PEOPLE

HER PLACE WOMEN'S MUSEUM BOARD OF DIRECTORS

CHAIR – Hon MARY DELAHUNTY, G.A.I.C.D.

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Co-Founder and Chair of Her Place Mary has high level experience in Media, Government and the NFP sectors. A Gold Walkley award winner journalist Mary was an international reporter for the ABC and Channel 10, Presenter of Four Corners, News and Current Affairs anchor and interviewer, the first woman to present solo prime-time News in Australia.

In Government Mary was the first female Victorian Planning Minister and the longest serving Arts Minister. Mary also served in Cabinet as Education and Women’s Minister. Mary and her brother Hugh were the first siblings to serve in the same Parliament on the other side of the dispatch box. In 2002 she received the Centenary Medal for Services to Government.

Her third career is in the Not for Profit sector. Mary chairs Her Place and is a former chair of McClelland Sculpture Park and Gallery and Orchestra Victoria, former Director of the National Library of Australia and Emeritus advisor to the Harold Mitchell Foundation. Currently she serves on the boards of the Melbourne Recital Centre Ltd, Central Highlands Rural Health and the Centre for Advancing Journalism at Melbourne University. Mary is a graduate and currently mentors in governance at the Australian Institute of Company Directors

Mary is a published author and has a red rose bred for, and named after her.

 A critic of the gender gaps in Australia’s history Mary is a leader in ensuing that women’s voices are heard in the great debates of our time.

BARB JENNINGS

Barb started life as a science teacher after student activism. She then worked as Associate to Commissioner Graham Walker on the Australian Industrial Relations Commission (as it was known then). Following this, Barb was selected to establish the Girls’ Apprenticeship Programme, the first Victoria - wide programme to increase the number of young women going into the traditionally -male trades.

During her working life, Barb remained an activist; being involved in many battles including the Council of Action for Equal Pay, the fight to establish the Queen Vic Women’s Centre, the fight to save the Women’s Hospital and the establishment of EMILY’s List. She was the proud Women’s Officer for the Australian Education Union Victoria for nearly 20 years.

Barb was inducted into the Victorian Women’s Honour Roll in 2007.

Barb has served on the Boards of VWT, QVWC and Her Place Women’s Museum.

PENELOPE LEE CF

Penelope is a museum professional, cultural producer, arts manager and artist who has worked across Melbourne’s cultural sector for over 25 years with a focus on developing and managing community-engaged, interdisciplinary and inclusive arts, education and cultural programming.

Penelope has previously been the General Manager of Her Place Women’s Museum Australia, Education and Outreach Manager at the ARC, Centre of Excellence for the History of Emotions, and Education and Public Programs Manager, Development Manager and researcher at The Dax Centre. In these roles, Penelope has led interdisciplinary teams and external partnerships, project-managed and co-curated local and touring exhibitions, and strategic development.

Over her career, Penelope has been recipient to numerous state and national grants and awards, public art commissions and oversea residencies, and a Churchill Fellowship.

ADNAN JASWAL

Adnan is a digital technology leader, author and consultant. Adnan believes in the digital revolution and the power it possesses to change the way people and businesses interact with technology. He is passionate about enabling digital change. Adnan is a technology leader at Deloitte Digital.

JANINE BARRAND AM

Janine is a cultural historian specialising in the performing arts and popular culture and is an advocate for promoting the contribution of women in the music sector. Most recently Janine was the Director of the Australian Performing Arts Collection at Arts Centre Melbourne.
Through her role at Her Place Janine will be focussing on diverse and inclusive exhibitions and programs to increase engagement and visitation onsite and online.

TANJA KOVAC

Tanja is a writer and director at communications, leadership and justice consultancy, Kovac & Co.
Tanja commenced work as a solicitor at Slater & Gordon, working in the firm’s Public Interest Unit, where she was responsible for a number of high profile human rights cases, including the Richmond Secondary College police “baton charge” and for Amnesty International in the case concerning refugees aboard the MV Tampa. Tanja also volunteered in community legal centres providing legal support to victims of the Black Saturday Bushfires.
Tanja has managed several small non-profit organisations in the faith, women’s and human rights sectors, where she was responsible for all aspects of strategic and operational leadership, managing fundraising and advocacy, cause-related marginal seat campaigns and volunteer engagement.
But her research, policy, writing and advocacy passion is gender equality. Most recently Tanja was CEO of Gender Equity Victoria, a former Chief of Staff to the late Fiona Richardson MP, Australia’s first family violence prevention minister where she was responsible for overseeing Victoria’s strategic family violence prevention and gender equality agenda, including creating the Victoria’s first Gender Equality Strategy.
She spent 10 years as Director and National-Convenor of EMILY’s List Australia, where she has been instrumental in developing gender based campaign strategies and policy change within the ALP, including setting the affirmative action target for women - 50/50 by 2025.
Tanja has extensive experience with print, radio, TV and online media. Her writing has featured in The Age, Daily Telegraph, Crikey, MammaMia, New Matilda.

TINA SAMARDZIJA - Treasurer

Tina is a senior strategic leader with over 15 years’ experience across the public service, politics, government relations, advocacy and commercial law.
Tina is the first-born child of migrant parents and the first in her family to complete university. She has dedicated her professional career to understanding the economy and how to make it work for people and is particularly focused on economic equality and civic participation for women and people from migrant backgrounds.

With uniquely strong expertise in both law and economics, Tina has held senior positions in premier Australian economic policy institutions (Victorian Department of Treasury and Finance, Productivity Commission and Australian Government Department of Finance) and has practised law in a top tier commercial law firm.

Her extensive experience in public policy extends to politics and government relations as mayor and councillor in local government, adviser to a federal parliamentarian, and economic adviser driving advocacy campaigns in the superannuation industry. Tina is thrilled to be joining Her Place as board member and treasurer.

BELINDA (MORISON) PHILP

Former Secretary, Australian Nurses and Midwives Federation (Vic). Belinda Philp is a former board director of ESTA and First State Super. and Health Super and inaugural Chair Victorian Nurses Health Program.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sub-Committee