Director Australian Geospatial-Intelligence Organisation (AGO) Kathryn McMullan has taken part in a panel discussion focused on embracing change at a Women in National Security Event, presented by the National Security College.
Held at the National Gallery, the live podcast recording was attended by various participants from across the National Intelligence Community (NIC).
Ms McMullan was joined by Kimberly Brennan (Partner, Ernst & Young), and Nu Nu Win (Assistant Secretary at Treasury), and Olivia Shen (Director in the Executive and Professional Development Program at Home Affairs), to discuss Change Making - reflecting on the past and present to enact change into the future.
It became evident early in the discussion that ‘change’ is a constant, encompassing a myriad of things from the changing security environment, to starting a new job, to striving for equitable and diverse representation in the workplace.
“Change is constant, and sometimes it’s small and slow and sometimes it’s big and fast,” said Ms McMullan.
“But ultimately, we’re all living through change all of the time so I’d just encourage you to embrace it, accept it, know that it’s never going to be perfect.”
Ms McMullan explained that action and leadership at all levels does make a difference, and that change is everyone’s responsibility.
She told the audience that everyone brings their own strengths when dealing with or creating change, and we need to leverage partnerships across the NIC and private sector.
“People often look to the leadership group to effect change but actually the most effective change is when people both from the ground up are driving it, your middle management are on board with it and the leadership are setting the vision and all three of those elements are aligned,” said Ms McMullan.
The event provided an opportunity to hear from notable women, and build professional networks amongst others within the NIC.
The Defence Intelligence Group(Opens in a new tab/window) brings together Defence’s Intelligence functions, and includes AGO(Opens in a new tab/window) and DIO(Opens in a new tab/window) (Defence Intelligence Organisation), who are both a part of the 10 intelligence agencies which make up the NIC.
To access the full panel discussion
Listen via Acast(Opens in a new tab/window)