A candid conversation with Sally Capp AO

Pathways to Politics alum event, 17 September 2025

Former Lord Mayor of Melbourne Sally Capp AO in conversation with Sarah Buckley, CEO of the Trawalla Foundation

Sally Capp AO joined the Pathways to Politics alum community for a special online session to share her reflections on her time as Lord Mayor of Melbourne – a role she held through some of Melbourne’s most challenging years, including the pandemic lockdowns – and her insights now, with some space and perspective since leaving office.

A candid, generous conversation about leadership, navigating political life as a woman, the challenges and opportunities that come with high-profile roles, and what comes after public office.

“The need to be really good at listening, to be really good at convening people, to be really good at collaborating, is important as a leader. And then you’ve got to balance that with being decisive. That’s not always easy… but as a leader, you’ve got to be decisive – it’s actually why you’re there.”
– Sally Capp AO

About Sally Capp AO

Sally Capp AO was the first woman to be directly elected as the Lord Mayor of Melbourne. Sally served for 6 years between 2018-2024 and led the city through the pandemic period. Sally has had other firsts in her career. She was the first woman to hold the post of Agent-General for Victoria in the UK, Europe and Israel from 2009 – 2013 and, as a feral Collingwood supporter, was honoured to be appointed the first female director of the Collingwood Football Club in 2004.

Sally is currently a Vice-Chancellor’s Fellow at the University of Melbourne and CEO of Create Advisory.

Prior to being Lord Mayor, she was the CEO for the Committee for Melbourne and the Victorian Executive Director of the Property Council of Australia. Sally began her career as a Solicitor, after completing Law (Hons) and Commerce degrees at the University of Melbourne. She has held senior roles at both KPMG and ANZ and co-founded a small business which became listed on the ASX. She has been involved in a number of charities, currently sitting on the board of Cool.org and Patron for the Royal Women’s Hospital Foundation and the Lighthouse Foundation. Sally received the award of Officer of the Order of Australia in the 2023 King’s Birthday honours and won the McKinnon Prize for emerging political leadership in 2019.