Brooker Executive Perspective
Zara Lawless, CEO of Mother’s Day Classic
The Mother’s Day Classic has become one of Australia’s most enduring and recognisable community fundraising events, bringing together up to 100,000 participants each year across close to 100 locations across Australia.
At the centre of this is a small but talented team led by CEO Zara Lawless, whose career began in law before evolving across major events, governance, and not-for-profit leadership. Her early experience in legal and commercial environments, including with the Australian Grand Prix, has shaped a leadership style grounded in discipline, clarity and collaboration.
Since joining the Mother’s Day Classic Foundation, Zara has led the organisation through continued growth, expanding its impact to include both breast and ovarian cancer research, while preserving the strong sense of community that defines the event.
In this Executive Perspective, Zara shares reflections on pivotal career moments, the evolution of her leadership style, and why human connection remains at the heart of meaningful impact.
Brooker Consulting: Can you describe a pivotal moment that shaped your career path?
Zara: The one that comes to mind was actually while I was on holiday, which is an odd spot, but I think those moments often come at weird and wonderful times.
I was about four or five years into my time at the Australian Grand Prix when I got a call from Ron Walker, “Mr Melbourne” and Chair of the Australian Grand Prix. He said, “I know you’re on holiday, but I’d be very grateful if you flew back to Melbourne tonight and came to London with me tomorrow to help renegotiate the Grand Prix contract.”
My husband and I had only just started our holiday (pre- kids), and I remember turning to my husband and saying, “I know this is crazy, but this is an amazing opportunity.”
I flew back, completely out of my depth and honestly petrified, but I over-prepared and tried to talk myself into believing I could do it.
That experience was pivotal. It played a significant part in my appointment as Deputy CEO. When you are completely out of your comfort zone and things go well, it gives you a little bit of confidence.
It reinforced a mindset I have carried with me ever since. You are never going to feel 100% ready. You have to be open to opportunities, be curious, work hard and back yourself.
Brooker Consulting: Can you describe your current role and what you find most satisfying?
Zara: I am extremely proud to be the CEO of the Mother’s Day Classic Foundation. We are a not-for-profit community movement, heading into our 29th event, delivering close to 100 runs and walks across the country on Mother’s Day with up to 100,000 participants.
Since 1998, we have donated over $50 million to breast cancer research, and since expanding our mission in 2024, ovarian cancer research.
What I find most satisfying is the power of community and it is a privilege to be part of something that has been built by and means so much to so many people.
When we ask participants what the event means to them, the words we hear most are “community” and “support.” It is so much more than a fun run; it is a shared experience on what can be a very emotional day.
Mother’s Day is not easy for everyone. For many, it is tied to grief, loss or difficult experiences. What the event does is take that and turn it into something hopeful.
There is nothing like standing there on event day and knowing that what is happening in one location is being replicated across the country.
I also love seeing our team experience that. The day after the event, we have an “emotional debrief” (before our formal event and operational debriefs) where everyone shares a moment that moved them. For newer team members, that is often when it really clicks.
Brooker Consulting: What are the core principles that guide your leadership style?
Zara: For me, leadership is about creating an environment where people feel confident to contribute, challenge each other and take ownership of outcomes.
It is about setting a clear vision, bringing people together around it, and creating the conditions for collaboration so that vision can be achieved.
I try to lead by example and treat people the way I have been treated by great leaders before me.
A big part of that is creating an open and respectful environment. We make better decisions because people feel comfortable challenging each other, including challenging me.
At the same time, I am very action-oriented. Working in events, you have immovable deadlines. Things have to get done. I am naturally quite action-oriented. I get uncomfortable if things sit in discussion for too long without moving forward.
So it is about inspiring a vision, but also making sure we deliver on it.
Brooker Consulting: How has your leadership style evolved over the years?
Zara: It has evolved a lot, particularly over my seven years at the Mother’s Day Classic.
I stepped into my first CEO role in late 2019, just six months before COVID hit. In an events-based organisation, that was incredibly challenging. We could not run the event that year and were the first national event to announce a virtual offering (before we really knew what that meant!).
It was a very different level of accountability, not just to the board, but to the whole team and our broader community.
One of the biggest shifts for me has been moving from thinking I needed to have all the answers, to creating an environment where the best answers come from the team.
In those early days, people needed direction, so there was a level of stepping in. But over time, I have come to understand that my role is not to have all the answers. It is to build trust and empower the team to do their best work.
You move away from being relied on for your own expertise, and instead focus on bringing people together.
It can be lonely at times. That is where networks become important.
I have built and continue to build what I think of as a personal board of directors. People I trust and can turn to for advice or perspective. Being able to ask for help is one of the most important things you can do as a leader.
Brooker Consulting: What are some indicators of success across your sector that you find encouraging?
Zara: We straddle a number of sectors, health promotion, events, and peer-to-peer fundraising.
What has been interesting is the rise of flexible and digital fundraising campaigns. Things like challenge-based fundraising and online-based campaigns are delivering strong results and changing how people engage with causes.
But what I find most encouraging is that, despite all of that, the importance of human connection has not diminished.
At the Mother’s Day Classic, it is not just what we do, it is the way we do it. We bring people together in a very tangible way and focus on the experience, and that still resonates deeply.
We have a team of around 15 staff and more than 2,000 volunteers across the country.
For an event to run for nearly 30 years and still grow is quite extraordinary. I think that comes down to leaning into that human connection and how you make people feel.
Digital is important, but at the heart of it, people still want to connect and unite over a shared experience.
Brooker Consulting: What advice would you give to those in early career roles who have ambitions of becoming leaders?
Zara: Firstly, do not wait for a title. Leadership is not about position. You can lead from anywhere and in many organisations, waiting for permission is what holds people back.
Approach your role with curiosity and think about what you can learn and contribute. Ultimately, everyone’s job is to create value, so ask yourself each day, how can I create value today?
The other thing is learning how to get things done. There are a lot of people with great ideas, but the ones who progress are those who can turn those ideas into action.
And the value of networks is huge. Networks solve problems that individuals can’t.
Networking does not have to be formal. It is about building genuine professional relationships – being supported and supporting others.
Reach out, have conversations, stay open. You would be surprised who says yes. And do not be afraid to ask for help.
Brooker Consulting: Is there such a thing as finding balance in your week, and how do you switch off?
Zara: Running is absolutely essential for me.
I run every day, usually with friends, and it is where I process and think. I am a better thinker, a better mum, (and my husband would agree probably better to be around!) when I have had that time.
We also have a very flexible workplace, which I am really proud of. But flexibility has to be a two-way street. It has to come with trust and getting things done.
Nobody bats an eyelid if someone needs to leave early, because we know the work will get done.
Working in events, there are peak periods, but there is also a rhythm to it. My family knows when things will be busier, and we plan around that.
So balance is possible, but it is not always even. It is about carving out what matters most.
Thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts and insights, Zara!
It is inspiring to see the meaningful difference you and your team are making.
If you would like to find out more about the Mother’s Day Classic and join them in raising funds
for Breast and Ovarian Cancer Research, visit Mother’s Day Classic or connect with Zara Lawless on LinkedIn.