Sandy was first elected President of NCWQ in 2023.
She is the Immediate Past President of the Quota Club of Brisbane, and has had an association with Quota for more than two decades. From 2019 Sandy has served on the NCWQ Management Committee and on the Quota International Region 13 Board as Treasurer. Sandy has been serving on the NCWQ Executive Committee as Recording Secretary, and from November 2023 as President. As Past Governor of QI District 30 Sandy is no stranger to volunteering. While in Primary School in Western Queensland Sandy recalls being a member of the Red Cross, as a teenager in Capricornia she supported Horse Riding for the Disabled and volunteered at the Jardine Street Spastic Centre. While at University she also helped out at the Early Intervention Special Education Program. Sandy also served for two years as a member of and then Chairman of the Board of South Burnett Catholic College (St Mary’s). Her career spanning 35 years in Education saw her many roles focusing on helping others. Sandy, mother of two, has a Diploma in Education, Post Grad in Special Education, a Master in Education – Guidance and Counselling, Certificate in Emotional Release Counselling, training in grief counselling, mentoring and art therapy. Now retired, Sandy supports her local community by coordinating the collection of toiletries for the local Women’s Crisis Centre, Maybanke and the Mental Health Unit at the Redland Hospital with support from her Quota Club and the local community. She has also held a number of Teal Events raising money for Ovarian Cancer Research. Sandy enjoys living close to family, art and craft, aqua aerobics and kayaking.
Bec 's career experience spans state and local government, as well as more than six years as digital content manager for a Brisbane-based communication and marketing agency.
She has built an enviable reputation as an efficient operator, always on the look out for new ways to streamline business processes while maintaining exceptional quality. She has prepared annual reports, correspondence, reports and briefs, priding herself on attention to detail and always giving 100% to every task.
She manages business and event-related social media platforms along with email marketing, website development and customer experience programs.
I am a social impact leader committed to helping for-purpose organisations create lasting and meaningful change. My work is grounded in a deep belief in equity and inclusion, and I’m especially passionate about empowering the next generation of female leaders.
Throughout my career, I’ve worked at the intersection of policy, advocacy, and community empowerment. I currently hold multiple roles that allow me to extend my impact:
🤝🏻 Founder and Managing Director, Carnelian Foundation, empowering children and young people affected by family violence and mental health.
🚀 Operations Director, Foundations for Tomorrow, advocating for intergenerational fairness and sustainability in policy decisions.
💭 Consultant, Researcher, Speaker – focused on educational outcomes, gender equity, economic security and foresight practices to support organisational development and wellbeing of future generations.
I hold a Master of Business Administration, Graduate Certificate of Education, Bachelor of Government and International Relations and Diploma of Marketing & Communications. Currently studying Graduate Diploma in Research Studies. Justice of the Peace (Qualified)
Olivia is an experienced finance manager working across an aged care and technology portfolio, with responsibility for a wide range of business functions.
She demonstrates a strong customer focus and emphasis on client relationships.
Kathy has been involved with NCWQ since 2011, and has been associated with ESA for many years. Now retired, Kathy has worked in a variety of contexts, both overseas and inter-state, in roles ranging from small business to writing and photography, but the main focus has been in adult education.A wide-ranging career both within Australia and internationally has developed broad skills in communication, management and coordination, adapting to change. Writing skills in varied contexts, evidenced by production of second edition of self-funded booklet on cancer experiences, distributed to support other women and their families experiencing cancer.Coordination, team work and management skills in bursary coordination role, working with over 100 people, including sponsors for 40 bursaries in 2020; coordinators and selection panel members; and recipients. Flexibility in adapting established processes within the COVID-19 environment to meet the required outcome of meeting sponsor conditions in the selection and recognition of bursary recipients."The 115-year history of NCWQ provides the knowledge, strength and basis for ongoing growth and relevance of the organisation today. I have the commitment, time and passion to be part of an NCWQ that continues to reflect the needs of women and families through ongoing support of our advocacy and research role through the advisers; enabling female students through the bursary program; and emerging directions, focussing on what NCWQ offers to its affiliated organisations and associates."
I help established women leaders in senior wellness, functional & allied health, and leadership coaching step into premium visibility with websites, branding, and messaging that truly reflect their expertise and authority. As the award-winning Founder of 16th Ave Creative Studio, I specialise in Squarespace website design, strategic brand development, and scalable offer creation for women-led service businesses ready to elevate their impact—without sacrificing their values, energy, or vision.I believe that when women lead with clarity and visibility, they don’t just grow businesses—they change industries, families, and communities.Based in Brisbane, I also serve as a volunteer with the Zonta Club of Brisbane, championing advocacy, equality, and leadership opportunities for women.
As CEO of Australia’s longest running networking group for women in business, Cheryl Gray has the honour of celebrating and supporting the success of thousands of women business owners and leaders.
Having built her own successful communication and public relations firm following more than 25 years’ experience in consulting, she took on the national leadership role with Women’s Network Australia in 2021. Based in Brisbane, Cheryl began her career as a journalist at Queensland’s leading daily newspaper, The Courier-Mail, where she spent almost a decade reporting, before moving into a role as Senior Media Advisor for a prominent female Queensland Senator and then leader of a national political party. Cheryl’s private sector roles have included consulting to diverse clients ranging from fintech start-ups to multi-national and global enterprises. She has worked extensively with government agencies and in the not-for-profit sector. Cheryl has held a number of not-for-profit Board roles and has operated the Mulberry Seed Communication consultancy in Brisbane for eight years. Aligning with her mission to support and empower women, Cheryl is also the Oceania Market Lead for WEConnect International – an organisation that aims to put more money in the hands of women-owned businesses. She has supported NCWQ's communication effort through social media and website content.
Ronda is a delegate for Forum Communicator’s Inc to NCWQ and is a NCWQ Bursary Coordinator. She has a background in Business Management and IT and has been a Company Director, Company Secretary and Board Member. Ronda possesses high level organisational skills and has considerable experience in various voluntary administrative roles including President/Chairman, Secretary and Treasurer and on Constitutional Committees and Finance Committees responsible for administering large budgets. She also has a vast amount of experience in conducting large events and functions. For her commitment to sport, Ronda has received numerous awards such as Queensland Government Service to Sport Award, Queensland Sports Administrator of the Year, Distinguished Service Awards and Long Service Awards and Life Memberships. She is an internationally qualified hockey Tournament Director who has been in charge of numerous international, national and state tournaments. She was appointed to the technology team for hockey at the Commonwealth Games in 2018. Ronda has conducted hockey officiating courses and workshops for many years and mentors and assesses officials, both men and women, for their State and Australian accreditation. She has been recognised by all levels of government for her work with hockey and in 2013 was awarded an OAM for her service to the sport. Ronda hopes to see improved gender equity in sports management in future, with the appointment of more female CEOs to state and national sporting organisations.
Leah is a respected in-house commercial legal and corporate governance advisor with more than 20 years professional experience in commercial risk analysis, contract negotiations, dispute management and corporate governance.
Leah is a currently in the role of General Counsel for an ASX Listed global manufacturing business (head office on the Gold Coast Australia, with branches in the UK and USA) where she provides improved, practical and innovative business solutions to senior managers to better manage commercial and legal risk, and maximise business objectives.
Leah holds a legal practicing certificate with the Qld Law Society, is recognised as a “fellow” of Governance Institute of Australia and is a registered ASIC agent for company secretary filing.
She is a passionate supporter of charities supporting local women in South East Qld (Brisbane, Redcliffe and on the Gold Coast), a community volunteer in her neighbourhood and local school associations; and a Qld Law Society committee member advocating for in-house counsel.
Isabelle was the recipient of the 2023 Elsie Byth Bursary, having graduated College Captain of Lourdes Hill that year.
She is passionate about community service, and has been particularly involved in raising awareness and support for mental health initiatives, and supporting food security through the St Vincent de Paul winter appeal; the Eat Up sandwich making; and Community Meal Programs, providing meals to vulnerable in the community.As an aspiring teacher, Isabelle wants to widen students’ eyes to the world around them. She wants to make a difference in the world and is using the Elsie Byth Bursary to assist her in fulfilling her dream of teaching in a rural setting.
Born in Sudan to a Greek mother and Egyptian father, I was exposed to blended cultures at a young age. An adventurous spirit led me on world travels before I settled for a while in London, where I met my English husband. My command of English and Arabic set up unique opportunities to expand my cultural horizons as an interpreter and cultural guide for the Arabic Visitors Services, UK for almost five years. After migrating to Australia in 1986 I worked as a freelance interpreter/translator for nearly twenty years before founding M.E.C.C.A (Middle East Connect and Cultural Advisors) which offers translation and cross-cultural advisory services for Business and Cultural Exchanges between Australia and the Middle East and North Africa. In the same year, I founded AVS (Arabic Visitors Services) which provides translation, travel, and cultural exchange services. I am a strong advocate for marginalised and disenfranchised members of society and use my mediation and translation abilities to support these communities. Traveling, watching the ocean, and listening to international songs uplift my Spirits and keep me balanced.
In recognition of the work done by these members: Download list of NCWQ Honorary Life Members for 2017-2018, and 2018-2019 (pdf 30kb). Source: NCWQ Annual Reports.
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