Women for Election (WFE) has elected Shirley Chowdhary as their new Chair of the Board.
The internationally experienced board director will bring her expertise working across law, finance and media to champion WFE’s mission to help increase the representation and diversity of women in public office.
Chowdhary, who currently holds non-executive director positions on the boards of the Australian Associated Press, Northrop Consulting Engineers and the Royal Australian Institute of Architects, was also the host of The Leadership Lesson, a Women’s Agenda podcast showcasing conversations with female change-makers, including Turia Pitt, activist Mariam Mohammed and Indigenous tech entrepreneur, Mikaela Jade. She is also on the advisory board of Mentor Walks.
In her new role, which commences today, Chowdhary said she believes everyone deserves a chance to run for office.
“We all, in the richness of our diversity, deserve to be represented in our federal, state and local governments,” she said in a statement released this morning.
“The work of WFE is vital to getting more women, including women of intersectionality, elected and I am proud to be embarking on this journey as the next Chair of WFE.”
WFE CEO, Licia Heath, described Chowdhary’s appointment as a “statement of how our organisation has professionalised in recent years.”
“I’m looking forward to the energy and experience that Shirley will bring to WFE, to our Board and to our impact as we scale our work nationally,” she said.
News of Chowdhary’s appointment comes just eight weeks after the organisation secured a $5 million federal grant over five years to leverage in-place training programs and produce an online virtual program, as well as “campaign in your pocket” technology resources for women interested in running for office.
The grant money will allow WFE to collaborate with a consortium of heavy-hitting gender-specialist organisations, including ANU’s Global Institute of Women’s Leadership, Quantum Impact Group, Australian Local Government Women’s Associated, Politics in Colour and experienced trainer Ruth McGowan.
Speaking to Women’s Agenda in March, Heath said the programs WFE deliver are “an investment in strengthening our democracy,” adding that it is important “people from diverse communities can see themselves in their political representatives, that they feel they have a voice in the halls of power and decision-making and can readily maintain their faith in political institutions.”
“Women for Election is elated that women’s political representation is a priority for the Australian Government,” she said.
“We’re committed to working constructively across the political spectrum, including with major and minor parties, independents and our Parliamentary Friendship Group, to ensure women have access to information and resources that support them to run for election.”