Independent Board Director | Executive Advisor | SME Governance & Growth | International Business | Future of Work
Independent Board Director | Executive Advisor | SME Governance & Growth | International Business | Future of Work
Announcement
New Advisory Role: SID x Co-Axis Impact Ventures Advisory Programme
July 2026
I’m pleased to share that I’ve been selected as an Advisor to one of eleven startups in the first stage of the SID x Co-Axis Impact Ventures Advisory Programme.
Co-Axis, an initiative by Temasek Trust, connects capital providers with impact-led organisations tackling sustainability challenges across the region. This programme supports early-stage impact startups in bridging the gap between measuring impact and achieving commercial stability — helping founders navigate the challenges that often stand in the way of scale.
It’s a role that draws directly on my experience founding and leading businesses in Singapore and Australia, and one I’m glad to take on as a way of contributing back to the startup community here, after many years of professional and personal fulfilment in this region.
Advisory Board Role Update: Afghan Women on the Move
August 2026
I have recently completed my term as an Advisory Board member of Afghan Women on the Move Inc (AWOTM), a Sydney-based organisation supporting Afghan migrant and refugee women and their families to build lives of opportunity and independence in Australia.
Over more than two years, our highly-qualified board focused on building a governance and operations management framework designed to serve the organisation well into the future – work I’m proud to have contributed to, and which reflects my broader commitment to sound governance as a foundation for sustainable impact.
It has also been a privilege to deepen my understanding of the challenges faced by Afghan women in Australia, and to support an organisation led with remarkable courage and conviction by its founder. I remain committed to the belief that education and opportunity must be accessible regardless of gender, background, or circumstance, well beyond the formal conclusion of this role.
A Bit About Me
Independent Board Director | Executive Advisor | SME Governance & Growth | International Business | Future of Work |
The decisions that matter most – growth inflection points, strategic pivots, leader and ownership transitions, governance challenges – deserve more than a framework and a slide deck. They deserve someone who has sat in the seat.
I work with boards, founders, and senior leadership teams as an independent director and executive adviser, helping small to mid-size businesses grow sustainably and navigate complexity with clarity and confidence.
What I bring is specific: over thirty years of hands-on executive experience founding, building, and scaling professional services businesses across Asia and Australia, with Fortune 500 and FTSE 100 clients. I’ve led P&L, built businesses from the ground up, taken companies into new markets, and experienced first-hand what sound judgment under commercial pressure actually looks like.
Caroline M Burns
