Ministers’ Awards for Women in Local Government 2022

The Ministers’ Awards for Women in Local Government celebrate the contribution of women to local councils and their communities across NSW. In addition to recognising the significant contribution of Award winners, the Awards aim to encourage more women to enter the local government sector in NSW.

The winners of the 2022 Awards were celebrated at a function at Parliament House on 24 November 2022. The awards were delivered in partnership by the Minister for Local Government, the Hon Wendy Tuckerman MP and the Minister for Women, Regional Health and Mental Health,  the Hon Bronnie Taylor MLC.

The winners are:

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

• 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

Ministers’ Awards for Women in Local Government 2021

The Ministers’ Awards for Women in Local Government celebrate the contribution of women to local councils and their communities across NSW. In addition to recognising the significant contribution of Award winners, the Awards aim to encourage more women to enter the local government sector in NSW.

The winners of the 2021 Awards were celebrated at a function at Parliament House on 15 September 2022. The awards were delivered in partnership by the Minister for Local Government, the Hon Wendy Tuckerman MP and the Minister for Women, Regional Health and Mental Health,  the Hon Bronnie Taylor MLC.

The winners are:

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

The winners of the 2019 Awards were presented by the Minister for Local Government, the Hon Shelley Hancock MP, at a function held at Parliament House on 6 June 2019. The awards were delivered in partnership with the Minister for Mental Health, Regional Youth and Women, the Hon Bronnie Taylor MP.

The winners are:

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)

The winners of the 2018 Awards were presented by the Minister for Local Government, the Hon. Gabrielle Upton MP, at a function held at Parliament House on 7 March 2018. The awards were delivered in partnership with the Minister for Women, the Hon. Tanya Davies MP.

The winners were:

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)

The winners of the 2017 Awards were presented by the Minister for Local Government, the Hon. Gabrielle Upton MP, at a function held at Parliament House on 7 March 2017. The awards were delivered in partnership with the Minister for Women, the Hon. Tanya Davies MP.

The winners of the 2017 Ministers’ Awards for Women in Local Government were:

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

The winners of the 2016 Awards were presented by the Minister for Local Government, the Hon Paul Toole MP, at a function held at Parliament House on 2 March 2016, in the lead up to International Women’s Day celebrations. The awards were delivered in partnership with the Minister for Women, the Hon Pru Goward MP.

The winners of the 2016 Ministers’ Awards for Women in Local Government were:

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.

The winners of the 2015 Awards were presented by the Minister for Local Government, the Hon Paul Toole MP, and the Minister for Women, the Hon Pru Goward MP, at a function held at Parliament House on 3 March 2015, as part of International Women’s Day celebrations.

The winners of the 2015 Ministers’ Awards for Women in Local Government were:

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

The winners of the 2014 awards were presented by the Minister for Local Government, the Hon Don Page MP, and the Minister for Women, the Hon Pru Goward MP, at a function held at Parliament House on 5 March 2014.

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

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