Women in Leadership

NSW

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Captain Deborah Lawrie AM

Pioneering aviator, equality trailblazer, and the the world's longest-flying female airline pilot

Captain Deborah Lawrie AM is a pioneering aviator, and trailblazer who made history in 1979 by winning Australia’s first contested equal opportunity case to become the nation’s first female major airline pilot.

The landmark legal victory against Ansett Airlines shattered aviation's glass ceiling and reshaped Australian equal opportunity law.

Today, commanding Boeing 737s for Virgin Australia with over 21,000 flight hours, she is the world's longest-flying female airline pilot.

Deborah’s career encompasses senior roles as a flight safety manager in Europe, safety advisor to the EU, and check captain.

Appointed an AM in 2019 and inducted into the Australian Aviation Hall of Fame, Deborah inspires audiences with practical strategies on resilience, high-performance leadership, and overcoming institutional barriers.

After Dinner Speakers Inspirational Motivational Resilience Women in Leadership

Captain Deborah Lawrie AM Book as a speaker/entertainer for your next event

Key Points for Captain Deborah Lawrie AM

Captain Deborah Lawrie AM talks about the legal victory, resilience, and personal determination behind Australia's first contested anti-discrimination case.
She explains how applying flight-deck discipline, rapid decision-making, and calm command make all the difference during periods of organisational crisis and change.
Deborah provides practical safety frameworks, human factors, and error mitigation strategies adapted from flight investigation to corporate operations.
She shares how she sustained high-performance and technical rigor across a historic four-decade career in commercial aviation.

Topics for Captain Deborah Lawrie AM

Equal Opportunity - the legalities of the first contested case in front of the Victorian Equal Opportunity Board
David and Goliath Battle against Ansett Airlines
Aviation Safety and Safety Investigation
Changes in the Aviation Industry

Testimonials for Captain Deborah Lawrie AM

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"The team at ICMI offer a fantastic and professional service that allows us (event organisers) to focus on the delivery of our events"

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"I was very happy with the whole process from initial call through to performance, every question or detail was explained in a professional friendly manner. I will definitely be in touch with ICMI again."

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Testimonial From Government Client

"ICMI were flexible and accommodating, this year finding a speaker for your event that would work in a virtual setting was a challenge, but we ended up with a very successful event and the perfect speaker! Always patient and responsive to my calls or emails."

Testimonial From Corporate Client

"I was very happy with the whole process from initial call through to performance, every question or detail was explained in a professional friendly manner. I will definitely be in touch with ICMI again."

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"We were impacted by a COVID-19 outbreak in South Australia that threatened to de-rail our Northern Territory based event, but the ICMI logistics team made it happen when the window of opportunity arose."

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"ICMI listened to our needs and were very supportive with the change of plans with dealing with the pandemic. They gave great advice and helped us secure the right talent for our event."

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Dean Boxall Website Footer (720 × 570px) 2024

Dean Boxall Website Footer (720 × 570px) 2024

Dean Boxall Website Footer (720 × 570px) 2024