Pearl Proud is a Zulu woman of the Madlala clan who has called Australia home for 39 years. She is an emblem of DEI, and brings strategic vision, extensive executive and leadership experience, and a deep clinical and psychological understanding of human behaviour to her roles. Her high impact on those she works with is driven by her passion to her life changing work, to leverage her personal power to transform workplaces and lives as well as deliver outcomes which create culturally and psychologically safe spaces for everyone. Her warmth and empathy borne of lived experience build immediate rapport and trust with those she works with.

She has overseen projects in a wide range of sectors to lift the level of representation, supported teams as they transform to meet expectations of a changing world, and shaped policy in the Equity, Diversity & Inclusion leadership space as a Principal Consultant and Executive Coach. She has held senior roles in private consultancy, government and not-for-profit sectors in diversification strategy projects and clinical service delivery as a Consulting Psychologist and AHPRA approved Clinical Supervisor.

Pearl has extensive experience in Governance as a Board Chair and Non-Executive Director, and Governance Mentor across the health, tertiary, Arts and not-for-profit sectors. She understands the dynamics of the modern workplace landscape and  the value proposition of risk mitigation and strategic considerations undertaken by Boards and Executive teams. She has expertise to engage with, and influence change across all levels of the workforce. She is a Member of the Institute of Company Directors and an alumna of the Cranlana Leadership Colloquium.

Pearl has also contributed to the civic, social, cultural and artistic life in Western Australia as a Patron for the Perth Arts Festival, the Founding Patron for the Perth Writers Festival and as a Medici Donor. She was awarded the national Living Legend Award 2012 for her philanthropic and civic contribution and a nominee for the WA Women’s Hall of Fame.