Former Dungog High School president Chandra Clements was invited to attend a state reception for the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge on Easter Saturday.
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Ms Clements, who was recently inducted into the Businesswomen’s Hall of Fame, received a phone call from the Queensland Governor’s office three weeks ago asking would she like to attend a luncheon with the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.
“How do you respond to a request like that?,” she said.
“Ahh umm I think I can make myself available for that”.
The former Gresford was advised that a thorough federal security check would need to be undertaken in order for her to be cleared for entry to the luncheon.
She hung up the phone and sent a text message to her better half saying “I have just been invited to have lunch with Kate and Will
“His response understandably was “Kate and Will who?
“But I did get to speak briefly to both William and Kate, but it was a very short ‘hello, how are you’.”
The state reception was held at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre in South Brisbane and Ms Clements was one of 200 outstanding Australians invited to attend.
Chandra was required to submit a two line summary of her achievements for the Duke and Duchess as an introduction which she found very difficult.
Ms Clements, who was named Dux of Dungog High School in 1995 and also received the Lions Youth of the Year award for public speaking and the Australia Day Young Citizen Award for Dungog Shire, commenced her first business as an ADHD coach for students at the tender age of 16.
She has worked across 28 countries in six industries, including Rio Tinto, Fluor, ALS, and Sentis and spoken on leadership, authenticity, neuroscience and human capital on over 70 global stages.
Her Hall of Fame induction follows on from an exceptional 2013 where Ms Clements received the Gold Stevie for Female Entrepreneur of the Year (Asia, Australia and New Zealand), Silver Stevie for International Woman of the Year and Silver Stevie for Most Innovative Company - One Legacy Pty Ltd.
She also received the Bronze Steve for Women Helping Women, Bronze Stevie for International Executive of the Year for Business Services and was the Newcastle University Young Alumni Medal winner.