Smith-Gander honoured for can-do approach

“Get on with it” was a key phrase flung around Diane Smith-Gander’s dining table growing up in Perth.

Diane Smith-Gander for Queens Birthday honours. Picture: Colin Murty

“Get on with it” was a key phrase flung around Diane Smith-Gander’s dining table growing up in Perth, with her parents putting that ethos into action when they took it upon themselves to pour and lay their own bricks to build their home and then a new community kindergarten.

“One of my earliest memories is of mum and dad labouring to build the kindergarten in the neighbourhood. They actually physically built it, and that was easy for them because they also built the house I grew up in,’’ Ms Smith-Gander told The Australian as she was awarded an AO in the Queen’s Birthday Honours list.

“My mum made the bricks and dad, he laid the bricks and poured the cement. It was the only way to get a house in those days.’’

Ms Smith-Gander has been awarded an AO for distinguished service to business, women’s engagement in executive roles, gender equality and the community.

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She had made a name for herself not just in corporate Australia, where she has served on a number of boards including AGL and Wesfarmers, but also has spent much of her available time helping community groups.

She has run up a lengthy dance card of appointments over the years including chair of the Asbestos Safety and Eradication Council, Safe Work Australia, Basketball Australia and the Australian Sports Drug Agency.

She has also served as a member of the Norton Rose Fulbright Australian Partnership Council and Methodist Ladies’ College Perth Council, and has led the charge for better ­representation for women in corporate Australia through Chief Executive Women, of which she is a past president.

“My mum and dad instilled in me that direct action is very important. It’s all very well to be a senior leader, manager, but being actually on the ground giving of your own effort and time — that’s why I love Chief Executive Women, because CEW is direct action.

“Recognition is always a wonderful thing and recognition Australia-wide like this is something that is new for me. I haven’t been acknowledged in this way before.

“So this award makes me feel I learned the lessons that my mum and dad gave me of service to ­others.’’

Queen’s Birthday honours

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Ms Smith Gander’s mother Betty, 89, has been a strong role model, having taken to her teaching profession later in life after raising children and becoming deputy principal of Perth’s Santa Maria College. Betty Smith-Gander has an OAM. Her daughter Diane was energised from an early age to volunteer.