received the 2018 Industrial Research Institute Achievement Award for “outstanding accomplishment in individual creativity and innovation that contributes broadly to the development of industry and to the benefi t of society.” In 2018, a portrait of Tan was added to the permanent collection of the National Portrait Gallery of Australia—an honor bestowed on prominent Australians whose life sets them apart as an individual of long-term public interest.

In 2020, Tan was appointed to the Group Board of QBE Insurance (ASX: QBE) and is Chair of the People & Remuneration Committee. QBE is a listed general insurance and reinsurance company. The company employs more than 11,700 people in over 27 countries.

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Michelle Kam

Vice President, Talent and Performance, BHP

Michelle holds a Bachelor of Psychology (First Class Honours) from the University of Sydney, and both a Master of Psychology (Organisational Psychology) and a Ph.D. in Psychology (Cognitive Psychology) from the University of New South Wales. She graduated from the Australian Institute of Company Directors in 2022.

Michelle is the Vice President of Talent and Performance at BHP, having joined in May 2024. There she leads strategies to win and invest in the best global, diverse talent. This involves building clarity on the labour, skills and people needed to be distinctive, and building a talent, reward and performance ecosystem that ensures people thrive and perform to their potential. Her portfolio includes a breadth of traditional HR levers augmented with Inclusion and Diversity, and responsibility for integration of the Oz Minerals acquisition from an HR perspective.

Formerly a strategy consulting Partner at Strategy& (previously Booz & Co), she helped many global and Australian organisations navigate the complex and dynamic global environment, advising them on redefining their strategies and assisting them with the transformational change needed to bring these strategies to life. In this role, she also led Australia’s Katzenbach Centre, a global, specialist research hub that focused on culture, leadership, and change. She worked across a variety of sectors including heavy asset sectors, financial services, telecommunications, media, not-for profit and the public sector. She also developed the firm’s growth strategy and the firm’s stance on anti-racism.

She is proudly Australian-born and Chinese, with a love of some typical ‘Aussie’ traditions like watching sport while cherishing some Chinese values like humility. Michelle is passionate about the Arts as well as education and has focused her Non-Executive Director time in these fields.

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Sung Ho Lee

Partner, Johnson Partners

Sung Ho Lee is a Partner at Johnson Partners, leading their CFO practice. Previously, he held leadership roles at Michael Page, where he spent over 15 years specializing in executive recruitment across finance, legal, and technology sectors. Lee is known for his expertise in high-level executive placements and his strong network in the Australian business community. Lee's educational background includes attending North Sydney Boys High School from 1997 to 2002 and studying at the University of New South Wales from 2003 to 2006. He is bilingual, speaking both English and Korean.

Known for his passion, energy, and customer focus, Lee is described as an inspirational leader by his colleagues. He actively engages with professionals seeking career changes and companies looking to source top talent, offering his wealth of knowledge and insights in recruitment, market trends, and career development.

Martine Letts

Group CEO, Asialink

Martine is the Group CEO of Asialink, Australia’s leading centre for engagement with Asia across Arts, Business, Diplomacy and Education.

Previously, Martine has held executive roles as the CEO of the Committee for Melbourne; CEO of the Australia China Business Council; Deputy Director of the Lowy Institute for International Policy, and was Secretary-General of the Australian Red Cross from 2001-2004. She was a senior Australian diplomat for 17 years and an adviser to then Foreign Minister Evans from 1992 to 1994.

Martine served on the Australian National University Council for 10 years, is a member of the Australian Volunteers International (AVI) board, and chairs AVI’s Governance Committee.

Amanda Lee

Chief People Officer, AGL

Amanda joined AGL in 2016 and stepped into the role of Chief People Officer in August 2022. With over 25 years of HR experience, she has worked across diverse industries and business models, bringing a deep understanding of people, culture, and organizational transformation.

Before joining AGL, Amanda held senior leadership positions in ASX-50 companies, where she specialized in executive remuneration, led major change initiatives, and built high-performing teams. Her passion lies in creating workplaces where people thrive and businesses succeed.

Amanda holds a Bachelor of Psychology from the University of Western Australia and a Master of Management from Macquarie University. She is also a proud member of Chief Executive Women, championing the advancement of women in leadership.

Joseph Kim

CEO, BBRC Private Equity

Joseph is the CEO of BBRC Private Equity and is the Head of M&A at BBRC, a private investment firm dedicated to creating enduring businesses through partnerships with growth-orientated founders.

Over his 19 years in private equity investing, Joseph has led numerous successful investments across retail and consumer sectors, including notable Australian brands DISSH and Bared Footwear. Joseph currently serves as Non-Executive Director of Bared Footwear.

Joseph began his career as a graduate at Commonwealth Bank before moving into private equity. He holds a Commerce/Laws degree from the University of New South Wales.

Melissa Wu

Olympic and Commonwealth Games Diving medallist

Melissa has been a member of the Australian Diving Team for 19 years and a New South Wales Institute of Sport (NSWIS) Scholarship holder for over 15 years. She competes in the women’s 10m individual and women’s 10m synchro events and is a 5x Olympian and Olympic Silver (Beijing 2008) and Bronze (Tokyo 2020) Medalist, and has represented Australia at 5 Commonwealth Games. Melissa was the flag bearer at the Closing Ceremony of the 2022 Commonwealth Games.

Melissa made her Australian team debut at 13 years of age at the 2006 Melbourne Commonwealth Games, where she won a Silver Medal. By age 16 Melissa had won medals in every major open international diving competition, as well as winning a Gold Medal at Junior World Championships. She has now been competing on the Australian National Diving Team for 15 years.

Outside of diving Melissa co-owns her business HrdKAW Strength and Weightlifting Club with her brother Josh Wu and sister Maddi Wu. HrdKAW is named after their sister Kirsten and is an athlete performance hub specialising in Olympic Weightlifting and long term athlete development. HrdKAW is the largest Weightlifting Club in NSW, and also a strength and conditioning gym focused on developing movement foundations, physical preparation and resilience, sports performance and mindset.

Muneera Bano

Principal Research Scientist, Data61, CSIRO

Muneera Bano is an award-winning scholar and passionate advocate for gender equity in STEM. Named ‘Most Influential Asian-Australian Under 40’ in 2019, she is dedicated to breaking barriers and reshaping perceptions of scientists from diverse backgrounds. As a Superstar of STEM for Science and Technology Australia, she actively champions women in STEM and promotes inclusion and diversity on a global scale.

Recognised internationally, Muneera was honoured by the Government of Pakistan as an under-40 leader in science and innovation in 2021. Her pioneering work has earned her numerous accolades, including nominations for the Women in AI Awards APAC 2024 and AWS’s ‘Most Disruptive Woman’ Award at the WOMEN IN TECH® Global Movement APAC 2023.

With a PhD in Software Engineering from UTS, Muneera has authored nearly 50 research articles and specialises in human-centred AI. Currently at CSIRO’s Data61, she focuses on responsible AI and driving diversity and inclusion in technology.

Farhan Faruqui

Group CFO, ANZ

Farhan was appointed Chief Financial Officer in October 2021, bringing a wealth of global banking experience to the role. He oversees all aspects of Finance, including Treasury, Investor Relations, and Mergers & Acquisitions, ensuring the company’s financial strategy supports its long-term growth.

Before stepping into the CFO position, Farhan led ANZ’s International business, supporting institutional clients across Asia, the Middle East, Europe, and America. Since joining ANZ in 2014, he has played a key role in shaping the bank’s international presence.

Farhan’s career spans more than two decades, including 23 years at Citigroup, where he held senior leadership roles in corporate and investment banking across Asia Pacific, Europe, and Africa. His expertise includes franchise building, global lending, and leveraged finance, with a strong track record of delivering results across diverse markets.

Beyond his technical expertise, Farhan is known for his ability to build high-performing teams and lead with a global perspective. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Industrial and Systems Engineering from the University of Southern California, Los Angeles.

Sunita Gloster

Chair, Diversity Council Australia, NED Maurice Blackburn Lawyers, UN Global Compact

Sunita Gloster is a prominent figure in the media and marketing industries, recognised for her leadership and advocacy for gender equality. She was honoured as a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) in 2023 for her impactful service.

Sunita serves as a Non-Executive Director and Advisor at Gloster Advisory and is a member of the Judging Panel for the Asian Australian Leadership Awards. She is also an active member of Chief Executive Women and a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

Her career highlights include leading an advocacy campaign for UN Women Australia, which evolved into a significant social movement. Sunita is a sought-after keynote speaker and commentator, frequently appearing on ABCTV's Gruen.

Sunita's dedication to her profession and her commitment to societal change make her a respected and influential figure in her field.

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