People

Director and Consultant

Emma Needham is senior executive with more than 25 years’ experience in corporate affairs in the private, government and not-for-profit sectors spanning Asia Pacific, Europe, North America and the Middle East. She has a proven track record in successfully building and safeguarding institutional trust and value, particularly through periods of growth, change, scrutiny and crisis as an executive in a FTSE 100, a senior advisor at the highest level of government, and a trusted consultant to Chief Executives and Boards. 

In support of our clients, Emma creates and builds markets, develops and protects reputations, and anticipates and manages risks in complex regulatory and social environments, including technology, mining, manufacturing, financial services, infrastructure, healthcare, justice and defence. 

Before establishing Xtal Advisory in 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. She has 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 of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, a certified organisational coach through the Institute of Executive Coaching and Leadership, and an accredited trainer and assessor.