About Us

Teresa is a senior finance executive and Fellow CPA (FCPA) with more than 15 years’ experience across renewable energy, infrastructure, construction and property development. She has extensive experience leading financial strategy, commercial performance and business transformation in complex and fast-paced organisations.

With expertise spanning strategic finance, financial governance, capital and cash flow management, risk and business performance, Teresa is passionate about using finance to enable sustainable growth and better decision-making. She has led finance functions through periods of growth and transformation, strengthening financial controls and governance while building high-performing teams and partnering with senior executives on strategic and commercial decisions.

Teresa was recognised as a Finalist in the 2026 Australian Accounting Awards for both CFO of the Year and Thought Leader of the Year. She is also the Founder of the Australia & New Zealand Chinese Accountants Association (ANZCAA), a professional community connecting more than 4,000 accounting and finance professionals across Australia and New Zealand.

Teresa is delighted to join Her Place as Board Treasurer, bringing her financial and commercial experience to support the organisation’s governance, financial sustainability and long-term impact.

Kalpna is a strategic and commercially focused technology leader with extensive experience leading technology strategy, digital transformation, enterprise architecture, data analytics and technology portfolios in complex environments. She has a strong track record of aligning technology with business priorities, building high-performing teams, modernising platforms and operating models, and delivering measurable business value through effective leadership, governance, and stakeholder engagement.

Kalpna is a respected people leader and trusted business partner, known for a leadership style grounded in clarity, collaboration, accountability, and capability building across teams. Her lived experience of the challenges women face in technology has also shaped a strong commitment to improving representation and creating greater opportunities for women in the industry.

Leanne is a lawyer who has practised family law at Pearsons for almost four decades, becoming a Partner in 1991 and growing the firm into one of Victoria’s largest boutique family law practices. A Melbourne University law and arts graduate, she also holds a Graduate Diploma in Mediation from Latrobe University, where she received the Relationships Australia (Vic) Family Mediation prize. Leanne has contributed to numerous boards and committees over her career, including family violence and intervention order protocol committees, community legal centres, and the Women’s Legal Service Board.

Co-Founder and Chair of Her Place Mary has high level experience in Media, Government and the NFP sectors. A Gold Walkley award winner journalist Mary was an international reporter for the ABC and Channel 10, Presenter of Four Corners, News and Current Affairs anchor and interviewer, the first woman to present solo prime-time News in Australia.

In Government Mary was the first female Victorian Planning Minister and the longest serving Arts Minister. Mary also served in Cabinet as Education and Women’s Minister. Mary and her brother Hugh were the first siblings to serve in the same Parliament on the other side of the dispatch box. In 2002 she received the Centenary Medal for Services to Government.

Her third career is in the Not for Profit sector. Mary chairs Her Place and is a former chair of McClelland Sculpture Park and Gallery and Orchestra Victoria, former Director of the National Library of Australia and Emeritus advisor to the Harold Mitchell Foundation. Currently she serves on the boards of the Melbourne Recital Centre Ltd, Central Highlands Rural Health and the Centre for Advancing Journalism at Melbourne University. Mary is a graduate and currently mentors in governance at the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

Mary is a published author and has a red rose bred for, and named after her.

A critic of the gender gaps in Australia’s history Mary is a leader in ensuing that women’s voices are heard in the great debates of our time.

Tanja is a writer and director at communications, leadership and justice consultancy, Kovac & Co.

Tanja commenced work as a solicitor at Slater & Gordon, working in the firm’s Public Interest Unit, where she was responsible for a number of high profile human rights cases, including the Richmond Secondary College police “baton charge” and for Amnesty International in the case concerning refugees aboard the MV Tampa. Tanja also volunteered in community legal centres providing legal support to victims of the Black Saturday Bushfires.

Tanja has managed several small non-profit organisations in the faith, women’s and human rights sectors, where she was responsible for all aspects of strategic and operational leadership, managing fundraising and advocacy, cause-related marginal seat campaigns and volunteer engagement.

But her research, policy, writing and advocacy passion is gender equality. Most recently Tanja was CEO of Gender Equity Victoria, a former Chief of Staff to the late Fiona Richardson MP, Australia’s first family violence prevention minister where she was responsible for overseeing Victoria’s strategic family violence prevention and gender equality agenda, including creating the Victoria’s first Gender Equality Strategy.

She spent 10 years as Director and National-Convenor of EMILY’s List Australia, where she has been instrumental in developing gender based campaign strategies and policy change within the ALP, including setting the affirmative action target for women – 50/50 by 2025.

Tanja has extensive experience with print, radio, TV and online media. Her writing has featured in The Age, Daily Telegraph, Crikey, MammaMia, New Matilda.

Andrea is a Planning & Environment Partner at Gadens, a leading Australian commercial law firm.

Andrea has extensive experience in running large and complex planning and environment litigation relating to development and regulatory approvals, the rezoning of land and compulsory acquisition. Her advisory experience includes planning and environment due diligence in connection with large scale property and corporate transactions and renewables projects, including providing advice on contaminated land, heritage issues, native vegetation offsets and development contributions. Her unique skill sets means she is often involved in the entire lifecycle of a development project – as part of the broader project team.

Andrea is currently the Chair of the Property Council of Australia’s Planning & Infill Development Committee and was also a previous participant in the PCA’s Women in Property Program, which identifies emerging female talent in the property industry.

Given her experience in the development industry, Andrea would like to see gender equality in place naming. Place names help us to identify important historic and culturally significant locations and features. As such, it is critical that place names recognise the achievements of Australian women.

Liz Lor is a leadership consultant, facilitator and MC with a strong focus on female leadership.

She has a background in business and marketing, having held general management positions both in the private and public sectors.

Liz originally trained in languages and remains deeply fascinated by the way words and verbal communication impact perception and relationships between people, teams and cultures.

Liz is excited by helping others and in elevating the cause of those who need a voice. Currently contracted to Women and Leadership Australia and the Victorian Chamber of Commerce, Liz is delighted to join the board of Her Place.

Janine is a cultural historian specialising in the performing arts and popular culture and is an advocate for promoting the contribution of women in the music sector. Most recently Janine was the Director of the Australian Performing Arts Collection at Arts Centre Melbourne.

Through her role at Her Place Janine will be focussing on diverse and inclusive exhibitions and programs to increase engagement and visitation onsite and online.

Penelope is a museum professional, cultural producer, arts manager and artist who has worked across Melbourne’s cultural sector for over 25 years with a focus on developing and managing community-engaged, interdisciplinary and inclusive arts, education and cultural programming.

Penelope has previously been the General Manager of Her Place Women’s Museum Australia, Education and Outreach Manager at the ARC, Centre of Excellence for the History of Emotions, and Education and Public Programs Manager, Development Manager and researcher at The Dax Centre. In these roles, Penelope has led interdisciplinary teams and external partnerships, project-managed and co-curated local and touring exhibitions, and strategic development.

Over her career, Penelope has been a recipient of numerous state and national grants and awards, public art commissions and overseas residencies, and a Churchill Fellowship.

Sophie brings over two decades of executive leadership in major Australian cultural institutions to the Her Place Board.

Her expertise spans organisational strategy, innovative programming, placemaking, audience development, and strategic partnerships. As an independent consultant to cultural and purpose-driven sectors, Sophie specialises in innovation and transformational leadership. She has held senior executive roles at the Australian Centre for the Moving Image (ACMI), Sydney Living Museums, and the Australian Museum.

Her deep understanding of museums operations, experience and engagement, partnerships and cultural tourism strengthens Her Place’s strategic objectives around programming, partnerships, and sustainable growth. Sophie holds a PhD in History and is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and Adaptive Leadership Australia.