Our predictions on the women who’ll be defining 2024. From politics to business, sport, advocacy, tech, culture and health.
These women will be agenda setters, thanks to their leadership positions, their talent and their sheer tenacity.
We’ve selected these women according to our news coverage over the past 12 months or so and following editorial meetings and research regarding what we can expect from 2024.
They are, of course, just a sample of the women who will be establishing new agendas and new paths forward. And, just like in 2023, we know there will be women and new names that will emerge throughout the year. Also, just like in 2023 and every year before it, we are also well aware of all the women who lead and establish agendas in their own essential spheres of influence, leadership that doesn’t make the headlines but is just as important regardless.
We have chosen the below categories to focus on, based on the key areas we cover on Women’s Agenda.
Politics
Senator Penny Wong, Minister for Foreign Affairs
As a humanitarian crisis in Gaza threatens widespread war in the Middle East, all eyes will be on Minister of Foreign Affairs Senator Penny Wong, who will drive Australia’’s foreign policy response to the unfolding situation.
Jacinta Allen, Premier of Victoria
Jacinta Allen has not yet served six months as the Premier of Victoria, the second woman to lead in the state’s history. She will play a key role in meeting the goals and objectives set out in Victoria’s gender equality strategy and action plan 2023-2027.
Jodie Harrison MP, Minister for Women
The NSW Minister for Women Jodie Harrison was behind the establishment of the NSW Women’s Advisory Council, which met for the first time in December 2023. She, along with the twelve community leaders who sit on the council, will ultimately shape the political agenda for women in NSW.
Zoe Daniel MP, Independent Member for Goldstein
Zoe Daniel is one of the “teal independents” who sits on the crossbench in the House of Representatives. The Member for Goldstein, along with other independent MPs, has been very vocal on climate action, integrity in polics, women’s safety economic equality and health, as well as sexual violence on university campuses. She shows no signs of slowing down in 2024.
Sussan Ley, Deputy Leader of the Opposition
Sussan Ley is the Deputy Leader of the Opposition and the Shadow Minister for Women. Although last year she came under fire for her views on strip clubs, she ended the parliamentary year by launching a domestic violence awareness drive. As domestic violence took the lives of 63 women in 2023, Ley will be vital in putting pressure on the government from the Opposition to turn these statistics around.
Tech
Luli Adeyemo, Executive Director of the TechDiversity Foundation
The tech industry is evolving ever so rapidly, and we need diversity in the sector now more than ever. As Executive Director of the TechDiversity Foundation and the winner of the 2023 Women’’s Agenda Emerging Leader in Tech award, Luli Adeyemo is on a mission to do just that.
Melanie Perkins, co-founder and CEO of Canva
Melanie Perkins is leading the charge in Australia’s tech industry, as the co-founder of Canva topped the list of the Australian Financial Review’s Young Rich List for the third year in a row.
Ashi Bhat, founder of the INSIDER app
Ashi Bhat describes herself as a serial entrepreneur. Over a year ago, the TEDx speaker and marketing leader founded INSIDER, an app that revolutionises brand loyality programs using blockchain technology.
Shirley Gwynn, CEO of TALK5
Shirley Gwynn was appointed as CEO of TALK5, Australia’s first AI-powered, voice enabled Work Health and Safety (WHS) software platform, at the end of last year. Heading into 2024, Gwynn will play a key role in breaking down cultural, literacy and language barriers to bridge the gap between safety protocols and frontline workers.
Prof. Svetha Venkatesh, co-director, A2I2, Alfred Deakin Professor at Deakin University
As the leading Australian computer scientist, Professor Svetha Venkatesh has already made headway in activity and event recognition in multimedia data. Her work, which has been recognised internationally, will be vital in Australia’s tech industry coming into 2024
Dr Ramona Vijeyarasa, chief investigator, Gender Legislative Index
Dr Ramona Vijeyarasa is the woman behind the Gender Legislative Index, the first comprehensive IT-based tool to improve legislation for women in Australia. Her passion and expertise in women’s rights and gender equality is much needed in Australia’’s tech scene.
Business
Michele Stanfield, founder of Cauldron
Climate change, overpopulation and other environmental issues has elicited food insecurity in many parts of the world. Michele Stansfield is set to change that with her biochemistry start-up Cauldron, a fermentation business creating nutritious and sustainable compounds for new and innovative plant-based foods.
Michelle Simmons, founder of Silicon Quantum Computing
Michelle Simmons, the 2018 Australian of the Year and Scientia Professor at the University of New South Wales, is still at the forefront of Australia’s quantum computing discipline. Now, her new startup Silicon Quantum Computing has the potential to advance the field even further.
Vandana Chaudhry, founder of Andisor
Vandana Chaudry has been an executive at Deliveroo, Crocs and now has founded her very own business, Andisor. The e-commerce platform seamlessly connects retailers and wholesalers on an easy-to-use digital platform, revolutionising the sector.
Mundanara Bayles, founder of BlakCast
At the end of 2023, Australia’s first ever network of podcasts highlighting stories of First Nations Peoples and people of colour launched. The woman behind BlakCast, Mundanara Bayles, has certainly given opportunities for First Nations Peoples to reclaim their narratives and strengthen cultural identity, starting in 2024 and beyond.
Shemara Wikramanayake, CEO of Macquarie Group
The managing director and CEO of Macquarie Group Shemara Wikramanayake ranked number nine in Fortune’s 100 Most Powerful Women of 2023. This impressive accolade makes her one woman to watch in the business world – both in Australia and worldwide.
Vanessa Hudson, CEO of Qantas
Vanessa Hudson stepped up as CEO of Qantas last year in what was certainly the ultimate “glass cliff” situation. After a horror year for the aviation company, Hudson will determine how Qantas will bounce back.
Lacey Webb, founder of Resource Hub
Lacey Webb’s female-led small business Resource Hub has revolutionised waste management for businesses in Australia. As the winner of the 2023 Women’s Agenda Small Business Leader of the Year award, she is certainly one to watch, setting the agenda in the Waste and Resource Recovery sector.
Suzie Betts, founder of Boob Armour
Women’s sport had its biggest year yet in 2023 – and interest is only getting stronger. Suzie Betts’ revolutionary product Boob Armour will help sport for women become safer and even more accessible. Betts was the 2023 Women’s Agenda Emerging Entrepreneur of the Year.
Tara Croker, founder of Yaala Sparkling
Tara Croker is a proud Wiradjuri woman and the founder of Yaala Sparkling, non-alcoholic beverages that honour the true flavours her Ancestors have enjoyed for generations. In 2023, Croker, a finalist in the Women’s Agenda Leadership Awards, received investment from Shark Tank’s Dr Catriona Wallace, which will surely boost the success of what is already a successful business in 2024.
Health
Sam Mostyn, Chair of Beyond Blue
Accomplished business leader and advocate Sam Mostyn is set to play a pivotal role in the mental health space this year, as she settles into her new role as Chair of Beyond Blue. Mostyn has replaced former Prime Minister Julia Gillard in the role, and says she is focused on increasing digital and other accessible support for mental health and wellbeing. She is also the Chair of the government’s Women’s Economic Equality Taskforce.
Samantha Payne, founder of the Pink Elephants Support Network
As the founder of the Pink Elephants Support Network, Samantha Payne is a leader in the national conversation on miscarriage and early pregnancy loss. Named Agenda Setter of the Year at the 2023 Women’s Agenda Leadership Awards, Payne will continue to push for policy reform to improve the lives of women and families going through the devastation of pregnancy loss.
Professor Gita Mishra, NHMRC Leadership Fellow, University of Queensland
Professor Gita Mishra first came onto our radar last year when she was a senior author in a University of Queensland study that found women with endometriosis are likely to experience high rates of other health conditions. The longitudinal research was the first of its kind, and will help support the improvement of women’s quality of life. We expect Professor Mishra to be a central figure in endometriosis research this year.
Dr Danielle Wilhour, neurologist, UCHealth Neurosciences Center
As a board-certified neurologist who specialises in headache medicine, Dr Danielle Wilhour, has written about gender differences in migraines – more than three times as many women experience migraines – and the importance of bridging the gender gap in migraine research to empower women and advance our understanding of the condition.
Associate Professor Anna Boltong, CEO of Ovarian Cancer Australia
Associate Professor Anna Boltong was appointed CEO of Ovarian Cancer Australia towards the end of last year, and will continue to play an influential role in the health sector this year as she looks to develop the organisation’s strategic plan. Ovarian Cancer Australia is focused on bridging gaps to ensure everyone has equal access to timely and comprehensive support for ovarian cancer.
Sport
Ariarne Titmus, Australian Olympic swimmer
One of Australia’s hottest prospects at the Paris 2024 Olympics, Ariarne Titmus is one of the key athletes to keep an eye on this year. She excelled at the Swimming World Championships last year and is expected to do the same in Paris.
Kelsey Lee Barber, Australian Olympic athlete: javelin
Kelsey Lee Barber is the reigning world champion in javelin and will be one of the key Australian athletes to know at the upcoming Paris Olympics.
Jade Melbourne, WNBL player for University of Canberra Capitals
WNBL and UCCapitals player Jade Melbourne has been named in the Australian Opals extended squad ahead of the Olympic Qualifying tournament in February, where the Opals will look to secure their spot for the Paris Olympics. At just 21 years old, she was the youngest player in the WNBA in the US last year.
Zarlie Goldsworthy, AFLW player for GWS Giants
GWS GIANTS’ Zarlie Golsworthy was named the Rising Star at the 2023 AFLW awards, and at just 19 years old, also made her maiden appearance on the All-Australian side for the AFLW. As we head into the next season, she is one to keep watching.
Cortnee Vine, Australian soccer player for Sydney F.C. and the Matildas
Matildas up-and-comer Cortnee Vine was one of the most exciting players to watch at the FIFA Women’s World Cup in 2023 – memorably scoring a winning penalty against France – and is a player to watch at the upcoming Olympics as the Matildas look to secure a medal.
Leadership
Katherine Berney, Director of the National Women’s Safety Alliance
Katherine Bearney is a central figure in the sexual, domestic and family violence sector, and uses her platform to drive change to create better outcomes for women across Australia. She was recognised last year as Women’s Agenda’s Emerging Leader in the NFP sector.
Prabha Nandagopal, founder of Elevating Consulting Partners
Human rights lawyer Prabha Nandagopal, the founder of Elevating Consulting Partners, has worked with employees across Australia who have faced sex-based discrimination, sexual harassment and racism. She recently spoke to Women’s Agenda about the importance of employers implementing positive duty properly and has a background as the Director of Legal for the Commonwealth Parliamentary Workplaces review in 2021.
Charmaine Hunzwi, President of Incubate Foundation
Charmaine Hunzwi is the President of Incubate Foundation, an organisation supporting young African Asutralians to reach their fullest potential; and Founder of Safe Space Media which creates content that challenges the narratives of under-represented communities. She was named an Agenda Setter finalist at the 2023 Women’s Agenda Leadership Awards, and is a changemaker to watch this year.
Angelique Wan, co-founder and CEO of Consent Labs
Co-founder and CEO of Consent Labs, Angelique Wan was named Agenda Setter of the Year at the 2023 Women’s Agenda Leadership Awards, and is continuing her work to help young people develop a better understanding of consent through education.
Arts/Culture
Shankari Chandran, author, Chai Time at Cinnamon Gardens
In 2023, Shankari Chandran won the Miles Franklin Literary Award for her novel Chai Time at Cinnamon Gardens. This year will see her fourth novel, Safe Haven, published, a story highlighting the plight of refugees seeking asylum in Australia. Her book no doubt will help change the narrative around asylum seekers in this country.
Bri Lee, author, The Work
The arts industry continues to battle with the struggles of funding, cost of living and more. Bri Lee, author of Who Gets to be Smart and award-winning Egshell Skull, explores these struggles plus so much more in her new book The Work, which will be published this year.
Gracie Otto, director, Ladies in Black
Ladies in Black is a television drama expected to hit screens this year. The female-led production team created the series to explore the lives of women in Australia in the late 1950s, where although much has changed, some challenges are still relatable even today. The show was directed by Gracie Otto.
Emma Hough Hobbs and Leela Varghese, writers, Lesbian Space Princess
Lesbian Space Princess is an animated television series, written by Emma Hough Hobbs and Leela Varghese. The show will champion greater representation for LGBTQIA+ identities, plus so much more, for 2024.
Cathy Randall, director, Red Rock Run
Cathy Randall is well-known for directing Hey Hey It’s Esther Blueberg (2008) starring Toni Collette. This year, she will be directing the feature film Red Rock Run, following the story of a young girl pursuing to run a gruelling 120km race.