Kathy McLeish is the Co-Chair of Women in Media Australia and was the founding Convenor of Women in Media Queensland. Kathy is an award-winning ABC journalist and producer who has reported for programs across the network including Stateline, 7.30, Landline, Australian Story and TV and radio news and current affairs.

“I’m incredibly grateful for the unwavering support and opportunity the Zonta Club of Brisbane has given me, and the women who work in media in the Pacific region, through its ‘Advancement of Women Award’.

The generosity of Zonta members has enabled me to work with others to begin establishing a trans-Pacific support and mentoring network for women in this industry. As a result of this project, this year 20 journalists, editors and producers from Women in Media Fiji were mentored by senior women in the industry from across the Pacific, providing opportunities for upskilling, personal and professional growth and career advancement that they will then pass on to others.

I urge anyone who is working to help lift other women to apply for this award.  It’s an extraordinary opportunity to further important projects aimed at progressing the status of women, and also to connect and collaborate with like-minded members of the Zonta Club of Brisbane and their invaluable experiences and insights.

Being a recipient of Zonta’s support has been a significant milestone in my life and work. The organisation’s dedication to empowering women and improving the lives of countless individuals is simply inspiring.”

Thelma Schwartz is the principal legal officer of the Queensland Indigenous Family Violence Legal Service (QIFVLS), an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community-controlled organisation providing legal and non-legal support services to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander victims and survivors of family violence and sexual assault in Queensland

Thelma identifies as of Torres Strait Islander heritage alongside her German, Samoan and Papua New Guinean heritage. She has more than 21 years post-admission experience working in commercial litigation in the Northern Territory and Queensland, in criminal law defence extensively across the Far North Queensland region representing men, women and children across multiple courts. In 2018, in recognition of her work in regional and remote Queensland, Thelma was the award recipient of the Regional Woman Lawyer of the Year 2018 by the Women Lawyer’s Association of Queensland. Thelma has extensive practice experiences working with and for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, in the provision of legal services in regional, rural and remote Queensland.

Thelma appeared as a witness before the Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation of People with Disability and Inquiry into Family Domestic and Sexual Violence. She is a member of the Women’s Safety and Justice Taskforce.

Cathy is co-founder of Of One Mind, a not for profit company behind the development of the Women of the World Festival in Australia. She was chosen as the winner of the Advancement of Women Award in recognition of her outstanding 20-year track record creating programs to empower women in addressing gender inequality, engaging a wide range of communities of women in Australia and internationally creating new pathways through art and cultural efforts including your directorship of the WOW Festivals.