Ministers’ Awards for Women in Local Government
The Ministers’ Awards for Women in Local Government are a chance to recognise female councillors and council staff who make invaluable contributions to improve the lives of the people they represent and serve.
The awards were established in 2008 to recognise the outstanding efforts of women at the grassroots level of government in metropolitan and regional/rural councils.
There are countless women across our State playing a vital role in creating stronger local councils and making their local community a better place to live, work and play.
Award categories include separate awards for metropolitan and regional/rural councils. The categories are:
- Employment Diversity Award – a successful council program to increase female participation in senior leadership roles or at the elected representative level
- Elected Representative Award – a councillor who has advanced the position of female elected representatives
- Champion of Change Award – a general manager or senior manager who has excelled in supporting and encouraging women’s participation at their council
- Woman of Distinction Award – a woman who has demonstrated exceptional innovation, integrity and initiative or who has a positive influence on others
- Alternative Pathways Award – a female staff member who is breaking down gender stereotypes
- Young Achiever’s Award – an outstanding trainee/apprentice (aged 25 and under)
- Councillor Lilliane Brady OAM Award – nominations not required. Winner will be determined by the Minister to recognise and honour the dedication and tireless work of a female council staff member.
The late Cobar Mayor Lilliane Brady OAM was the inaugural recipient of the Minister for Local Government Award for Women in 2020.
This award has been formally named after Lilliane to honour her extraordinary life and career as the State’s longest serving female mayor, and advocacy for women in the sector.
Winners of the 2023 Ministers’ Awards for Women in Local Government
Alternative Pathways Award – Metro
Mary Boustani
ICT Systems Engineer
Inner West Council
Alternative Pathways Award – Regional/Rural
Rachael Abberton
Senior Water and Sewer Planning Engineer
MidCoast Council
Champion of Change Award – Metro
Ben Taylor
General Manager
Wollondilly Shire Council
Champion of Change Award – Regional/Rural
Melissa Maccallum
Manager – Building and Environment
Orange City Council
Elected Representative Award – Metro
Councillor Judy Hannan
Wollondilly Shire Council
Elected Representative Award – Regional/Rural
Councillor Sarah Ndiaye
Byron Shire Council
Employment Diversity Award – Metro
Inner West Council
Employment Diversity Award – Regional/Rural
Armidale Regional Council
Woman of Distinction Award – Metro (shared)
Renee Traynor
Team Leader Diversity and Inclusion
Canterbury-Bankstown Council
Liz Murphy
Manager, Community Recovery
Hawkesbury City Council
Woman of Distinction Award – Regional/Rural (shared)
Lucy Kinsley PSM
Regional Library Manager, Richmond Tweed Regional Library
Lismore City Council
Helen Plummer
Manager Asset Management
Lake Macquarie City Council
Young Achievers Award – Metro
Keira Grundy
Art Gallery Trainee
Mosman Municipal Council
Young Achievers Award – Regional/Rural
Jenna Dowell
Trainee Engineer
Upper Hunter Shire Council
Councillor Lilliane Brady OAM Award
Councillor Darriea Turley AM, Local Government NSW President
Broken Hill City Council
- To see the names of previous award winners go to https://www.olg.nsw.gov.au/our-minister/previous-award-winners/