SWAN INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY gradient (1500 x 1080 px) (3)_edited.jpg

About

JOIN US FOR THE INAUGURAL
SWAN INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY AWARDS

Zaneta Mascarenhas MP

Federal Member for Swan.

Zaneta Mascarenhas was born in Kalgoorlie to Goan Indian parents. Her father, Joe, was a fitter, and her mother, Ethel, a cleaner and lollypop lady.
When Joe and Ethel first attempted to start their skilled migrant visa, they were told “You have the right skills, but you’re the wrong colour.” The dismantling of the White Australia Policy enabled the family to finally start their better future in Australia.

Zaneta grew up in Kambalda with her sister, Cleta. She then moved to Swan aged 18 to study chemistry and chemical engineering at Curtin University.

Whilst Zaneta completed her studies, she held leadership positions in the Curtin Student Guild and National Union of Students.

After graduating, Zaneta worked as an engineer on mine and construction sites across regional WA and Victoria. The technical, interpersonal and policy skills she developed culminated in an engineering consultant role assisting ASX200 companies to decarbonise.

In 2022, Zaneta was elected as the federal Member for Swan. She is the first woman in the seat’s 101-year history to hold this role.

Zaneta continues to live in Swan with her husband, Sam. They are raising their two young children, Lincoln and Felicity.

Lyndsey Fitzgerald

CEO of Jacaranda Community Centre

Lyndsay Fitzgerald is a financial counsellor, welfare worker and CEO of Jacaranda Community Centre.

In March 2000, Lyndsay established Jacaranda Community Centre as a not-for-profit, grassroots community organisation with the help of the local Aboriginal and Belmont communities.

In the early days of Jacaranda, Lyndsay and her husband personally paid for the organisation’s rent and operating costs.

Today, Jacaranda is a vibrant not-for-profit community hub with 16 employees, countless volunteers and a variety of social assistance and development programs.

Lyndsay and the Jacaranda team have won numerous awards for their holistic work supporting and building capacity of people on low incomes in the Belmont region.

As a Member of the National Coordination Group, Lyndsay provides evidence-based advice to the Minister for Social Services on demand, emerging issues and delivery of emergency relief, food relief and financial counselling services.

Freda Ogilvie

Whadjuk/Ballardong Elder | Educator | Policy | Strategy

Freda Ogilvie is a Whadjuk/Ballardong Elder, retired teacher, board member and consultant with extensive experience in community and policy development.

For over three decades, she has promoted Indigenous rights and social justice, education, diversity and the empowerment of Indigenous communities whilst challenging prevailing stereotypes and prejudices.

Freda has educated students across WA as a teacher and deputy principal. She has been involved in the development and practice of strategies and programs for students from diverse linguistic, cultural, religious and socioeconomic backgrounds.

As a volunteer with Soroptimist International, Freda initiated an education scholarship in Broome, co-established the Aboriginal Nunga Woman’s Group and assisted in developing a mobile preschool for geographically remote Aboriginal communities. Freda continues to challenge Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to commence tertiary studies in education, and mentors them throughout their studies.

Freda contributed to Aboriginal early childhood programs in WA and NT, early childhood education and care policy, oral language development programs and national early childhood education forums.

Following her retirement from Ruah’s Board, Freda was appointed to the Future of Fremantle Committee through the Department of Planning, Lands and Heritage.

Freda is a Welcome to Country speaker and has kindly offered to deliver this ceremony at the 2024 Swan IWD Awards.

Hon. Hannah Beazley MLA

Minister for Youth; Local Government; Assistant Minister for Training & Workforce Development. Member for Victoria Park.

Hannah Beazley was born and raised in Victoria Park and was elected to represent her community in the Western Australian State Parliament in 2021.

Hannah became the first female Member for Victoria Park since the electorate was established in 1930.

Hannah has over 20 years of experience in communications, community and stakeholder engagement, strategic planning, risk management, media relations, marketing, social policy and small business operations.

For the better part of a decade, Hannah held senior executive level communications, marketing and governance roles in the not-for-profit, public, environmental and education sectors. She has been Speechwriter and Senior Policy Advisor to two Western Australian Premiers and is a proud former small business owner.

Since her election in 2021, Hannah was appointed Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministers for Emergency Services, Innovation and the Digital Economy, Volunteering, Lands, Housing and Homelessness.

Hannah is currently the Minister for Youth; Local Government and Minister Assisting the Minister for Training and Workforce Development.

She continues to call the electorate home, and is raising her two young sons.

International Women's Day is recognised globally to celebrate the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women.

Zaneta Mascarenhas MP and Jacaranda Community Centre are bringing this celebration to Swan.

Connect with local leaders from business, government, sport, education and the community sector.

Breakfast
Inspiring speakers
Special guests
Awards presentation
Aretha Franklin medley by Choiral Tones

All event proceeds will support Jacaranda Community Centre, a grassroots incorporated not-for-profit providing holistic and capacity-building social services to low income individuals in Belmont and the surrounding areas.

Learn more about Jacaranda Community Centre here.

Awards