Empowering Female Leadership: The Importance of Allyship in the Workplace
Date:Thursday, 21 August
Time: 12.40pm - 1.50pm
Venue: Studio 2, W Hotel, Sydney
Women in Tech Leadership Lunch with Matina Jewell
Join SAS and leadership expert Matina Jewell, a decorated war veteran, as she shares powerful lessons from leading under fire during the Lebanon War. Through real mission footage and compelling stories, discover how authentic leadership drives resilience, and purpose in times of intense change and pressure.
This keynote Caught in the Crossfire – Leadership Lessons from the Front Lines of Change is more than inspiration—it’s a call to action. Discover how true leadership empowers others, breaks barriers, and drives gender equity through intentional allyship. Be part of a transformative conversation about leading with courage and creating inclusive, high-performing teams.
Registration
Invitation-only event
Thank you for your interest. We have now reached full capacity for lunch. To be added to the waitlist, please email tracy.bolton@sas.com.
Location
Matina Jewell
Retired Major, Author & Empowering Keynote
Major Matina Jewell (Retired) is an exceptional keynote speaker who shares her personal stories and transformative lessons in leadership that she learnt over 15 years in military service.
During a trailblazing career, Matina achieved many significant ‘firsts. She was the first female in the Army to complete the physically demanding Navy Diver course. She was the only Australian (and the only female) at the dangerous ‘PB Khiam’ UN patrol base at the border junction of Israel, Syria and Lebanon. She received nine military service medals including two Republic of Lebanon war medals (she is the only Australian to receive these two awards).
A star graduate from the Australian Army’s prestigious Royal Military College Duntroon, Matina Jewell’s distinguished military career culminated with a coveted posting to serve as part the United Nations Truce Supervision Organisation (UNTSO) in the Middle East.
After full-scale war erupted between Israel and Lebanon, she was seriously injured (five fractured and crushed vertebrae plus nerve damage and other internal injuries) while commanding a UN convoy through war-torn Lebanon and had to be evacuated. Her injuries ended her military career. Most of Matina’s colleagues – her ‘brothers’ – were tragically killed.
Today, Matina is in demand as an inspiring speaker who enthrals audiences with stories of how she tracked down war lords, fast roped from helicopters, boarded smuggler ships in the North Arabian Gulf and took command, leading teams under extreme conditions under fire during the Lebanon War. With ‘on-the-ground’ footage from life-threatening missions to bring audiences into the-moment, she shares an incredible journey; drawing out the lessons from her varied experiences that drive long lasting change in leaders, teams and organisations, for years to come. Indeed, Matina’s keynotes and workshops attract standing ovations and have been known to transform some of the country’s biggest companies, empowering leaders from all walks of life to build purpose driven teams and develop cultures that thrive through change.
As well as speaking, Matina has held a number of distinguished Government and not for profit board roles. She has served on the ANZAC Centenary Commission and the Prime Minister’s Advisory Council where she has given a voice to the rights of Veterans throughout the country.
Matina wrote about her experiences in her memoir Caught in the Crossfire, a frighteningly dramatic first-hand account of what really happens in modern warfare and the high price our soldiers pay for their country. Her story was featured in a two-part ABC Australian Story documentary.
Matina Jewell
Retired Major, Author & Empowering Keynote
Major Matina Jewell (Retired) is an exceptional keynote speaker who shares her personal stories and transformative lessons in leadership that she learnt over 15 years in military service.
During a trailblazing career, Matina achieved many significant ‘firsts. She was the first female in the Army to complete the physically demanding Navy Diver course. She was the only Australian (and the only female) at the dangerous ‘PB Khiam’ UN patrol base at the border junction of Israel, Syria and Lebanon. She received nine military service medals including two Republic of Lebanon war medals (she is the only Australian to receive these two awards).
A star graduate from the Australian Army’s prestigious Royal Military College Duntroon, Matina Jewell’s distinguished military career culminated with a coveted posting to serve as part the United Nations Truce Supervision Organisation (UNTSO) in the Middle East.
After full-scale war erupted between Israel and Lebanon, she was seriously injured (five fractured and crushed vertebrae plus nerve damage and other internal injuries) while commanding a UN convoy through war-torn Lebanon and had to be evacuated. Her injuries ended her military career. Most of Matina’s colleagues – her ‘brothers’ – were tragically killed.
Today, Matina is in demand as an inspiring speaker who enthrals audiences with stories of how she tracked down war lords, fast roped from helicopters, boarded smuggler ships in the North Arabian Gulf and took command, leading teams under extreme conditions under fire during the Lebanon War. With ‘on-the-ground’ footage from life-threatening missions to bring audiences into the-moment, she shares an incredible journey; drawing out the lessons from her varied experiences that drive long lasting change in leaders, teams and organisations, for years to come. Indeed, Matina’s keynotes and workshops attract standing ovations and have been known to transform some of the country’s biggest companies, empowering leaders from all walks of life to build purpose driven teams and develop cultures that thrive through change.
As well as speaking, Matina has held a number of distinguished Government and not for profit board roles. She has served on the ANZAC Centenary Commission and the Prime Minister’s Advisory Council where she has given a voice to the rights of Veterans throughout the country.
Matina wrote about her experiences in her memoir Caught in the Crossfire, a frighteningly dramatic first-hand account of what really happens in modern warfare and the high price our soldiers pay for their country. Her story was featured in a two-part ABC Australian Story documentary.