Forbes released its list of the world’s most powerful women, which includes two Australian bankers, a mining magnate, a former politician, and a unicorn founder.
Forbes annual list of the 100 most powerful women in the world is determined by four main metrics: money, media, impact and spheres of influence. The women who made the list collectively command $33 trillion in economic power, and influence more than 1 billion people.
Australia’s most powerful women span the banking sector, mining and agriculture, politics, and technology.
Michelle Bullock
Reserve Bank Governor Michelle Bullock is the highest-ranked Australian on the Forbes Most Powerful Women list. Bullock was appointed to the top job in June 2023 after serving as deputy governor for the Reserve Bank. She is the first female governor in Australian history.
Gina Rinehart
Rinehart is executive chairwoman of Hancock Prospecting and the daughter of iron ore explorer Lang Hancock. Rinehart rebuilt her late father’s financially distressed company, Hancock Prospecting, making significant investments into rare earth minerals and the gas sector. She is Australia’s second-largest cattle producer, with a portfolio of properties across the country, and the nation’s richest person according to Forbes data.
Rinehart has given more than $60 million to elite Australian athletes over the last decade and is pushing for better training facilities for swimmers to use in the lead-up and after the Brisbane Commonwealth Games. WA-based Rinehart is a vocal supporter of Donald Trump and celebrated his recent Presidential election win with his family and friends at Mar-a-lago in Florida.
Shemara Wikramanayake
58th on the list is Managing Director and CEO of the Macquarie Group, Shemara Wikramanayake, a role she has held since 2018. Wikramanayake joined Macquarie in 1987. She was born in the U.K and spent time in Sri Lanka before immigrating to Australia with her parents when she was 13.
Wikramanayake established Macquarie’s corporate advisory offices in New Zealand, Hong Kong and Malaysia, and funds management businesses in North America.
Melanie Perkins
90th on Forbes global Power List is Perth-born founder and CEO Melanie Perkins. The 37-year-old founded disruptive tech company Canva in 2013 with Cliff Obrecht and Cameron Adams. Canva’s valuation reached AUD$49 billion in 2024. The platform has 200 million monthly active users and $2.5 billion in annualised revenue.
Julia Gillard
Former Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard is listed under the UK in the global list, as she was born in Wales. Gillard grew up in South Australia, and graduated from the University of Melbourne in 1989. After practicing Law and becoming a partner, Gillard entered politics and became the first female PM of Australia in June 2010. She was ousted from the position in 2013.
Gillard is now founder and Chair of the Global Institute for Women’s Leadership, an ANU research institute committed to workplace gender equality and leadership.
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