Donny Walford

The founder of DW Bottom Line Pty Ltd (Bottomline) Transition Strategists™ and DW Behind Closed Doors Pty Ltd, Donny Walford has an enviable record of success working with boards, executive, senior management and business owners across industry, government and the not-for-profit sector.

With an extensive background in banking, finance and human resources, Donny works at the board and Executive level of management to drive major strategic change.

Through her businesses Bottom Line and Behind Closed Doors, Donny assists organisations and individuals maximise their performance by seven significant program offerings:

• Behind Closed Doors (Executive Women’s program)
• Taking Care of Business (Executive program for men and women)
• Directors Network (Directors program for men and women)
• Executive Coaching and Mentoring
• Interim Management (Business Coaching & Interim Placements)
• BoardDirect (Board placement program)
• Business BootCamp (Organisational Restructures/Process and Business Improvement/Strategic and Business Planning/Facilitation)

Donny’s background is at the Executive and senior management level of banking, finance, human resources and government over a period of 30 years.  She led the sales and marketing division of Australia’s leading Executive Recruitment Company, Morgan & Banks, now known as Hudson Ltd, for five years before being appointed as General Manager, Marketing and Business Development, with the SA Employers Chamber of Commerce and Industry, trading as Business SA.

In 2002, she joined the South Australian Government as Executive Director of Invest South Australia, responsible for investment from interstate and overseas.  She was also the inaugural Chief Executive, Defence Unit, a division of the Department of Trade and Economic Development, until February 2004.

In June 2004, Donny was appointed Chief Executive Officer, vivasa inc., formerly known as Business Vision 2010.  The organisation worked collaboratively with government, industry and community to drive economic, social and environmental development in South Australia.

Current Board Directorships include:

• Director, KeyInvest Ltd (and Chairman, Finance and Marketing committee and Member of the Remuneration and Nomination committee)
• Director, Australian Associated Advisers Pty Ltd
• Advisory Board Director, The Salvation Army SA

Donny was Chairman of the Australian Dance Theatre for three years until October 2008, an inaugural Director of the Social Inclusion Board until December 2004, an inaugural Director of the Zero Waste Management Board until June 2007, a Director of Foundation Daw Park for seven years until July 2011 and a Director of SA Great for three years until July 2001.  Other affiliations and memberships include Australian Institute of Company Directors (FAICD), Salvation Army and Next Generation Club.  She is a graduate and Asia Pac scholarship winner of the Macquarie University Executive Management Program, is a Fellow and holds a Graduate Diploma from the AICD and an Associate Diploma in Accounting.

Donny was appointed Chair of TEC 56 (The Executive Connection) in July 2008 until July 2010. 

In August 2007 Donny won the Asia Pacific Business Council for Women “Woman of Distinction Award” - Economic Development & Investment category.  She is also a National judge for the Telstra Business Women of the Year Awards and National judge for the Business Awards.