Bree was raised in Sydney and developed a strong work ethic during her formative school years. Her time at St Andrew’s was a pivotal experience, offering the ideal blend of academic challenge and extracurricular engagement. Whilst at College, she formed a deep appreciation of the power of community and teamwork.
After beginning her career as a corporate lawyer, Bree transitioned into the tech sector. Today, as COO of F5 Collective, she is driving generational change for women in business. Outside of her high-performance career, she is also a dedicated mother, wife, and advocate for young women.
Can you please share some information about your younger years? Where are you originally from, and where did you grow up?
I was born and raised in Australia, surrounded by hard work, resilience, and the determination Aussies are known for. I went to Ascham and Kambala, and I feel incredibly lucky to have been afforded such wonderful school experiences. That being said, I worked really hard – hello study Sundays!
My years at school gave me a solid foundation, leading me to study Law & International Studies at the University of Sydney – which made all the effort worthwhile. Early on, I learned the importance of going all-in, supporting others, working hard, and always keeping the bigger picture in mind.
What made you choose St Andrew’s College – what appealed to you?
St Andrew’s was an easy choice for me.
Honestly, I was excited about the co-ed experience after attending all-girls schools, but more than that, I loved the balance of academics and sports that Drew’s offered. I knew this would allow me to dive into various activities while immersing myself in a community of driven, like-minded people. It was the perfect mix, and I will be honest – I had SO MUCH FUN.
I made incredible friends, many of whom I am still close with today, and created unforgettable memories.
Which parts of College life were you involved in, and do you have a favourite memory from Drew’s you’d like to share?
College life was a blend of trekking across the oval to make it to class, representing Drew’s in sports, forming lifelong friendships, and countless late nights in dress-up at the Marly. One of my all-time favourite memories has to be Walkabout with my friends Emma and Josh – it was wild, extremely chaotic, but absolutely brilliant.
How do you feel that your time at St Andrew’s inspired you or influenced your post-college life?
St Andrew’s was a crash course in teamwork – not taking life too seriously, and still aiming high. The power of community stood out – Drew’s was all about having each other’s backs. The College’s support and the friendships I formed there taught me what it means to lift each other up, and many of those connections are still going strong today.
You have forged a remarkable career; how did you get started in your industry?
I began my career as a corporate lawyer but quickly realised it was not the path for me. I have deep respect for the law, and the skills I gained have been incredibly useful, but I found that it did not allow me to connect with people or problem-solve collaboratively, which I greatly value.
After taking some time to refocus, I moved into the tech sector. I joined ClassPass as the first on-the-ground hire in Australia and eventually led expansions into new markets like the Netherlands, UAE, and Singapore. I loved my nearly four years there, but I was constantly living on a plane and wanted to settle back in Australia with my hubby!
After ClassPass, I moved into strategic and operational roles at Airbnb and Uber. Immersing myself in the tech industry made me more interested in the funding side of things, so in 2021, I moved into venture capital. Working with various firms, I found myself frustrated by the gender inequality female founders faced. When the opportunity to join F5 Collective came along, I jumped at it. It is incredibly empowering to align my skills with my passion to drive generational change for women. As COO of F5 Collective, I am thrilled about what is ahead for us in 2025 – watch this space.
Your current role as COO for F5 Collective sees you driving the company’s growth and executing their strategic plan. What part of your role do you find most fulfilling?
Our mission at F5 is to create generational change for 1 billion women. Part of the work that I have been deeply focussed on is building our ecosystem to empower women with the funding, resources, and support they need to build remarkable businesses. I will not say too much just yet, but I truly believe that the impact we will have on women’s lives through our platform will be profound. My day-to-day revolves mostly around this. There is nothing better than using my skills to help champion other women. It is honestly my dream job.
Is there a “typical day” for you with F5 Collective? If so, what does it look like?
No two days are ever the same, which honestly, I love! I am lucky to work closely with our CEO, Tracey Warren, as we strategise, engage with partners, keep the team moving, and build. It is a fast-paced, high-performance team and an extremely rewarding role that has always aligned with our big goal. I often get to the end of the day and think “Where did that go?” and I believe there is no better feeling.
You are a strong advocate for women – was this a professional path you’d always hoped to pursue?
Supporting women’s empowerment has always felt like a natural calling. Over time, I realised it was more than just a passion; it was something I wanted to focus on exclusively. Outside of F5, I also dedicate my time to organisations and groups that support young women, especially school-aged girls, giving them the knowledge and confidence to become tomorrow’s founders. This gives me so much joy.
You’re very honest about the juggle of professional life and family life, yet you are kicking goals in both! How do you find balance – and how do you unwind?
Let’s call it a work in progress! I am a mum of two young ones, and juggling both roles is not always easy, but it is one of the most rewarding things in my life. I carve out family time, making sure to have moments to unwind – even if it’s just five minutes of quiet after the school run, sipping a coffee in peace (oh, the little things). These moments keep me ready for the next challenge. I also firmly believe we need to let go of the guilt and be comfortable with the trade-offs that come with balancing parenthood and careers. It is okay for our kids to be raised by a community of people who love them – grandparents, aunties, cousins, and even neighbours. This is actually a really good thing for everyone involved – especially our kids.
We’d love to hear more about your recent appearance on the Parenting as a Founder panel at SXSW Sydney. How did you become involved, and what was the experience like?
Being part of the “Parenting as a Founder” panel at SXSW was fantastic. It was honest, gritty, and real – exactly what parents need! There were tears in the audience, and I think we deeply connected, which is always such a powerful feeling. I spoke openly about my experience with postnatal depression after my second child and how I navigated that journey. Talking about both the highs and lows with others who get it was refreshing and a reminder that we are all figuring it out as we go. It is okay to ask for support when you need it – in fact, it is often 10x better when you do!
Can you tell us your proudest career achievement/s to date?
I am especially proud of what I am doing right now with F5 and what we are building for women. I look at my daughter and just feel so hopeful for her as a fearless woman of the future. Knowing that we are creating an ecosystem for women in business and female founders brings me so much joy. I hope it will be one of my legacies.
Looking ahead – what’s next? What are you hoping to achieve in the coming year?
Next year, it is all about launching, testing, and creating impact for F5. I want us to reach thousands of women – female founders, corporate women looking for more, and women who might not typically have access to resources and networks to achieve their dreams. Honestly, we are just getting started, and we have big, bold, ambitious goals (especially thanks to Tracey) that we are determined to achieve. Please jump on the F5 bandwagon and stay across our updates via our website (f5collective.com). We have exciting things launching in Q1 2025.
Do you have advice for other Androvians looking to follow a similar career path or get into the same industry?
Back yourself and dive in! Say ‘yes’ to the challenging roles, find peers who can support you, and remember that success is about persistence, not perfection. Keep your vision bold and your support system close. Be comfortable with setbacks and winding paths—they are part of the journey. If you are passionate and resilient, and you work hard, you can achieve incredible things. And do not take yourself too seriously!