Tasmanian Women's Council

Jo was employed for more than 30 years in senior roles in the Tasmanian community services sector, most recently as CEO of Women’s Health Tasmania (WHT).

Jo managed Anglicare’s Social Action and Research Centre (Tasmania’s largest non-government social policy unit), was Deputy CEO of TasCOSS and CEO of the Sexual Assault Support Service. She has worked extensively in social policy, advocacy and research on a range of social issues affecting Tasmanians.

Jo has been a director on numerous not for profit boards and a member of many cross sectoral policy committees. She is currently on the Board of the Australian Women’s Health Alliance.

Jo lives in Hobart and remains a strong advocate for gender equity.

Liz was employed for over four decades at Rio Tinto’s Bell Bay Aluminium, working as a metallurgist, role model for women in industry and business leader.  She is a former Tasmanian Business Woman of the Year and more recently was awarded an Order of Australia Medal (AM).

Since retiring from full-time employment, Liz has undertaken numerous not-for-profit directorships including water and sewerage, disability, aged care, community banking, tourism, employment and training, strata management and sport. In these roles, she has continued to improve her skills in governance, risk mitigation, change management, strategic planning and finance.

Liz and Max are based in Coles Bay and enjoy travelling, gardening, swimming, boating, fishing, and the beloved grandchildren.

Liz has been a strong mentor and advocate for empowering women in Tasmanian communities, with a particular focus on opportunities for women in industry.

Amanda French joined the Tasmanian Women's Council in December 2025 and is an experienced and passionate community leader. She is the former Chief Executive Officer and founder of Dress for Success Tasmania, a organisation established to actively increase women’s economic participation in the State. Under her leadership, Dress for Success Tasmania became the fastest-growing not-for-profit brand in the state in 2024, supporting in excess of 500 women across Tasmania each year to improve their economic independence.

Amanda has extensive governance experience, including serving as a Non-Executive Director on the national board of Make-A-Wish Australia from 2018 to 2025. She holds a Master of Criminology and Corrections, a Bachelor of Arts in Criminology and Law, and GAICD accreditation. Recognised as a finalist for Tasmanian Australian of the Year (Local Hero) in 2022, Amanda brings strategic insight and a strong commitment to advancing gender equality. She lives in Southern Tasmania and is raising her two daughters, which further drives her passion for creating opportunities for women and girls.

Archana Brammall is an entrepreneur and community advocate based in Northern Tasmania. She is the Owner and Managing Director of The Buna Collective, overseeing several iconic Tasmanian hospitality businesses and mentoring more than 300 staff to create inclusive and respectful workplaces. Archana holds degrees in Economics and English Literature and is a graduate of the Tasmanian Leaders Program, which strengthened her commitment to empowering women from diverse and regional backgrounds.

Her governance experience spans roles with the Multicultural Council of Tasmania, Football Tasmania, the Migrant Resource Centre North, and other community organisations. Drawing on her lived experience as a Black migrant woman and business leader, Archana advocates for intersectional policy and leadership pathways for women in small business, hospitality, and sport. She is passionate about building systems that enable women to lead, belong, and thrive.

Catherine Loppy joined the Tasmanian Women's Council in December 2025 and is based in Southern Tasmania. She is a passionate advocate for gender equality and inclusion. With professional experience in the construction industry, she brings firsthand insight into the structural and cultural barriers women face in male-dominated sectors. Catherine has actively mentored women entering the industry and champions leadership development and career pathways, particularly for women from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds.

Her advocacy extends beyond the workplace through community engagement and speaking on leadership and personal transformation. Catherine combines lived experience with professional and academic achievements to drive systemic change, creating safer, more inclusive workplaces and empowering women to reach their full potential.

Deb Hunter is a 65+ year-old autistic woman who has lived and worked in North-west rural Tasmania for most of her life.

Deb has post-graduate qualifications in environmental science and complementary health, and has long-standing and ongoing interests in conservation, speleology, bushwalking, expedition caving and Aboriginal culture and heritage.

Deb is a victim-survivor of family and domestic violence and lives with persistent pain. Deb is passionate about making a difference in gender equity, family and domestic violence, and women’s health and wellbeing. Deb applies her skills in advocacy and lived experience consultation to improve womens’ lives.

Jane Bovill has over 40 years’ experience in Tasmanian public education, culminating in 21 years as a principal. She is passionate about building professional learning cultures, promoting inclusion, encouraging innovation and advancing community partnerships.

She was an expert panel member with the Tasmanian Government’s Literacy Advisory Panel, developing a community wide framework for a literate Tasmania. She has been recognised with a number of scholarships and awards, including the ACEL Excellence in Leadership. In 2023 she was inducted into the Tasmanian Women’s Honour Roll for services to education. She was awarded the West Tamar Citizen of the Year in 2024. Since retiring she is a principal mentor, on the Multi School Organisation Steering Committee and the Tasmanian representative on the Initial Teacher Education Quality Assurance Board.

Jane believes education is a superpower in driving empowerment and building vibrant and aspirational communities for girls and women.

Jemma Ower is a qualified social worker and community advocate based in Northern Tasmania. With over a decade of experience in the community services sector, she has worked across homelessness, housing, and family violence, progressing from case management to leadership roles in crisis assessment, training, and project management. Jemma has contributed to initiatives such as preparing Youth 2 Independence facilities for Foyer Foundation accreditation and mentoring staff in trauma-informed practice.

She was awarded Anglicare’s Jerrim Fellowship in 2019, enabling her to study Housing models in the UK, and has completed programs including Housing First training with Homelessness Australia and Tasmanian Leaders’ I-LEAD. Jemma serves on the board of Laurel House and brings both professional expertise and personal insight, including her experience navigating IVF and motherhood, to her advocacy for gender equality and systemic change.

Kate is a constable within Tasmania Police. Kate graduated the Police Academy early 2025 and has since been posted to the Southern District. Through her time in policing, Kate has furthered her passion for supporting and empowering those often impacted by systemic inequalities.

Prior to joining Tasmania Police, Kate studied sports science. This grew her passion and understanding for the importance of physical activity and advocating for women's participation in sport.

Kate lives in Hobart and enjoys drawing, painting, trail running and playing team sports.

Quan Nguyen is a diversity, equity and inclusion advisor based in Southern Tasmania, with a strong commitment to advancing gender equality through an intersectional lens. They bring lived experience as a trans woman from a migrant background, and professional expertise in social work and community leadership. Quan currently works at Uniting Victoria & Tasmania, where they lead initiatives to embed cultural safety and inclusive practices across large organisational systems.

Previously, Quan managed operations at the Tasmanian Refugee Legal Service and contributed to national advocacy through advisory roles with Women’s Legal Service Tasmania and Women’s Health Tasmania. Their work spans policy design, anti-racism strategies, and programs supporting CALD and LGBTQIA+ communities. Quan holds a Master of Social Work and is passionate about creating systemic change that ensures all women and gender-diverse people can thrive.

Rachel Dunn is a proud Palawa woman and a respected advocate for gender equality and cultural safety, based in Southern Tasmania. She is the founder of Jenname Consultancy, an Aboriginal-led organisation delivering cultural safety training, policy advice, and community engagement across Tasmania and nationally. Rachel has contributed to key national frameworks and reform initiatives focused on family and sexual violence prevention, intersectional policy design, and system accountability.

Her experience includes roles with Our Watch, the Red Heart Campaign, and the development of Respect Matters training for the United Kingdom, bringing an Aboriginal-informed perspective to global prevention efforts. Rachel serves on several state and national advisory bodies and is committed to embedding cultural authority and lived experience into policy and practice to improve safety and wellbeing for women and girls.

Sarah Leary is a proud Palawa woman, distinguished diplomat, former journalist, and international gender equality expert.

As advisor to Australia’s Ambassador for Women and Girls, Sarah supported Australia’s successful UN Human Rights Council campaign. On postings to Vietnam, Cambodia, Solomon Islands and the US, she led major initiatives to expand women’s access to finance, workforce participation and inclusion in elite global sport.

At the Australian Attorney-General's Department, Sarah is now leading a $81.5 million investment across 30 communities in Australia to address the underlying causes of First Nations over-representation in the justice system.

Sarah resides in North-West Tasmania with her partner and enjoys playing tennis and snorkelling. She was named the University of Tasmania’s Young Alumni of the Year in 2022.

Trudy Witbreuk was a senior government official with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. She has extensive experience in international diplomacy and negotiations, with a particular focus on pursuing Australia’s economic interests overseas.

She successfully led negotiation of the Closer Economic Partnership Agreement with Indonesia. Trudy was also closely involved in trade negotiations with the USA, Japan, China and Chile.

Trudy served in Australian Embassies, including leading the Australian Mission in Brussels during COVID. She held a senior position at the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development in Paris and was Australia’s Deputy Permanent Representative in Geneva. She also served in Washington and Cairo and worked with the UN in Sudan and the Gaza Strip.

Trudy is currently on the Board of the Australia Indonesia Business Council and a member of Chief Executive Women and the International Women’s Forum.

Having grown up in Hobart, Trudy returned to Tasmania in 2022.