To mark International Women's Day (IWD), The SOURCE asked leaders of some of the residential aged care sector's top suppliers what inspired them to begin working in the ageing industry, the impacts they have had, and any barriers they have experienced because of their gender.

From growing up in a retirement village to lessons learnt on the sporting field, their experiences are as varied as they are inspirational, and show the depth of talent among female leaders in the aged care sector.

Cynthia Payne, Managing Director, Anchor Excellence

Reflecting on her 33-year journey in the aged care industry, Cynthia said:

"I am immensely proud of the path I have walked. As I celebrate my 55th birthday this year, I look back with equal pride at having nurtured a robust executive career while raising four children, one of whom is now making her own impactful contributions."

From the outset of her career, Cynthia saw immense opportunities in aged care, a sentiment that still rings true today. Now, as the leader of a national team comprising 20 expert female leaders, she provides board and executive services for Residential Aged Care, Home Care, and Retirement Living services.

"Throughout my career, I have played a pivotal role in driving industry-level change, a journey that has seen an even broader impact since the inception of Anchor Excellence in 2018," Cynthia said. "In just five years, we have directly influenced over 400 aged care providers and impacted over 8,000 leaders through our expert industry-based leadership and online programs at Anchor Academy."

The year 2023 marked a significant milestone as Anchor Excellence expanded globally through the acquisition of SAGE Study Tours.

"I have always set my sights high," Cynthia said. "For those who know me, my passion for enabling leadership and my unwavering support for female leaders is palpable, whether they are on boards, in executive roles, or managing teams. Despite our sector being predominantly female-dominated, this is not always reflected at the highest leadership levels. It's a question we should always be asking: why?"

Today, Cynthia's contributions extend to her role as an Independent Non-Executive Director with ASX-listed Painchek, she is Board advisor with Total Construction, of the Mind Connections Foundation, Director of the Association of Commonwealth Leaders Conferences, and Director of Commonwealth Study Conferences Australia. 

"My journey has been one of dedication, passion, and unwavering commitment to making a difference in the lives of others," Cynthia said. "As I look ahead, I am excited about the opportunities that lie ahead and remain committed to driving positive change in the industry."

Karen Armstrong, Director, Planning, Ethos Urban

Karen has been fascinated with cities ever since she was a child. "I spent many hours exploring every nook and cranny of the places where I grew up. As I grew older, I realised that my fascination wasn't just about the physical spaces; it was also about the diverse and vibrant lives that filled those spaces," she said.

"This curiosity led me to town planning, where I discovered a field dedicated to shaping the future of these living, breathing entities. Even after 30 years, my passion and curiosity for good planning remain as strong as ever!"

Karen's passion was "ignited" when she witnessed the power of community engagement first hand.

"During my University years, I participated in Sydney harbourside parks consultations, where I saw residents come together with great ideas for the designers and planners to improve these spaces to reflect their diverse needs and aspirations. This experience cemented my belief in town planning as a collaborative endeavour, where listening and responding to the voices of the community is paramount," Karen said.

"I’m pleased to have been involved in many projects that have made a big difference to people’s lives, especially with seniors housing development approvals, seeing a range of new retirement villages providing not only new homes and but fostering intergenerational interaction and a vibrant sense of community. The challenges of gaining the approvals are all worthwhile when they provide for many generations of seniors to come."

Karen takes pride in her mentoring of young professionals in the field. "I have always believed in working in firms with a supportive and collaborative environment where everyone can learn and grow." 

On the barriers she has faced, Karen said, "In your career, you will likely face many obstacles from all directions. My advice is to surround yourself with a great support system to overcome these barriers. Seek advice and guidance from people of different generations, including your mentors, and learn from your mentees while supporting them. Being curious and sharing knowledge, ideas, and experiences is crucial."

Carolyne Burns, Co-Founder & Managing Director, expr3ss.com

As a centre-forward playing representative hockey for South Australian state teams in her youth, Carolyne created opportunities for others to score. She has applied this tenacity and purpose to the creation of her own business, Expr3ss! Predictive Hiring Technology, which has gained traction as the new recruitment platform for companies wanting to do their own recruiting.

Expr3ss! provides predictive hiring technology software-as-a-service packages that integrate with company websites, enabling businesses to recruit for themselves using the platform.

It is the alternative to paying big fees to traditional recruitment and labour hire firms, job boards, or rudimentary ATS, and plays an important part in the trend for businesses of all sizes seeking cost efficiencies. Expr3ss! has found particular favour with companies in the Aged Care, Disability Care and Residential Care industry.

Carolyne's belief in her business concept was so strong, she backed herself and sold everything she owned in Adelaide, yielding about $120,000, to invest in Expr3ss! She relocated to Sydney in 2003 and was down to her last $10,000 – after investing in product and website development, marketing and rent – before her first 'breakthrough' client, Spendless Shoes, came on board.  Expr3ss! continues to be a self-funded family business.

At the heart of Expr3ss! are predictive surveys that distill the essence of the applicants for a job that highlight performance under pressure, for example, or how the applicant may interact with a patient and their temperament.

“It identifies their can-do attitude, their will-do approach and their fit-to-the-role characteristics. The flash and friction points prior to joining a team can be seen immediately too," Carolyne said.

The technology uses benchmarks to help pinpoint the applicants, say, for Care Assistant roles, Aged Care Nurse roles or Registered Nurse with the right temperament to focus on fast. The platform is the only one of its kind that can provide these types of insights into the applicants that are best to hire well in advance of any interview.

Clients report decreased staff churn rates. Carolyne says, "It's because they are hiring on attitudes first, so important in the care industry. So many businesses still continue to hire on skills and yet still fire on attitudes."

Jodie Prosser, Retirement Living Executive, Person Centred Software

Inspired by the legacy of her mother, Loretta Byers, a renowned figure in the Aged Care & Seniors Housing industry for over 50 years, Jodie embarked on a path that not only honored her mother's pioneering spirit but also showcased her own tenacity and dedication to making a positive impact. 

From her early days lending a hand in her mother's villages, Jodie witnessed first hand the vibrant and joyful communities that emerged within Retirement Living.

This experience, coupled with her background in community development and people management, ignited her passion for the sector and set the stage for a remarkable career. 

Through her dedication to innovation, commitment to continuous improvement, and passion for best practices, Jodie has not only excelled in her role but has also become a guiding light for others in the industry.

Over the course of her career, Jodie has taken on various leadership roles and spearheaded several ground-breaking initiatives, including the development of the first Accreditation for the sector, leading sales training programs, and introducing comprehensive digital operational management solutions.

Jodie Prosser's journey in the retirement living sector has not been without challenges. She has overcome them with determination and resilience. Inspired by her mother, who broke barriers and became the first female board member in several organisations, Jodie has continued the legacy of lifting others up and providing opportunities for aspiring leaders in the sector. 

While she acknowledges that she has been at many board tables or executive meetings where she may have been the only female present, Jodie is grateful that she hasn't personally felt gender barriers in her career.

Her focus has always been on using her knowledge, insights, and creativity to improve the lives of residents and village teams, all while having the ability of balancing her role as a mother.