Carolyn Hewson facts for kids

Carolyn Judith Hewson is a very successful Australian businesswoman. She was born in July 1955. She is known for her leadership roles in many big companies and organizations.

Who is Carolyn Hewson?

Carolyn Hewson is an important leader in the business world. She has worked with many large companies and organizations in Australia. She helps guide these groups to make good decisions.

Early Life and Education

Carolyn Hewson studied at two well-known universities. She went to the University of Adelaide in Australia. She also studied at the University of Cambridge in England. Her education helped her prepare for a career in business.

Important Roles in Business

Carolyn Hewson has held many significant positions. She has been a director for several major organizations.

Current Board Positions

As of 2025, Carolyn Hewson is a director at:

• CSL Limited: This is a global biotechnology company.
• Reserve Bank of Australia: This is Australia's central bank. It helps manage the country's money.
• YWCA: This organization helps women and girls.
• Breast Cancer Research Foundation: This group supports research to fight breast cancer.
• Infrastructure SA: This organization plans big projects for South Australia.

Past Leadership Roles

Carolyn Hewson has also worked with many other important companies. She was a director at BHP, a large mining company, until late 2019. She also held top jobs at:

• Westpac, a major bank.
• AMP, a financial services company.
• AGL Energy, an energy company.
• And many other businesses.

Making a Difference

Carolyn Hewson has been recognized for her contributions. She was made an Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) in 2009. This award is for people who have given great service to Australia. Her award was for her support of charities, especially the YWCA, and for her work in business.

Influence and Recognition

She is often called one of Australia's most influential company directors. The Australian Financial Review has named her one of Australia's most influential female board directors. In 2017, she helped judge the Workplace Giving Excellence Awards. These awards celebrate companies that encourage employees to donate to charity.

Supporting Women in Leadership

Carolyn Hewson believes it is important for more women to be in leadership roles. She has spoken about laws that would require 40% of government board positions to be filled by women. She also thinks that workplaces need to change to better support parents, especially mothers.

Family Life

Carolyn Somerville married John Hewson in 1988. They had a daughter around 1995. Their marriage ended in 2004. When her daughter was young, Carolyn would often take her along when she traveled for work.