Mentors in Melbourne

Leigh O'Neill

COO & Director, Leadership

Susan McKinnon Foundation

Leigh is COO of the Susan McKinnon Foundation. The Susan McKinnon Foundation (SMF) is an independent, non-partisan organisation that invests in solutions that enable better governments for a stronger Australia. Prior to this role she was EGM, Global Financial Services for Xero, responsible for solving small businesses’ financial needs with solutions integrated within the Xero platform. Previously Leigh held various executive roles in NAB including Executive Consumer Every Day Banking, Customer Executive, Business Direct and Small Business and was a member of NAB Ventures Investment Committee.

Leigh is a strong advocate for corporate responsibility and has been a proponent for many programs around diversity, inclusion and financial empowerment for women, both through executive roles and as committee member for Heads Over Heels which supports female entrepreneurship. Passionate about the arts, she was the Chair of Chunky Move 2015 - 2024, is currently Deputy Chair of Melbourne Theatre Company. Leigh is also a Director of wealth manager First Samuel.

We acknowledge all First Peoples of this land and celebrate their enduring connections to Country, knowledge and stories. We pay our respects to Elders and Ancestors past present and emerging.

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12,812 MENTEES

800+ MENTORS

83.5M STEPS TOGETHER

Content Marketer at Mentor Walks, Tess’s professional life is shaped by a desire to drive gender equality and build an inclusive society. Her passion and experience saw her lead the social media arm of the Teach Us Consent campaign, pulling mandatory consent education for Australian students over the line in March 2022.

She is currently completing her Bachelor of Communications (Social and Political Science) at UTS and is most energised and inspired when surrounded with powerhouse women.