Honour list: Inspiring Tassie women making positive change

To mark International Women’s Day, the Mercury is celebrating inspiring local women from across Tasmania spearheading positive change in our community. FULL LIST >>

To mark International Women’s Day, the Mercury is celebrating the inspiring women from across Tasmania spearheading positive change in our community.

From politicians to activists and TV superstars here are some of the many ladies we’re lucky to call Tasmanians, taking leaps of faith and breaking down barriers.

Ariarne Titmus

Ariarne Titmus at the unveiling of the renamed Ariarne Titmus Competition Pool at the Launceston Leisure & Aquatic Centre. Picture: Alex Treacy

Since her unstoppable performance at Tokyo’s 2020 Olympics Tassie’s golden girl Ariarne Titmus has inspired Australians far and wide for her impeccable achievements, character and determination.

The Olympic champion is the world record holder in the short course 400-metre freestyle and won gold for her efforts in the women’s 300m and 400m freestyle races.

Hailing from Launceston the local now lives in Queensland with her family and was given an Order of Australian Honour earlier this year.

Grace Tame

Grace Tame. Picture: Bec Parsons for Stellar

In the year since she was named Australian of the Year, Grace Tame has become one of the most talked about women in the country.

Using her platform to advocate for survivors of child sexual abuse the 27-year-old has not only ignited a national conversation but also galvanised millions of women along the way.

Recently the Hobart local announced the launch of her non-for-profit Grace Tame Foundation and made headlines following a frosty exchange with Prime Minister Scott Morrison which created debate across the nation.

Brett Torossi

Brett Torossi. Picture: LUKE BOWDEN

Brett Torossi has invested her time and money into the arts and development sectors to great success.

The renowned developer and accomplished business woman is chair for the Tasmanian Heritage Council and is a board member for Tourism Tasmania with over 35 years of experience in positions across business, culture, heritage, brand and tourism sectors.

Torossi has worked on several East Coast accommodation projects, like developing the concept to refurbish the Freycinet Lodge, and creating Avalon Coastal Retreat and Rocky Hills Retreat.

She is also a Festival of Voices patron, and a trustee of Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery, as well as being the first female to chair the museum.

Tara Howell

Tara Howell of Blue Derby Pods. Picture credit Natalie Mendham

Tara Howell is the co-founder of North East Tasmania's Blue Derby Pods and has a passion for showcasing the natural beauty of our state.

Launching the business in 2017 with her husband Steve the couple now offer luxury adventure mountain biking experiences.

“It really came from passion, Steve and I really had a love for Tasmania and the outdoors, and we would mainly explore that environment on the weekend,” she told the Mercury last year.

“In the week we had office jobs, and spent some years in those jobs and wanted to work out how we could do our passion every day.”

The local is now a pioneer in Tasmania’s tourism industry and has created a niche and special experience that draws in mountain bike lovers from across the world.

Mary Massina

Mary Massina CEO Macquarie Point. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

Mary Massina is the woman behind Hobart’s $2 billion inner-city development Macquarie Point.

She was appointed by the state government as the CEO of the project, and before that was the Property Council Tasmania executive director and Planning Reform Taskforce chair.

Ms Massina has built relationships in private and public sectors to become a well-known figure in Tasmania.

Helen Wood

Justice Helen Wood. Supreme of Tasmania judges. Picture: SUPPLIED

Hon Justice Helen Marie Wood was appointed as a judge in the Supreme Court of Tasmania in 2009 and has since been involved in a number of high profile cases including Sue Neill-Fraser.

She was the first woman appointed to the role of magistrate in Tasmania in 1994 and has since served as Chairperson of the Sex Discrimination Tribunal (1996-199) and the Anti-Discrimination Tribunal (1999-2009).

Susan Fahey

Susan Fahey Director to Board of Management with Metro Tasmania. Picture: NIKKI DAVIS-JONES

Now working as non-executive director for Metro Tasmania Susan Fahey has had an unwavering voice for women’s issues over the years, driving reform of the state’s domestic violence laws as the CEO of the Women’s Legal Service.

Awarded the Tasmanian Women Lawyers Achievement Award in 2014 and the Tasmanian recipient for the Australian Women in Leadership Awards in 2016, Fahey is a highly respected and influential member in the local community sparking positive change.

Alison Watkins

Coca-Cola Amatil Group Managing Director Alison Watkins. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Gary Ramage

Alison Watkins has made a name for herself in the Australian business industry after becoming Group Managing Director of Coca-Cola Amatil.

The experienced CEO and non-executive director who grew up on a farm in regional Tasmania has since gone on to be Chief Executive Officer of GrainCorp Limited and Berri Limited as well as Managing Director of Regional Banking at ANZ and non-executive director of Woolworths and Just Group Limited.

Watkins was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia in 2022 for her “significant service to business through leadership roles”.

She is now chancellor at the University of Tasmania.

Caitlin Richardson

Caitlin Richardson at home in West Hobart, writer of SBS webseries The Tailings, which was recently filmed on Tasmania's West, Coast. Photograph Eddie Safarik

Caitlin Richardson is a force in Tassie’s film industry and has gained national recognition for her SBS drama The Tailings.

The show was shot entirely on the state’s West Coast and followed a daughter’s investigation into her father’s death.

The Hobart school teacher has also directed and written a number of theatre works and is one to watch out for in the entertainment scene.

“I was lucky to have some great female mentors during my time and being in Tassie presented some unique opportunities – being in a smaller community,” she recently told the Mercury.

Richardson was apart of Hobart’s International Womens’ Day breakfast and panel event for 2022. She joined other speakers on the panel including Events Tasmania experience and engagement manager Taryn Reid, Department of Education project and policy officer Emily Doi, and nurse Ella Zanzino.

Rebecca White

Rebecca White made an inspirational stand last year after returning to parliament to take back the role as Labor leader shortly after having her second child.

The politician has since been working tirelessly to fight for a number of issues to better Tasmania’s workforce and community.