Board Chair  ·  Non-Executive Director  ·  Governance Advisor

Janet
Attwood

GAICD
20+ Years Leadership
$20M Federal Funding Secured
3 Active Board Roles
Discuss Board Opportunities
Janet Attwood
Sydney, NSW  ·  Available Nationally
About

Strategy, risk and governance
where it matters most

I am a Chair and Non-Executive Director with over two decades of leadership across frontline regulation, government reform and contemporary board practice. I sit at the intersection of strategy, risk, regulation, governance modernisation and people-centred service delivery.

My edge is regulator-informed judgement — an ability to connect operational, cultural and regulatory signals before they escalate. I bring calm, disciplined oversight to boards navigating reform, scrutiny, ambiguity or heightened public interest, and I help organisations make decisions that stand up through change and consequence.

Currently Board Chair of Central Coast Community Women's Health Centre and Non-Executive Director of Women's Health NSW, I combine active board experience with deep executive advisory capability through Jaei Advisory.

Core Differentiator
Regulator-informed judgement + strategy and risk integration + scrutiny-readiness + calm board leadership in complex environments
Sector Experience
Health & community services  ·  Government & public sector  ·  WHS regulation  ·  Digital transformation  ·  Not-for-profit
Board Credentials
GAICD · Member, Australian Institute of Company Directors · Member, Women on Boards
Board Value

Where I add
most value

01
Government Boards
Helping boards govern under pressure, scrutiny and intergovernmental complexity.
  • Connect policy, operational and stakeholder signals before they escalate
  • Navigate Ministerial, media and cross-agency accountability environments
  • Translate complex regulatory settings into clear, actionable decisions
  • Strengthen oversight of frontline service risk and safety
  • Lead through reform and ambiguity while maintaining public trust
02
National Not-for-Profit Boards
Helping purpose-driven organisations balance mission with discipline and sustainability.
  • Balance mission with sustainability under scrutiny
  • Strengthen oversight of safety and service delivery risk
  • Support and challenge CEOs through recruitment and transition
  • Guide organisations through growth, change or instability
  • Navigate complex stakeholder environments
03
Private Sector Boards
A distinctive regulatory and risk lens for boards in complex, high-accountability environments.
  • Identify emerging risk early across operational and cultural signals
  • Bridge strategy and execution — understand what's really happening
  • Lift risk visibility and maturity in regulated sectors
  • Provide calm, objective judgement in high-stakes situations
  • Support transformation while maintaining oversight discipline
Janet Attwood
"I bring calm, scrutiny-ready judgement to boards navigating pressure, ambiguity and heightened accountability."
Career

A career built on
governance that holds

2025 – Present
Non-Executive Director
Women's Health NSW
Driving sector-wide governance modernisation across NSW's network of community women's health centres. Strengthening accountability frameworks and system-level oversight in complex funding environments.
Current
2025 – Present
Founder & Managing Director
Jaei Advisory
Delivering NED and Interim NED services, governance advisory, regulatory strategy and executive mentoring to boards and government leaders across complex organisations.
Current
2023 – Present
Non-Executive Director & Board Chair
Central Coast Community Women's Health Centre
Chaired the Board through 65% growth in service demand. Directed the 2025–2028 Strategic Plan; secured $20M Federal funding commitment. Transformed governance from management committee to contemporary model. Achieved 100% member endorsement for constitutional reform.
Current · Board Chair since Oct 2023
2024
Director, Business Optimisation
NSW Fair Trading
Established multi-disciplinary regulatory taskforces delivering priority reforms across rental, strata and property portfolios. Strengthened cross-portfolio governance and policy implementation.
2023 – 2024
Non-Executive Director
Central Coast Conservatorium of Music
Guided sensitive organisational restructure; stabilised finances and safeguarded workforce continuity. Led constitutional reform and transition from incorporated association to company limited by guarantee.
2023 – 2024
Program Manager, Better Regulation Division
Better Regulation Division, NSW
Led governance and transition strategy for separation of a major division into three standalone regulators; preserved compliance integrity and regulatory continuity throughout transformation.
2021 – 2025
Associate Director, Regulatory Strategy
Digital NSW
Designed and implemented a Business Readiness and Governance Framework adopted across multiple NSW regulators. Led digital transformation governance aligned with whole-of-government regulatory obligations.
2003 – 2021
State Inspector & Team Manager
SafeWork NSW (formerly WorkCover NSW)
Nearly two decades of frontline and leadership oversight regulating WHS in high-risk industries. Designed a nationally recognised triage and response framework. Co-led NSW's response to the Boland Review of Model WHS Laws (2018). Contributed to national intergovernmental WHS committees.
Achievements

Measurable impact
at the board table

$20M
Federal Funding Secured
Led the successful $20 million bipartisan Federal funding commitment (2025) for a Women and Children's Trauma Recovery Centre, in partnership with Pacific Link Housing.
55%
Year-on-Year Income Growth
Strategic Plan implementation under board leadership enabled 55% income growth at CCCWHC, alongside a 65% surge in service demand — managed without service disruption.
100%
Constitutional Reform Endorsement
Delivered comprehensive constitutional modernisation with a 100% member 'yes' vote — introducing director remuneration provisions and a member discipline process for the first time in the organisation's history.
2×
Membership Doubled in 18 Months
Introduced a formal Board communications framework that doubled organisational membership within 18 months — strengthening stakeholder accountability and community connection.
"I help boards see risk earlier, ask better questions and make stronger decisions before issues become crises."
Janet Attwood
Areas of Expertise

Governance capabilities
across complex environments

Board Governance & Decision Oversight
Structuring effective boards, clarifying accountability frameworks, and lifting decision discipline across complex organisations.
Risk Governance & Compliance Assurance
Enterprise risk management, regulatory compliance, and building assurance frameworks that connect operational signals to board oversight.
WHS Governance & Safety Leadership
Specialist WHS due diligence and safety governance — underpinned by nearly two decades of frontline regulatory practice at SafeWork NSW.
Strategic Planning & Transformation
Leading strategic plan development and embedding oversight discipline during organisational growth, reform and structural change.
CEO Advisory & Executive Mentorship
Supporting CEO recruitment and transition, providing ongoing mentorship, and partnering with executive teams to drive culture and cohesion.
Regulatory Strategy & Policy Reform
Translating complex regulatory and policy settings into clear board decisions — with deep experience in government reform at state and national level.
Governance Modernisation
Transitioning organisations from outdated structures to contemporary governance models; constitutional reform, committee architecture and director renewal.
Digital Governance & Technology Oversight
Embedding governance and risk into large-scale digital transformation, regulatory system migration and technology change programs.
Testimonials

What colleagues
say about Janet

I serve with Janet on the Board of the Central Coast Community Women's Health Centre and have seen first-hand the depth of expertise and judgement she brings as Chair. Janet combines contemporary governance discipline with practical commercial insight. She is an incisive Board leader — clear on roles, risk, and accountability — while remaining approachable and generous in supporting directors and executives. Under her leadership, the organisation modernised its governance framework, led successful CEO transition, strengthened WHS and risk oversight, and delivered significant growth in funding, income and service reach. Janet is a highly capable Chair and Non-Executive Director who adds immediate value in complex, growth-oriented environments. I would strongly recommend her to any organisation seeking a board member with strategic clarity and sound governance instincts.
Kate Alexander
Legal and Governance | Disability, Health and Human Rights | Regulatory Strategy | Non-Executive Director
Janet and I worked together as Board members of the Central Coast Conservatorium of Music where I came to greatly value her thoughtful and steady contribution to Board. She brings a rare combination of operational rigour and sound judgement, particularly in complex government-sector environments. Janet is highly capable in risk and compliance, operations and people management. She consistently approached board discussions, projects and decision making with diligence, care and a calm, balanced perspective. One of Janet's great strengths is her ability to zoom out and understand the broader strategy and structure of an organisation or situation, while also being willing to dive into the detail when it comes to governance, risk and implementation. She combines strategic perspective with practical follow-through. Janet is a thoughtful colleague and a steady hand. I would not hesitate to recommend her to any board looking for a capable, principled and reliable operational leader and advisor.
Kate McCallum
Financial Consultant, ABC Radio Money Expert, Author & Conference Speaker
Qualifications

Academic & professional
credentials

Company Directors Course
Australian Institute of Company Directors
Certificate in Clinical Governance for Boards
Australasian Institute of Clinical Governance
Master of Occupational Health and Safety Management
University of Technology Sydney
Graduate Certificate in Autism (Special Education)
University of Wollongong
Graduate Certificate in Public Sector Management
Flinders University
Diploma of Quality Auditing & Advanced Diploma of Government
TAFE NSW
Contact

Open to board
engagements

Available for Non-Executive Director, Board Chair and Advisory roles across government, not-for-profit and private sector organisations nationally.

Discuss an Opportunity LinkedIn Profile
0402 025 032  ·  janet.attwood@outlook.com  ·  Sydney NSW