About Me

Joanna received the Officer in the General Division of the Order of Australia (AO) in 2018, formally recognised by her country for ‘Distinguished service to women in the areas of gender equality and individual rights through leadership and policy development roles, and to the promotion of global health, peace and security.’

In 2013, Joanna was named as one of Australia’s 100 Women of Influence. In 2016. Joanna was inducted into the Victorian Honour Roll for Women.

Joanna’s international experience ranges across four continents and 31 countries including long term residencies in Myanmar, Vietnam and Japan and nearly a decade across African nations.

Today, Joanna is a member of the Ministerial Council on Women’s Equality with the Government of Victoria. The Council provides expert advice on the implementation of ‘Safe and Strong’, Victoria’s first Gender Equality Strategy.

Joanna currently sits on the Victorian Local Governance Association as a Non-executive Director with previous Board roles including the Australian Council for International Development and Diaspora Action Australia.

She is a Women’s Rights Convenor with Macquarie University’s Global Leadership Program and is also contracted to the Dept. Foreign Affairs and Trade, Australia Awards, Women’s Leadership Initiative to mentor a high level political leader from the Pacific.  As a strategic planning adviser – Joanna continues to consult for national and international NGOs on transformative feminist leadership, organisational development and planning.

Joanna was the CEO of International Women’s Development Agency from 2010-2017. IWDA addresses economics, power, leadership, safety, security and systemic change to advance women’s rights and gender equality in Australia, the region and the world. Her other former roles include: Country Director for the Burnet Institute in Myanmar; Country Director for Save the Children UK in Vietnam; and Regional Director for Africa with the Overseas Service Bureau. Joanna’s international advisory roles include UNDP, UNOCHA, UNICEF, UNAIDS, UNHCR, governments across Asia, Africa, Australia and the Pacific and international and local NGOs. She has provided policy, evaluation and management services in relation to disease control, humanitarian assistance, national strategic planning, organisation and capacity development and institutional strengthening within government systems and across civil society organisations and networks.