Penny brings to the role more than 25 years of experience in diplomacy, trade, international business, and consulting across four continents. She has a deep understanding of the region, having served as an Australian diplomat in increasingly senior roles across Southeast Asia, and as former Group CEO of Asialink, Australia’s leading center for Asia engagement. Previously, Penny held Asia leadership positions at Stripe, Visa, and McKinsey & Company.

Penny has served as an Executive Board Member with key business associations and nonprofits in the Asia-Pacific. She is a Board member of the US-ASEAN Business Council, the US-Indonesia Society (USINDO) and serves on the international Advisory Council of the University of Sydney Business School. In addition to her appointment as a Fellow of the Australian Institute of International Affairs (AIIA), Penny is an Adjunct Fellow with Gateway House, India’s Council on Foreign Relations and an Ambassador for the HALO Trust, a global foundation focused on protecting lives and restoring livelihoods of those affected by conflict.

Passionate about development and women’s leadership, Penny serves on the Board of Harpswell, an organization which supports women’s leadership initiatives in Southeast Asia, and is a member of Chief Executive Women (CEW) Australia.