Former Woolworths CEO Brad Banducci has refuted claims that a senior executive battling cancer was forced to endure grueling work weeks exceeding 100 hours.
Miwah Van, who once held the position of Chief Growth Officer at the retail behemoth, has accused Banducci and other executives of compelling her to juggle four roles simultaneously.
Van has taken legal action against Woolworths and several of its top executives, including Banducci, filing a lawsuit in the Federal Court. Her claims include allegations of being passed over for a promotion.
According to Van, she was hospitalized multiple times between 2021 and 2022 due to the immense workload, which she claims equated to managing four full-time jobs.
Upon raising concerns, Van alleges that colleagues advised her to “drink from a fire hose,” suggesting an overwhelming work environment.
Van reports frequently working over 100 hours a week and cites a specific week in 2020 where she logged an astonishing 119.8 hours.
But, in defence files seen by the Australian Financial Review, Mr Banducci strongly rejected the allegations.
He said Ms Van had not been promoted to the role of chief transformation officer as she was ‘not a preferred candidate’.
Former Woolworths chief growth officer Miwah Van (pictured) is suing the supermarket giant and several executives over claims she racked up 100-hour weeks
‘There were areas for her to continue developing, including leadership skills, before she would be suitable,’ he added.
Mr Banducci left Woolworths in September 2023.
It was announced in March last year that he would take up the role of CEO at Ticketek Entertainment Group (TEG). He has been contacted via TEG for comment.
Woolworths declined to comment as the case is still before the court.
The supermarket giant has filed its defence separately from Mr Banducci.
But it has previously described Ms Van’s court claims as ‘vague and embarrassing’.
Former chief transformation officer for Woolworths, Von Ingram, filed a defence in which she claimed the phrase, ‘drink from a fire hose’, was used often by company staff.
‘The comment was not made in reference to working hours,’ Ms Ingram claimed.
Former chief executive Brad Banducci (pictured) has denied the allegations
She added that she supported Ms Van to ‘take every opportunity to develop and to grow as a leader within the organisation and to learn the business’.
The Daily Mail has contacted Ms Van’s legal representation, Harmers Workplace Lawyers, for comment.
According to her LinkedIn, Ms Van has had extensive experience in workplace innovation from business consultant Unvorsum and Fitness First before joining Woolworths Group six years ago.
In a statement of claim she filed in October 2025, seen by the ABC, she said her role expanded over the years to include responsibility for several areas of the company.
Ms Van alleges that she was told in September 2020 by Ms Ingram that she would succeed her and be promoted.
But then, in September 2022, she was told there were other people up for discussion and emailed Ms Ingram asking: ‘What’s really changed? Is it because I have cancer?’
The statement of claim noted she then emailed Mr Banducci saying she was taken aback.
‘My surprise and shock was due to the expectations that have been created through representations made to me over an extended period that clearly indicated I was considered to be the natural successor to the role,’ she said in the email, the claim notes.
