Speaker Profile

Appointed in 2014, Samantha is CEO of Chemistry Australia.
Samantha’s career spans more than 30 years across the chemicals, plastics, renewable fuels, automotive and steel industries.
Prior to joining the Association, she was CEO of the Biofuels Association of Australia and held senior executive and board roles at GM Holden and General Motors Australia and was a Non-Executive Director of the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries.
Samantha has diverse and extensive experience in strategy development, business transformation and management, government relations, public policy and commercial negotiations, and has built partnerships with government, industry, research, university and community organisations.
To provide the best outcomes for current and future generations, Samantha’s focus is on building sustainable and resilient industries, businesses and communities. She is a passionate advocate for Australian manufacturing and believes that our industrial base is critical for Australia’s economic health and community wellbeing, providing skilled and high value STEM jobs, investment and new technologies to meet our future challenges.
Over the last 20 years, Samantha has chaired and contributed to numerous government and industry committees and boards focused on policy and program implementation to drive growth and investment in Australian manufacturing. Samantha is currently a member of the Federal Government’s Circular Economy Ministerial Advisory Group, the International Trade Remedies Forum, the Stakeholder Engagement Committee for Australia’s Industrial Chemicals Introduction Scheme and WorkSafe Victoria’s OHS Advisory Committee. Samantha Chairs the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry’s Sustainability Council and is a member of CSIRO's Ending Plastic Waste Mission Advisory Committee, the Monash Industry Council of Advisors and Chemical Engineering Advisory Board.
With a long-held interest in supporting diversity and inclusion, Samantha is committed to helping develop the next generation of Australian industry leaders, particularly through her work actively mentoring emerging leaders and her membership of Chief Executive Women.
Awarded Monash University’s 2015 Distinguished Alumni (Engineering), Samantha was also a finalist in the 2014 Telstra Business Women's Awards. Samantha holds a Bachelor of Engineering (Hons.) in Materials Engineering from Monash University, is a Fellow of the Royal Australian Chemical Institute and Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.