On 23 September, Gabrielle Williams MP, Minister for Women and Gender Equality, inducted 27 women and gender diverse people to the Honour Roll at a ceremony at the Arts Centre Melbourne.
This year marks the 25th anniversary of the first Victorian Honour Roll of Women. The Honour Roll was established by the late Joan Kirner AC in 2001 – the state’s first woman Premier - as part of Victoria’s centenary celebrations.
The 2026 inductees are remarkable in many different fields. There are criminologists and lawyers, surgeons and GPs, and a First Nations educator. There are scientists and professors, a musical therapist and a culinary pioneer/TV chef.
Some are honoured for their extensive service to their local communities, others for their tireless fights for justice. Several came to Australia as refugees and made their homes in Victoria. They lead their communities and make the state a fairer and better place for us all.
This year’s inductees are:
Trailblazer: Lauren Aphrodite Cassimatis, Elizabeth Chong AM, Professor Katharine Drummond AM, Moira Rayner CM
Change Agent: Associate Professor Brianna Chesser, Lily Clifford, Jan Daniher, Mish Kumar-Jonson, Dr Tracy Leong, Michel Margalit, Dr Marietta Martinovic OAM, Nicole Meyer, Dassi Erlich and Elly Lichter, Jackie Murphy, Dr Emma O'Brien OAM, Aunty Lorraine Parsons, Associate Professor Magdalena Simonis AM, Professor Jane Visvader, Professor Clare Wright OAM, Dr Melika Yassin Sheikh-Eldin
Local Champion: Margo Hartley OAM, Bronwen Haywood CM, Awatif Taha, Kathryn Williams
Emerging Leader: Dr Naba Masad Alfayadh
And for the first time, a new category History Heroine: Sister Margaret Ann Noone AM
819 women have been inducted to the Honour Roll since 2001.
Highlighting the achievements of women leaders progresses gender equality and shows future generations that anything is possible – if you can see it, you can be it.
Find out more about this year’s inductees via the Victorian Honour Roll of Women inductees webpage.
Follow their stories @VicGovDFFH