Banking & Finance Leader; Former CEO at Westpac & St. George Bank; Author of "Live, Lead, Learn"

Sydney, Australia

Gail Kelly Biography

Gail Kelly is recognized as a significant figure in Australian finance and banking. She became the first female chief executive officer of a major Australian bank or top 15 company, and was the highest-paid woman in an Australian corporation. Kelly's executive banking career spanned 35 years, divided between South Africa and Australia. Before her career in banking, Kelly taught Latin at high schools and later worked at Nedcor Bank in Johannesburg. She was appointed general manager of strategic marketing at Commonwealth Bank in Sydney, where she later led the customer service division, overseeing the bank's extensive branch network.

Kelly's work at Commonwealth Bank led to her recruitment as chief executive officer of St. George Bank, where she increased profitability and improved return on assets, strengthening the institution's position in the Australian financial services sector. She later served as chief executive officer of Westpac, where she guided the bank through the challenges of the global financial crisis and managed the merger with St. George Bank, the largest in-market financial services merger in Australia. At the time of her retirement, Westpac Group was the country's second-largest bank and ranked among the largest banks globally by market capitalization.

Kelly's leadership included a focus on gender diversity and sustainability in banking. She set and achieved targets for women in senior management roles at Westpac and recalibrated those targets higher after initial success. Under her leadership, Westpac was ranked the number one Global 100 Most Sustainable Corporation in the World at the World Economic Forum in Davos and was the highest-ranked bank globally in the Dow Jones Sustainability Index. Kelly has been recognized internationally for her influence in banking and finance.

Kelly holds a Bachelor of Arts and Higher Diploma of Education from University of Cape Town, a Master of Business Administration with distinction from University of the Witwatersrand, and completed the INSEAD Advanced Management Programme in Fontainebleau. She has received honorary doctorates of business from University of New South Wales, Macquarie University, and Charles Sturt University. Kelly is the author of "Live, Lead, Learn: My Stories of Life and Leadership," published by Penguin Random House.

Following her retirement from Westpac, Kelly has continued to contribute to the global finance and leadership community. She has served as a member of the board of directors of UBS Group AG, director of Singapore Telecommunications, senior advisor to McKinsey, director of the Bretton Woods Committee, member of the Group of Thirty, adjunct professor at University of New South Wales, and ambassador for women's empowerment for CARE Australia. She established the Gail Kelly Global Leaders Scholarship between University of New South Wales and University of Cape Town. Kelly regularly participates in speaking engagements and leadership forums, sharing insights on diversity, resilience, and ethical leadership in banking and finance.

BOOK Gail Kelly

Speaker profile last updated by AAE Talent Team on 10/09/2026.

Gail Kelly Videos

Gail Kelly's advice to her younger self | ABC News In-Depth

Gail Kelly's advice to her younger self | ABC News In-Depth

Pioneering businesswoman Gail Kelly has some advice for young people.

Gail Kelly, former CEO of Westpac Bank | GIBS Business School

Gail Kelly, former CEO of Westpac Bank | GIBS Business School

Gail Kelly, former CEO of Westpac Bank and author of "Live, Lead, Learn" on leadership.

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Gail Kelly is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics. The estimated speaking fee range to book Gail Kelly for your event is $30,000 - $50,000. Gail Kelly generally travels from Sydney, Australia and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. Similar motivational celebrity speakers are Allison Kaye, Chanda Kochhar, Irene Rosenfeld, Kim Vaccarella and Julie Brown. Contact All American Speakers for ratings, reviews, videos and information on scheduling Gail Kelly for an upcoming live or virtual event.

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