Episode 8
Joan Fitzpatrick
“There’s an interesting correlation between childhood trauma and the ability to be strong and resilient later in life!”
From living in constant fear and danger all her teenage life to backing herself in developing businesses in overseas destinations, Joan Fitzpatrick speaks about the challenges she has faced and how they have impacted her business life. A huge advocate of equality in all its forms, be it religion, colour, sex or any other form of ‘ism, Joan shares with us the key aspects that have contributed to her success and longevity in the profession.
Accredited for 0.75 CIP points per episode
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About Joan Fitzpatrick:
BA (Hons) LLB, ANZIIF (Fellow), CIP, FAICD
Joan is an experienced company director and leader of business success. Her executive and director experience covers the corporate, government and not-for-profit sectors and she has a strong track record of working collaboratively across different stakeholders. Joan has an extensive record of achieving successful business outcomes in complex change environments.
Originally qualified as a barrister, she was attracted to a management career that began at 20th Century Fox’s fast-moving consumer goods enterprise in London. She went on to hold senior management roles in heavy manufacturing industries, large start-up projects in Europe, and international insurance operations in Asia. For over 16 years she worked as CEO and Director of the Australian and New Zealand Institute of Insurance and Finance (ANZIIF). Joan currently works within a diverse portfolio of non-executive director roles, her private consulting business, Alvearium Pty Ltd, and a range of pro bono charity work. Joan is the President of the Emergency Services and State Superannuation Board, and Chair of the Sacré Coeur Glen Iris school and Catholic Church Insurance. Her concurrent non-executive directorships include Defence Bank, Maurice Blackburn Lawyers, and the AFL
Players Association Injury Fund Foundation Board. She was the Chair of the Australian Reinsurance Pool Corporation (the terrorism pool fund for Australia) for 5 years stepping down in July 2017 and a director of the South Australian Government Finance Authority Advisory Board stepping down in August 2017, and a director of the Victorian Managed Insurance Authority for nine years stepping down in 2013. Joan is also a Member of the World Vision and Greenfleet Business Advisory Councils. She also mentors several aspiring executives who are in transition in their careers. Her charitable activity reflects a strong interest in supporting women and achieving gender equity.
She consults across a wide range of organisations in the areas of strategic planning, leadership, governance and risk via her consulting firm Alvearium Pty Ltd. In this capacity, Joan works with clients to help teams design, develop and effectively operationalise great strategies. She is often called upon to work with teams to address governance issues and create frameworks to meet best practice standards and regulatory compliance requirements, not only in terms of policy and process but also with regard to staff behaviour and attitudes. Joan also specialises in helping teams to work effectively, to assume the leadership mantle, to create trust and to be accountable.
Joan is married and has six children (4 inherited from her husband’s first marriage). She was born in Belfast in Northern Ireland and is a child of the “Troubles” which experience has shaped her outlook on life. She is therefore an Australian by choice not by birth, constantly grateful for that blessing.