Donna Williams is a Chief People Officer and senior executive with over 20 years' experience partnering with CEOs and Boards to scale, restructure and integrate complex, multi-entity businesses across mining, energy, infrastructure and technology sectors.
She brings deep expertise in private equity and ASX-listed environments, with a strong track record leading post-acquisition integration, industrial relations strategy, workforce transformation and organisational design across geographically dispersed workforces.
Donna has led People functions through high-growth, acquisitive environments, including multiple M&A transactions, global expansion programs and large-scale restructures. She is recognised for building fit-for-purpose people architecture from a low base, aligning culture and performance across diverse operating entities, and delivering measurable commercial outcomes.
She is a commercially astute operator, known for working at pace, providing direct counsel to CEOs, and delivering outcomes in complex, high-pressure environments.
Silicon Valley VC-funded global technology company. Extended financial runway through cost transformation, restructured the executive operating model, reduced employee cost base by AU$6M (40 employees) and lifted employee e-NPS from a negative baseline to +65.
ASX-listed global software company. Led workforce restructure reducing employee cost base by AU$12M (80 employees), managed legacy international employee litigation to a successful outcome, and increased employee engagement through a leadership empowerment program.
Top 20 ASX listed leading supplier of natural gas. Designed and implemented OD and training strategy, cultural awareness programs across Australia, PNG and Timor Leste, and a revamped graduate program post-merger with Oil Search.
World's largest independent mining technical experts group, operating across 18 locations in 12 countries. Led HR through global expansion and eight acquisitions, designed integration frameworks across multiple jurisdictions, and delivered circa AU$30M annual overhead reduction with zero adverse action.
Only helicopter producer in Australia and New Zealand, employing ~1,300 people across 14 locations. Member of Executive Committee and Global HR Directors Committee. Negotiated enterprise agreements across 7 sites and managed $12M+ budget.
Global engineering and project delivery company across 26 offices in 14 countries. Successfully established international operations in Manila, Bangkok, Beijing, Johannesburg, Tucson, Vancouver and Buenos Aires.