Dr Kirstin Ferguson AM is one of Australia’s most prominent leadership experts.
An award-winning author, columnist and company director, Kirstin was recognised as a Member of the Order of Australia in 2023 for her significant contributions to business, and gender equality.
Kirstin is also making a global impact, with UK-based Thinkers50 naming her one of the world’s top 30 “Thinkers to Watch” and she was shortlisted for the Distinguished Award in Leadership in 2023 and 2021.
Kirstin’s career includes three decades of leadership experience including a previous appointment by the Australian Prime Minister as Acting Chair and Deputy Chair of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.
Kirstin has previously been the CEO of a global consulting firm, was a senior executive at a leading corporate law firm and spent nearly 10 years as an Officer in the Royal Australian Air Force.
Kirstin holds a PhD in leadership and culture as well as Honours degrees in Law, and also History. She is an Adjunct Professor at the QUT Business School and a Sir Winston Churchill Fellow.
Her first book, Women Kind: Unlocking the power of women supporting women (Murdoch Books), was co-authored with Catherine Fox and received the Australian Business Book Award of Management and HR book of the year.
Kirstin’s second book, Head & Heart: The Art of Modern Leadership (Penguin Random House) debuted in the top 10 non-fiction bestseller list on release and has been described by #1 NYT bestselling author, Adam Grant, as “A timely, actionable book on the virtues that every great leader needs to learn.” It was named by Thinkers50 as one of the top 10 best new management books in the world in 2023.
Kirstin writes a popular weekly column for The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age called Got a Minute? answering the nation’s work, leadership, and culture questions. She also contributes to the Financial Review.
A passionate advocate for women, diversity, and inclusion, Kirstin was responsible for sparking a viral social media campaign called #CelebratingWomen which saw her celebrate 757 women from 37 countries around the world.
