Speaker Details

Joan Kirner co-wrote with Moira Rayner, the best selling book “The Women’s Power Handbook” published by Penguin in May 1999.  The text gives women the tools and strategies to get, keep and use their power.

Joan Kirner is perhaps best known as Victoria’s first female Premier (1990-1992).  Joan was elected to Parliament in 1982.  Her Ministries included Conservation, Forest and Lands, Minister for Education and Deputy Premier and during her time as Premier she held the position of Minister for Women’s Affairs.  Ms Kirner was Victoria’s Opposition Leader from October 1992 to March 1993.  She retired from Parliament in May 1994.

Ms Kirner has accepted and continues to accept many challenges.  She began her life-long involvement in education as a teacher.  
Her political activism within this area was as a parent at the local, state and national level.  She led the charge for the representation of state school parents on the Commonwealth Schools Commission.  
She was a member of the School Commission from 1973-1978.  
In 1980 Joan Kirner was awarded an AM for her contribution to community services.

In 1986, as Minister for Conservation she developed and implemented in Victoria, along with Heather Mitchell, the first woman President of t he Victorian Farmers Federation, the now internationally acclaimed Landcare program.

In March 1994 Joan Kirner began chairing the Commonwealth government’s Centenary of Federation Advisory Committee and held this position until the Committee’s Final report:  “2001 - A Report from Australia” was presented to the Federal Government in August 1994.  

From July 1994 to December 1996, Joan was the Chair of the Employment Services Regulatory Authority (ESRA), and a member of the Board of NETTFORCE and the AIDS Trust of Australia.

In 1996 Ms Kirner was one of the Founders of EMILY’s List Australia, a political network to support the election of more progressive Labor women to Parliament.  She was its Co-convenor till June 2005.  Currently Joan is the Chair of the Ministerial Advisory Committee in Victorian Communities and a member of the Museum of Victoria Advisory Board.

Ms Kirner is Matron of the Women’s Circus, the Living Museum of the West, Positive Women, the Women’s Electoral Lobby and Domestic Violence, Victoria.  She is also a patron of the Royal Victorian District Nursing Service.

Ms Kirner writes and speaks regularly on a diverse range of topics including Landcare, Education, Politics, Leadership, Community Activism and Social Inclusion.

For more information please contact
Saxton on +61 3 9811 3500 or email us at speakers@saxton.com.au

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