Meet Michelle Redfern
Michelle Redfern is a globally recognised leader in workplace gender equality, a sought-after DEI strategist, and a no BS speaker known for delivering daily truth bombs that cut through the noise. Her mission? To close the global leadership gender gap and create workplaces that actually work for women.
Michelle partners with business and sporting organisations to move diversity, equity, and inclusion from conversation to action, transforming cultures, strategies, and leadership systems along the way. Her clients rely on her to help them build fairer, smarter, more inclusive workplaces. Women rely on her to reach their full leadership potential.
With executive experience at Telstra, NAB, and Serco, Michelle brings commercial credibility and governance expertise to every room she enters. She’s an experienced non-executive director, a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, and holds an Executive MBA (Distinction), as well as DEI and coaching accreditations.
Named one of Australia’s Top 100 Women of Influence, Michelle was a long-time judge for the Telstra Business Women’s Awards and has served on panels for the VicSport Awards.
Her superpower? Saying what needs to be said, with warmth, wit, and evidence-based insight, to help people and organisations do better.
My Why
I exist to close the global leadership gender gap and make workplaces fairer, smarter, and better for women. I’m not here to fix women. I’m here to fix work. The evidence is clear: when women lead, everyone benefits. But we’re still battling systems that were never designed for us.
What drives me is the persistent gap between rhetoric and reality. Too many organisations talk about gender equity while rewarding the status quo. I’m here to end the lip service and move from conversation to action. Whether through my consulting, The Leadership Compass, the Lead to Soar Network, my research in women’s sport, or my writing, I equip people and organisations with practical strategies that dismantle barriers and deliver measurable change.
I do this work because I believe fairness isn’t optional. Because I’ve lived the frustration of being overlooked and underestimated. And because I know women shouldn’t have to shrink, over-perform, or play the game to get a seat at the table. WE should redesign the table.
Ultimately, my why is this: to ensure no woman ever doubts her right to lead, and no organisation ever treats inclusion as optional. This is about transforming leadership for good.
My Accomplishments
• Author of The Leadership Compass, named Career Book of the Year by the Royal Society for the Arts. • LinkedIn Top Voice (twice) for thought leadership in gender equity and DEI. • Named one of the AFR 100 Women of Influence for driving systemic change. • Finalist, Football Woman of the Year – Essendon Women’s Network. • Melbourne Woman Entrepreneur of the Year, Melbourne Business Network. • Former Judge, Telstra Business Women’s Awards and Victorian Sport Awards. • Creator, Advancing Women in Sport Report and Podcast Series, spotlighting equity in the Australian sporting sector. • Co-Founder, Lead to Soar – a multi-platform resource for ambitious women and the organisations serious about closing the leadership gender gap.
Fun facts
• Long before “side hustle” was a thing, I had one. In the 1990s, I ran a cake-making and decorating business on the side of my corporate career.
• I travel with my coffee machine. Non-negotiable. Life’s too short for bad coffee.
• I was literally born in the spotlight. A citywide power outage in Perth meant I entered the world by candlelight and made the front page of the newspaper the next day. My poor first-time parents never stood a chance!
How I can help
Turn DEI from conversation to action I cut through performative efforts and help organisations build and implement bold, evidence-based DEI strategies that close the leadership gender gap and create real cultural change.
Advance and retain women leaders I equip organisations with the insight and strategy to remove systemic barriers and support women to lead with confidence, credibility, and commercial impact.
Build inclusive, future-fit leadership capability I develop leaders who know how to navigate complexity, lead diverse teams, and use Business, Emotional, and Social Intelligence (BQ, EQ, SQ) to drive growth and performance.
Change the game for women in sport I bring data, strategy, and a fierce commitment to equity in sport—shifting mindsets, structures, and cultures to increase women’s representation on and off the field.
Inspire radical accountability and courageous action I deliver truth bombs that challenge the status quo, provoke reflection, and call people—especially leaders—to step up, speak out, and take meaningful action.
More from Michelle Redfern
Watch Michelle Redfern in action ↗
What My Clients Say About Me ↗
Michelle is the mentor who tells you the truth you need to hear. The coach who helps you rise. The ally who stands beside you when it counts. The provocateur who challenges the status quo. And the strategist who gets sh*t done.
She brings clarity, credibility, and courage to every conversation—and her clients trust her to help them lead smarter, fairer, and more boldly.
What My Male Clients Say About Me ↗
I know some men might be unsure about working with a forthright, fierce feminist like me. That’s fair. I don’t sugar-coat, and I don’t apologise for calling out what needs to change.
But here’s what the men I work with say: I create space for honest, respectful conversations that challenge their thinking without blaming or shaming. I help them lead more inclusively, act with greater integrity, and make better decisions.
My male clients trust me because I tell the truth, back it with evidence, and bring decades of commercial and leadership experience to the table. They don’t just feel safe working with me—they feel stronger, sharper, and more capable of leading change.
The Leadership Compass: Women Taking the Lead on Cuppa TV ↗
This is my convo with Cookie, founder of Cuppa TV about the real challenges women face in leadership, how to build credibility and influence, how to navigate ambition without burning out, and how to lead in systems that were not built with women in mind.
Profile information supplied through Cuppa’s talent directory. Availability and suitability are confirmed on enquiry.