Farewell and thank you to outgoing Board President Helen Conway

22 May 2025

In the coming week, we farewell our outgoing YWCA Australia Board President, Helen Conway and want to take this moment to thank Helen for her huge contribution to the Y.

Helen joined the YWCA Australia Board in May 2020. This was a challenging time for the organisation with the onset of COVID.

Helen immediately recognised the need to honour YWCA 140-year rich history and to plan for future sustainability and impact. With the support of the Board and Management, Helen led the strategic re-imagining of YWCA Australia that culminated in the YeS 2026 Strategy. This strategy outlined a courageous pivot from YWCA’s existing operational model and focussed on women’s housing security as the way forward for gender equality.

In her five-year term as Board Chair, Helen has continued to drive a sustainability and impact with young women’s leadership at the core.

Selected key achievements during her tenure include:

Helen’s strong governance and legal experience and expertise strengthened YWCA’s governance frameworks and processes, working closely with Management on risk management, cyber security risk and AI.
Investing in over $100m in new homes for women and gender diverse people, which will deliver improved outcomes and safer futures to those who need them most.
Working alongside Management with media and Government meetings, championing our call for systems change as well as advocating for targeted funding for housing and our programs.
Redevelopment of YWCA’s profit-for-purpose Song Hotel to its current, four-star state. Song Hotel contributes more than 25% of profits to the work of YWCA Australia.
Encouraging young women’s leadership through formalisation of the Vice-President role on the YWCA Australia Board and re-launching the Young Women’s Council to better guide and inform our advocacy and strategy with the voices of young women and gender diverse people behind it.
Fostering a supportive culture between Board and Management, that helped embed Intersectional Feminism into the Y and drive positive culture results.

We wish Helen all the best and are deeply grateful for her endless energy and commitment. Helen has steered the Y through a significant growth period and she leaves us in a solid position to continue our growth to achieve our purpose.