Rachael Robertson

Rachael Robertson (CSP, MBA) is a former Antarctic expedition leader, Chief Ranger and leader with 20 years of ‘extreme’ leadership experience. She is a best-selling author and leadership guru whose talents are in great demand from leading organisations around the globe.

As only the second female to lead a team to Davis Station in Antarctica she managed a diverse group of up to 120 people, through total isolation, months of darkness, with no way in and no way out. It was a leadership laboratory in the most extreme and hostile environment on Earth, where most of the theory doesn’t apply.

This leadership role is a truly unique experience.  Antarctica in winter is totally inaccessible which means once the last ship leaves at the end of February, no one can leave the base under any circumstance (not even if you are dying) until the ship returns in November. It’s a 24 hour a day, every day of the year, leadership role.

Rachael was responsible for all aspects of life on the Station, from the safety and welfare of over 80 expeditioners in Summer, to the delivery of the Australian Government’s $20mn science program.  In any circumstance, this would be a tough role, but for a female in a male dominated environment, it was also a very challenging one!

Prior to this Rachael held senior operational management roles for 16 years in a range of complex and challenging environments, was Victoria’s youngest Chief Ranger and led the media coordination unit during the Black Saturday bushfires.

Leading an Antarctic expedition, coordinating media during the Black Saturday bushfire event and guiding teams through turmoil all require extreme leadership and the ability to inspire through tough times. As Rachael reveals using incredible and often hilarious examples, these situations demand big leadership in small moments, because it’s the small moments that build momentum.

She is now a keynote speaker and facilitator at many national and international conferences with over 350 clients including NAB, AXA, Westpac, BHP Billiton, IBM, Minter Ellison, Crown Casino, CPA Australia, Wesfarmers, BP, Choice Hotels and Melbourne Water. Rachael presents with great humour, humility and passion. No matter the event, Rachael will leave your audience inspired, challenged and equipped to take the next step in their leadership journey.

Rachael Robertson talks about

• Understanding the whole individual
• Enhance the team you have
• Match people to the task
• Creating and harnessing diversity
• Leading through adversity and change
• Communication
• Taking care of the small ‘stuff’
• Be authentic and reflect
• Developing resilience
• The importance of taking care of yourself as a leader