Winners of the 2024 Ministers’ Awards for Women in Local Government

• Alternative Pathways Award – Metro

Alicia Lopez – Chief Information Officer (City of Newcastle Council)

• Alternative Pathways Award – Regional/Rural

Ruth Hallett – Civil Engineer (MidCoast Council)

• Young Achiever’s Award – Metro

Jazmin Webber – Apprentice Carpenter (City of Newcastle Council)

• Young Achiever’s Award – Regional/Rural

Rylee Goodman – Governance Officer (Shoalhaven City Council)

• Woman of Distinction Award – Metro

Brooke Endycott – Director Community Life (Burwood Council)

• Woman of Distinction Award – Metro (Highly Commended)

Haley Vallone – Strategic Social Planner (Campbelltown City Council)

• Woman of Distinction Award – Regional/Rural

Alex Waldron – Chief Executive Officer (Upper Lachlan Shire Council)

• Elected Representative Award – Metro

Councillor Linda Downey (Canterbury-Bankstown Council)

• Elected Representative Award – Regional/Rural

Councillor Sue Moore – Mayor (Singleton Council)

• Employment Diversity Award – Metro

City of Canada Bay Council

• Employment Diversity Award – Regional/Rural

Port Macquarie-Hastings Council

• Champion of Change Award – Metro

Emily Scott – General Manager (Waverley Council)

• Champion of Change Award – Metro

Greig Schuetrumpf – Director of City Assets (City of Canada Bay Council)

• Champion of Change Award – Regional/Rural

Eloise Chaplain – Director of Infrastructure Delivery (Narrabri Shire Council)

• Champion of Change Award – Regional/Rural

David Hughes – Director – Built and Natural Assets (Lake Macquarie City Council)

• Councillor Lilliane Brady OAM Award

Councillor Linda Scott – Australian Local Government Association President (City of Sydney Council)

Winners of the 2023 Ministers’ Awards for Women in Local Government

The Alternative Pathways Award – Metro

• Ms Mary Boustani, ICT Systems Engineer, Inner West Council

The Alternative Pathways Award – Regional / Rural

• Miss Rachael Abberton, Senior Water and Sewer Planning Engineer, Mid Coast Council

The Champion of Change Award – Metro

• Mr Ben Taylor, Chief Executive Officer, Wollondilly Shire Council

The Champion of Change Award – Regional / Rural

• Mrs Melissa Maccallum, Manager – Building & Environment, Orange City Council

The Elected Representative Award– Metro

• Cr Judy Hannan MP, Councillor, Wollondilly Shire Council (also Member for Wollondilly)

The Elected Representative Award– Regional / Rural

• Cr Sarah Ndiaye, Councillor, Byron Shire Council

The Employment Diversity Award – Metro

• Inner West Council

The Employment Diversity Award – Regional / Rural

• Armidale Regional Council

The Woman of Distinction Award – Metro

• Mrs Renee Traynor, Team Leader Diversity & Inclusion, Canterbury-Bankstown Council

The Woman of Distinction Award – Metro

• Ms Liz Murphy, Manager, Community Recovery, Hawkesbury City Council

The Woman of Distinction Award – Regional / Rural

• Mrs Lucy Kinsley PSM, Regional Library Manager, Richmond Tweed Regional Library, Lismore City Council

The Woman of Distinction Award – Regional / Rural

• Ms Helen Plummer, Manager Asset Management, Lake Macquarie City Council

The Young Achievers Award – Metro 

• Miss Keira Grundy, Art Gallery Trainee, Mosman Municipal Council

The Young Achievers Award – Regional / Rural

• Miss Jenna Dowell, Trainee Engineer, Upper Hunter Shire Council

Winners of the Ministers’ Awards for Women in Local Government 2022

Alternative Pathways Award – Metro

• Rebecca Tempest, Manager, Resource Recovery & Waste Services, Blue Mountains City Council

Alternative Pathways Award – Regional/Rural

• Doreen Harwood, Enterprise Risk & Emergency Management Officer & Local Emergency Management Officer, Tweed Shire Council

Champion of Change Award – Metro

• Jennifer Concato, Executive Director City Planning and Design, City of Parramatta Council

Champion of Change Award – Regional/Rural

• Kim Bush, Division Manager, Community Development and Participation, Eurobodalla Shire Council

Elected Representative Award – Metro

• Dr Christina Curry, Mayor, Bayside Council

Elected Representative Award – Regional/Rural

Mr Ben Taylor,
Chief Executive Officer, Wollondilly Shire Council

• Mayor Chris Cherry, Tweed Shire Council

Employment Diversity Award – Metro

• Cumberland City Council

Employment Diversity Award – Regional/Rural

• Rous County Council

Young Achiever’s Award – Metro

• Grace Elizabeth Haydon, Senior Project Officer, Major Projects and Precincts, City of Parramatta Council

Young Achiever’s Award – Regional/Rural

• Shannon Anne Mackenzie, Trainee Administration Officer, Lake Macquarie City Council

Councillor Lilliane Brady OAM Award (formerly the Minister for Local Government Award for Women)

• Mayor Sharon Cadwallader, Ballina Shire Council

Winners of the Ministers’ Awards for Women in Local Government 2021

Alternative Pathways Award – Metro

• Priscilla Felice, Trades Supervisor, Asset Maintenance, Waverley Council

Alternative Pathways Award – Regional/Rural

• Belinda Thomson, Vegetation Maintenance Supervisor, Lake Macquarie City Council

Champion of Change Award – Metro

• Marnie Mitchell, Manager, People and Performance, City of Ryde Council

Champion of Change Award – Regional/Rural (shared)

• Laura Black, Acting General Manager, Clarence Valley Council
• Helen McNeil, Group Manager, People and Performance, Rous County Council

Elected Representative Award – Metro

• Councillor Clare Raffan, City of Canterbury Bankstown Council

Elected Representative Award – Regional/Rural

• Councillor Marion Browne, City of Broken Hill Council

Employment Diversity Award – Metro

• Wollongong City Council

Young Achiever’s Award – Metro

• Kristyne Arneill, Support Officer, City of Canada Bay

Young Achiever’s Award – Regional/Rural

• Shanon Gray, Cadet Accountant, Lake Macquarie City Council

Councillor Lilliane Brady OAM Award (formerly the Minister for Local Government Award for Women)

• Leanne Barnes OAM, former General Manager of Bega Valley Shire Council

Winners of the Ministers’ Awards for Women in Local Government 2019

Elected Representative from a Metropolitan Council

• Winner: Cr Wendy Waller (Liverpool City Council)
• Winner: Cr Roslyn Harrison (Northern Beaches Council)
• Highly commended: Cr Reena Jethi (The Hills Shire Council)

Elected Representative from a Rural or Regional Council

• Winner: Cr Susan Price OAM (Moree Plains Shire Council)
• Highly commended: Cr Phyllis Miller OAM (Forbes Shire Council)

General Manager/Senior Staff Member – Metropolitan Council

• Winner: Simone Plummer (Sutherland Shire Council)
• Highly commended: Therese Manns (Randwick City Council)

General Manager/Senior Staff Member – Rural or Regional Council

• Winner: Morven Cameron (Lake Macquarie City Council)
• Highly commended: Melissa Boxall (Shellharbour City Council)

Non-Senior Staff Member – Metropolitan Council

• Winner: Belinda Koytz (City of Canada Bay Council)

Non-Senior Staff Member – Rural or Regional Council

• Winner: Stephanie Mowle (Goulburn Mulwaree Council)
• Highly commended: Deborah McDonald (Singleton Council)

Women in a Non-Traditional Role – Metropolitan Council

• Winner: Olivia Simons (City of Sydney Council)
• Highly commended: Alissa Jones (City of Newcastle Council)
• Highly commended: Margaret Diebert (Liverpool City Council)

Women in a Non-Traditional Role – Rural or Regional Council

• Winner: Adrienne Pierini (Cobar Shire Council)
• Highly commended: Tegan Muirhead (Wagga Wagga City Council)

Women in Traineeships or Apprenticeships – Metropolitan Council

• Winner: Sarah Tracy (Penrith City Council)

Women in Traineeships or Apprenticeships – Rural or Regional Council

• Winner: Acacia Johnston (Shellharbour City Council)
• Highly commended: Renee Keir (Lake Macquarie City Council)
• Highly commended: Sophie Broadbent (Wingecarribee Shire Council)

Special Achievement Award

• Carmel Krogh (Shoalhaven City Council)

Winners of the Ministers’ Awards for Women in Local Government 2018

Elected Representative from a Metropolitan Council

• Winner: Clr Lucille McKenna OAM (Inner West Council)

Elected Representative from a Rural or Regional Council

• Winner: Clr Tegan Swan (Coffs Harbour City Council)

General Manager/Senior Staff Member – Metropolitan Council

• Winner: Simone Cook (Canterbury Bankstown Council)
• Highly commended: Meredith Wallace (Bayside Council)

General Manager/Senior Staff Member – Rural or Regional Council

• Winner: Rebecca Ryan (Blayney Shire Council)
• Highly commended: Fiona Plesman (Muswellbrook Shire Council)

Non-Senior Staff Member – Metropolitan Council

• Winner: Turkan Aksoy (Canterbury Bankstown Council)
• Highly commended: Emily Raymond (Newcastle City Council)
• Highly commended: Carol Ashworth (Blacktown City Council)

Non-Senior Staff Member – Rural or Regional Council

• Winner: Maree Edwards (Lake Macquarie City Council)
• Highly commended: Gina Mobayed (Goulburn Mulwaree Council)

Women in a Non-Traditional Role – Metropolitan Council

• Winner: Tracy Moroney (Bayside Council)
• Winner: Mary-Anne Priest (City of Sydney Council)

Women in a Non-Traditional Role – Rural or Regional Council

• Winner: Teena Riley (Goulburn Mulwaree Council)
• Highly commended: Cate Fennell (Parkes Shire Council)

Women in traineeships or apprenticeships – Metropolitan Council

• Winner: Rae-Anne Young (Blacktown City Council)

Women in traineeships or apprenticeships – Rural or Regional Council

• Winner: Breanna Green (Gunnedah Shire Council)

Winners of the Ministers’ Awards for Women in Local Government 2017

Elected Representative from a Metropolitan Council

• Winner: Councillor Jennifer Anderson, Ku-ring-gai Council

Special Achievement Award

• Councillor Judith Rutherford AM, Willoughby City Council

Elected Representative from a Rural or Regional Council

• Winner: Councillor Kristy McBain, Bega Valley Shire Council
• Highly Commended: Councillor Jenny Clarke, Narrandera Shire Council

Senior Staff Member – Metropolitan Council

• Winner: Julie Vaughan, Central Coast Council
• Highly Commended: Marissa Racomelara, Georges River Council
• Highly Commended: Gail Connolly, Georges River Council

Senior Staff Member – Rural or Regional Council

• Winner: Margot Stork, Murray River Council

Non-Senior Staff Member – Metropolitan Council

• Winner: Petrina Nelson, City of Canada Bay Council
• Highly Commended: Adama Kamara, Cumberland Council

Non-Senior Staff Member – Rural or Regional Council

• Winner: Debra Hilton, Gunnedah Shire Council

Women in a Non-Traditional Role – Metropolitan Council

• Winner: Martina Fletcher, Blacktown City Council
• Highly Commended: Kelly Loveridge, Inner West Council

Women in a Non-Traditional Role – Rural or Regional Council

• Winner: Megan Cone, Armidale Regional Council
• Highly Commended: Maree Brennan, Kyogle Council

Winners of the Ministers’ Awards for Women in Local Government 2016

Elected Representative from a Metropolitan Council

• Winner of the Award – Councillor Yvonne Keane, The Hills Shire Council

Elected Representative from a Rural or Regional Council

• Winner of the Award – Wendy Tuckerman, Boorowa Shire Council
• Highly Commended – Danielle Mulholland, Kyogle Council

Senior Staff Member – Metropolitan Council

• Winner of the Award – Sue Weatherley, Parramatta City Council

Senior Staff Member – Rural or Regional Council

• Winner of the Award – Judy Charlton, Narrandera Shire Council
• Highly Commended – Lee Furness, Shellharbour City Council
• Highly Commended – Rebecca Ryan, Blayney Shire Council

Non-Senior Staff Member – Metropolitan Council

• Joint Winner of the Award – Nicola Daaboul, Bankstown City Council
• Joint Winner of the Award – Tina Sangiuliano, Liverpool City Council
• Highly Commended – Annette Celle, Bankstown City Council

Non-Senior Staff Member – Rural or Regional Council

• Winner of the Award – Cheryl Hyde, Dungog Shire Council
• Joint Highly Commended – Linda Christof, Dubbo City Council
• Joint Highly Commended – Tracie Mauro, Parkes Shire Council

Women in a Non-Traditional Role – Metropolitan Council

• Winner of the Award – Cathy Coutlis, Blacktown City Council
• Highly Commended – Christine Schlesinger, Waverley Council

Women in a Non-Traditional Role – Rural or Regional Council

• Joint Winner of the Award – Dominique Judd, Tamworth Regional Council
• Joint Winner of the Award – Sally Mullinger, Mid-Western Regional Council

Lifetime Achievement Award

• Miss Norma Male and Ms Patricia Gould were also recognised with Lifetime Achievement Awards.

Winners of the Ministers’ Awards for Women in Local Government 2015

Elected Representative from a Metropolitan Council

• Winner of the Award – Clr Sue Heins, Warringah Council

Elected Representative from a Rural or Regional Council

• Winner of the Award – Clr Gae Swain, Gunnedah Shire Council

Senior Staff Member – Metropolitan Council

• Winner of the Award – Nicole Magurren, Camden Council

Senior Staff Member – Rural or Regional Council

• Highly Commended – Leeah Daley, Gwydir Shire Council
• Winner of the Award – Therese Manns, Broken Hill City Council

Non-Senior Staff Member – Metropolitan Council

• Highly Commended – Justine Uluibau, Campbelltown City Council
• Winner of the Award – Sarah Sampson, Penrith City Council

Non-Senior Staff Member – Rural or Regional Council

• Joint Winner of the Award – Shellie Buckle, Parkes Shire Council
• Joint Winner of the Award – Laura Kendall, Lake Macquarie City Council

Women in a Non-Traditional Role – Metropolitan Council

• Winner of the Award – Sara Foster, Wyong Shire Council

Women in a Non-Traditional Role – Rural or Regional Council

• Winner of the Award – Sharon Ross, Parkes Shire Council

Winners of the Ministers’ Awards for Women in Local Government 2014

Elected Representative from a Metropolitan Council

• Highly Commended – Councillor Elaine Malicki, Ku-ring-gai Council
• Winner of the Award– Councillor Dr Michelle Byrne, The Hills Shire Council

Elected Representative from a Rural or Regional Council

• Highly Commended – Councillor Leigh Vaughan, Great Lakes Council
• Winner of the Award – Councillor Sharon Cadwallader, Ballina Council

Senior Staff Member – Metropolitan Council

• Highly Commended – Sima Truuvert, Randwick City Council
• Winner of the Award – Janice Bevan, Ku-ring-gai Council

Senior Staff Member – Rural or Regional Council

• Winner of the Award – Kay Whitehead, Tumbarumba Shire Council

Non-Senior Staff Member – Metropolitan Council

• Highly Commended – Ashlee Hodson, Bankstown City Council
• Highly Commended – Vandana Ram, Bankstown City Council
• Winner of the Award – Suzanne Flynn, Penrith City Council

Non-Senior Staff Member – Rural or Regional Council

• Highly Commended – Margaret Ferguson, Snowy River Shire Council
• Winner of the Award– Robyn Cooper, Wollondilly Shire Council

Women in a Non-Traditional Role – Metropolitan Council

• Highly Commended – Margaret Diebert, Waverley Council
• Winner of the Award – Kerry Whitehead, Fairfield City Council

Women in a Non-Traditional Role – Rural or Regional Council

• Highly Commended – Norma Toweel, Wollondilly Shire Council
• Highly Commended – Amanda Colbey, Lake Macquarie City Council
• Winner of the Award – Kristie McLachlan, Coffs Harbour City Council

Lifetime Achievement Award

• Winner of the Award – Councillor Esme Martens, Mid-Western Regional Council

Winners of the 2013 Ministers’ Awards for Women in Local Government:

Elected Representative from a Metropolitan Council

• Councillor Jackie Greenow, Penrith City Council

Elected Representative from a Rural or Regional Council

• Councillor Gwen Griffen, Gunnedah Shire Council

Senior Staff Member – Metropolitan Council

• Colleen Worthy-Jennings, Gosford City Council

Senior Staff Member – Rural or Regional Council

• Carmel Krogh, Shoalhaven City Council

Non-Senior Staff Member – Metropolitan Council

• Daniela Santucci, Bankstown City Council

Non-Senior Staff Member – Rural or Regional Council

• Kelly Brown, Ballina Shire Council

Women in a Non-Traditional Role – Metropolitan Council

• Lisa Scully, Newcastle City Council

Women in a Non-Traditional Role – Rural or Regional Council

• Anne Sander, Cessnock City Council

Winners of the 2012 Ministers’ Awards for Women in Local Government:

Regional/rural non-senior staff representative

• Ms Veronica Bird, Shellharbour City Council

Metropolitan non-senior staff representative

• Ms Vanessa Creighton, Randwick Council

Regional/rural senior staff representative

• Ms Alison Dench, Wollondilly Shire Council

Metropolitan senior staff representative

• Ms Sue Weatherley, Parramatta City Council

Regional/rural elected representative

• Clr Colleen Fuller, Gunnedah Shire Council AND
• Clr Darriea Turley, Broken Hill City Council

Metropolitan elected representative

• Clr Vicki Scott, Gosford City Council

Winners of the 2011 Ministers’ Awards for Women in Local Government:

Regional/rural non-senior staff representative

• Ms Simone MacLaughlan, Mid-Western Regional Council

Metropolitan non-senior staff representative

• Ms Helen Connell, Holroyd Council

Metropolitan senior staff representative

• Ms Lisa Miscamble, Council of the City of Canada Bay

Regional/rural elected representative

• Clr Jan McWilliams, Mayor, Great Lakes Council

Metropolitan elected representative

• Clr Karen McKeown, Penrith City Council

Note: Regional/rural senior staff representative – not awarded in 2011

Winners of the 2010 Ministers’ Awards for Women in Local Government:

Regional/rural non-senior staff representative

• Ms Jenni Eakins, Coffs Harbour City Council

Metropolitan non-senior staff representative

• Ms Alison Hester, Kogarah City Council

Regional/rural senior staff representative

• Ms Janice Summerhayes, Wagga Wagga City Council

Metropolitan senior staff representative

• Ms Lindy Deitz, Campbelltown City Council

Regional/rural elected representative

• Clr Jenny Dowell, Lismore City Council

Metropolitan elected representative

• Clr Jean Hay AM, Manly Council

Winners of the 2009 Ministers’ Awards for Women in Local Government:

Regional/rural staff representative

• Ms Leanne Barnes

Metropolitan staff representative

• Ms Penny Holloway

Regional/rural elected representative

• Clr Sue Whelan

Metropolitan elected representative

• Clr Tania Mihailuk

Winners of the 2008 Ministers’ Awards for Women in Local Government:

Urban council elected representative

• Clr Joyce Wheatley

Urban council staff representative

• Ms Candy Nay

Rural council elected representative

• Clr Denise Osborne

Rural council staff representative

• Mrs Vas Roberts