Gillian Franklin is recognised as one of Australia’s most innovative business women and an accomplished Company Director and Board Chair. With both broad corporate and entrepreneurial experience, Gillian has a reputation for adding value to any business both strategically and commercially. Stakeholders from all levels within various business types and boards, including staff, suppliers and customers, attest to Gillian's ability to grow companies and value to shareholders.Gillian's NED experience over the past 30 years includes Chair, Deputy Chair and NED roles across public and private business, Government, sport, medical, arts and community. Roles include Chair Abbotsford Convent (current), Chair Ad Standards Governance Committee (Current), Chair Prime Minister's Gold Medal Access Foundation, Deputy Chair The Australian Grand Prix (Director 23 years), and NED roles for CEDA (Committee for Economic Development Australia), ACCORD (Hygiene, Personal Care and Specialty Products Industry Body), Melbourne Theatre Company, Neopec, Microsurgery Foundation and Quintis. Gillian is also a Founding member of Australian pre-eminent women in business organisation, Chief Executive Women (CEW).Prior to selling to PE, during the 21 years that Gillian was the Managing Director of The Heat Group, the company she founded, Gillian grew the company to be Australia's largest independent distributor in the beauty and personal care category. Heat Group, with a portfolio of 40+ owned and distributed brands, represented some of the world’s leading brands including Procter & Gamble with Max Factor and CoverGirl. During the 17 years of partnership with P&G, the Heat Group won the coveted "Partnership fo Execellence" distributor award an unprecedented 6 times. Sourcing brands and products globally and selling to over 7,000 retailers across all channels, under Gillian's leadership the company sold a product every 3 seconds.Gillian’s business successes have been acknowledged with a number of awards including:a. won the Telstra Businesswomen’s Award Victoria in 1996b. was inducted into the Australian Businesswomen’s Hall of Fame in 1998c. awarded “Global Entrepreneur of the Year – Australia” at the Businesswomen’s Leaders’ Summit in Washington DC in October 2000d. a 2011 Nominee for the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Yeare. won the 2014 InStyle and Audi 'Women of Style' Award in May 2014 for her significant contribution to the industry and active involvement in the communityf. won the EY Champion of Entrepreneurship Award in 2017