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Maree
Davenport

Former Member of Parliament, Gender Equality, Diversity & Inclusion Leader, ,Governance & Risk Advisor

She/Her

Authenticity is empowering to lead your best life.

Profile

Maree Davenport has lived experience throughout her career in masculinised industries as a Member of Parliament and a leader in the building industry.

She is committed to advocating for fundamental cultural change in respect for women, intersectional bias and workplace systems designed for and by men.

Maree balanced having babies while managing senior government roles.

She is a lifelong strong community activist and advocates for females and AFAB to have their choices respected by their family and workmates, male and female.

Maree is involved with many charities, serving as Chief Executive Officer and previous Chair of women's health charity Endometriosis Australia, was on the Board of Tradeswomen Australia, she is on the board of the Dandelion Wishes Foundation. She is an Inaugural Foundation member of Monash Children's Hospital. She was previously President of Wavlink disability service for 7 years, founded Angel Babies Foundation, and supports many organisations that provide a helping hand to people in need.

Expertise
Talking Points

Women’s health & Work Wellbeing

Maree Davenport has expertise in the age and stage challenges faced by women through endometriosis, infertility treatment, pregnancy loss and neonatal death, peri and menopause.

“Employers who support women to manage age and stage female + health and wellbeing challenges reap the financial benefits, with empirical evidence that flexibility and increased ability to self-manage their worktime leads to increased productivity.”

Gender Equity - Not Tick a Box

Maree Davenport supports using a gender lens to normalise an inclusive culture, modelling strong, authentic female leadership in the Not-for-Profit, for purpose, government and private sectors, as fundamental to sustainable change in gender equality across masculanised industries “Going through the motions of Workplace Gender Audits and Gender Equality Action Plans ‘ticking boxes’ is disrespectful and costs the economy in productivity, skills and experience.”

Governance, Risk & Compliance (GRC)

Social procurement frameworks, building equality policies and corporate social responsibility plans are LIVING documents, not for an annual review and file.

Maree Davenport specialises in GRC, required by government, regulators, procurement managers, clients and customers. Giving a helping hand up to those less advantaged is a shared responsibility. It is also good business. Genuinely delivering on and demonstrating commitment to more than the 'bottom line' is not just 'ticking a box'.

“I facilitate the development of leadership programs to empower enterprises to tackle intersectional disadvantage. I facilitate meaningful partnerships between businesses and Not-for-Profit, for purpose organisations who support individuals living with disability, women facing homelessness, victims of family violence, women and girls through gender equity, safety and respect for all people regardless of gender identification, sustainability of our environment and resources. Impact needs to last beyond the tender. Impact changes lives. ”
Media
Feedback
Maree is one of the most positive, energetic, and driven people I know. Her energy and enthusiasm is infectious! In the time I have known her she has overcome hurdles, both personal and professional, that would have knocked most other people flat. She has an unending positive mindset. She has inspired me, motivated, and encouraged me and supported me in a professional and personal capacity. Maree is one of the smartest people I know. She is a clear, logical thinker and problem solver. She has the ability to look at a problem from all angles and see the opportunities rather than the roadblocks. If there are challenges, she works out a way to deal with them, resolve them or change direction. She works effectively with and relates to people from all walks of life and is just as comfortable working with MPs, the Lord Mayor as she is with one of our rooming house tenants or the family of a young child who died through unintentional injury. She has always given back to her community. She has a strong sense of social justice, fairness and equity for everyone, no matter the person’s gender, religion, cultural background. Kidsafe

Maree is an engaging speaker with a unique perspective from a government, peak body, charity and community perspective. I have known her for over 25 years. I served with her on the Building Advisory Council from 2013 until its completion in 2020. In this role, Maree provided strong leadership and collaboration between a large group of appointed representatives on the Council. She understands stakeholders’ perspectives and intuitively draws the conversation on panels to a point where each is well represented. Maree is outcomes focused and always ensures clear goals and outcomes are established from the outset.

Housing Industry Association (Vic

The ‘Talking science with business, government and the public’ was very informative and helpful. I was peppered with lots of great feedback – the only constructive criticism was that they wished it was longer!

Hudson Institute of Medical Research

Maree is committed to empowering first nations people and has personally supported me through career transition. She is developing leadership and mentoring programs to support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women in their career, professional life and governance development. She is a motivational, engaging and inspiring keynote speaker and would enhance any panel.

Indigenous Employment Partners

Maree has solid and effective communication skills as evident by her work promoting a positive culture particularly around her charity work and has empowered members others so to achieve their goals and strategic Her critical thinking and problem solving skills provide solutions. She has a strong entrepreneurial spirit. I endorse her 'take charge' leadership qualities without hesitation and am fortunate to have worked with her and hope to work with her again in the near future.

Rivers Economic Consulting

Maree has worked with Women’s Housing Ltd for over 15 years and organised our highly successful Women’s Futures Conference, the National Housing Conference with the Community Housing Federation and has MC’d, ‘s facilitated sessions and taken part in panels. I cannot speak more highly of Maree’s professionalism and strategic management.

Women’s Housing Ltd
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