Leanne is a woman of the Dhulanyagen Ulupna Clan, Yorta Yorta nation and Executive Director of Koorie Women Mean Business. She has an extensive advocacy background working in Indigenous, legal and women’s sectors, and has represented Australian Indigenous Women at the United Nations, New York, as well as undertaking a UN Fellowship in Geneva. She was selected as the community representative, Australian Government delegation to the 54th Session on the Commission on the Status of Women, United Nations, New York. In 2019, Leanne was elected as a member of the North East Region to the First People’s Assembly of Victoria. In 2023, Leanne was inducted to the Australia Day honours list for her “significant service to women’s affairs, and to the Indigenous community”.

Sheree is the co-founder and CEO of One Roof, expert in curating spaces and communities that nurture female entrepreneurs. One Roof has created female-centric co-working spaces across 4 cities, engaged 10,000 women and hosted 500+ educational workshops. Sheree was awarded the 2016 Victorian Young Achievers Leadership Award. In 2015, she was nominated one of Australia’s top young innovators by the Foundation for Young Australians. Sheree is currently on a Leave of Absence from the board.

Leena van Deventer is an award-winning writer, game developer, and educator. She has taught interactive storytelling at both RMIT and Swinburne University. In 2016, Leena published her first book Game Changers: From Minecraft to Misogyny, the fight for the future of video games with Dr Dan Golding (Affirm Press).

Alana is a farmer and rural consultant. She was the Victorian Rural Woman of the Year in 2010. A founding member of Australian Women in Agriculture, Alana has worked extensively on behalf of rural women, nationally and internationally. She has served on a number of government and NGO boards and is currently the President of Voices 4 Indi, which initiated a democracy project in the lead-up to the 2013 federal election. Alana was listed in the inaugural AFR/Westpac 100 Women of Influence in Australia and was inducted onto the Victorian Women’s Honour Roll in 2018.

Nicky is the Director of Community Engagement at the law firm, Allens. Nicky is focused on leveraging the resources of the private legal profession to enable disadvantaged people to gain greater access to justice. She is also a director of pro bono clearinghouse Justice Connect. Nicky has a background in social justice work and law reform, focusing on women’s rights. She has a long term association with the VWT, having been a volunteer and and employee before joining the board.

After an extensive public policy career, Mary became the Executive Director of the Victorian Women’s Trust in 1996. She has designed and led ground-breaking community engagement initiatives, such as the Purple Sage Project and Our Watermark Australia. In June 2012, Mary was appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia, for her distinguished services to public policy and advocacy for the advancement of women. In 2016, Mary won the Public Policy category as part of the AFR/Westpac’s 100 Women of Influence for her years of work in shaping public policy in Australia.

Rana is a diversity and inclusion leader, making important inroads into Australian sporting culture and the community at large. Rana is a pioneer and a passionate advocate for social inclusion and reducing discrimination through the vehicle of sports and media. Hussain’s desire to see more diversity in both media and sport sees her freelance writing, as well as podcasting and broadcasting for the ABC.

Christine is the Programming Manager for Readings, a role she has held for many years. Prior to realising the role of her dreams, Christine worked for many years in public women’s health. She is one of the founding board members of the Stella Prize, sits on the board of the Emerging Writers Festival and has been the recipient of two City of Literature international travel grants. In 2020 she completed a Women in Leadership certificate. Apart from a life -long devotion to feminism, Christine is an avid reader and gardener.