KEY SPEAKERS The Honourable Mary Wooldridge Minister for Community Services, Minister for Mental Health, Minister for Women’s Affairs Following her election to State Parliament in 2006, Mary was immediately elevated to the Shadow Ministry, taking on multiple portfolios, including mental health, drug abuse and ageing. In opposition she was the Shadow Minister for Environment and Climate Change, Community Services and Women’s Affairs. Following the election of the Coalition Government in 2010, Mary was appointed the Minister for Mental Health, Women’s Affairs and Community Services. Prior to entering Parliament Mary was the Chief Executive Officer of the Foundation for Young Australians and Chair of the Commonwealth Advisory Committee on Homelessness. Mary has also been a manager at McKinsey and Co. in New York, and an executive director at both Publishing and Broadcasting Ltd and Consolidated Press Holdings in Sydney. She worked as a senior advisor to the Federal Industry Minister from 1999 - 2001. Mary is currently a Director of the Otis Foundation and has previously served on the Boards of the Breast Cancer Network Australia, Foundation Boroondara and Trinity College. She has a Bachelor of Commerce (Honours) from Melbourne University and a Master of Business Administration from Harvard University in the USA.
Micaela Cronin President, Victorian Council of Social Service Micaela Cronin is the Chief Executive Officer of MacKillop Family Services - one of the largest providers of specialist services to vulnerable and disadvantaged children, young people and their families in Victoria, and more recently with branches in NSW. Micaela has worked in the community sector for over 20 years. She has extensive experience in the delivery and management of a broad range of community services, and has previously held senior management positions with Wesley Mission Melbourne and St Vincent de Paul Aged Care and Community Services. She has a passionate commitment to social justice issues and wants to see children and young people’s voices heard in strong, inclusive communities. Micaela enjoys working in partnership with other community sector organisations, and is President of the Victorian Council of Social Services, Council member of Catholic Social Services Victoria, and Board Member of the Centre for Excellence in Child and Family Welfare.