Emma Needham is a senior executive with more than 20 years’ experience in corporate affairs working across the private, government and not-for-profit sectors in Australia, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, Asia, the Middle East, North America, and Europe. Having worked at the highest levels of government and as an executive in a FTSE 100 servicing diverse industries, Emma established Emma Needham Corporate Affairs in mid-2014, rebranding to Xtal Advisory in 2018. As a trusted advisor to Chief Executives and Boards, Xtal has contributed to the growth and market expansion of a range of businesses from startups to large, well established companies, as well as leading large-scale government reviews. From 2008 – 2014, Emma was the Director of Corporate Affairs for a FTSE 100 company where she established and led the Corporate Affairs Division across Australasia, Asia and the Middle East. From 2001 – 2007, Emma held advisory positions with senior Federal Government Ministers in the portfolios of employment and workplace relations, human services, and health and ageing, in addition to a Public Affairs role in the Australian Public Service covering key government health programs. Emma's career began with an international non-government agency where she delivered a global leadership program across North America, Europe and Asia. Emma holds a Master of Public Policy from the University of Sydney and a Bachelor of Arts in Communication from the University of Canberra. She is a graduate and member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, a certified organisational coach (level 1) through the Institute of Executive Coaching and Leadership, and an accredited trainer and assessor.Emma has participated in some of the world’s most notable leadership programmes, including CSCLeaders – the renewal of HRH The Duke of Edinburgh’s Commonwealth Study Conferences – a global leadership program for 120 exceptional senior leaders selected each year from government, business and NGOs across the 53 countries of the Commonwealth.