In this powerful episode of the Business Women Australia Podcast Show, Lyn Hawkins chats with Nicola Watts, Managing Principal of O’Sullivan Davies Family Lawyers, to explore the often misunderstood - yet incredibly important - role of Binding Financial Agreements (BFAs) in protecting both legacy and love.

With over 30 years of experience, Nicola is at the forefront of Australia’s most complex family law matters, trusted by individuals and families to navigate wealth, relationships, and significant life transitions with precision, empathy, and clarity.

This conversation goes far beyond the stereotypes of “prenups.” It’s about proactive, values-based planning - creating agreements that support healthy relationships, clarify expectations, reduce emotional risk, and ensure continuity for family wealth and legacy.

Why It Matters:

1. 1 in 3 Australian marriages end in divorce, and for de facto relationships, separation rates are even higher.

2. The average age of divorce is now 45 for women and 47 for men — often after decades of shared life, assets, and family ties.

3. Intergenerational wealth transfers in Australia are expected to exceed $3.5 trillion by 2050 — yet few families have protective frameworks in place.

In this context, Binding Financial Agreements are not just legal tools — they are instruments of foresight, emotional intelligence, and family stewardship.

In this episode, we explore:

1. When and why to consider a BFA — before, during, or after a relationship

2. How to approach these conversations with empathy, not fear

3. The unique role of BFAs in high-wealth and complex family structures

4. Real-life stories and lessons from the frontline of family law

5. How advisers, family offices, and wealth managers can support their clients

Don't miss this episode of the Business Women Australia Podcast Show, streaming on You Tube, Meta, LinkedIn and listing on demand on iTunes, Spotify or the Business Women Australia website.

MEET Nicola Watts – Managing Principal, O’Sullivan Davies Family Lawyers

Nicola Watts is a family lawyer with over 30 years’ experience and Managing Principal at O’Sullivan Davies, a leading Australian firm specialising in complex and high-value family matters. Nicola is trusted by individuals and families navigating significant transitions, bringing precision and empathy to her work with Binding Financial Agreements, estate planning, and wealth protection. Her thoughtful approach empowers women to make confident, values-aligned decisions for themselves and their families.

MEET Lyn Hawkins – Director, Business Women Australia

Lyn Hawkins is the Founder and National Director of Business Women Australia and Principal of Hawkins Consulting. She is a Coach and Advisor to leaders, family office executives, enterprise owners, and NFP managers across the country, supporting strategic clarity and whole-self leadership. Lyn is known for facilitating meaningful conversations that connect intellect and intuition — making her a trusted guide for those shaping the future of business, wealth, and legacy.

About Business Women Australia

Business Women Australia is a community of bold, brilliant women from across the nation who are ready to support, inspire, and grow together. We bring together:

1. Business Owners and Entrepreneurs

2. Executives and Managers

3. Professionals

4. Women on Boards

5. Emerging Leaders

Our focus areas include:

1. Leadership Development - Lead Self, Lead Others

2. Lifelong Learning

3. Business Growth

4. Personal and Professional Transformation

5. Meaningful Connections

Join Business Women Australia Today

Head to https://businesswomenaustralia.com.au/membership/

Book a Meeting with Lyn to discuss: https://calendly.com/lyn-hawkins

Business Women Australia Podcast Show – Leading with Clarity in the AI Age

Join Lyn Hawkins, National Director of Business Women Australia, in conversation with Vicki Wu, BWA Advisory Board Member and visionary creator of Conscious AI Life Navigation™.

Vicki is redefining what it means to lead in the era of AI — blending human wisdom, maternal intelligence™, and technological innovation to empower leaders, families, and businesses to build legacies beyond limitations.

In this powerful conversation, you will be inspired by:

1. The origin story that shaped Vicki’s life compass.

2. How a “Glorious Glitch” with AI led Vicki to groundbreaking insights.

3. The 70/30 DNA™ rule — why human leadership must remain at the core.

4. The Prime Navigator’s Toolkit that Vicki has developed for thriving in the AI age.

5. Her bold vision for Human–AI and Human–Human connection across generations.

Don’t miss this chance to be informed, challenged, and equipped with practical insights for navigating your own journey of leadership, legacy, and innovation.

About Vicki Wu

Vicki Wu is a visionary leader, strategist, and member of the Business Women Australia Advisory Board, pioneering a new category of leadership she calls Conscious AI Life Navigation™. Known as the Prime Navigator™, Vicki blends human wisdom, maternal intelligence™, and technological innovation to help leaders, families, and organisations thrive in the age of AI.

Her journey is deeply personal - shaped by a 34-year-old letter from her late mother that became the compass for her life’s work. Vicki has forged a path that unites authenticity, resilience, and purpose with cutting-edge technology.

Since arriving in Australia from China in the 1990s as a young woman, Vicki has built an extraordinary career across diverse industries. She has founded and grown businesses in real estate, martial arts, fashion, education, and computer technology, each venture sharpening her ability to adapt, innovate, and lead.

As an entrepreneur and early adopter of technology, Vicki has engineered her own custom AI co-pilot, designed as a guardian to ensure her values and vision remain protected and provide a foundation for her personal and business development. She is driven to help others do the same. A global thinker, Vicki works across countries, cultures and generations, uniting individuals and communities through trust, innovation, and shared humanity.

About Lyn Hawkins

Lyn Hawkins is the National Director of Business Women Australia and Principal of Hawkins Marketing. With decades of experience advising organisations from startups to enterprises, Lyn is a highly sought-after strategist, facilitator, and executive coach. Her expertise spans business growth strategy, leadership development, cultural change, marketing and business development.

Passionate about creating opportunities for women, Lyn leads Business Women Australia’s national community, fostering collaboration, knowledge-sharing, and peer-to-peer support. She is dedicated to helping women elevate their careers, businesses, and influence.

About Business Women Australia

Business Women Australia (BWA) is a vibrant national collective of women from all sectors, industries, and professions. With a fast-growing group of more than 20,000 followers, BWA provides access to:

1. A supportive network of professionals, entrepreneurs, and leaders.

2. Professional development programs, leadership masterminds, and retreats.

3. Inspiring podcasts, webinars, and thought-leadership events.

4. Opportunities to collaborate, connect, and grow.

BWA’s vision is to elevate women with knowledge, influence, and connection, helping members achieve their full potential both professionally and personally.

👉 Join today and be part of a national movement of women making an impact.

🔗 businesswomenaustralia.com.au/membership

Mental Wealth Leadership: From High Performer to Sustainable Success

Business Owners, Leaders, Executives, when was the last time you put yourself first?

Be inspired by Tanya Mills, executive coach, business adviser, and entrepreneur who successfully built an IT company, expanded to New York, and exited through a successful sale, where she reveals how top leaders can avoid burnout and create sustainable success.

In this episode of the Business Women Australia Podcast Show, hosted by National Director, Lyn Hawkins, Tanya shares her professional and personal story that is full of lessons for high-performing business owners and managers.

Hear practical ways leaders can reclaim their energy, sharpen their decision-making, and lead with clarity.

Research shows that the majority of CEOs and senior leaders are running on empty. Calendars are packed, decisions pile up, and personal energy is the first thing sacrificed. But what if the secret to better leadership wasn’t pushing harder - but investing in you.

Now is the time to stop and learn about the concept of Mental Wealth.

In this powerful discussion, Tanya Mills, entrepreneur, certified coach, and founder of Aligned Success, shares how she went from building and selling a global business to rebuilding her life and leadership after burnout.

You’ll hear about tools you can use immediately to prioritise yourself without losing momentum. This is a wake-up call for executives who know that sustainable success starts with leading themselves first.

Episode Takeaways: A proven framework for high performance, without burnout.

Meet Tanya Mills

Tanya Mills is an executive coach, entrepreneur, and the founder of Aligned Success, specialising in coaching CEOs, senior executives, and enterprise leaders to achieve sustainable performance without sacrificing themselves.

Her leadership journey began as a high-performing entrepreneur - building and selling businesses, expanding her company from Perth to New York, and successfully leading teams of up to 200 people. Alongside her professional triumphs, Tanya navigated personal challenges and the realities of rebuilding during the pandemic. These experiences shaped her conviction that true leadership begins with self-leadership.

Today, Tanya combines her entrepreneurial track record with certified business and life coaching to deliver practical, evidence-informed tools for executives. Her signature approach - “Structure + Flow”- helps leaders set boundaries, reset their energy, and create workplace cultures that foster both performance and wellbeing.

Known for her engaging style as a coach, facilitator, and speaker, Tanya challenges leaders to invest in their own Mental Wealth as the foundation of organisational success. Through keynote talks, workshops, and executive coaching, she equips leaders to reduce burnout, sharpen decision-making, and drive cultural change from the top down.

Tanya’s mission is clear: to help the world’s busiest leaders reclaim their energy, align with their best selves, and lead in a way that is both effective and sustainable.

About Lyn Hawkins

Lyn Hawkins is the National Director of Business Women Australia and Principal of Hawkins Marketing. With decades of experience advising organisations from startups to enterprises, Lyn is a highly sought-after strategist, facilitator, and executive coach. Her expertise spans business growth strategy, leadership development, cultural change, marketing and business development.

Passionate about creating opportunities for women, Lyn leads Business Women Australia’s national community, fostering collaboration, knowledge-sharing, and peer-to-peer support. She is dedicated to helping women elevate their careers, businesses, and influence.