NCWA Executive Members
2024-2027
Fiona Dorman
President
Fiona holds a Bachelor Science (Hons) and has worked in research in the areas of haematology, adult stem cell research and pre-clinical research in oncology drug development and orthopaedics.
I am passionate about serving the community and advocating for women in all our diversity. I believe in giving back and using your knowledge and skills for the benefit of your community. I believe that belonging matters and giving what you can matters. I believe that we can achieve great things if we work together. I believe in giving a voice to issues and causes and the power of advocacy.
As a member of the Asian Women’s Consultative Council SA, I joined the National Council of Women SA as the AWCC delegate (2006) and have been a member of NCWSA and active since this time. In the past I have served various South Australian organisations such as the Australia Day Council of SA as Deputy Chair and at RPH Adelaide 1197am (Vision Australia) as a newsreader and as a member of the Torrens University Human Research Ethics Committee.
In July 2021, I was appointed as Chair of the Premier’s Council for Women. Our remit is to provide independent advice to the Premier and the Minister for Human Services. As Chair, it is my role to facilitate the utilisation of our voices and diverse skills, networks, and perspectives to enhance policy development across government and the private sector.
Fiona is a Governor of St Peter’s College and Co-Founder of the South Australian Women’s Fund; a philanthropic fund focussed on providing grants to organisations that benefit women and girls in South Australia. Across these roles, her pillars of focus are impact and outcomes through collaboration and partnerships, determining best evidence-based practice, social and community policy reform and change through advocacy. She holds interests in a broad range of businesses and relish the opportunity to champion the great businesses in South Australia.
Within the National Council of Women SA and Australia, I have been an active member since 2006; holding the following roles. Position/s held in Council: National Council of Women SA Member, 2006 to 2024 NCW SA President, November 2018 to present NCW Australia Board, November 2018 to present NCW SA Convenor Ruth Gibson Memorial Award Committee, November 2018 to present NCW SA Vice President, November 2017 to November 2018 NCW SA Newsletter Editor April 2018 to present NCW SA Mass Media Adviser 2006 to 2008, 2016 to November 2018 NCW SA Executive Committee Member 2006 –2008, 2017 to present.
Yvette Kinkade
Vice President
Yvette Kinkade is a strategic operations and governance leader with experience across commercial, member-based and not-for-profit organisations.
Her expertise spans governance, operational excellence, finance, stakeholder engagement and organisational transformation with a proven ability to strengthen performance and deliver sustainable outcomes.
As Vice President of the National Council of Women of Australia and Immediate Past President of the National Council of Women of NSW, Yvette provides leadership in governance and advocacy, working with government, community organisations and sector leaders to advance practical solutions to complex social issues. She also serves on the Board of The Equanimity Project, supporting education, advocacy and services for people impacted by domestic and family violence.
Throughout her career, Yvette has led organisational transformation, strengthened governance, improved financial performance and built strategic partnerships across diverse sectors. She is recognised for building trusted relationships, bringing people together and translating strategy into measurable results.
Yvette is also the founder and Director of Track Day Club, Australia’s leading community-focused track day organisation, creating an inclusive environment where people of all backgrounds and experience levels build confidence, develop their skills and connect through motorsport.
A published children’s author, Yvette believes strong communities are built when people have equitable access to opportunity, support and participation. She brings strategic thinking, commercial acumen and collaborative leadership to every role, with a commitment to strengthening organisations and creating lasting positive impact.
Christine Carr
Treasurer
Bridget Mather PSM
International Co-ordinator /
Co-ordinator of Convenors of Standing Committee
Bridget is an experienced executive with a strong background in local and Commonwealth government, currently serving as CEO of Coorong District Council. She has led major national initiatives,and was awarded the Public Service Medal for her leadership in public administration.
Bridget holds an MBA and is a Graduate of the AICD and Fellow of the Governance Institute of Australia. She has served on a wide range of boards across health, education, regional development, libraries, and community sectors.
A long-standing leader in Zonta International, Bridget is the current Chair of Zonta Australia and former Board Chair of Zonta District 22. She brings national and international advocacy experience, advancing gender equality through global networks.
As NCWA’s National Advocacy Coordinator, she leads national efforts to advance issues affecting women and girls
Laura Ives Hicks
Secretary
Laura has experience in a variety of different management and advocacy groups through Girl Guides, at a Local, State and National level. She was the executive of NCWWA from 2019 till 2022, where she was the Young Women’s Representative.
Currently Laura is studying her Master’s in Public Policy and Management, previously studying history and criminal behaviour. This study has led her to begin her career within Government. During her undergrad Laura ran the university magazine and was an active member of the student body advocating for greater opportunities for women entering and being part of the university decision making process.
As a young women Laura is passionate about empowering those around her to achieve their goals and help them in realising their own passion. She is an educated advocate for young women’s advancements in leadership and decision making. Creating more opportunities for girls and young women to create positive effective change for the coming generations to give them the opportunities she didn’t have, allowing for a more inclusive world.
Laura wants to see a future world where girls and women are able to reach their full potential and have the opportunity to speak up without fear of discrimination or being ostracised by society.
NCWA Board Members
Sandy Smith
Board Member & NCWQ President
Sandy currently serves on the NCWA Board as she is the President of the NCWQ having been involved in the NCWQ Management Committee since 2019 as one of the delegates for Affiliate Organisation, the Quota Club of Brisbane.
Sandy has a long history of working to support the community as a volunteer and through her working life as a Guidance Officer, Primary School teacher, Learning Support Teacher, Acting Senior Guidance Officer, Statewide Verifier and Acting Statewide Senior Guidance Officer. Now retired from her career within Education which spanned thirty-five years Sandy is able to devote more time to her passion for helping others.
This passion has led to Sandy taking up leadership roles within Quota having joined Quota in Kingaroy in 1996. Some of those roles include Student of the Year Coordinator, President, Secretary, Governor of District 30, Treasurer of Region 13 and Listening to Learn Program Coordinator. As immediate past President of the Quota Brisbane Sandy was happy to coordinate the development of the club’s new website and still administers the Facebook page which she established some years ago. Sandy is currently serving as Secretary.
A lateral thinker, Sandy is known for her organisation and thinking outside of the square. She enjoys swimming in her pool, kayaking and walking her fur baby Muffin, a feisty Maltese X. Sandy enjoys visits from her two children James and Ebonney and her two Grandchildren Indy and Lorreli.
Sandy has a Masters in Education – Guidance and Counselling, Post Grad in Special Education and Diploma in Teaching- Primary. She also has certificates in Emotional Release Counselling, Mentoring and Mediation.
Elida Brereton
Board Member & NCWV President
Margaret Findlater - Smith OAM
Board Member
Dorothy Kelly
Board Member & NCWT President
Dorothy has a background in Industrial Relations.
Her early roles included Office Administration in the Industrial Relations area in both full and part–time positions, retiring completely in 2010.
She has been involved with NCWT since 2000 in several honorary roles including President and Treasurer and is at present President.
Dorothy has been involved with a Women’s Shelter in Hobart for over 30 years and is at present Honorary Secretary on the Board of Caroline House Inc. which is a long term home for women with mental conditions.
Dorothy is the Mother of four children and Grandmother of four.
Susan Wilson
Board Member & NSW Representative
Susan is a former lawyer with extensive experience across private and public practice in four Australian jurisdictions. She has held senior executive roles in global legal and consulting firms, leading major transformation programs to enhance client experience and organisational performance across complex national and international environments.
She is the Graduate Women NSW Inc (GW NSW) delegate to the Executive Committee of the National Council of Women NSW, Director and NSW representative on the National Council of Women Australia Board.
A long‑standing GW NSW leader, Susan has strengthened educational opportunities and outcomes for women and girls, including revitalising the GW NSW City Branch TAFE Pathways Awards to enable disadvantaged students to pursue university education. Her commitment also includes corporate ‘Champion for Women’ roles, work with Dress for Success, and board service with The Women’s Club, NSW.
Claire Newland
Board Member & NCWSA President
Claire is deeply committed to community engagement, having been actively involved with various organisations in South Australia, including the National Council of Women South Australia (NCWSA) and local community sports group. She has been a member of NCWSA since 2019, serving as a General Executive Member and Vice President before assuming the role of President in 2024. For her further education, she received the Ruth Gibson Memorial Award in 2021.
Professionally, Claire specialises in governance, process improvement and helping not-for-profits and commercial organisations improve their operations. Her experience spans across professional services firms and government roles.
Claire is passionate above advancing women’s outcomes, particularly in education, financial security, economic participation and advocacy for women’s sports. In her spare time, Claire actively participates in women’s softball. Claire holds a Graduate Diploma of Legal Studies, A Bachelor of Laws and a Bachelor of International Studies.
Asha Clementi
Board Member
At the age of 17, she co-founded The Girls Leadership Network. In 2018, Asha founded Girls Run The World – a program that encourages young women to consider careers in diplomacy. It has given over 350 participants the opportunity to spend a day in over 60 participating Embassies and High Commissions, meeting with ambassadors and making tangible contributions to the embassy’s work. The program has also recently expanded to Melbourne and Sydney.
In 2024, she started the Women in Strategic Policy program – an initiative, funded by the Department of Defence that trains and supports young women to contribute to Australia’s strategic policy debate. In 2025 and 2026, she co-led delegations of young women to the UN Commission on the Status of Women.
She was named the 2022 ACT Young Woman of the Year and one of the 40 Under 40 Most Influential Asian-Australians. Her work has been recognised internationally, as she received a Commonwealth Points of Light award from Queen Elizabeth II and a Hän Honour from the Government of Finland.
Chantelle Stratford PSM
Board Member
I have led national reforms, negotiated global agreements, chaired multilateral forums, and advised ministers and CEOs. Across every role, my focus has remained constant: to shift power, centre women and girls in policy and decision-making, and embed gender equality into the structures that shape our economies and societies.
My work is rooted in the Asia-Pacific, informed by global experience. I use data, lived experience, and policy expertise to challenge entrenched inequities and deliver better outcomes for women, particularly in economic participation, leadership, care, safety, health, and housing.
Championing economic equality is core to my work. That includes reshaping the world of work to close gender pay gaps, expand decent and flexible jobs, and rebalance care. It means designing housing, health, and financial systems that meet the needs of women and families, and embedding gendered perspectives into national budgets, climate policy, and trade systems. It also means tackling violence, exclusion, and systemic neglect with urgency and clarity.
I have a particular commitment to amplifying women’s leadership in peace, defence, and national security. I work to ensure that women’s expertise and lived experience shape responses to conflict, displacement, and crisis. Inclusive leadership is not only fairer, it is more effective, more stable, and more enduring.
Throughout my career, I have brought together governments, businesses, civil society, and philanthropy to collaborate on bold, lasting reform. I specialise in navigating complexity, building followership, and driving progress in politically and culturally diverse settings. I am known for making things happen with pace, precision, and integrity.
I am proud to work alongside a global network of feminist leaders who are transforming institutions, rewriting rules, and delivering results. Together we are not just imagining a more equal world. We are building it.