Heather Warner didn’t set out to become a business mentor and Vistage Chair— but looking back, the path seems inevitable.
Her career began in the structured, high-stakes world of human resources and industrial relations, where the ability to read people, manage risk and navigate complex systems is essential. Working in senior roles across government and the private sector, she honed a practical, commercial mindset and a deep belief that culture drives performance.
In 2001, Heather took a leap and founded her own consultancy, WCA Solutions. Over 21 years, she grew it into one of Western Australia’s most respected people and culture businesses, advising boards, CEOs and executive teams across nearly every industry — from health and mining to Indigenous corporations, financial services, manufacturing and education. Her team became known not just for their technical expertise, but for their trustworthiness and impact.
It was during this time that a client casually invited her to a Vistage meeting. “You should come along,” they said. “We meet up once a month — I think you’ll really like it.” Heather joined as a member in 2015, and that decision would come to shape the next chapter of her leadership journey.
“Vistage was invaluable to me. Taking one day a month to step back and work on my business — that changed everything,” she reflects. “I formed a deep bond with my Chairs and group. You confide in your peer group more than anyone, except maybe your partner — and honestly, your partner doesn’t always want to talk business!”
Heather credits her group with helping her grow her consultancy into a successful enterprise and supporting her through its eventual sale in early 2022. It was around this time she realised her next move wasn’t about slowing down — it was about giving back.
“I knew early on I wanted to be a Chair. So much of what I’d done in business — coaching, culture work, strategic thinking — aligned with what Vistage Chairs do. It just made sense.”
Now, as a Vistage Chair based in Perth, Heather brings together the full depth of her experience: business owner, advisor, board leader, coach, and peer. She’s also a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and an accredited ontological coach. During the pandemic, she was sought out by both NSW and Queensland governments for her expertise in guiding cultural change and organisational resilience. She even helped co-create a first-of-its-kind mental health support app, recognising early the critical link between leader wellbeing and business performance.
Heather describes the Chair’s role in simple but powerful terms:
“It’s about care and challenge. Our members know when they’re being pushed, it’s coming from a place of deep care and good intent. The secret sauce is that closed session — when the group works through each other’s biggest issues using a structured process that helps them see new perspectives and provides them with additional options. It’s wonderful to see someone move from stuck to solution, right in the room.”
Today, Heather leads two Vistage groups and is excited to grow them with the right people.
“Building a Vistage group is like building your business team. You can’t outsource that. You need to make sure every person adds value to the group and feels that they belong.”
And what keeps her going?
“That moment when a member says, ‘I got something out of today.’ When you can see you’ve helped them unlock a problem they couldn’t solve alone. That’s what motivates me. That’s the magic of Vistage.”
