About
Carnaby delivers professional development programs for high performance individuals, supporting them in their journey to the C-suite, boardroom and beyond.
We provide targeted, structured and bespoke mentoring and career sponsorship programs for individuals to equip them for future roles and create a diverse pipeline of Director and Executive talent.
We deliver programs and curated events, creating a network of supportive peers, as well as providing opportunities to connect with colleagues and create a community of excellence.
We partner with strong brands who are committed to helping us achieve our vision.
Through this, we aim to create a pipeline of talented professionals, preparing them for board roles and supporting them to achieve their career potential.
Inspiration
The Carnaby Black Cockatoo is a much loved and iconic Australian bird. They are renowned for flocking together and for their distinctive voice, or call.
Now listed as an endangered species, government, industry and the community are working together to enhance their habitat and nurture their recovery.
The Carnaby Black Cockatoo inspires the work of Carnaby by reminding us of the strength of networks, as well as the importance of collaboration and proactively working to create environments where people can flourish.
Board
Carnaby’s founding partners are Bronwyn Barnes, Suzanne Ardagh and Daniel Smith.
Bronwyn Barnes
Bronwyn has extensive experience in Australian and overseas mining companies, ranging from BHP Billiton to emerging juniors, and including Director, leadership and operational roles. She has led major projects from exploration through to operation and connected the WA resources sector with international mining investment.
With over 25 years of board experience across a range of industries, including mining, agriculture, energy, community foundations and international trade and investment, Bronwyn is a passionate supporter of increasing the number of women in the board room, particularly within the junior resources sector.
Bronwyn is currently Executive Chairman of Indiana Resources Ltd, Non-Executive Chairman of Scorpion Minerals Ltd, Aerison Group Ltd, Finder Energy Ltd and a Non-Executive Director of Synergy.
Bronwyn received the Outstanding Women in Resources Award 2015 from the Chamber of Minerals and Energy WA and was named Exceptional Woman in Australian Resources 2015 in the Women in Resources National Awards. She was a WA Women’s Hall of Fame inductee in 2019.
Suzanne Ardagh
Suzanne is a Chair, Non-Executive Director and Executive with broad strategic and international experience across a range of industries. Her governance expertise has been developed over 20 years in the tertiary education sector, professional associations, not-for-profit and commercial sectors.
Suzanne was the former WA state manager with the Australian Institute of Company Directors and in this role she established AICD’s international division in South East Asia. She was also integral to the development of the Indigenous Governance Programs in WA.
Suzanne currently leads the board advisory services of Lester Blades, providing advice to boards through Director recruitment and board advisory services. She is passionate about supporting other women and also devotes her time mentoring emerging and aspiring Directors through speaking engagements.
In a Non-Executive Director career spanning more than 20 years, Suzanne has served on boards in many sectors. She is on the board of the Cancer Council WA and chair of Stanley International College. Most recently, Suzanne was appointed to the St John of God Ministry Advisory Committee. Suzanne is also on the Australian British Chamber of Commerce WA committee and patron of the WA Vietnam Business Council in WA.
Daniel Smith
Daniel Smith is executive chair and founder of ReGen Strategic, a specialist ESG advisory that helps organisations to prepare for their ESG journey, share their ESG performance and pair with other organisations in pursuit of their ESG objectives.
For 20 years, Daniel has been a trusted advisor to people at the highest levels of government and industry, specialising in mining, energy and economic development. With a background in social and marketing research, Daniel has worked on stakeholder engagement and communications strategies for some of Western Australia’s highest profile private, public and community sector organisations.
Daniel previously founded CGM Communications, growing it into one of Western Australia’s most respected community, government and media relations agencies over 11 years, before repurposing as ReGen.
Daniel believes that diversity is key to driving long-term performance, putting organisations in the best place to tackle the risks and opportunities presented by current and emerging environmental, social and governance issues.
Daniel serves on a number of not-for-profit boards, driving stakeholder engagement and the consideration of ESG issues. He is also a regular columnist for The West Australian.
