E9 | Victoria Weekes on Building a Meaningful Board Career: Adventure, Courage and Joy

What does it take to build a successful board career that spans healthcare, financial services, housing, agriculture and listed companies? For experienced non-executive director Victoria Weekes, it starts with being willing to learn, embracing uncertainty and remembering that board service is about purpose, not prestige. In the latest episode of the 20 Years of Women on Boards podcast, Victoria joins Women on Boards CEO and Co-founder Claire BraundOAM to reflect on her remarkable governance journey, from her first board appointment in 2008 to a portfolio spanning some of Australia's leading organisations. Drawing on an executive career in banking and financial services, Victoria explains that her move into the boardroom wasn't driven by a desire to leave executive leadership behind. Instead, she wanted broader impact across different sectors while applying her governance and risk expertise to organisations facing complex strategic challenges. One of her earliest board appointments, Cure Brain Cancer Foundation, proved transformational. Beyond strengthening governance in a growing organisation, it reinforced the importance of deeply understanding an organisation's purpose and the sector it serves. "You really have to understand both an organisation, its purpose and deeply understand what it does." Throughout the conversation, Victoria shares practical insights for aspiring and experienced directors alike. She encourages directors to plan their board careers deliberately while remaining open to unexpected opportunities, acknowledging that even the best-laid plans often take unexpected turns. She also challenges the perception that board careers are glamorous. "Sometimes it's just a long, hard slog. Things always happen a little slower than you think." Reflecting on board effectiveness, Victoria believes the best boards are characterised by trust, respect and the ability to come together during periods of uncertainty. In times of crisis, successful boards remain cohesive, have difficult conversations respectfully and keep their focus firmly on the organisation's long-term interests. She also offers an insightful perspective on board culture, suggesting that warning signs are often found in seemingly small behaviours rather than major governance failures. Respectful interactions, strong board hygiene, timely information and directors who genuinely identify with the organisation all contribute to healthy governance. As a long-time advocate for gender equality and one of the founders of the Australian Gender Equality Council, Victoria reflects on the significant progress women have made in Australian boardrooms while cautioning against complacency. Although female representation has improved considerably over the past two decades, she believes true success will only come when diversity extends beyond gender to include cultural diversity, age and broader lived experience. Looking ahead, Victoria sees the next frontier as increasing the number of women board chairs, expanding diversity across all sectors and continuing to create pathways for the next generation of directors. Having been a Women on Boards member since 2008, Victoria credits the organisation with providing not only practical support and board opportunities, but also a community of women travelling similar governance journeys. Asked to describe her own board career in just three words, Victoria chose: Adventure. Courage. Joy. Those three words capture not only her own experience, but also the spirit of a governance career built on curiosity, resilience and a genuine commitment to making organisations stronger.