Holgate, who was exonerated by an inquiry and received compensation over the circumstances of her exit, has also taken aim at former prime minister Scott Morrison, who declared in parliament that if she did not wish to stand aside, “she should go”.

”I guess it feels like you’ve been run over and not just run over,” Holgate told me in a revealing interview on The Pay Off podcast.

“You’ve been reversed over again.

“So was I disappointed in him? Yes, I was.

“I don’t think you totally do (get over that disappointment) because it’s like a car crash, but do you learn from it?

“I think yes, I have learned a lot from it. You learn a lot about leadership and the type of leadership you want to be.

”Í do not regret for one moment recognising the contribution from those people. 

“The irony is I could have given them $150,000 each and not have to ask anyone for permission.”

Holgate, now group executive chairman of Team Global Express, also said Morrison owes Australia Post employees an apology over the damage she says he inflicted on the brand.

”He owes an apology to all those mum and dads who own those post offices, all the workforce he put through an incredibly difficult time just as we were going into peak (season).

“It was irresponsible, and it was wrong.

“He put a black shadow over their brand, which is an outstanding organisation and does an enormous amount of good.

”He knew attacking a female CEO who just weeks before had been ranked the most powerful female in the Australian Fin Review … would create national headlines.

“It was the same week robodebt had come out and another issue was going to come the next day.

“It was a massive distraction. So clearly, hanging me instead saved his own neck for a period of time.”

Holgate, who joined logistics company Team Global Express in 2021, does have regrets, however, over accepting a salary that was less than half that of her male predecessors when she took on the top job at Australia Post. 

”I didn’t push back on it,” she said.

“In fact, it was a lot less than half the pay. Maybe it was half the base pay.

“And at the time, I took a 40 per cent pay cut to go and do the job. 

“I kind of regret that…. because it probably wasn’t a great role model thing to do for other women.

“So if any other women are listening to this, please, can you not make the same mistake.”

As the leader of a company that directly employs up to 10,000 people, Holgate says that her philosophy as a leader was forged during her teenage years in London when she left home with nowhere to go.   

”I found myself in Euston station, sitting on the floor with no home and no job. And probably not many prospects either.

“And it really taught me about the importance of pride of work, but also when you have no money, how you get disadvantaged on so many different levels and how hard it is to take it from there to go forward.”

The Pay Off interview with Christine Holgate releases tomorrow.