Leadership & Politics Speaker Event

Wednesday, July 26, 2023
5:30 PM 10:00 PM 17:30 22:00

The Curious Rabbit Wagga Wagga NSW 2650 (map)

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Women in Business invites all members to meet and network with our 2023 Mentees and Mentors as we discuss Leadership & Politics with a great lineup of speakers.

No RSVP is required, nibbles will be provided.

The speaker lineup:

Councillor Jenny McKinnon

Jenny was born in Narrandera and moved with her family to Sydney when she was 10. She studied social work at the University of NSW and, after working at the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit of the Royal Alexandra Hospital for Children, she moved to Wagga in 1991 to take up the position of Social Worker in Charge at Wagga Wagga Base Hospital.

Jenny worked for Charles Sturt University for over twenty years and retired in 2015 from her position as Executive Dean of the Faculty of Arts.

Jenny and her husband, George Benedyka, have six children and eleven grandchildren, and family is a central part of their lives. Jenny and George bought a 16-acre farmlet in Junee in 1997, and moved back to Wagga in 2017 post-retirement.

Jenny’s interests include environmental, social justice, and women’s equity issues.

Voluntary work and memberships:

Long-term member, and former President, Riverina Permaculture
Founder-member and current member of CROW (Climate Rescue of Wagga)
Current Volunteer for OzHarvest
Former President and long-term management committee member, Junee Community Centre Former volunteer, Junee Meals on Wheels
Former long-term President of the Management Committee, Linden Place Wagga (Assistance service for child victims of sexual assault)
Former President of the South Sydney Youth Refuge Management Committee

Councillor Georgie Davies

Georgie Davies was elected to Wagga Wagga City Council in 2022. Her motivations for standing for Council were to ensure the city grew in an attractive, sustainable, and functional manner. She works to support opportunities to attract visitors, and create a region which will retain future generations.

Georgie is also a committee member for Wagga City Council’s Public Art Advisory Panel and the Australia Day Community Committee and is a Board member for Riverina Water.

Outside of her Councillor duties, Georgie sits on the Palliative Care Enhancement Council, working with like-minded volunteers to improve the care of patients with terminal illnesses through fundraising events and information forums. Georgie’s day-to-day job is at AgriFutures Australia where she works in the marketing and communications team.

Georgie grew up in Wagga Wagga and lives with her husband Hugh and two young sons, Lachie and Will.

Councillor Amelia Parkins

Councillor Amelia Parkins was first elected to Council in 2021.

A mum to a five-year-old and two dogs (a golden retriever and a chocolate Labrador). Amelia studied and trained as an architect specialising in heritage conservation. Born in Sydney, with her parents moving to Wagga when she was about six months old. The family moved to Burringbar (north of Byron Bay) when she was in primary school, and later, she moved to Sydney for university. During this time Amelia completed three degrees - Bachelor of Design in Architecture, Master of Architecture and Master of Heritage Conservation and kept oscillating between living in Sydney and Wagga.

Amelia moved back to Wagga permanently about nine years ago.

In her spare time she plays hockey, likes to draw, knit or crochet when she needs time out and is a member of a number of book clubs.

Councillor Julia Ham

Julia is in her second term as a Councillor for Snowy Valleys Council. She runs her own business supporting Early Education and Care services in regional and rural NSW, and is a strong advocate for young families and Early education.

Living on a farm, Julia strongly promotes agriculture, realising it is the biggest industry in SVC. Julia is a member of the Wagga Women's Branch of the NSW Liberal. She is committed to working towards getting more women in elected positions.