The 12 new Council members have extensive and valuable expertise across a range of critical areas including health, employment, migrant services, and domestic and family violence. They are:
- Lisa Annese – CEO, Diversity Council of Australia
- Belinda Cashman – Director, Aboriginal Health Strategy, Western Sydney Local Health District
- Elise Coppins – Clinical Nurse Consultant, Southern NSW Local Health District
- Associate Professor Jill Duncan – Lead (Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion), University of Newcastle
- Janine Farah – NSW and ACT Regional Manager, Young Change Agents
- Associate Professor Elizabeth Hill – Deputy Director, Gender Equality in Working Life Research Initiative, University of Sydney
- Tara Hunter – Director of Client and Clinical Services, Full Stop Australia
- Marlene Krasovitsky – Consultant on the Global Campaign to Combat Ageism, World Health Organisation
- Mariam Mourad – CEO, Bankstown Women’s Health Centre, and Fairfield Women’s Health Centre
- Julie Perkins – CEO, Gurehlgam
- Karen Price – Deputy CEO, ACON
- Violet Roumeliotis AM – CEO, Settlement Services International.
The Women's Advisory Council is tasked with advancing gender equality by providing key advice to government on the priority areas of the NSW Women’s Strategy 2023–2026.
The Strategy aims to achieve equitable policy outcomes across three priority areas: economic opportunity and advancement, health and wellbeing, participation and empowerment.
Its objective is to improve outcomes for all women and girls, with a particular focus on communities of women that experience disadvantage or discrimination.
The Women’s Advisory Council replaces the Council for Women’s Economic Opportunity.
Minister for Women Jodie Harrison said:
“The Minns Government is committed to the objectives of the NSW Women’s Strategy, ensuring all women and girls have equitable access to services, resources, opportunities, and protections that enable them to thrive.
“The new Women’s Advisory Council will play a key role in advancing those goals by providing expert advice to government about issues affecting women and girls across the state.
“The 12 members of the Advisory Council were carefully selected to make sure they represent the diversity of voices, experiences, and priorities of women across NSW. They have lived experiences, community connections and are professionals in their fields, ensuring we receive expert advice and in turn create successful policies to advance gender equality in the state.
“I look forward to hearing from and working with these outstanding women. In particular, I hope to draw on their expertise to ensure as a government we adopt an intersectional approach in developing policies and recognise the complex and overlapping ways that women experience inequality.”
New council member Belinda Cashman said:
“Women’s issues have always been close to my heart. I was raised by a single mother who had many struggles in life and her voice was not often heard. I want to represent change for women across diverse communities with a particular focus on young Aboriginal women.
“I hope that together, collectively, we represent women of all ages, races and communities to act as advocates and a platform to address inequalities.”
New council member Janine Farah said:
“I am genuinely thrilled to have the opportunity to play a role in influencing policies that address the needs of women in NSW.
“My goal is to collaborate with other members to ensure that the diverse voices and priorities of women in NSW are effectively represented. Together, I hope we can contribute to shaping and influencing strategies that lead to tangible advancements and result in positive impacts.”
New council member Karen Price said:
“I’m looking forward to a passionate, engaged and skilled group of people coming together on this Council to provide advice, guidance and support to the critically important issues the Strategy aims to progress.
“The issues highlighted in the Strategy are causal and consequential: they contribute to inequality and gender-based disadvantage. That’s why I’m excited to play my role to improve the lives of women in NSW – these issues really matter."
Find out more about the Council and details of the members
Read the NSW Women’s Strategy 2023-26