Announcement: YWCA Australia President Helen Conway appointed for a second term

A note from YWCA Australia CEO, Michelle Phillips

When Helen Conway was appointed President of YWCA Australia’s Board of Directors, it was after a period of much change and transition following our merger into a national organisation. In her time as President, Helen has used her wealth of experience and passion for gender equality to guide the organisation through the COVID-19 pandemic and its effects on our operations and our communities, and supported a strategic re-imagining that was necessary to ensure the long-term sustainability of YWCA in Australia. We are extremely thankful and appreciative of her unwavering guidance and strong leadership over the last few years.

After individual consultation with each Director and a unanimous vote, the decision has been made for Helen to remain as President of the YWCA Australia Board of Directors until May 2025. Both the Board and Executive Team acknowledge and value the guidance and leadership from someone of Helen’s experience, and extending her term until 2025 will maintain stability for Y team members, members, clients and residents as we work to implement the YWCA Evolve Strategy, YeS 2026.

I have every confidence that with Helen’s leadership and guidance we will continue to make strides towards our long term outcomes, ensuring more women are safe, secure and have a greater sense of wellbeing in their homes. Outcomes that build on our movements long, proud history of supporting women in Australia.

The recruitment of the next President will begin in late 2024. We will provide more information about the planned process closer to the time.

If you have any questions about the process undertaken to make this decision or anything else relating to Governance or our upcoming AGM, you can email Hannah Murray, YWCA Australia’s Company Secretary, at companysec@ywca.org.au.

YWCA Australia wishes to acknowledge the Traditional Owners of the lands on which we work, live and play and pay our respects to Elders past and present. We recognise First Nations people as the custodians of the lands, seas and skies, with more than 60,000 years of wisdom, connection and relationship in caring for Country.

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