Ms Broadbent was the guest speaker at the Illawarra Red Shield Business Appeal luncheon that kicks off the annual appeal in the Illawarra each year.

Speaking at City Beach Function Centre, Ms Broadbent revealed a former role she played with the Salvation Army and reflected on her extensive career as a businesswoman.

Her current roles include chairwoman  of the Clean Energy Finance Corporation, director of Woolworths and chairwoman  of Swiss Re Life and Health Australia.

She has previously held board positions at the Reserve Bank of Australia, Coca-Cola Amatil, ASX Limited, SBS, Woodside Petroleum, Qantas and the National Institute of Dramatic Arts.

During her impressive career,  she has recognised the vital nature of philanthropy and corporate social responsibility, having sat on the advisory board of the Salvation Army for more than a decade.

Ms Broadbent has used her many business skills to make a contribution in the social services sector and said that ethos to help others  had been handed down to her by her parents.

Her mother had studied social work as a second degree at Sydney University, she said.

‘‘She was a social worker and she must have said,  ‘Thank God for the Salvos’ ... because she would be seeing people all the time,’’ she said.

‘‘I was always very aware the Salvation Army was there [and] what both my parents said about the help it provided to so many people. 

 ‘So when I was asked to join the advisory board I could not wait to do that and I went straight home to tell my mum. I was very pleased about that.’’

The Salvos have helped more than one million Australians in need during the last year.

During yesterday’s appeal launch Salvation Army officers spoke of how the coming winter was shaping up to not only be wet and cold but one with even more people in need than last.

And for many families winter would just add to the misery they already faced.

Some families didn’t have a home at all and would struggle to stay warm and dry and struggle to feed their children.

With a growing number of people relying on the Salvos, business leaders were encouraged to  give generously on Friday. To date close to $65,000 has been raised from the business appeal that always gives a big kick-start to the Red Shield Appeal proper on May 30 and 31.

The cost of the lunch was generously funded by Heard McEwan Lawyers. Businesses and businesspeople who would still like to donate can do so at salvos.org.au or phone 137258.