The Victorian Local Governance Association (VLGA), in partnership with the Victorian Government, has launched the inaugural Mary Rogers Awards for women in local government.
Named after Mary Rogers – the first woman to be elected to a Victorian Municipal Council (City of Richmond 1920-1925) – the awards will celebrate and acknowledge the significant contributions and achievements of women councillors as civic leaders in local government.
They will also serve as a platform to promote and advocate for the advancement of gender equality and focus on supporting women’s participation in local government and decision-making, the Association said in a statement.
Nominations are now open in the following Award Categories until Friday, October 24 at 5pm:
- Mary Rogers Award – Awarded to a current woman councillor, recognising their outstanding contribution as a civic leader in Victoria.
- Emerging Woman Leader – Awarded to a first term woman councillor who is demonstrating outstanding leadership.
- Gender Equality Council Champion Award – Awarded to a Council in recognition of their work leading meaningful change in the gender equality space by supporting women’s participation in local government and decision-making.
VLGA CEO, Kathryn Arndt said the Awards shine a spotlight on the important contribution women make to the local government sector and the importance of gender parity.
“Our vision is to see 50% of women elected as councillors and mayors by the next local government election in 2028,” she said.
“We know that diversity in the council chamber inevitably leads to strengthened and more informed decision making and good governance and contributes to the prevention of fraud and corruption in local government.”
The percentage of women elected in the 2024 local government elections remained unchanged from the previous term at 43%.
Ms Arndt said the VLGA had a long and proud history of being a leader in the gender equality space, promoting the benefits of balanced gender representation and delivering high quality programs and resources which improve gender equality outcomes for the sector, including the VLGA’s acclaimed Local Women Leading Change (LWLC) program – which the VLGA has delivered for close to two decades.
“We know our work is having a positive impact. Our election analysis shows that VLGA member councils had better outcomes when it came to gender representation than non-member councils,” she said.
“The average number of women councillors at member councils is currently sitting at 46%, compared to 38% at non-member councils.”
The Awards will be presented at a special presentation ceremony at Queens Hall, Parliament House in Melbourne on Thursday, 27 November 2025.
For more information about the Mary Rogers Awards and to nominate visit the VLGA website.
