GLF Connect takes on... leading through crisis.
What does it take to lead others through a crisis? What if you’re in one yourself?
For each crisis we see or hear about, there are people living it. Who is leading them? How are they leading? Are they in crisis themselves? How are they dealing with it at the same time as leading others? How on earth do they do that?
Join us as FGLF takes on... leading through crisis!
We’ll hear from panellists who have led through a personal crisis as well as some who have had to lead others through a public crisis - including Ian Parrott (FGLF 2001) Assistant Commissioner SAPOL, Lisa Smart (FGLF 2022), Professor Mike Steer, and Vicky Welgraven AM.
Find out more about the panel and our special "who's with me?" segment here.
We’ll then provide an opportunity for questions, rich conversation and even polarities you can only take on the GLF way.
Stay after to connect, reflect and continue the conversation over drinks and light refreshments.
When: Tuesday, 24 March 2026
Time: 4:30pm – 7.00pm
Where: William Buck Adelaide, 6/211 Victoria Square, Adelaide
Cost: Please contribute to the GLF Connect Scholarship instead!
Book now for this special event.
Our events are proudly supported by our sponsors.
Meet your panel
Ian Parrott APM Assistant Commissioner South Australia Police is an experienced executive with extraordinary leadership and command experience across a diverse range of SAPOL services including metropolitan and regional operations, road safety, emergency communications, counter terrorism and human resources. He also has significant senior level strategic project management and governance experience at organisation, State and National level.
His current portfolio includes frontline policing operations for all regional South Australia, SAPOL’s State wide Road Safety Policing Capability, Regional Policing Review and the Aboriginal Policy Portfolio. He has previously been the Chairperson of the National Emergency Communications Working – Australia/New Zealand, the Australia and New Zealand Policing Advisory Agency (ANZPAA) Road Policing Executive Network and is the current Chairperson of the ANZPAA Police Closing the Gap Network. More recently, he represented South Australia Police at the SA First Nations Voice to Parliament hearings.
Assistant Commissioner Parrott was awarded the Australian Police Medal (APM) in 2025 for his dedication to policing
Lisa Smart
is an experienced executive leader with more than 15 years in senior roles across the community services and disability sectors. Lisa’s career spans over 40 years and several industries, having worked her way from the ground up to frontline supervision roles, senior management and now executive leadership. She is currently General Manager at Sureway Health and Wellbeing, where she leads services delivering psychological and counselling support to people experiencing disadvantage and complex mental health challenges.
Lisa brings a rare blend of strategic leadership, operational depth and lived experience to her work. She has previously built and run her own successful business and is recognised for her ability to lead organisations and teams through complexity, change and uncertainty.
She holds an MBA from the University of South Australia, graduating in the top 10% of her cohort, and is a graduate of the Governor’s Leadership Foundation program in 2022.
Alongside her professional experience, Lisa speaks openly about leading while navigating personal crisis, including her journey as a parent of a young man living with significant mental health challenges and disability. This perspective shapes her deeply human approach to leadership — grounded in resilience, compassion and courage.
Lisa speaks on leading through crisis, sustaining leadership through personal adversity, and creating cultures that support both performance and wellbeing.
Professor Mike Steer is the Executive Director of the South Australian Research and Development Institute (SARDI), the research arm of the Department of Primary Industries and Regions within the South Australian Government. SARDI’s mission is to deliver world-class, independent, applied research outcomes that support primary industries, communities, and regions to grow and prosper. With a focus on advancing the growth, sustainability, and competitiveness of South Australia's primary industries, SARDI's work spans agriculture, aquaculture, fisheries, biosecurity, livestock and food sciences.
Professor Steer brings over 20 years of experience in scientific and leadership roles, having previously served as the Research Director of SARDI's Aquatic and Livestock Sciences. His strategic leadership and scientific expertise have been instrumental in shaping South Australia's seafood industry, enabling impactful advancements that have enhanced the sector's capabilities and reputation for sustainability.
In his role as Executive Director, Professor Steer is dedicated to strengthening partnerships across all primary industry sectors, including crops, livestock, food, and aquatics. His commitment to fostering collaboration with industry partners, universities, and other research institutions is foundational to his vision for SARDI's future.
Professor Steer holds a PhD from the University of Tasmania and a Bachelor of Science (Honours) from James Cook University, Queensland. His work exemplifies SARDI's mission to empower South Australia's industries and communities.
Vicky Welgraven AM is a proud Adnyamathanha woman from Northern Flinders Ranges SA and has led initiatives addressing domestic and family violence, promoting gender equality, and fostering inclusive public policy and partnerships with Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations, leaders and communities.
From championing social justice for over 30 years in the Public Service both Federal and State level to now leading the First Nations Unit at the Department of Primary Industries and Regions, Vicky has dedicated her career to empowering communities and advancing equity and was appointed as an ‘Advisor’ and ‘Advocate’ for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander woman on the ‘South Australian Royal Commission into Domestic Family and Sexual Violence 2025’.
Vicky is currently in a number of leadership roles including Co-Deputy Chair at Our Watch and Deputy Chair at Power Community Limited (PAFC) and an Ambassador for Hutt Street Centre.
Vicky combines strategic leadership with hands-on advocacy, driving meaningful change across sectors and creating opportunities for inclusion, equity, community partnerships and wellbeing.
In 2022, Vicky was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia ‘AM’ for her service to women and Indigenous health.
Recently Vicky was awarded ‘2026 Aboriginal Woman of Achievement Award’ presented by the Lord Mayor of Adelaide and President of Zonta Club of Adelaide for her outstanding leadership, advocating for Aboriginal women's rights and promoting gender equality, domestic and family violence across Australia and Internationally.
Who's with me?
Who’s with Me? is all about harnessing the collective energy and generosity of GLF Alumni to make a real difference in South Australia and beyond, creating opportunities at our events for leaders to share ideas that could spark meaningful community impact. GLFers can put forward an idea or initiative at any of our events—asking who’s with me?—and inviting fellow alumni to connect, collaborate, and help bring that idea to life.
At our Autumn event, Simon Milcock (GLF 2005) will share his inspiring journey as a volunteer with the Australian Volunteers Program, where he mentors SPOONS Cambodia—an organisation helping disadvantaged young adults build thriving careers in hospitality. Simon has already facilitated a connection between Australian Volunteers and the Leaders Institute of SA, and he’s keen to connect with other FGLFers who are involved in (or interested in) the Australian Volunteers Program or similar Australian Aid initiatives.
Here more about Simon's inspiring work and how you might give back through volunteering.
You can also reach out to Simon directly here
