The Women in Local Government Strategy Group was formed in 2004 as part of the State’s commitment to women in local government in Queensland. The group meets four times a year to progress its strategy.

The group aims to increase women's representation in local government, at the elected and officer level. This means more women working as councillors, as well as in council positions like engineering, developing strategic plans and managing finances etc.

The group will do this by identifying obstacles preventing women from participating in local government and developing strategies to overcome these obstacles.

Strategy group members

• Betty Kiernan, MP
  • Chairs the Women in Local Government Strategy Group.
  • First woman to be elected to the seat of Mount Isa.
  • Became a councillor in 1981 and served on the Cloncurry Shire Council for three terms.
  • Development Officer and Manager of Corporate Services for Cloncurry Shire 1996 to 2003.
  • Has a strong interest in education, health and childcare.

  Betty enjoys reading and good movies, preferably comedy. She loves her work and the people and places in her electorate.

• Kathy Kelly
  • Training Manager with the Local Government Association of Queensland (LGAQ).
  • Working in local government over seven years.
  • Business and commerce teacher.
  • Industry leader in adult and organisational learning.
  • Thirty years experience designing and delivering consultancy services.
  • Currently studying strategies for keeping older workers in the workplace.

  Kathy believes in humour and good fun in the workplace. This is reflected in the professional and committed team that she works with.

• Councillor Kathy Bensted
  • President of the Australian Local Government Womens’ Association, Queensland Branch
  • Councillor for the Scenic Rim Regional Council
• Peta Irvine
  • Chief Executive Officer of Local Government Managers Australia (Qld).
  • Represented local government professionals in the 2008 reform process.
  • Worked with state government administering public transport services state-wide and with the Australian Hotels Association.
  • Has a Bachelor of Arts (Hons) and a Diploma in Financial Planning.
  • Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
  • Director of Intrust Super Fund.
• Peta Jamieson
  • Executive Director of Local Government Service Delivery for the Department of Local Government and Planning.
  • Has a Bachelor of Arts (Hons) degree with majors in Geographical Sciences and Government, a Master of Science in Environmental Management, and a Graduate Certificate in Business Administration.
  • Member of the Institute of Public Administration Australia.
  • Vision is for local and state government to work together to achieve common goals.
• Councillor Rhonda Sorensen
  • Councillor for the Tablelands Regional Council.
  • Foundation President of the Tablelands Business Women’s Network.
  • Foundation Member of Far North Queensland Regional Business Women’s Alliance.
  • Inaugural Director of Malanda Monsoon Festival and facilitator of Malanda Business Retention and Expansion project.
  • Has worked in biodiscovery, dairy and food industries, laboratory management, project and events management, marketing, business.
  • Spent over 20 years with Malanda Milk and Dairy Farmers as Laboratory Manager.
  • Has a Masters in Business Administration, a Graduate Certificate in Total Quality Management, and an Associate Diploma in Clinical Science.

  "We have strong robust communities each with their own local character and identity, and people who are fiercely proud of them. Women have a long-term vision and specifically focus on the livability factors in our communities."

• Councillor Pam Parker
  • Mayor of Logan City Council
• Holly Patterson
  • Coordinator, Australian Services Union
• Tracey Sharpe
  • District Secretary – South Western District of the Australian Workers’ Union