It is my great honour to write to you today as the new President of the YWCA Australia board of directors.
While I only joined the board two months ago, I have been a long-term supporter of YWCA, including during my term as Chief Executive Officer of the Workplace Gender Equality Agency. It has been exciting to follow YWCA’s journey over recent years, especially after the 2018 merger.
I thank my predecessor Julie Boyd for her significant contribution as the inaugural President of a newly merged national organisation. Without her, YWCA would not be where we are today.
YWCA has been at the forefront of the fight for gender equality for 140 years, and we are well-positioned to continue, and build significantly on, this wonderful work.
During my term as YWCA President, I have several key focus areas where I would like to see us make our impact:
- Ensuring the legacy of YWCA in Australia by uniting our strategic pillars on the foundation of a commercially sustainable business model.
- Leveraging the skills and experience of our team and establishing YWCA as a unified cohesive organisation underpinned by an intersectional feminist culture and our shared belief in gender equality.
- Strengthening our advocacy voice and positioning YWCA as the leading voice of women, young women and girls in Australia, capturing and providing a platform for the diverse voices we count amongst our members.
- Building and further developing fair and equitable access to national essential services supporting the safety of and opportunities for young women.
These are lofty goals, but they will ensure that YWCA continues to thrive as a sustainable and influential feminist organisation for the next 140 years.
I know that with the commitment and passion of our board, senior executive team, YWCA staff, members and supporters, we will achieve these goals.
I thank you for your ongoing support of YWCA, and I look forward to connecting with all our members over the coming months.
Regards,
Helen Conway
President, YWCA Australia
