Judy Hacker B.Ec, Dip.Ed, Certificate in marketing
Chair - Elected to Board: Oct 2016
Judy is a results-driven, strategically minded marketing professional who combines creative and analytical skills to build strong, successful brands that drive growth and build loyalty. With a board portfolio spanning not-for-profit organisations in the fields of women, health, disabilities and family, Judy has extensive experience and knowledge of high performing boards and a deep understanding of governance, stakeholder engagement, strategy delivery, risk management and effective communications. She’s passionate about gender equality and empowering women and girls to have the education, tools, and opportunities to take control over their own lives.
Emily Howie BA/LLB(Hons), LLM (Columbia)
Deputy Chair - Elected to Board: Oct 2018
Emily Howie brings extensive experience in law, women’s rights, advocacy, and campaigning. Emily is the General Counsel and Director of Dispute Resolution at the Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission. Previously, in her role as Legal Director at the Human Rights Law Centre, she worked to ensure that women have access to reproductive health rights through advocacy and legal action.
Julie Bignell BA, Grad Dip (IR/HR), GAICD, GAIST
Member - Elected to Board: Oct 2021
Julie Bignell is an experienced Board member with extensive experience in corporate governance, risk management, strategic planning, stakeholder engagement, industrial relations and a deep understanding and commitment to women’s reproductive rights and gender equality. She is currently a Director of Austin Health. Julie's previous experience as a board member includes CareSuper, the Australian Council of Superannuation Investors (ACSI), Workplace Health and Safety Queensland, and the North Queensland Bulk Ports Corporation. Julie was previously Secretary of the Australian Services Union (Central and South Qld Branch), incorporating a term as National Vice-President.
Lesley Ber B.Comm, B Acc, CA(SA), MBA, ADIT, Dip.Gov FICDA
Member - Elected to Board: April 2023
Lesley Ber is a highly experienced finance and risk professional, specialising in the non-profit sector. She is a qualified Chartered Accountant with an MBA and diplomas in international tax and governance. Lesley has a background in domestic and international structured finance, general banking and treasury bank auditing. She has also served as a tax examiner and university Accounting lecturer. Currently, Lesley is the Treasurer and Chair of Finance of the National Council of Jewish Women Victoria and a finance committee member for the Victorian Collaborative Centre for Mental Health. Her dedication to empowering women and promoting gender equality is a driving force in her work.
Kate Broun BAppSc (Health Promotion) (Hons), PGDipAppSci (Org Dynamics); GAICD
Member - Elected to Board: Oct 2016
Kate Broun is an experienced public health professional leading cancer prevention policy and programs to improve population health, with a commitment to reducing health disparities among priority communities. Kate is the Head of Screening, Early Detection and Immunisation at Cancer Council Victoria. She is passionate about women's health and achieving equality.
Shaymaa Elkadi PhD (Neuropsychology), ExecMPA
Member - Elected to Board: Oct 2021
Dr Shaymaa Elkadi is the Executive Manager of Strategy and Program Integration at the Victorian Foundation for the Survivors of Torture. Shaymaa has held previous senior leadership roles at the Eastern Melbourne Primary Health Network, Department of Health, Corrections Victoria, Beyond Blue & Forensicare. Shaymaa is a skilled strategist with over 15 years of expertise in leading organisational and service transformation and reform. Having worked across the Justice and Mental Health systems, she is highly versed in complex policy, system and service redesign. Shaymaa is committed to focusing on client outcomes to ensure and maximise excellence, innovation, and value in services to the community.
Sandy Forbes BA (Politics and Psychology), MSW, MBA, GAICD
Member - Co-opted to Board: Jul 2024
Sandy is an experienced non- Executive Director spanning health, education and child, youth and family services. She is an experienced community services consultant, specialising in strategy and stakeholder engagement and works extensively with government and not for profit sectors. Sandy has a long-standing commitment to feminist values, social justice, and inclusion in our community.
Ashlea Gilmore BA (Criminology and Politics)
Member - Elected to Board: Oct 2021
Ashlea Gilmore is experienced in health policy, advocacy and government and is currently the Senior Strategic Development Manager, Partnerships at the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre. Prior, Ashlea was a Senior Adviser to the Victorian Minister for Trade and Investment and an Adviser to Australia’s first Minister for the Prevention of Family Violence and Minister for Women. In this role Ashlea advised on the Victorian Government’s response and implementation of the Royal Commission into Family Violence and supported the development of Victoria’s first Gender Equality Strategy.
Brigid Mahar B. Comm B.PD CA
Treasurer - Elected to Board: Oct 2019
Brigid Mahar has extensive experience working with not-for-profit organisations in relation to strategy and operations, specialising in the development of transparent and efficient funding models, policies and processes to support effective decision making. She is a chartered accountant and has a strong financial background spanning the not for profit and corporate sectors.
Sharon Olivier BPod, LLM, MBA, GAICD
Member - Co-opted to Board: Apr 2024
Sharon Olivier is a values-based and outcomes-focused professional with experience in the health and education sectors. Her skills extend across strategy, governance, policy, and operations, and she currently holds the role of Company Secretary at Austin Health. Previously, Sharon held Executive Officer roles at two Victorian public health services and was Executive Director at a Victorian TAFE. She well understands the complexities of large organisations and the machinery of government, having worked in various senior roles at the Victorian Department of Health. Sharon is passionate about supporting women to lead empowered lives.
Stacey Ong BCom/BA, GCertIntPol, PGDipIntAff, ICP, GAICD
Member - Co-opted to Board: Jul 2024
Stacey is an economist by training, and Director of One Red Step, a social equity consulting practice. One Red Step works with clients to address issues such as gender inequality, family violence, homelessness, disability, disadvantage and marginalisation. Stacey is an experienced management consultant with over 17 years’ experience in private, public and community sectors. Prior to founding One Red Step, she was a Director in management consulting with PricewaterhouseCoopers focusing on social policy and was their national staff lead for cultural diversity and inclusion for three years. Stacey is also on the Board of Melbourne City Mission and is a Fellow with the Women’s Leadership Institute of Australia. She is undertaking a Master of Social Science with RMIT University.
Our board members, staff and volunteers work to a values-based code of conduct, which sets expectations about our leadership and integrity; our belief in empowerment of others; our belief in equality of opportunities and rights; our feminist commitment to women’s equality and to challenging gender norms, practices and structures.
Board Director positions are voluntary with expenses reimbursed.
If you are Interested in Board positions please contact the CEO on 96649300
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WHV acknowledges the support of the Victorian Government.
Acknowledgement of Country
Women’s Health Victoria acknowledges and pays our respects to the Traditional Owners of the land that our offices are situated on, the Wurundjeri people of the Kulin Nation. As a statewide organisation, we also acknowledge the Traditional Owners of the lands and waters across Victoria. We pay our respects to them, their cultures and their Elders past and present.
Our Commitment to Gender Diversity & Inclusion
Women’s Health Victoria’s focus is women (cis and trans inclusive) and gender diverse people. We address feminist health issues and are committed to supporting all people impacted by gender inequity who can benefit from our work. As a proud intersectional feminist organisation, Women’s Health Victoria is working towards meaningful inclusivity, guided by and supporting people who identify as women, trans, intersex and gender diverse.
