OUR STORY
WE SUPPORT
OUR MEMBERS
We are an inclusive, member-led organisation committed to achieving gender equality in Australian workplaces. Supporting women in their careers, training the men they work with and guiding the employers they work for. It’s time we made a gender equal world a reality.
"We offer a safe, respectful environment where debate, discussion and difference are celebrated."
—HELEN MCCABE, FOUNDER AND MANAGING DIRECTOR
We launched, in 2018, with a promise to help women connect, learn and lead. Today we talk to millions of women every year, through our books, podcasts, essays, training and development programs, live interviews and in-person events.
Future Women members join as individuals or through a program purchased by their boss. We also work actively to support members who face disadvantage and discrimination, in particular First Nations women.
A Future Women membership offers a range of activities, from mentoring and job connections to intermediate and advanced leadership and media training. Members also attend our International Women’s Day Summit, one of the most significant events in our calendar, delivered in person and online.
Members are most likely to be among Australia's two million professional women. But we include men too. Since the beginning, men have joined and been welcome in our community. Today we work with dozens of public and private sector organisations, and support men to be better, and more gender inclusive leaders.
Future Women is a safe, respectful environment where debate, discussion and difference are celebrated. We are more interested in our members’ attitude than their age. We are inclusive, and proud of the fact our members care about one another’s personal and professional success.
It’s time to make a gender equal world, a reality. Will you join us?
IN THE NEWS
Read the latest press about Future Women - our programs, partnerships and exciting new projects.
WHO WE ARE
HELEN MCCABE
FOUNDER, MANAGING DIRECTOR
Journalist, magazine editor and digital media executive.
Helen was Editor-in-Chief of The Australian Women's Weekly, Deputy Editor of The Sunday Telegraph and spent more than a decade working in television before founding Future Women in 2018.
Helen also hosts FW's weekly Leadership Series podcast, featuring stories of influential women who lead.
JAMILA RIZVI
DEPUTY MANAGING DIRECTOR
Best-selling author, opinion columnist, podcast host and gender equality advocate.
Previously, Jamila advised the Rudd and Gillard Governments on gender equality, early childhood education, media and employment participation.
Jamila is also a board member of the Wheeler Centre for Books, Writing and Ideas, and an ambassador for PLAN International.
DYMPHNA JAMES SCOTT
COMMERCIAL DIRECTOR
Dymphna’s extensive commercial background includes senior roles at media agencies Initiative & Mediacom and Commercial & Advertising roles at Time Warner, Seven West Media & Hoyts Group.
Dymphna's unique skills have consistently driven new business partnerships delivering growth, better-than-market performance and impressive management innovation.
KATE NERONI
CHIEF OF STAFF
Leader, key advisor and resident problem solver.
Kate thrives in dynamic, fast-paced environments and is adept at high-level strategic thinking.
She brings expert cross-platform development and critical thinking to her work at FW, having launched her career as Executive Assistant and Office Coordinator at Bauer Media.
BECKY HANSEN
HEAD OF JOBS ACADEMY
Project lead, people manager and passionate community organiser, with more than 10 years' experience in the public and private sector.
Rebecca is dedicated to creating people-focussed programs with social value, like Jobs Academy which helps support women returning to work.
EMILY JOYCE
HEAD OF PARTNERSHIPS
Writer and digital advertising specialist, Emily started her career with some of Australia's leading ad agencies.
When she's not wrangling her kids, she's finding time to recharge with the beloved women in her life, running to very loud music, or searching for the nearest quiet corner.
ALEXANDRA GRANT
HEAD OF GOVERNMENT RELATIONS
Strategic manager and government relations specialist, with a background in economics, social policy and gender.
During her impressive career with the Australian Public Service, Alex worked on landmark policy including the establishment of the National Skills Commission and JobTrainer, and co-authored the first Australian National Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security.
MELISSA WELLHAM
HEAD OF ONLINE LEARNING
An experienced digital and communications professional, Melissa specialises in creating data-driven, customer-first programs for behaviour change.
With a background in social change organisations, and qualifications in customer experience strategy and analytics, she heads up an incredible team to develop leadership programs that build gender equal workplaces.
MEISHA HILL
DEPUTY HEAD OF JOBS ACADEMY
Operations and management specialist, Meisha has significant experience in advertising and media across Australia and the United States. Meisha excels in solving complex business problems and has worked at oOh! Media, Junkee Media and The New York Times.
Meisha is committed to helping women excel in their chosen careers. When she’s not in the Jobs Academy, you’ll find her somewhere outdoors with her family.
TARANG CHAWLA
DIRECTOR OF DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION PROGRAMS
Domestic violence campaigner, advocate and lawyer.
Tarang is co-founder of charity Not One More Niki, Australia’s largest campaign to end violence against women in culturally diverse communities. He is also a Multicultural Commissioner and board member of the Australian Republic Movement.
RUBY LEAHY GATFIELD
HEAD OF RESEARCH & INSIGHTS
Researcher, evaluator, and facilitator, with a passion for driving gender equality through research and evidence.
Prior to joining Future Women Ruby was a senior adviser at the federal Workplace Gender Equality Agency, building on a career in public policy consulting.
Ruby is committed to ensuring diverse communities have a voice in the programs and policies that effect their lives.
MADDEN BURNS
HEAD OF PLATINUM+ EMERGING LEADER
Project management and stakeholder engagement specialist, with experience across public and private sectors.
Madden specialises in gender equality and social impact, having worked as a senior adviser to the federal Workplace Gender Equality Agency.
In 2020, Madden was selected to sit on the UN Women Sydney Committee.
CHRISTINE ELLEM
SCHOLARSHIP AND SPECIAL PROGRAMS DIRECTOR
Program Director with a focus on higher education, including academic and equity program development and delivery.
Christine has 14 years’ experience working in the tertiary education industry and brings considerable skills in teaching, research and publication to the Project Return team.
ISABEL NAKONIECZNY
PROGRAM AND REPORTING MANAGER
Experienced analyst and customer strategy specialist, with a background in consulting.
Isabel brings a customer-centric, data-driven approach to designing solutions for Future Women's digital programs, and is a DJ outside of the 9-5.
INDIA BAILEY
JOB CONNECTIONS MANAGER
Programs manager, with a knack for forging strong stakeholder relationships and providing employers with a unique pipeline of talented candidates from Jobs Academy.
India is undertaking her Masters of Public Heath, pursuing a keen interest in understanding the structures and mechanisms that impede health, the ramifications this has for our larger society and economy, and how policy can change this.
ELLA JACKSON
CROSS-BUSINESS LIAISON
Project manager, specialising in equity, diversity and inclusion.
Ella brings considerable skills in strategy and advocacy to the Jobs Academy and Future Women teams, having pushed for structural reform in sexual-assault policy across residential colleges and university structures at the University of Melbourne.
PATTI ANDREWS
CREATIVE AND CONTENT DIRECTOR
Artist, designer and creative, Patti left the world of magazines behind to join Future Women, prior to its founding in 2018.
Having left her mark on publications like DOLLY, Harper's Bazaar and GRAZIA Magazine, Patti brings a unique blend of logic and creativity to her iconic artwork.
She's passionate about truly connecting with community through design and creating art that makes people feel good.
AMY MCCABE
MENTOR MANAGER
As Mentoring Manager, Amy loves linking Future Women members with experts and leaders to help them thrive. Hailing from a farm in South Australia where she grew up with three brothers, Amy isn’t afraid of a hard day’s work.
Amy is highly analytical and loves to solve difficult problems - a skill that her colleagues are endlessly grateful for. If she’s not working, she’s probably doing something sporty.
TISHYA DESAI
ONLINE LEARNING MANAGER
Program and learning designer with a passion for using education as a tool for good.
Tishya comes from the non-profit sector working with social enterprises and newly arrived migrants and refugees in Australia and is also pursuing a post-graduate degree in education and social change.
ALICE MONFRIES
COMMUNICATIONS MANAGER AND HOST
Alice Monfries is an award-winning journalist and presenter with the Nine Network.
She is based in the network's Adelaide newsroom, covering breaking news and reporting live across Australia on the network's 6pm nightly bulletins, daytime national bulletins and the Today Show.
SOPHIE HUNTER
SENIOR DESIGNER
Designer and artist, Sophie began her career with advertising heavyweights Guihen Jones Creative Agency.
Having worked on publications like Mother & Baby, DOLLY and ELLE, Sophie brings a fresh perspective to her creations and loves to see FW's artwork ‘out in the wild’.
She lives for outdoor adventures and is often on a wave or a mountain when not designing.
SALLY SPICER
SENIOR CONTENT PRODUCER
Journalist, podcaster and social media specialist, Sally farewelled the glitz of breakfast radio to join Future Women’s content team.
A passionate domestic abuse and social justice advocate, Sally was the Executive Producer of FW’s highly successful podcast, There’s No Place Like Home.
She loves a deadline and is an expert at conceptualising and producing multimedia content across a range of platforms.
BOJANA KOS
SENIOR CONTENT PRODUCER
Writer, editor and digital content specialist, with over ten years' experience in media, communications and public relations.
Bojana is passionate about advancing social justice by telling deeply personal and human stories in new and creative ways.
When she's not desperately searching for the perfect word or phrase, she can be found with her nose buried in a book.
SONIA LIN
EXECUTIVE OFFICER
Business and management specialist, with a track record of performing in dynamic environments. Sonia joins Future Women after having worked at one of Australia's most established family offices and investment companies.
Her idea of unwinding is going for a run or listening to a podcast (or doing both at once).
EDEN TIMBERY
CONTENT ASSISTANT
Creative and storyteller who always loves to learn new things.
Eden is currently studying a double degree in Arts and Media at the University of New South Wales. When they're not working or studying, they'll probably have their nose buried in a book with a freshly brewed cup of tea in hand.
ASHA BOWDITCH-BROWN
PROGRAMS COORDINATOR
Programs and project manager with a passion for equality and social change.
Asha is also studying Gender Studies at the University of Melbourne and flexes her creative skills by drawing, painting and learning to play musical instruments.
SAKURA MCCORKELL
PROGRAMS COORDINATOR
Project coordinator with a passion for creating meaningful experiences for participants in the Change Makers program and wider online learning programs at Future Women.
Sakura takes a data-focused approach in streamlining CRM and reporting process, and outside of work spends her time completing her Bachelor of Commerce at the University of Melbourne or playing Aussie rules football.
EMILY LIENERT
CONTENT COORDINATOR
Emily is a content whiz who embeds empathy, compassion and insight into everything she does.
A proud Gumbaynggirr, Bundjalung and Yaegl woman, Emily is a gifted storyteller and a tireless advocate for First Nations rights and intersectional feminism.
When not brainstorming new ideas, you can find Emily blasting music through her headphones.
BHUPINDER KENT
SENIOR RELATIONSHIP MANAGER
Former lawyer turned writer dedicated to supporting women find meaningful work and build fulfilling careers.
Bhupinder is passionate about equality, diversity and inclusion. She is an avid globetrotter who has lived, worked, studied and travelled across six continents.
NATASHA BANKS
HEAD OF OPERATIONS
Operations, projects and strategy specialist, Natasha has over 15 years experience in media and international development. She loves bringing together teams to try new things, build efficiencies and achieve outstanding results.
Tash draws on a number of years with NGOs and UN agencies in the Middle East and North Africa where her focus was on empowering women, girls and young people.
To switch off Tash loves bad reality TV, baking and running with friends.
MEL FULTON
MANAGING EDITOR
With a background in education, journalism and magazine editing, particularly in the social justice space, Mel is dedicated to bringing good stories to life - especially the ones that rarely get told.
She is also a professional fan, sometime DJ and occasional photographer, who would like to know what book you're reading. And what record you're listening to. We can talk teevee later.
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