STAFF TEAM
The UN Women Australia National Office is based in Canberra and consists of staff, interns and volunteers who work tirelessly to support our organisation.
Julie McKay
Executive Director
(02) 6225 5810
admin@unwomen.org.au
Julie McKay, 28, has a passion for achieving social change and gender equality, in Australia and internationally.
Having held the position of Executive Director at UN Women Australia (formally UNIFEM Australia) since March 2007, Julie has overseen many campaigns to raise awareness of gender equality issues. She has previously also been the National Campaign Manager for White Ribbon.
As a young professional, Julie advocates on key issues affecting women including women’s leadership, pay equity, political participation and violence against women.
With experience in both the corporate and NGO sectors Julie actively works to support strong partnerships between the community, the private sector and government.
Julie was the Australian Institute of Management’s Young Manager of the Year in 2010 and was named Telstra Young Business Woman of the year (ACT) in 2011.
Julie sits on the Steering Committee of the Australian Institute of Management ACT, the Equality Rights Alliance and the Royal Australian Navy’s Success Implementation Committee.
Adding to her experience, Julie has recently completed her Executive MBA at the University of Sydney, with a Scholarship for Excellence in NGO Leadership. During her EMBA, Julie studied at Stanford, London Business School and the Indian Institute of Management. She holds a Masters in Public Policy from ANU and Bachelor’s degrees in Business Management and International Relations. Julie is also a current fellow in Ethical Leadership through the Vincent Fairfax Fellowship Program at Melbourne Business School.
Lara Jacques
Director of Operations
(02) 6225 5810
lara.jacques@unwomen.org.au
Lara holds an Bachelor of International Studies form the University of New South Wales. She was chosen as an Australian Youth Ambassador for Development and spent a year working at the Tongan National Centre for Women and Children. Lara spent 10 years working in the corporate sector previous to completing her BA. She has been working for UN Women (formally UNIFEM Australia) since March 2008.
Maria Catanzariti
Strategic Communications Manager
(02) 6225 5810
maria.catanzariti@unwomen.org.au
Mary Frigo
Office Manager
(02) 6225 5810
mary.frigo@unwomen.org.au
Mary has a strong background working in government, the private sector and NGOs. Most recently, Mary was the Office Manager at Amnesty International, but she has previously worked for Tas Housing and the Australian Federation of Homelessness Organisations. A scientist by profession, Mary is passionate about helping growing organisations build systems and processes which allow them to sustain their growth.
Jessica French
Partnerships Officer
(02) 6225 5810
jessica.french@unwomen.org.au
Rebecca Bromhead
Community Engagement Manager
(02) 6225 5810
rebecca.bromhead@unwomen.org.au
Rebecca graduated with a BA (International Relations) and BSc (Environmental Management) from the ANU in 2006 and is currently completing her last units for a BEd (Secondary) with Charles Sturt University. During university Rebecca worked in the office of the Director of Mental Health ACT and after graduation spent one year as a media advisor and electoral officer in the office of the Member for Monaro in NSW Parliament. Rebecca worked for the St Vincent de Paul Society (Vinnies) from 2006 – 2011 in Sydney, managing the organisations events for World Youth Day in 2008 and then managing the NSW State Youth and Young Adults team. Rebecca also completed two internal transfers with Vinnies in Southern Africa, leading a six month project to engage more young volunteers and then returning for twelve months in 2010 – 2011 to develop a student support and scholarship program within Vinnies. Upon returning to Australia in late 2011 Rebecca moved home to Canberra and prior to joining the UN Women Australia team she worked for the ACT Education and Training Directorate, developing and implementing four high level community and government boards to focus on re-engaging disengaged young people with education, training and employment. Rebecca is an active and passionate volunteer with Vinnies, is currently training to be a foster carer and loves taking up any opportunity to travel and explore the world and all its cultures and wonders.
Julie Melrose
International Women's Day Administrator
(02) 6225 5810
julie.melrose@unwomen.org.au
Julie is currently Environmental Officer and a representative from the College of Law on the ANU Postgraduate and Research Student Association (PARSA). She is currently completing her Juris Doctor (JD) postgraduate law degree, hoping to specialise in international environmental law and human rights. She completed a Bachelor of International Studies (Government and International Relations) from the University of Sydney in 2008. Julie has been working for social and environmental justice for the last 5 years, including as an assistant in the Office of Senator Bob Brown, Leader of the Australian Greens, a Community Development Project Manager at Migrant and Refugee Settlement Services of the ACT, National Coordinator of Earth Hour 2009 at the World Wide Fund for Nature Australia, as an observer at several UN Climate Change negotiations, and as an International Observer for The Carter Center on the Southern Sudanese Referendum this year. Julie is a member of the National Environmental Law Association and Australian Lawyers for Human Rights. Julie plays water polo for the ACT and the ANU, is a PADI Divemaster and is involved in the ANU Mountaineering Club.