Our Speaker - Major General (Retired) Liz Cosson AM CSC

Liz Cosson recently retired from her role as Secretary of the Australian Department of Veterans’ Affairs (DVA), President of the Repatriation Commission and Chair of the Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Commission. Liz is a passionate advocate for the recognition of military service and for improving awareness of services and support to enable veterans and their families to transition from military service to purposeful civilian life.

Liz has had 31 years of distinguished military service in the Australian Army, including becoming the first woman in Army’s history to be promoted to the senior rank of Major General.  During her military career, Liz served in the field of aviation logistics, logistic planning and supply chain management.  Liz also deployed as the Chief of Staff with the Peace Monitoring Group, Bougainville.

After her military service, Liz commenced her career with the Australian Public Service. After an initial period with DVA, Liz went on to work with the Commonwealth Departments of Health, and Home Affairs (then Immigration and Citizenship), before she returned to DVA in 2016 as a Deputy Secretary and was then appointed Secretary in May 2018.

During her time with DVA, Liz was responsible for leading the most significant transformation of services for veterans, families and departmental staff. This included the introduction of digital access for veterans, implementation of access to free mental health services, the introduction of the veteran and family wellbeing framework, expanding the support and services available to the veteran community and driving the organisation’s cultural change program.

Liz recognises the importance of establishing purpose after service.  The nature of military service is unique and in DVA, Liz lead the introduction of an early engagement model to ensure DVA knows veterans from the time of enlistment, through service and during their transition to civilian life. Today, Liz is committed to mentoring and coaching veterans, families and organisations in the concept of ‘service after service’.  Liz is also committed to sharing her experience, lessons and insights from her service, including being a champion and mentor for women and future leaders.

Liz was awarded a Conspicuous Service Cross in 2001 and was appointed a Member in the Military Division of the Order of Australia in 2011 for her contributions to the Army and the delivery of profound organisational reform.

In 2014, she was awarded the ACT Award for Excellence in Women’s Leadership.

In 2019, Liz was inducted into the Women in Defence Hall of Fame.

Liz holds a Master of Arts (Strategic Studies), Bachelor of Social Science and is a Member of the AICD.

Liz was recently appointed as a non-Executive Director to the Board of RSL Life Care Ltd.

Helga Svendsen is a connector: ideas to strategy to plans to action. She revels in connecting people and organisations and supports them to make the world a better place. She is passionate about empowerment and wise decision-making. Helga specialises in governance, strategy, planning and stakeholder engagement. Building on her leadership roles in government, not-for-profit and membership organisations.

Helga is a dynamic facilitator, a supportive and challenging coach, an effective trainer and an engaging speaker. 

Helga is the Chair of the Victorian Asbestos Eradication Agency, and a current Board member of the Workplace Injury Commission. She is also on the Nominations Committees for the Victorian Department of Health (known as BMAC – the Boards Ministerial Advisory Committee), Basketball Australia and Greenpeace Australia Pacific. Helga is also the former Chair of the Centre for Sustainability Leadership and a former board member of the Royal Women’s Hospital, YWCA Victoria, Social Housing Victoria and the Community Services and Health Industry Training Advisory Board.

Helga founded the Board KickStarter and Board Accelerator programs, two group-coaching programs to support women into and in Non Executive Director roles. Host of Take on Board podcast.