She Has the Courage to Lead
Podcast Series
“The Best Protection any Women Can Have is Courage”
Author unknown
About Our Podcast
She Has the Courage to Lead is a podcast featuring candid conversations with Australia’s most senior Government leaders, Ministers, and Commissioners, who oversee thousands of employees. Each episode explores what it means to lead with purpose, integrity, and courage in complex public sector environments. These leaders, both men and women, share their experiences, challenges, and insights on advancing workplace culture, supporting women in leadership, and driving meaningful change across government and the communities they serve.
You can listen to our podcast here!
We would like to personally thank Musician Safyk for our beautiful podcast theme song “The Travelling Symphony”
Coming Soon!
Dr Niki Vincent, Victorian Commissioner of Public Sector Gender Equality
Dr Niki Vincent is an award-winning leader, changemaker and passionate advocate for gender equality, with an extensive career spanning statutory office, government, academia, business and the community sector. She currently serves as Victoria’s inaugural Public Sector Gender Equality Commissioner, where she leads the implementation of Australia’s first Gender Equality Act, driving systemic change across more than 300 organisations and 450,000 employees.
Just Released
Dr Jacqueline McGowan-Jones, Western Australian Commissioner for Children and Young People
Dr Jacqueline McGowan-Jones is the Commissioner for Children and Young People in Western Australia and a passionate advocate for ensuring every child and young person has a strong voice in decisions that affect their lives. With extensive leadership experience across education, child protection, Aboriginal affairs, disability, and Indigenous law and justice, Dr McGowan-Jones has worked across the Commonwealth, Western Australian, and Victorian governments, as well as the private and not-for-profit sectors. Her leadership is driven by a belief that every young person has the right to be heard, respected, and empowered to shape a better future. You can listen to her podcast here
Jeremy Fewtrell, Commissioner for NSW Fire and Rescue
Jeremy Fewtrell is the Commissioner of Fire and Rescue NSW, bringing more than 28 years of frontline and executive leadership experience to the role. He has led responses to some of New South Wales's most significant emergencies, including the 2019–20 bushfires and recent major flood events. Throughout his career, Commissioner Fewtrell has held a range of operational and leadership positions across metropolitan and regional NSW. A respected leader and regular media spokesperson, Commissioner Fewtrell is passionate about community engagement, emergency preparedness, and public safety. He is committed to fostering a culture of compassion, professionalism, and operational excellence across Fire and Rescue NSW. You can listen to his inspiring podcast here
Our Distinguished Guests
The Hon. Jacqui Munro, Member of the Legislative Council, Shadow Minister for Environment, Shadow Minister for Science and Technology, Shadow Minister for Heritage, and Shadow Minister for the Central Coast
Jacqui is the Shadow Minister for the Environment, Shadow Minister for Science and Technology, Shadow Minister for Heritage, Shadow Minister for the Central Coast, and is a Member of the Legislative Council in NSW Parliament. She is also the youngest Liberal woman elected to the NSW Legislative Council and the NSW Liberal Party’s first LGBTQI+ woman Parliamentarian, an important milestone in Australian political leadership. You can listen to her podcast here
Dr Michelle Bryne, Mayor of The Hills Shire NSW
Dr Michelle Byrne has built a distinguished career across the public and private sectors, guided by a strong ethos of service, dedication and persistence. First elected to The Hills Shire Council in 2008, she became the youngest female Mayor in the Shire’s history in 2012 at age 33, later serving as Deputy Mayor and, in 2017, as the first directly elected Mayor until 2021. Michelle returned as the directly elected Mayor in September 2024 for a four-year term. As Mayor, she is dedicated to fostering connection and creating an excellent quality of life for the Hills community. You can listen to Michelle’s podcast here
Janelle Pool AMP MP, Assistant Minister for Community Safety, Defence Industry, Veterans, and North Queensland, Member for
Mundingburra OLD.
Jenelle Pool AMP MP, is the Assistant Minister for Community Safety, Defence Industry, Veterans, and North Queensland, Member for
Mundingburra OLD. Born and raised in Townsville, she attended Aitkenvale State School and Heatley Secondary College and has dedicated her life to serving the North Queensland community. Joining the Queensland Police Service in 1996, she built a distinguished career across operational policing, child protection and crime prevention. Her work as a School-Based Police Officer and Crime Prevention Coordinator strengthened community connections and supported vulnerable young people. In 2015, she was awarded the Australian Police Medal for outstanding service. Deeply committed to community life, she is a Foundation Ambassador for the Daniel Morcombe Foundation and a recipient of its “Morky” Award for her work protecting children. You can listen to Jenelle’s podcast here
Tanya Thompson, Shadow Minister for Emergency Services, Shadow Minister for Disaster Recovery, and Member for Myall Lakes NSW
Tanya Thompson, Shadow Minister for Emergency Services, Shadow Minister for Disaster Recovery, and Member for Myall Lakes (NSW). Tanya has a long and proud connection to the Myall Lakes community, having lived in the area for almost 20 years. Her background in hospitality and real estate, along with her experience helping run an award-winning small business and supporting local organisations, reflects a lifelong commitment to serving others. Tanya’s work supporting the late Stephen Bromhead gave her a deep understanding of the impact strong leadership and community advocacy can have on people’s lives. That influence is clearly evident in her passion for helping others, particularly through her advocacy for mental health services, community wellbeing, and safety. You can listen to Tanya’s podcast here
Anna Booth Fair Work Ombudsman
With a distinguished career spanning over 45 years, Anna Booth is a trailblazer in industrial relations and workplace leadership. Her dedication to fostering harmonious, productive, and compliant workplace environments under the Fair Work Act 2009 reflects her unwavering commitment to empowering individuals and organizations alike. Anna’s remarkable journey includes serving as Deputy President of the Fair Work Commission for eight years, where she shaped critical policies and resolved complex disputes. You can listen to this podcast here
Dr Hannah Tonkin Women's Safety Commissioner
The inaugural Women's Safety Commissioner is Dr Hannah Tonkin. The Women's Safety Commissioner provides leadership and oversight across the whole of NSW government to strengthen responses to domestic, family and sexual violence. The role fosters collaboration and coordination across the government, the non-government sector and the broader community, as well as giving victim-survivors a greater voice in the development of policies and programs. Other key aspects of the role include awareness raising, education and public engagement to deliver improved women’s safety outcomes. You can listen to this podcast here
Kylie Rendina, Assistant Commissioner, Australian Border Force (ABF)
Kylie Rendina is an Assistant Commissioner with the Australian Border Force (ABF), responsible for Targeting and Intelligence Operations Division. This includes three Branches: Border Targeting, ABF Intelligence and ABF International that enable prioritised and targeted action across the border continuum based on threat and risk. Kylie’s remit as an Assistant Commissioner has included managing workplace cultural transformation, safety system management, crisis and incident response, strategic and operational planning and now, border intelligence and targeting. You can listen to Kylie’s podcast here
Kate Chaney MP Federal Member for Curtin
Kate Chaney is the Federal Member for Curtin in Western Australia. She was elected to the Australian House of Representatives at the 2022 Australian federal election, succeeding Liberal Party MP Celia Hammond. Kate is a lawyer and has a background in business, professional services, and the community sector, and has experience in strategy consulting and sustainability management. You can listen to Kate’s podcast here
The Hon. Sue Cater is the Shadow Assistant Minister for Attorney General, Shadow Assistant Special Minister of State, Shadow Assistant Minister for Corrections, and Member of the Legislative Council
The Hon. Sue Cater is the Shadow Assistant Minister for Attorney General, Shadow Assistant Special Minister of State, Shadow Assistant Minister for Corrections, and Member of the Legislative Council. She is passionate about education and the opportunities it provides. She has a background in commercial law, public policy, and legal education. A graduate of the University of Sydney (with Honours degrees in both Arts and Law), Susan has had a broad career working as a solicitor with a major commercial firm and in-house, helping companies structure their affairs to achieve their goals. Susan has also worked extensively in public policy, especially in the area of family policy. This podcast will be released shortly. You can listen to Susan’s podcast here
ACT WorkSafe Commissioner Jacqueline Agius
Jacqueline Agius, is the Work Health and Safety Commissioner for the ACT, serving as the independent authority until 27 April 2030. She brings a wealth of experience to the role, having previously worked as a Senior Industrial Officer at the ACT branch of the Australian Education Union (AEU) and as a criminal defense lawyer. Jacqueline was first appointed Commissioner in 2020, following legislative changes to the Work Health and Safety Act in December 2019 that established WorkSafe ACT as an independent authority. You can listen to Jacqueline’s podcast here
State Emergency Services (SES) Commissioner Mike Wassing (AFSM)
The State Emergency Services (SES) Commissioner Mike Wassing (AFSM) is a highly experienced fire and emergency management leader with over 30 years of service. He has held senior roles in Queensland and Victoria, demonstrating exceptional leadership in frontline firefighting, community engagement, risk management, and disaster response. Starting his career in 1990 as a firefighter with the Country Fire Authority, Mike quickly advanced to key positions such as Assistant Emergency Services Commissioner and Acting Deputy Emergency Services Commissioner during the Black Saturday fires. Mike’s distinguished career includes receiving the National Emergency Medal for his contributions during events such as the 2009 Black Saturday fires, Cyclone Debbie, and the 2019/20 Black Summer Bushfires. You can listen to Mike’s podcast here
Tim James is the Shadow Minister for Small Business, Shadow Minister for Fair Trading, Work Health & Safety, and Building, and Member for Willoughby
Tim James is the Shadow Minister for Small Business, Shadow Minister for Fair Trading, Work Health & Safety, and Building, and Member for Willoughby. Previously, he served as Executive General Manager at the Menzies Research Centre, where he expanded resources, staff, and public profile. His government experience includes roles as an electorate officer for Joe Hockey MP and former Prime Minister John Howard, managing local policy, issues, community relations, and campaign strategy. You can listen to Tim’s podcast here
Ben Millington, Duty Commissioner, NSW Rural Fire Service
Ben Millington is the Deputy Commissioner, Operational Coordination, NSW Rural Fire Service. He brings over two decades of emergency management and community safety experience to his role as Deputy Commissioner with the NSW Rural Fire Service (RFS). He began his career with the NSW Police Force in 2000, where he led the Police Emergency Management Unit before joining the RFS in 2011. Ben has directed major state operations, including the 2019–20 bushfire season, COVID-19 response, and international firefighting deployments to Indonesia and Canada. His service has earned national honors, including the National Emergency Medal and Humanitarian Overseas Service Medal. You can listen to Ben’s podcast here
Larissa Waters Green Santor for Queensland
Larissa Waters is an Australian Greens Senator for Queensland, serving since 2018, and previously co-deputy leader from 2015-2017 and 2018-2022. She is the party's Senate leader, spokesperson on women, democracy, and the public sector, and co-convenes a parliamentary group on eliminating violence against women. Larissa led the push for a national integrity commission, with her bill passing the Senate in 2019. Elected in 2010, she became the first Queensland Senate representative for the Greens and made history in 2017 as the first woman to breastfeed in the Senate. An environmental lawyer, she previously worked in the community sector, advising on environmental protection. Larissa is dedicated to human rights, environmental conservation, and government accountability. You can listen to this podcast here
Kerry Chikarovski, former Premier of NSW
Kerry Chikarovski, founder of Chikarovski & Associates, is a prominent figure in politics and consultancy. She made history as the first woman to lead the NSW Liberal Party and serve as Leader of the Opposition from 1998 to 2002, championing initiatives like flexible work and mentoring for women in the public sector. Post-politics, Kerry established her consultancy to guide organizations through government processes. She holds multiple board roles and supports not-for-profits like Adopt Change and the Humpty Dumpty Foundation. You can listen to this podcast here