Advisory Committee

Carol Schwartz AO

Carol Schwartz AO is one of Australia's most dynamic business and community leaders with a diverse career across property, the arts, finance, investment, entrepreneurship, government and health. Carol has been recognised for her leadership via a range of honours including her 2019 appointment as an Officer of the Order of Australia, 2020 Leading Philanthropist Award by Philanthropy Australia, an Honorary Doctorate from Monash University, induction into the Australia Property Hall of Fame, and a Centenary Medal. Carol has chaired and participated in numerous listed and private company boards, and current board roles include the Reserve Bank of Australia, Trawalla Group and Chair of EQT Holdings Limited and Climate Council.

Throughout her career Carol has been a passionate advocate for gender equality and women in leadership, and as Chair of the Trawalla Foundation and the Women's Leadership Institute Australia, she has catalysed a range of initiatives to grow the critical mass of women in politics, business and the media.

Sarah Buckley
CEO, Trawalla Foundation
National Co-Convenor, Pathways to Politics for Women

Sarah Buckley is a strategic leader with over seventeen years of business leadership in social innovation, gender equity, ESG integration and responsible investing. Sarah is currently Chief of Staff for Carol Schwartz AO and CEO of the Trawalla Foundation (the private foundation for entrepreneurial businesspeople Carol and Alan Schwartz). Sarah has previously been a sought-after sustainability consultant to major Australian companies, led PwC's award-winning Corporate Responsibility team, and held senior roles creating innovative new businesses including PwC's Indigenous Consulting.

Sarah has played an integral role in leading Pathways to Politics for Women nationally, and is National Co-Convenore alongside Dr Meredith Martin. In 2021 the Trawalla Foundation and University of Melbourne won the Eve Mahlab AO Genderwise Philanthropy Award for Pathways to Politics. Overall, the Trawalla Foundation works with exceptional individuals and organisations that have a vision for the future of Australia, and gender equity sits at the heart of this. The Foundation adopts a range of levers including funding partnerships, impact investments, and incubating innovative equity initiatives through the Foundation's not-for-profit arm, the Women's Leadership Institute Australia. Initiatives are high impact, including the flagship Pathways to Politics Program for Women, WLIA Fellows, and thought leadership such as the Women for Media research series.

Dr Meredith Martin
Program Director, University of Melbourne
National Co-Convenor, Pathways to Politics for Women

Meredith is the Director of the University of Melbourne's Pathways to Politics program and National Co-Convenor alongside Sarah Buckley. Meredith worked closely with Carol Schwartz AO to establish Pathways at the University of Melbourne in 2016. She has also been instrumental in its national expansion, mentoring directors at partner universities in other states and territories and providing strategic leadership to the Pathways national network. Meredith oversees the program on behalf of the University of Melbourne and hosts most modules. She is also Chair of the program’s Selection Committee.

Meredith has worked at the University for many years, both as an academic and in strategic leadership roles, and has been responsible for founding a range of initiatives, including the establishment of the highly successful Media and Communications Program. She has presented and published widely on equity and access in the creative industries and is a member of a number of boards.

Pamela Anderson
CEO, EMILY’s List Australia

Pamela Anderson is the CEO of EMILY’s List Australia, one of the longest-running feminist organisations in the country, and a passionate advocate for gender equity, social justice, and reproductive rights. With over two decades of experience in the financial services industry, Pamela brings a wealth of strategic, leadership, and operational expertise, underpinned by a deep commitment to progressive values.

Currently pursuing a Bachelor of Laws at Deakin University, Pamela also holds a Graduate Diploma in Financial Planning and is a successful small business owner. She is an alum of the Pathway to Politics Program for Women, reflecting her dedication to increasing women’s political participation and leadership.

A proud member of the Australian Labor Party and an active unionist, Pamela is driven by a lifelong mission to eliminate the gender pay gap, champion women’s representation, and uphold workers’ rights. Her leadership at EMILY’s List reflects her unwavering belief in the power of inclusive politics to build a fairer, more just society. Pamela is proudly pro-choice and committed to supporting progressive women candidates across Australia.

Outside of her professional commitments, Pamela is dedicated to connecting with her First Nations culture and ensuring that her daughters continue to celebrate and honour their heritage. She enjoys spending quality time with her supportive husband, their two daughters, and their Rottweiler, Ralph, finding strength in both family and culture as she shapes a future of justice and equity.

Dr Wesa Chau

Dr Wesa Chau is a passionate advocate for gender, ethnic and cultural diversity representation and leadership in Australian politics. She was the co-founder of Poliversity, an inaugural member of the Victorian Multicultural Labor Network. Wesa is an alumna of the inaugural Pathways to Politics for Women program and was the Labor candidate for Prahran in the 2022 Victorian State Election.

Wesa is currently a member of the Victorian Anti-Racism Taskforce and National Foundation of Australia China Relations and has previously served on the Victorian Government's Multicultural Business Ministerial Council and the Ministerial Council for Women’s Equality. She is a former board member of Carers Victoria, InTouch and the Ethnic Communities’ Council of Victoria. For her services to the community and contribution to gender equality, multiculturalism and cultural diversity, Wesa was inducted to the Victorian Women Honour Roll in 2012 and the Victorian Multicultural Honour Roll in 2024.

In her PhD research, Wesa developed a typology of political skills for politicians and examined how they cultivate these skills. Her broader research interests include cultural diversity, racism, diaspora, leadership and philanthropy. In 2016, Wesa was awarded the Scanlon-Swinburne Intercultural Fellowship to explore policies and initiatives to support cultural diversity in India and Malaysia.

Susanne Newton
Former Mayor, Darebin City Council

Susanne is deeply connected to Pathways to Politics. She was one of the first two women elected after completing the program in Australia, when her colleague Steph Amir and Susanne were elected to Darebin Council in 2016. In her eight years on Council, Susanne was a Councillor, three-time Deputy Mayor and finally Mayor.

Initially motivated to run after working with strong and courageous female politicians in Uganda, and determined to see gender equality in political leadership in Australia, as a Mayor and Councillor, Susanne learnt an incredible amount about leadership, building resilience in the face of enormous challenges, and how with political will, a bold and progressive Council could shift the dial locally, nationally and even internationally. Locally, Darebin was one of the first cities to build social housing over a council car park. Nationally, Darebin stopped ‘celebrating’ 26 January and began an alternative First Nations-led celebration held each September. Internationally, Darebin was the first city worldwide to declare a climate emergency, kickstarting a worldwide movement.

Susanne has mentored many women through Pathways to Politics, most recently newly-elected Councillor Samantha Choudhury, and has served on the program’s advisory committee and selection panel.

She is a board member of Birth for Humankind and Better Streets Australia and is working at a not-for-profit supporting social housing projects while she contemplates her next political move.

Stacey Ong
Executive Director, One Red Step

Stacey Ong is an economist by training and Executive Director of One Red Step, a consulting practice focused on social equity focused on the intersection of racism and gender inequality. She is an experienced management consultant with over 17 years’ experience in private, public and community sectors.

Prior to founding One Red Step, Stacey was a Director in management consulting with PricewaterhouseCoopers focusing on social policy and was their national staff lead for cultural diversity and inclusion for three years. Stacey is on the Board of Melbourne City Mission and Women’s Health Victoria. Stacey is a Fellow with the Women’s Leadership Institute of Australia. She is currently undertaking her research Masters of Social Science at RMIT University.

Bridget Vallence MP
State Member for Evelyn

Bridget Vallence is the Member for Evelyn in the Parliament of Victoria and is the Shadow Minister for Finance, Shadow Minister for Trade and Investment, and the Manager of Opposition Business.

Previously, Bridget has held other Shadow Ministerial portfolios including Industry, Innovation, Manufacturing, Skills and Training, Tertiary Education, Employment and Industrial Relations, Medical Research and the Digital Economy, Environment, Youth Affairs, and Equality. Ms Vallence was first elected in 2018, and re-elected in 2022.

Bridget has served on the Parliament’s Public Accounts and Estimates Committee and is a Parliamentary appointee to the board of VicHealth.

Prior to entering Parliament, Bridget was a procurement executive in the automotive industry, in both manufacturing and retail sectors in Australian, Asian and global markets, and is also experienced with organisational change and business transformation projects.

Bridget holds a Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Commerce (Honours) from the University of Melbourne. Bridget is an alum of the 2016 inaugural Pathways to Politics program.