E4 | 20 Years of Women on Boards Series: Julie Garland McLellan on Governance and the Evolution of Women in the Boardroom

As part of the 20 Years of Women on Boards – Inspire | Influence | Impact vodcast series, WOB CEO and co-founder Claire Braund OAM speaks with governance expert Julie Garland McLellan about board careers, governance and the changing role of women in the boardroom over the past two decades. 

A non-executive director, educator, author and producer and narrator of the Directors Dilemma newsletter, Julie reflects on a career spanning more than 27 years across boards, governance education and consulting. She shares lessons from board turnarounds; governance failures and the increasing expectations placed on directors today. 

Julie also reflects on the early days of Women on Boards and the reaction when WOB first launched. At the time, she was serving on the council of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (AICD) and recalls the “consternation” surrounding an organisation focused specifically on supporting women into boards, particularly during debates around quotas and targets. 

She notes how much the governance landscape has changed since then. In the early days, governance events often had only a handful of women in attendance. Today, many are approaching gender parity -something Julie believes WOB has helped normalise over the past 20 years. 

The episode also explores the importance of continuous learning, strong networks and understanding the practical realities of being a director, with Julie encouraging aspiring directors to gain hands-on board experience and continue building their governance knowledge throughout their career.