The number of women represented on catchment management boards in Victoria has increased significantly in recent times. In 2017, sixty per cent of Catchment Management Authority (CMA) chair appointees were women, expanding the breadth of views, knowledge and experience in catchment management.
DELWP’s Director Development Program supported new board members of Catchment Management Authorities, water corporations and the Victorian Catchment Management Council. Other professional development opportunities focused on supporting women include the ‘Women in Leadership’ category of the Our Catchments, Our Communities Leadership Development Grants.
The first ‘Women in Catchment Management’ event held in 2017 celebrated 120 women working in the sector across Victoria providing valuable opportunities for networking and to learn about career journeys, mentoring, diversity and inclusion and women in science.
Key achievements to date
- ‘Women in Catchment Management’ event at Melbourne Zoo in recognition of 20 years of Victoria’s catchment management framework.
- An increase in women appointed to CMA boards (48 per cent to 59 per cent).
- An increase in women on the Victorian Catchment Management Council (50 per cent to 71 per cent).
- Women received six of the eight Our Catchments, Our Communities Leadership Development Grants, including two in the ‘Women in Leadership’ category.
Receiving the Women in Leadership Grant funding to undertake the Rural Women’s Leadership Program was a fantastic opportunity! The program has enabled me to build wonderful interstate networks and explore ways we can collaborate innovatively.
‘Women in Catchment Management’ event
‘It was really inspirational and wonderful to get perspectives of the leadership and life experiences that women in Victorian natural resource management and science fields have had throughout their careers.’
– Hannah Brook, Glenelg Hopkins CMA
left: Conservation Circles - Women in Catchment Management event. Photo credit: DELWP.
Page last updated: 28/06/19