The Victorian Women’s Trust is delighted to announce the appointment of Mudiwa Chipungu, Neha Samar, Fleur Katsmartin and Dr Emma McNicol to the Board. Each brings a wealth of skills and experience, as well as a shared commitment to accelerating gender equality in Australia. With expertise ranging from education to global supply chains, feminist philosophy to law, every new recruit is an ideal match for the Victorian Women’s Trust.

“We were impressed by the number of candidates who applied to join the Victorian Women’s Trust Board,” said Alana Johnson AM, Chair of the Victorian Women’s Trust. “It was a demanding selection process and we are delighted to appoint four outstanding people with the passion and expertise to sustain VWT’s impact as a leading advocate for women and gender-diverse people.”

 “Mudiwa Chipungu, Neha Samar, Fleur Katsmartin, and Dr Emma McNicol fit that description exactly,” continued Alana. “Board members play a vital role in guiding the organisation, and these appointments were made with great care. We are delighted to have these fantastic candidates join our Board.”

Meet the four outstanding leaders who will help shape the future of VWT:

Mudiwa Chipungu
Mudiwa Chipungu leads supply chain strategy and transformation at a large retailer, overseeing major projects, automation, and AI integration. She played a pivotal role in sustaining Australia’s food supply during COVID-19 and launching its first fully automated distribution centres. With experience in consulting, manufacturing, and transport, Mudiwa excels in leading high-performing teams. She holds an MBA from Melbourne Business School and a Masters in Engineering from the University of Melbourne and is dedicated to advancing women in leadership through NAWO, Wayfinder, and board roles with Respect Victoria and Spectrum Victoria.

Neha Samar
Neha Samar, graduate of the Australian Institute of Community Directors, is an experienced educator and leader in vocational education and training (VET). As a vocational specialist in youth mental health, she empowers young people to navigate the job market and achieve sustainable career goals. Her board director roles, with a focus on governance, risk, and strategy, have honed her strategic leadership skills. She also founded The Flamingo Project, a mentorship program fostering personal and professional growth for women in the Goulburn Valley.

Fleur Katsmartin
Fleur is the Chief Legal Officer and Corporate Secretary at The Royal Melbourne Hospital (RMH). Innately understanding that legal services are essentially human services that need to be delivered with curiosity, humility, and empathy, Fleur has dedicated her career as an experienced governance and legal professional in the health law sector in order to make the greatest impact she can for her community. Fleur previously served as Chair and Board member of Sisters Housing Enterprises Inc in Wagga Wagga, is currently the Gender Equity Executive Sponsor at the RMH and has been a finalist as Corporate Counsel Healthcare Lawyer of the Year in 2023 and 2024.

Dr Emma McNicol
Emma is a feminist philosopher and researcher at Monash University, and an expert on intersectional feminist theory. Her recent work explores grassroots initiatives across Australia, including the radical roots of Australia’s family violence movement and working with First Nations community leaders to explore changing connection(s) to Country in the context of climate crisis. Emma continues her research at the Indigenous Future Lives Stream at the ARC Centre for the Elimination of Violence Against Women (CEVAW).

The Victorian Women’s Trust looks forward to collaborating with our new Board members to advance a future where women and girls are treated with respect, safety, and dignity in every aspect of life.

Ally Oliver-Perham

When she’s not managing communications at VWT, you will find Ally cheerfully bouncing on her toddler’s trampoline (with or without said toddler) or sneaking in few pages of a book. With a passion for gender equality, Ally’s interested in meaningful ways we can work together for social good.