Anneke van den Broek began her career leading some of Australia’s most recognised retail and consumer brands in senior management roles, including positions at David Jones, Blackmores and Bonds. With deep experience in brand strategy, marketing and commercial leadership, she built her corporate foundation before stepping into entrepreneurship.
Anneke van den Broek is a multi-award winning entrepreneur, pet advocate, and one of Australia's most respected female founders. Over nearly two decades, she has created a trusted brand in pet care and built an internationally recognised brand with a portfolio of products and service that elevate personal care for pets.
As the Founder and CEO of Rufus & Coco, Anneke has led the brand's expansion into nine countries and secured over 15 national and international awards for innovation, sustainability, and business excellence. Her portfolio includes Rufus & Coco, Wee Kitty, The Fur Salon, and The Fur Dental and represents her belief that better isn't a slogan; it's a standard that pets, their people, and the planet deserve.
Anneke's impact extends beyond business. As The Pet Humanist, she has set out to prove that in a world more connected than ever, yet lonelier than ever, that the cure for disconnection has whiskers not WiFi. Her philosophy is that pets make us more human and her mission is to make a pet-inclusive world the new normal and show how pets are not just companions but catalysts for human wellbeing.
Topic overview
Give to Get: The Lessons We Share So Others Rise Faster
In this honest and thought-provoking keynote, Anneke van den Broek shares the five lessons that shaped her journey from senior corporate roles to building a multi-million-dollar brand from the ground up.
Drawing on lived experience, including backing herself at pivotal moments, navigating rejection, leading through pressure and taking calculated financial risks, Anneke reflects on belief, resilience, financial confidence, embracing the grind and protecting the energy required to sustain success.
At its heart, this keynote embodies Give to Get, the idea that when women openly share hard-earned lessons, we shorten the learning curve for those coming next.
It is a grounded and practical conversation about backing yourself, backing other women and building a life and business strong enough to hold you for the long term.