The achievements and accomplishments of women in the public sector have been honoured by the Institute of Public Administration Australia.

This year’s Top 50 Public Sector Women awards were announced at an event last Friday at Melbourne Town Hall.

The awards were divided across two categories – Established Leader, which highlights women recognised as leaders, and Emerging Leader, which recognises women with initiative and agility.

A common thread throughout the awards was the effort of these women throughout the pandemic in helping their organisations to continue business as usual.

CEO of IPAA Victoria Nina Cullen said in a statement that the pandemic has “demanded that we change the way we work as teams and operate as organisations”.

“These peer-judged awards reflect the enormous challenges we faced as individuals and as a community and the women who championed innovation and made a difference.”

Leading council response to pandemic

Amongst those honoured were several women in local government, including Vicky Mason in the Established Leader category for her work as Director, Health and Wellbeing for Greater Bendigo City Council.

Ms Mason, who will be stepping down from the role in a few months, led the council’s response to managing the impact of the pandemic by assembling a group of leaders within Council to inform decision making.

She provided support to local government colleagues as chair of the Cluster Pandemic Committee, which included representatives from neighbouring shires.

Ms Mason also helped establish and coordinate the Greater Bendigo Pandemic Relief and Recovery Committee, which includes representatives of local organisations working together to overcome the challenges of the pandemic.

“I was surrounded by great people who were all committed to the same goal and I really welcomed the challenge,” she said in a statement.

“As a public health professional, you are always aware a pandemic may come, and while you hope it never does, it is a huge test.

City Chief Executive Officer Craig Niemann said Ms Mason has “an incredible work ethic and strong networks across the community”.

“She is highly respected and therefore able to positively influence health outcomes for the region,” he said in a statement.

“As she prepares to take a break from local government, this is a very fitting recognition and wonderful way to end her time with the City.”

Other women in local government in the Established Leader category include Kerryn Ellis of South Gippsland Shire Council, Katrina McKenzie of City of Melbourne and Helen Sui of Moonee Valley City Council.

The Emerging Leader category recognised the work of Mardi Cuthbert of City of Casey, Tammy Smith of Yarriambiack Shire Council and Stacy Williams of Gannawarra Shire Council

The awards were attended by more than 300 guests and hosted by Dr Emily Phillips, Deputy Secretary for Local Government and Suburban Development and co-chair of the Judging Panel, and Entsar Hamid, Deputy President of IPAA Victoria.

Top 50 Women: Established leaders (Embargo list)

• Louise Anderson, Court Services Victoria
• Kym Arthur Director, Department of Health
• Antoinette Battista, Department of Transport
• Nicole Brady, Department of Health
• Naomi Bromley, Department of Health
• Sherri Bruinhout, Homes Victoria
• Lisa Buckingham, Department of Jobs, Precincts and Regions
• Amanda Cameron, Barwon Health
• Emma Cassar, COVID-19 Quarantine Victoria
• Emma Catford, COVID-19 Quarantine Victoria
• Melanie Chisholm, Department of Health
• Susan Clifford, Department of Justice and Community Safety
• Simone Corinm Department of Families, Fairness and Housing
• Kelly Crosthwaite, Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning
• Dannii de Kretser, Department of Justice and Community Safety
• Joanne de Morton Chief Executive Officer Service Victoria
• Fiona Delahunt, Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning
• Kerryn Ellis, South Gippsland Shire Council
• Elly Gay, Department of Education and Training
• Abbey Hogan, Office of Public Prosecutions
• Dr Jane Homewood, Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning
• Paula Jeffs, Melbourne Water
• Michelle Johnston, Bendigo Kangan Institute
• Annette Lancy, Department of Families, Fairness and Housing
• Allyson Lardner, Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning
• Deanne Leaver, Department of Health
• Dr Clare Looker, Department of Health
• Vicky Mason Director, Health and Wellbeing Greater Bendigo City Council
• Kate Matson, Department of Health
• Rachaele May, Department of Jobs, Precincts & Regions
• Katrina McKenzie, City of Melbourne
• Laura Miller, Department of Families, Fairness and Housing
• Joanne Murdoch, North East Water
• Karyn Myers, Department of Justice and Community Safety
• Vivienne Nguyen, Victorian Multicultural Commission
• Michelle Osborne, COVID-19 Quarantine Victoria
• Elly Patira, Department of Premier and Cabinet
• Helen Quiney, Department of Education and Training
• Jennifer Rebeiro, Greater Western Water
• Angela Skandarajah, Development Victoria
• Bella Stagoll, Department of Education and Training
• Holly Stanton, Department of Jobs, Precincts and Regions
• Penelope Steuart, Department of Families, Fairnessand Housing
• Professor Rhonda Stuart, Monash Health
• Helen Sui, Moonee Valley City Council
• Kylie Trott, Parks Victoria
• Krista Vanderheide, Department of Health
• Julie Walsh, Department of Health
• Ruth Ward, Department of Families, Fairness and Housing
• Fiona Weigall, East Gippsland Shire Council

Top 50 Women: Emerging leaders (Embargo list)

• Christabelle Adjoyan, Department of Health
• Alisha Bedggood, Central Highlands Water
• Melissa Beukes, Department of Health
• Kate Cini Director, COVID-19 Quarantine Victoria
• Mardi Cuthbert, City of Casey
• Urgé Dinegde, Department of Families, Fairness and Housing
• Deb Fankhauser, Lower Murray Urban and Rural Water Corporation
• Mandy Griffiths, Department of Families, Fairness and Housing
• Penny Guadagnuolo, Department of Jobs, Precincts andRegions
• Rebecca Haig, Department of Education andTraining
• Daneeta Hennessy, Department of Health
• Michelle Hogan, Department of Education and Training
• Kate Houlden, Development Victoria
• Ashling James, Department of Jobs, Precincts and Regions
• Carol Kmon, Department of Justice and Community Safety
• Nicolle Korp, Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning
• Belinda Lord Director, Operations Directorate COVID-19 Quarantine Victoria
• Jennifer Martinez, Environment Protection Authority (EPA) Victoria
• Lynden Mullen, Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning
• Blaga Naumoski, Nillumbik Shire Council
• Rebecca Quinn, Parks Victoria
• Maya Ramakrishnan, Department of Families, Fairness and Housing
• Aparna Ravichandran, Department of Health
• Tammy Smith, Yarriambiack Shire Council
• Alicia Stark, Department of Health
• Dr Claire Tobin, Department of Education and Training
• Sasha Torsi, Department of Premier and Cabinet
• Zione Walker-Nthenda, Department of Families, Fairness and Housing
• Nicole Whitelaw, Department of Justice and Community Safety
• Stacy Williams, Gannawarra Shire Council