behind the INITIATIVE
The Glass Elevator was co-founded by Cassandra Kelly and Olivia Loadwick and supported by the Pottinger team, with amazing support provided by Amanda Samson. Both women wished to design a program that would contribute to the development of women, the quality of their networks, and ultimately result in the increase of the number of women in senior executive positions
Cassandra kelly
Cassandra Kelly
Chair | Pottinger Website: www.pottinger.com |
Cassandra is an entrepreneur, business woman and philanthropist. She is Chair of Pottinger (formerly CEO), a global advisory firm. Cassandra is a trusted advisor to governments on policy as well as some of the world’s largest companies on their corporate strategy and mergers and acquisitions.
Cassandra has lived and worked in most of the world’s continents and has worked for companies including HSBC, McKinsey, Deutsche Bank and prior to establishing Pottinger, she was Vice President of GMAC Commercial Mortgage Asia, based in Japan. In 2012, Cassandra was recognised in the Westpac/Financial Review Women of Influence awards as one of the most influential women in boards and management in Australia. She is Deputy Director of the Treasury Corporation of Victoria, Chair of Allpress Espresso International, and a director of the US Resolution Project. She is a Council Member at Brookings Institution’s Center for Universal Education. She is an Ambassador for the Thankful Project_and on the Leadership Council for MS Research Australia. She was previously a director of Flight Centre Travel Group, on the Advisory Board for the CEO Sleepout, a director of Starlight Children’s Foundation and Children’s Cancer Institute Australia and Vice President of Women in Banking and Finance. In 2012, she was recognised as one of the most influential women in Australian management and boardrooms by the 100 Women of Influence awards. In May 2014, she was delighted to be acknowledged as the Instyle businesswoman of style. She was recently acknowledged in the US Journal, Directors & Boards as one of 12 directors to watch in North America. She lives in New York City with her family. |
Olivia Loadwick
Olivia Loadwick
Co-founder | The Glass Elevator |
Olivia Loadwick lives in Sydney, Australia and has a background is in financial and strategic advisory. She has advised some of the world’s leading companies on corporate strategy and on mergers and acquisitions as well as providing advice on policy for State and Federal governments.
Olivia has significant experience in international markets having studied, lived and worked in China, South Korea, North America, the Middle East, Europe, New Zealand and Australia. She has studied widely across disciplines and her background in international relations, finance and technology has given her a unique perspective that she is now using to contribute in the not-for-profit sector. She contributes time to the development of women in developing countries. She is the Non-Executive Chairman of Global Sisters, a not-for-profit providing a platform for entrepreneurship for women in disadvantaged communities. She also formerly developed the ‘Leadership in Action’ leadership programme in partnership with Habitat for Humanity Australia. Olivia was previously the Vice President of Women in Banking and Finance, a non-profit association contributing to the professional development of women in the banking and finance industry and served on the Committee for Young Finance Professionals of the Securities Institute of Australia. In 2014, Olivia was recognised in the Westpac/Financial Review Women of Influence awards as one of the most influential women in Australia. |