Geelong’s most powerful female leaders, chief executive officers named
Many of Geelong’s leaders are women. This International Women’s Day they share prejudices they have faced, ground they have won and their hopes for the future.
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Geelong women are in the spotlight, with females leading some of the city’s largest and most powerful organisations.
The City of Greater Geelong, Barwon Health, G21, Barwon Water and Tourism Greater Geelong and the Bellarine are among some of the city’s organisations led by women.
A Geelong Advertiser analysis found at least 19 of the region’s key organisations were headed by females, with the Borough of Queenscliffe and Surf Coast Shire both having female mayors.
Following the November state election, the region is also overwhelmingly represented in parliament by females MPs, including Christine Couzens, Ella George and Alison Marchant.
The region has three female Western Victorian upper house MPs in Sarah Mansfield, Gayle Tierney and Bev McArthur and at a federal level is represented by Senator Sarah Henderson and MP Libby Coker.
To mark International Women’s Day the Geelong Advertiser has spoken many of these leaders about how opportunities for women have improved throughout their careers.
Geelong Regional Library Corporation chief executive officer Vanessa Schernickau said she had experienced sexual harassment and abuse “as an accepted part of the workplace” in her 20s.
“I didn’t believe that there was support available to me or that there was a process to stop the behaviour,” she said.
“Legislation, workplace policies and training have all contributed, I hope, to more caring and supportive workplaces that do not tolerate such unacceptable behaviours.
“Today I enjoy seeing all the varied career paths that are open to everyone, regardless of gender and parental status and we are closer to equal pay.”
Tourism Greater Geelong and the Bellarine chief executive officer Tracy Carter said she was proud to inspire the next generation to “see themselves and endless possibilities in places that matter”.
GEELONG’S POWERFUL WOMEN
Corrina Eccles, Wadawurrung Traditional Owner and winner of 2022 Frank Costa Leadership Award
Corrina Eccles has dedicated much of her life to empowering and educating Aboriginal people, communities and the Geelong region.
One of her many voluntary roles includes managing Aboriginal dance troupe Deadly Dancers, which has helped support 50 young girls across eight years.Ms Eccles has also acted as a magnet for disadvantaged children in the community, having provided a safe home for more than 30 Aboriginal kids.
On International Women’s Day she was named the winner of 2022 Frank Costa Leadership Award for being a “teacher of culture, values and leadership.”
“I think about the thousands of years of our Ancestors our young people will represent and
hold Cultural obligations just like I do and all First Nations people do, and this has been
pivotal in my leadership and voice in the community,” she said.
Frances Diver, Barwon Health chief executive officer
Ms Diver was appointed the head of the region’s largest health organisation in 2019, having held senior leadership roles for more than 15 years.
Initially trained as a nurse and midwife, she worked in a clinical setting in a number of metropolitan and regional hospitals across New Zealand and Australia.
Ms Diver said International Women’s Day was an acknowledgment and celebration of the significant progress made in gender equality across the world.
“International Women’s Day serves as a reminder of the importance of continued efforts to eliminate gender-based discrimination and inequality,” she said.
“Barwon Health released its Gender Equality Action Plan last year, which sets out the initiatives that will reinforce and progress gender equality both within Barwon Health and also in the services we provide our community.
“Since I joined the workforce a very long time ago, I’ve seen better pay and conditions for women, and better access to education and opportunities in more diverse roles and industries. “We now see many women in senior roles and have a more respectful and inclusive working environment.”
Kaarina Phyland, Acting chief executive officer at City of Greater Geelong
Ms Phyland was appointed the City of Greater Geelong’s acting chief executive officer in 2022 after holding various high-level positions with the city.
Ms Phyland told the Geelong Advertiser she was used to breaking barriers, having been the first person in her family to have finished high school and achieved a university education.
She said, throughout her career, she was often the “only female in the room”.
“There is more to do to break through the ‘old boys club’ in many settings and I strive to do my bit to break down these barriers for all the women coming after me,” she said.
Ms Phyland said she now believed women had greater opportunities to have their voices heard.
“My first real role after university was with BHP in the Pilbara and women were absolutely in the minority and expected to fit in rather than stand out,” she said.
“Now women are more able to bring their authentic selves to work, have options with uniforms and admit to having a family.
“Much has changed but there is more to do.”
Vanessa Schernickau, Geelong Regional Library Corporation chief executive officer
Ms Schernickau was appointed chief executive officer to GRLC in 2021.
She previously worked in senior roles at the Department of Transport and was the chief executive officer for the Great Ocean Road Coast Committee.
Ms Schernickau told the Geelong Advertiser that IWD was a day to remember her mum and the sacrifices she made as a single parent to support her and her brother.
She said it was a day to reflect on “the great woman who have come before us” and to advocate to make Australia a more equitable and safer place for everyone.
“It is also important to recognise that women in some countries are denied basic human rights including education, healthcare and employment opportunities,” she said.
Ms Schernickau said the workforce had changed for the better since she first entered it.
“In my 20s I experienced sexual harassment and abuse as an accepted part of the workplace. I didn’t believe that there was support available to me or that there was a process to stop the behaviour,” she said.
“Legislation, workplace policies and training have all contributed, I hope, to more caring and supportive workplaces that do not tolerate such unacceptable behaviours.
“Today I enjoy seeing all the varied career paths that are open to everyone, regardless of gender and parental status and we are closer to equal pay. So, we are on a journey and thanks to all the women who have paved the way.”
Giulia Baggio, G21 chief executive officer
Ms Baggio, a former broadcast journalist, was appointed chief executive officer of G21 in 2020.
Prior to starting at G21 she was a chief of staff to the Lord Mayor Sally Capp at the City of Melbourne and worked as an executive in a number of organisations covering a range of public policy areas including financial services and superannuation, climate change and sustainability, OHS and workplace relations.
Ms Baggio told the Geelong Advertiser she was proud to be among a strong cohort of Geelong-based female leaders.
“I’m grateful to play a part in Geelong’s growing network of women leaders who support each other and actively encourage the next generation of women to be bold and have a go,” she said.
Tracy Carter, chief executive officer at Tourism Greater Geleong and the Bellarine
Ms Carter was appointed chief executive of the region’s leading tourism body in 2022 and has worked in the industry since she was 21.
She started working in the visitor information centre at Market Square and later worked across most of the organisation, including visitor servicing, membership, industry development, marketing, and communications.
Ms Carter told the Geelong Advertiser the city had a history of strong female leadership.
“I’m thrilled that it’s continuing so the next generation, including my own daughter, see themselves and endless possibilities in places that matter.”
Jennifer Conley, Geelong Manufacturing Council
Appointed chief executive officer of the council in 2021, Ms Conley previously led the
Advanced Fibre Cluster in Geelong.
“This region has over 10,000 people employed directly in manufacturing and the multiplier effect of those jobs is higher than any other sector,” Ms Conley said at the time of her appointment.
“GMC members’ export earnings, their R & D investments, their commercialisation of innovation and technology improvements, all combine to create huge spill over benefits to the rest of the local economy.”
Tracey Slatter, managing director Barwon Water
Ms Slatter was named the managing director of Barwon Water in 2017 and is also a board director at the Institute of Public Administration Australia (Victoria), Water Services Association of Australia, and the deputy chair of the Barwon Regional Partnership.
She has had diverse executive public sector leadership experience including as chief executive officer at the City of Port Phillip, head of claims at the Transport Accident Commission, chief executive officer at Colac Otway Shire and director of primary and community health with the Victorian Department of Health and Human Services.
Robyn Seymour, Surf Coast Shire chief executive officer
Ms Seymour was named as the shire’s CEO in 2021 and was previously deputy secretary of network planning and head of Road Safety Victoria.
She was a chief executive and deputy chief executive at VicRoads before that.
Liz Pattison, Surf Coast Shire mayor
Ms Pattison was elected mayor to the Surf Coast Shire in late 2022 after holding the position of deputy mayor for the 2021-22 term.
She is an engineer with 15 years’ experience and has worked as a strategic planner.
Isabelle Tolhurst, Borough of Queenscliffe Mayor
Ms Tolhurst was elected as mayor in 2022, months after being elected to council through a vote countback.
She has worked as a journalist across a range of print and broadcast publications, including The Copenhagen Post and The Jakarta Post.
She works at a youth not-for-profit, helping young people advocate to all levels of government for social, economic and environmental change.
Diana Taylor, Geelong Cats vice president
Ms Taylor was named the vice president of the Geelong Football Club in 2019 and became the first woman to hold the role in the club’s 163-year history.
She has been a director of the club since 2010 and was instrumental in the establishment of the Cats’ AFLW team.
Prior to her role at the Cats she became the first female president of a men’s metropolitan football league, the Western Regional Football League in 2007.
Lyn George, Geelong Manufacturing Council chair
Ms George is the co-owner and corporate director of North Geelong engineering business Austeng.
The business specialises in the design, engineering and development of customised equipment for industry.
She is the chair of the Geelong Manufacturing Council, on the board of the Advanced Fibre Cluster – Geelong and City of Greater Geelong UNESCO City of Design Working Group.
She is also an adviser to a number of start-up companies.
Alison Marchant, Bellarine MP
Ms Marchant was elected as Bellarine MP in the November 2022 state election.
Prior to her election Ms Marchant worked as a political staffer for now deputy prime minister Richard Marles.
She was previously a primary school teacher and became interested in politics after working as a community advocate in the anti-fracking campaign.
Ella George, Lara MP
Ms George was elected as MP at the November 2022 state election.
She was previously a family violence policy worker and former staffer of Labor’s John Eren and Richard Marles.
She holds Masters degrees in diplomacy and trade, and in marketing.
Senator Sarah Henderson
Senator Henderson first entered politics in 2013 when she was elected as the federal member for Corangamite.
She was re-elected in 2016 but lost in 2019, before later being elected as a Victorian Senator.
Prior to entering politics she worked as journalist and a lawyer.
Libby Coker, Corangamite MP
Ms Coker was elected at Corangamite MP at the 2019 federal election and was re-elected at the 2022 election.
Prior to entering federal politics she was a long standing Surf Coast Shire councillor and former mayor.
Christine Couzens, Geelong MP
Ms Couzens was first elected as a Geelong MP in 2014.
Her journey to politics was not straightforward. Ms Couzens dropped out of school at the age of 14 to work in a cake factory.
At 15 she fell pregnant and was married at 16. She later became a youth worker, then a community development officer and was a political staffer for 15 years before being elected to politics.
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