Ministers’ Awards for Women in Local Government

In 2008 the Minister for Local Government and the Minister for Women established this awards program as part of International Women’s Day celebrations to recognise outstanding contributions and achievements made by women in local government in NSW to and for the local government sector.

The awards aim to:

• recognise and increase public awareness of the contribution of women to local government in NSW and
• encourage more women to take on leadership roles in local government in NSW

There are four categories of award, each recognising women from metropolitan and rural/regional councils:

• Elected Representative
• Senior Staff Member
• Non-Senior Staff Member
• Women in Non-Traditional Roles

2013 AWARDS WINNERS

The winners of the 2013 awards were presented by the Minister for Local Government, the Hon Don Page MP, and the Minister for Women, the Hon Pru Goward MP, at a function held at Parliament House on 6 March 2013.

Winners of the 2013 Ministers’ Awards for Women in Local Government are:

Elected Representative from a Metropolitan Council
Highly Commended - Councillor Sally Betts, Waverley Council
Winner of the Award– Councillor Jackie Greenow, Penrith City Council

Elected Representative from a Rural or Regional Council
Highly Commended - Councillor Sharon Cadwallader, Ballina Council
Highly Commended - Councillor Anne Jones, Wellington Council
Highly Commended – Former Councillor Jan Barham, Byron Council
Winner of the Award - Councillor Gwen Griffen, Gunnedah Council

Senior Staff Member – Metropolitan Council
Winner of the Award – Colleen Worthy-Jennings, Gosford Council

Senior Staff Member – Rural or Regional Council
Winner of the Award – Carmel Krogh, Shoalhaven City Council

Non-Senior Staff Member – Metropolitan Council
Winner of the Award – Daniela Santucci, Bankstown City Council

Non-Senior Staff Member – Rural or Regional Council
Winner of the Award– Kelly Brown, Ballina Shire Council

Women in a Non-Traditional Role – Metropolitan Council
Winner of the Award – Lisa Scully, Newcastle City Council

Women in a Non-Traditional Role – Rural or Regional Council
Highly Commended – Jane Simmons, Forbes Shire Council
Highly Commended – Sheridan Cameron, Gunnedah Shire Council
Winner of the Award – Anne Sander, Cessnock City Council

• Winners of the 2013 Ministers’ Awards for Women in Local Government
• Winners of the 2012 Ministers’ Awards for Women in Local Government
• Winners of the 2011 Ministers’ Awards for Women in Local Government
• Winners of the 2010 Ministers’ Awards for Women in Local Government
• Winners of the 2009 Ministers’ Awards for Women in Local Government
• Winners of the 2008 Ministers’ Awards for Women in Local Government

2013 AWARD WINNERS

CATEGORY ONE

AWARD - Elected Representative from a Metropolitan Council

Highly Commended - Councillor Sally Betts, Waverley Council

Clr Betts was elected to Waverley Council in 1995, one of only three female councillors at the time. In 2008, thanks in part to Sally’s encouragement of women entering politics, that number grew to nine. She is now the Mayor of Waverley.

Clr Betts has been a great supporter of Integrated Planning and Reporting which has contributed to Waverley Council becoming a leader in this field. She also played an instrumental role in the planning and delivery of Waverley’s 150th birthday celebrations.

Winner of the Award – Councillor Jackie Greenow, Penrith City Council

Clr Greenow served as Mayor in 2004/5 and spent five years as Deputy Mayor. In her capacity as Mayor she introduced new ways of connecting and communicating with the people of Penrith including the Meet the Mayor Coffee Break initiative.

Clr Greenow is deeply committed to accessibility across the City and has been an advocate for people with disabilities for many years. She has chaired the Council’s Access Committee for almost 13 years and has successfully lobbied for increased training to improve staff knowledge and awareness of access issues.

Clr Greenow has long been an effective advocate for the greater involvement of women in local government and a staunch supporter of the professional women working at the Council.

Clr Greenow served as the Secretary of the Australian Local Government Women’s Association (ALGWA) for five years, and in 2006 was granted life membership in recognition of her work.

AWARD - Elected Representative from a Rural or Regional Council

Highly Commended - Councillor Sharon Cadwallader, Ballina Shire Council

Clr Cadwallader has long been an enthusiastic mentor for women entering local government. She continues to work energetically towards increasing the level of women’s participation at all levels of government and to advocate for gender equity.

In addition to numerous committee positions, Clr Cadwallader has been an active member of ALGWA for the past nine years, and was elected to the Executive in 2011.

Today she is recognised not only for her contribution to women in local government, but for her commitment to the broader community of Ballina Shire.

Highly Commended - Councillor Anne Jones, Wellington Council

Clr Jones has a long history supporting and leading the community of Wellington. She has dedicated 17 years to her community as a councillor, with five of those as Mayor.

She has played a highly instrumental role in the delivery of major projects including the establishment of the Wellington Correctional Centre and the Wellington Aboriginal Working Party.

She has been a staunch supporter of local community groups especially those focusing on aged care.

Highly Commended – Former Councillor Jan Barham, Byron Shire Council

Ms Barham was the first female mayor for her shire and in this role has been an inspiration to many women, particularly young women.

She has, through her work with the LGSA and the Women’s Advisory Committee, actively promoted women running for election.

Ms Barham also initiated the establishment of the local Youth Council in Byron which resulted in two-thirds of the members being women. She has continued to support these women in a mentoring capacity as they leave the council and move into new areas of life. Two members are now studying politics with a view to possibly running for election in the future, thanks in part to her influence.

Ms Barham has also achieved outstanding results for the broader community and is particularly well respected for her work with the Aboriginal community.

Winner of the Award - Councillor Gwen Griffen, Gunnedah Shire Council

Clr Griffen was elected to Gunnedah Shire Council in 1995. She was the first Aboriginal woman, and the first Aboriginal, to be elected to the Council. She is now Gunnedah’s longest-serving councillor.

Clr Griffen has worked for many years with Aboriginal organisations including, but not limited to, the Min Min Aboriginal Corporation, the NSW Aboriginal Education Consultative Group, and the Aboriginal Local Government Association. In 2007, she was elected Aboriginal Councillor of the Year.

In addition to her work with Aboriginal communities, Clr Griffen has been a great supporter of women in domestic violence situations. She also served on the Executive of the Australian Local Government Women’s Association and has made many friendships through this and other networks.

She says that one of her proudest moment was being nominated for the State Government Local Hero Achievement Award in 2006 in recognition of her voluntary service to the community.

Gwen Griffen has also tirelessly promoted the interests of women in local government, not only in meeting their needs, but also in encouraging more of them to stand for election.

Her achievements challenge women and girls to go beyond people’s expectations, to be proactive and take advantage of the opportunities that life presents.

CATEGORY TWO

AWARD - Senior Staff Member – Metropolitan Council

Winner of the Award – Colleen Worthy-Jennings, Gosford City Council

Colleen is Gosford City Council’s Director of Environment and Planning.

Colleen managed the ‘Gosford Challenge’ - a community participation project which resulted in the production of Gosford’s Our City, Our Destiny Masterplan. In her role as leader of the project, Colleen facilitated discussions with industry experts, state government, business leaders, developers and local community members to deliver Gosford a Masterplan for the future. The project was awarded the RH Dougherty Award for Excellence in Communication.

In 2012, Colleen developed the Aspiring Managers’ Program aimed at providing staff the opportunity to act in leadership roles. Participants not only managed teams, but were actively mentored and participated in tertiary management courses.

Colleen was also instrumental in Gosford City Council winning the bid to host the 2013 Australian Local Government Women’s Association Conference. Under the leadership of Colleen, the theme “Strong Actions, New Directions” aims to celebrate the achievements of the past and provide conference participants with a positive and effective pathway into the future. For the first time in the history of the conference (60 years) the program will feature two streams; one for councillors and one for staff. It has been designed to provide women with the key knowledge and tools to help them make a difference in their chosen fields.

AWARD – Senior Staff Member – Rural or Regional Council

Winner of the Award – Carmel Krogh, Shoalhaven City Council

Carmel is the Director of Shoalhaven Water, with 150 staff and an annual budget of $80M. In this role she has been responsible for major projects including the implementation of Kangaroo Valley Sewage Scheme, a complex $18M scheme comprising pressure sewer, membrane bioreactor treatment and reclaimed water reuse. She was also responsible for the implementation of unique public/private sector partnership with local engineering company GHD, resulting in professional program/project management and services targeted to achieve a $150M capital works program. This has provided a significant contribution to the local economy.

Carmel is well respected within the industry and has held key roles in several external organisations and bodies including:

• Deputy Chair, NSW Water Directorate
• Federal Board Member, Australian Water Association
• Board Member, Sydney Catchment Authority.

Carmel was instrumental in the implementation of a local trainee program resulting in 12 trainees gaining full-time roles with Shoalhaven Water, which assists in addressing the issue of an ageing workforce. She has been proactively supporting the professional development of female trainees from the group, with one trainee recently awarded the ‘NSW Trainee of the Year’ in Business Administration. She has participated in several women’s forums, including the Shoalhaven Women’s Conference.

Carmel has been recognised as a ‘Legend of Water’ by the NSW Branch of the Australian Water Association, and in this capacity has provided valued support to the Young Water Professionals Group.

CATEGORY THREE

AWARD – Non-Senior Staff Member – Metropolitan Council

Winner of the Award – Daniela Santucci, Bankstown City Council

Daniela is the Coordinator, Resource Recovery for Bankstown City Council.

Daniela has made several outstanding contributions to the Council and community. Achievements have included developing contracts resulting in significant financial savings and environmental outcomes for the Council and community, most notably in the areas of recycling and gardening.

In her role as Waste Management Association of Australia Education Group President, Daniela leads a group of 60 members to achieve skill building and innovation. She has also played a major role in the Recycle Right Program – a highly acclaimed, award winning program that is now considered to be a model for a host of other NSW councils.

Daniela has been identified by her peers as an emerging leader, and in 2012 was awarded a Pride of Workmanship Award by Bankstown Rotary for “service above self”.

Daniela was selected to participate in the 2012 LGMA Women’s mentoring program, and in addition jointly formed the Bankstown City Council Women’s Group to provide skills and networking opportunities for women. She actively encourages her female colleagues, and mentors those completing their Diploma of Management, a qualification Daniela has successfully completed herself.

AWARD – Non-Senior Staff Member – Rural or Regional Council

Winner – Kelly Brown, Ballina Shire Council

Kelly has achieved several beneficial outcomes for theCcouncil and the community, and has demonstrated great initiative in her role as Manager Risk and Human Resources for Ballina Shire Council.

Kelly has dedicated 22 years to local government. She started her career as a secretary and in 1995, following the advice of a female Director, pursued a degree in Human Resources. She joined Ballina Shire Council in April of 2002.

Since this time, Kelly has proactively supported resource sharing across the region and has herself worked in secondment positions in other councils, assisting with the implementation of salary systems. She has implemented an employment scheme for people with both intellectual and physical disabilities, a program which requires a great deal of dedication to secure the required accreditation standards and funding.

Kelly also implemented school-based traineeship programs in conjunction with the local Group Training organisation and Ballina High School. The result has contributed to an increase in the number of female and indigenous trainees and apprentices within local government.

Kelly has supported and promoted programs such as the ‘Springboard program for women in local government’, at which she spoke about her experiences as a professional, a wife and a mother.

Ballina Shire was awarded a bronze award from the Australian Local Government Women’s Association for ongoing commitment to gender equity. This award was in recognition of the great work undertaken by Kelly and her team.

CATEGORY FOUR

AWARD - Women in a Non-Traditional Role – Metropolitan Council

Winner of the Award – Lisa Scully, Newcastle City Council

Lisa is the Manager City Presentation Services. This area has been traditionally male dominated and includes street cleaning and sweeping, graffiti removal, the mechanical workshop, security, building and convenience cleaning, beach cleaning and waste collection. Lisa has introduced several key initiatives including a full Waste Review, with the intention of improving service to the community and environmental efficiencies. She has also overseen a full change management system in a difficult operating environment that has resulted in the diversion of waste from landfill increasing from 25% to 42%.

Lisa leads a team of 120 employees and is committed to ensuring staff understand their contribution to the amenity of the City. She is regarded as being open and accessible to all and leads by example. She has played a key role in negotiating and implementing a more flexible and modern workplace agreement.

In addition Lisa has been involved in several women’s mentoring programs and has personally mentored five employees within the Council. She has spoken at the Women’s Probus Group (Charlestown), the Newcastle City Council’s Women in Local Government breakfast, and twice for the Girls Choices program for high school girls considering a career in local government.

Lisa is visible and vocal in the local media as a representative of Council in a non-traditional role and has been featured in the Newcastle Herald.

AWARD - Women in a Non-Traditional Role – Rural or Regional Council

Highly Commended – Jane Simmons, Forbes Shire Council

Jane is a Survey and Design Trainee.

Through her tasks Jane has helped the Council to achieve a number of beneficial outcomes for the good of the community. She has demonstrated a high level of skill and initiative in relation to the designs and specifications for a number of major development projects. These attributes have ensured that the design phase of the projects provide a solid base for the installation phases to be carried out efficiently and effectively.

Jane provides a positive role model for young women who aspire to undertake non-traditional roles. She is positive and inspirational in her attitude and embraces challenge.

Highly Commended – Sheridan Cameron, Gunnedah Shire Council

Sheridan is the Waste Superintendent at Gunnedah.

Sheridan started with the Council as a Waste Attendant and has been promoted over the years to her current role. Over the last 12 years of her employment, Sheridan has demonstrated exceptional employee engagement and process improvements at the Gunnedah Waste Facilities throughout the Shire.

In addition to her regular duties, Sheridan has taken on the role of Stormwater Education Officer. This demonstrates her considerable corporate citizenship and eagerness to engage with the community at the grass roots level.

Sheridan embraces change and improvement practices and readily acknowledges the work of her team.

Winner of the Award – Anne Sander, Cessnock City Council

Anne is currently employed as the Recreation Operations Coordinator at Cessnock City Council. She has been in the team for 28 years, during which she has held various roles in the parks and gardens teams.

This field is traditionally male–dominated, and when Anne first joined the industry she was one of only a few women. As such, Jane is considered a pioneer for regional NSW. Over the years she has progressed to now manage broader recreation facilities.

Anne spends a great deal of her time at the Council works depot interacting with the mostly male staff. She is never afraid to share her opinions and “put on the work boots, pick up a shovel or load a trailer”. She is very well liked and respected because of her willingness to work hard.

Anne is an excellent communicator who works closely with the community. She engages with people from diverse backgrounds with ease and good humor. This has earned her many friends in the Council and the community.

Anne is considered to be an outstanding worker and has inspired other women to take on roles in parks and gardens with a strong sense of entitlement and belonging.

Winners of the 2012 Ministers’ Awards for Women in Local Government

• Regional/rural non-senior staff representative – Ms Veronica Bird, Shellharbour City Council
• Metropolitan non-senior staff representative – Ms Vanessa Creighton, Randwick Council
• Regional/rural senior staff representative - Ms Alison Dench, Wollondilly Shire Council
• Metropolitan senior staff representative - Ms Sue Weatherley, Parramatta City Council
• Regional/rural elected representative – Clr Colleen Fuller, Gunnedah Shire Council AND Clr Darriea Turley, Broken Hill City Council
• Metropolitan elected representative – Clr Vicki Scott, Gosford City Council

Winners of the 2011 Ministers’ Awards for Women in Local Government

• Regional/rural non-senior staff representative – Ms Simone MacLaughlan, Mid-Western Regional Council
• Metropolitan non-senior staff representative – Ms Helen Connell, Holroyd Council
• Regional/rural senior staff representative - not awarded in 2011
• Metropolitan senior staff representative - Ms Lisa Miscamble, Council of the City of Canada Bay
• Regional/rural elected representative – Clr Jan McWilliams, Mayor, Great Lakes Council
• Metropolitan elected representative – Clr Karen McKeown, Penrith City Council

Winners of the 2010 Ministers’ Awards for Women in Local Government

• Regional/rural non-senior staff representative – Ms Jenni Eakins, Coffs Harbour City Council
• Metropolitan non-senior staff representative – Ms Alison Hester, Kogarah City Council
• Regional/rural senior staff representative - Ms Janice Summerhayes, Wagga Wagga City Council
• Metropolitan senior staff representative - Ms Lindy Deitz, Campbelltown City Council
• Regional/rural elected representative – Clr Jenny Dowell, Lismore City Council
• Metropolitan elected representative – Clr Jean Hay AM, Manly Council

Winners of the 2010 Ministers’ Awards for Women in Local Government

• Regional/rural staff representative – Ms Leanne Barnes
• Metropolitan staff representative – Ms Penny Holloway
• Regional/rural elected representative – Clr Sue Whelan
• Metropolitan elected representative – Clr Tania Mihailuk

Winners of the 2010 Ministers’ Awards for Women in Local Government

• Urban council elected representative - Clr Joyce Wheatley
• Urban council staff representative - Ms Candy Nay
• Rural council elected representative - Clr Denise Osborne
• Rural council staff representative - Mrs Vas Roberts