Avril Henry is the Founder and Executive Director of Avril Henry & Associates. She is an acclaimed keynote speaker, consultant, coach, mentor and author, who is passionate about diversity and inclusion, developing collaborative leaders and positive workplaces. Over 16 years her consulting business has worked with organisations to change their culture and build their leadership capability. Avril’s career has spanned senior roles in finance, project management, change management and human resources in South Africa, Australia, the UK and USA.
In 2015 Avril was named one of the AFR Westpac 100 Women of Influence in Australia, and one of the 10 most influential women in the diversity space. She has been recognised by the Human Rights Commission and received business awards in Australia and the USA, for her diversity programs. She has received the prestigious Lifetime Achievement in HR Award at the Australian Human Resources Awards and received a global award for Excellence in Leadership Coaching.
Avril has been a senior advisor on cultural transformation, gender and diversity to the Chief of Defence, Chief of Army, Australia; the ACT Commissioner of Emergency Services and was a member of the Navy People & Capability Committee. Avril has coached Generals and Brigadiers in the Australian Army, including the Chief of Army and Head of Special Forces. Her clients cover banks, mining, construction, IT, health, universities, pharmaceuticals and biotech’s, and state & federal government departments
Avril has a degree in accounting and economics from the University of Cape Town, is an accredited coach and did post graduate studies in Human Resources at AGSM and leadership at Harvard Business School. She is a Fellow of CPA Australia, Senior Fellow of the Financial Services Institute of Australasia, a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Managers and Leaders, Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and member of the AHRI.
Avril is on the boards of My Property Circles (property investment) and CJC Management (engineering and construction) and is the Chair of Catch Up Australia (to address financial security of women over 55). She has served on the boards of NOW Australia (addressing sexual harassment in Australian workplaces), the Can Too Foundation (raising money for cancer research through fitness programs) and several industry association bodies.
She is the author and co-author of several books on leadership, the different generations at work and gender. Avril is a regular panellist on TV on ABC’s The Drum, ABC national radio and writes for several business magazines. She lives in Sydney with her husband and two Spoodles, who keep her grounded!
AREAS OF EXPERTISE
Change management, organisational culture, diversity and inclusion, leadership development, communication strategies, and EQ & resilience profiling.