Pathways to Politics now has over 600 alums – with an estimated 1000+ by 2026!
This incredible network of women is committed to changing the face of politics in Australia and supporting each other across political lines.
Here are just a few of our alums who are making significant impact in their communities, and in Parliaments and councils across Australia.
Dr Katie Allen was the Federal Member for Higgins in the Coalition Government from 2019-2022.
Prior to that she was Division Head of Population Head at the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute, Professor at both the University of Melbourne and the University of Manchester, UK and a consultant paediatrician. Katie has been on the Board of Cabrini Health, was Chair of Melbourne Girls Grammar School Council and on the advisory board of several MedTech start-ups.
She is a member of the Victorian Pathways program’s Advisory Committee.
Wesa Chau is Director of Public Policy at the Multicultural Leadership Initiative. She founded the initiative Poliversity, a national movement that promotes culturally diverse representation, leadership and engagement within the ALP. Wesa ran as the Labor candidate for Prahran in the 2022 Victorian state election.
Soëlily Consen-Lynch is the ACT Greens Candidate for Yerrabi in the 2024 ACT general election. She is a passionate volunteer and community advocate, a Dutch trained solicitor, and a public servant. Soëlily was born in Suriname and raised in the Netherlands. She moved to Australia in 2013.
Cr Moo D’Ath was elected to Shoalhaven City Council in 2021.
Through her professional life, Moo has taught yoga, breathing, meditation, fitness and circus. She has also run mental health workshops, and worked for TAFE NSW in their At Risk Youth Program.
Cr Jenna Davey-Burns is Mayor of the City of Kingston, where she also served as Deputy Mayor between November 2021-November 2022. Jenna was a mentee in the inaugural Pathways Alum Mentoring program in 2020, where she was mentored by Lord Mayor of Melbourne, Sally Capp.
(Waskam) Emelda Davis is a Councillor at the City of Sydney, the first Black woman elected to council in 180 years. Emelda is a second generation born Australian South Sea Islander (ASSI), a passionate volunteer community builder and long-term resident of Pyrmont for over two decades. She has worked effectively across corporate and grassroots sectors including advisor to State, Federal and Commonwealth Government agencies on culturally specific indigenous knowledges. Emelda is an advisor to Politics in Colour, various state ASSI leaders and organisations, has worked with Vanuatu Government officials, and is advisor to the International Coalition Sites of Conscience Board of Trustees
Mary Doyle MP is the Federal Labor MP for Aston. She was elected to Parliament in the historic Aston by-election in April 2023, which marked the first time that the government has won a seat from the Opposition in a by-election in more than a century. Mary is also the first woman to hold the seat of Aston since its creation in 1984.
Donisha Duff
Donisha Duff OAM is an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander woman from Thursday Island, Torres Strait. Her family are Aboriginal (Wuthathi) traditional owners of Eastern Cape York and she also has familial links to Badu, Moa & Mabuiag Islands in the Torres Strait. Donisha is the inaugural CEO of Queensland Indigenous Business Network, an independent representative body created to provide a strong and unified voice for Queensland’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander businesses. She is also Chair of Stars Foundation Ltd.
Donisha ran as the ALP Candidate for Bowman in the 2022 Federal election. In 2024 she received the Order of Australia Medal for service to the community.
Cr Amy Eden was elected as Mayor of Cairns Regional Council in March 2024, and was a Councillor from 2020-2024. Amy’s experience as a social practitioner and program director in some of the region’s most far-reaching and impactful public sector and NGO organisations has seen her foster opportunities for local youth, families, those with mental health issues, and Indigenous people.
Sue-Anne Hunter is a proud Wurundjeri and Ngurai Illum Wurrung woman and the Deputy Chair and Commissioner of the Yoorrook Justice Commission.
She is an Adjunct Professor of Global and Engagement at Federation University and a member of the National Centre for Reconciliation, Truth, and Justice Advisory Board.
Karen Kim is the founder and director of Hello Music Studios and Hello Music World, and is president of KOWINVIC, an international network of women leaders of Korean descent. Karen ran as a Senate candidate for Victoria with the Australian Federation Party in the 2022 Federal election.
Dr Sarah Mansfield MP was elected as the Greens Member of the Legislative Council for Western Victoria in 2022. She was formerly a GP, and served two terms as Councillor on Greater Geelong City Council after to completing Pathways to Politics in 2017.
Charlotte Mortlock is the founder of Hilma’s Network, a community designed to connect and empower liberal-minded women, and raise money for female Coalition candidates. She is a former journalist and Sky News political reporter.
Cr Angelica Panopoulos is a Councillor and former Mayor of the Merri-bek City Council in Victoria.
She was the youngest ever mayor of Merri-bek City Council. She first became involved in local government through her activism for refugee rights.
Heidi Prowse is the ACT Labor Candidate for Ginninderra in the 2024 ACT general election. She was awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia in 2023 for her services to community health. Heidi is a passionate advocate for those with cystic fibrosis, and has been a community leader for the past 15 years working with Camp Quality, Cystic Fibrosis ACT and MIEACT.
Georgie Purcell MP was elected as a member of the Victorian Legislative Council representing Northern Victoria in November 2022. She was a mentee in the Pathways Alum Mentoring program in 2022, where she was mentored by Cr Jenna Davey-Burns.
Cr Tina Samardzija is a Councillor and former Mayor of City of Monash. She has served on the council since 2020.
Tina was a commercial lawyer before moving to work in state and federal government on major legal, economic and social policy reforms including workplace relations, the NDIS and housing. She is the first-born child of parents who migrated from Europe
Dr Judy Tang is a current Board Director for the Victorian Pride Centre and is one of Victoria’s 12 Multicultural Commissioners at the Victorian Multicultural Commission. Judy participated in the Pathways Alum Mentoring program in 2022, where she was mentored by Greens Senator for Victoria Janet Rice MP.
