Louise Adams
Chief Operating Officer
Louise Adams
She/Her
Chief Operating Officer
Aurecon
Louise is Aurecon’s Chief Operating Officer, responsible for driving all areas of the business to achieve the Group’s strategic goals. Reporting to Aurecon’s Group CEO, Louise is a member of the Group Executive Leadership Team.
In addition to this role, Louise is a member of the National Advisory and Fiduciary Boards of Infrastructure Partnerships Australia, Consult Australia’s Champions of Change Group, an elected Fellow of the Australian Academy of Technology & Engineering (ATSE), and a member of Chief Executive Women (CEW).
At the ASEAN-Australia Special Summit in March 2024, Louise was appointed by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese as the Australian Business Champion to Vietnam in support of the Government’s response to Invested: Australia’s Southeast Asia Economic Strategy to 2040.
Louise has received numerous awards including the prestigious Sir John Holland Australian Civil Engineer of the Year Award from Engineer Australia’s Civil College in 2023, an Excellence in Engineering accolade at the Women in Industry Awards in 2022, 2021 Deakin University Alumni of the Year Award and the CEO Magazine’s Australian CEO of the Year Award in 2020.
A Chartered Civil Engineer, Louise has over 25 years’ experience managing and designing works in both civil and multi-disciplinary projects across diverse global locations.
SESSIONS
Day 1
11:40
How-To Leadership Toolkit
Our "How-To Leadership Toolkit" sessions consist of two focused 30-minute sessions. Bring your questions and leave with actionable strategies as you’ll work with seasoned leaders and peers to tackle key leadership challenges.
Personal Leadership
1. How to overcome self-doubt, build confidence and develop a strong executive presence?
Louise Adams, Chief Operating Officer, Aurecon
2. How to balance ambition and well-being to avoid burnout and sustain long-term success?
Deb Cownley, Head of Operational Services – Energy, John Holland
3. How to cultivate strategic thinking and business acumen to secure executive support for initiatives?
Clare Douglas, CEO, Healthy Ageing, Mercy Health
4. How to effectively negotiate for a promotion and ensure you're paid what you're worth?
Div Pillay, CEO, MindTribes; Co-Founder, Culturally Diverse Women
Team Leadership
1. How to accelerate the inclusion and diversity of women in male dominated industries?
Ashley McGrath, Chief Executive Officer, CEOs for Gender Equity
2. How to support and faciliate return to work?
Krithika Hansen, Chief People Officer, TelstraSuper