HELEN WHITEHEAD
Board
Helen is a strategic innovation leader with 25 years’ experience designing and delivering transformative programs across Financial Services, Education, Social Services, and Community sectors.
Helen leads cross-sector collaborations that embed trauma-informed, culturally safe, and digitally enabled service models. Her work spans co-design, digital transformation, and systems integration.
Helen brings deep expertise in stakeholder engagement, systems thinking, service and inclusive design (specialising in emerging technologies), with a track record of scaling programs that improve access for underserved communities. Her leadership is grounded in values of equity, evidence, and impact.
Innovation for impact
With a strategic mindset and a passion for inclusive growth, Helen leads initiatives that bridge innovation with community impact. Her work focuses on developing forward-thinking solutions that address complex social challenges, particularly those affecting families in crisis and marginalised communities.
Leadership & collaboration
Helen has established co-design capability across multiple sectors and is known for fostering a culture of shared leadership and cross-functional collaboration. Her leadership style is grounded in empathy, evidence-based decision-making, and a commitment to co-design with lived experience participants and stakeholders across sectors.
Global experience translated to local needs
From working with MIT on cutting edge AI, to co-designing pathways for Indigenous students Into University, Helen has practical transformation experience across sectors, communities and levels of organisations.
Helen has established new teams in Canada, Europe, Asia and Australia, adapting global trends and insights to the local markets. From global call centres to customer experience, product and innovation teams, Helen has a core capability of designing teams and solutions that balance cost and experience
A trusted leader on both boards and multiple executive teams, Helen is known for her purpose-driven leadership and delivering impact in complex transformations.