Joan Kirner’s legacy lives on as emerging leaders graduate

The Joan Kirner Emerging Leaders Program – funded by the Victorian Government as part of its push for greater diversity in leadership – honours the legacy of Victoria’s first female premier and aims to equip a new generation with the ability to follow in her footsteps.

Appropriately, the ceremony for the first intake of 40 leaders was held in the Joan Kirner room at Community Directors’ headquarters in Our Community House.

It was clear from the chatter and clinking of glasses that the group had forged strong connections across differences in age, cultural background, location, First Nations heritage and LGBTQIA+ identity.

Victoria’s Minister for Women, Natalie Hutchins, delivered a powerful and personal speech describing her own battles with sexism, beginning as a teenage waitress, and her path to leadership sparked by her council trying to sell the local pool to developers.

Hutchins told graduates that while women had held 50 per cent of seats in Parliament since the last election, seeking gender equality had been a long slow road, and the effort was continuing.

“I first spoke about affirmative action when I was 19, thinking it’d be achieved by the time I was 21. It took until I was 51, but I’m proud to have been part of that journey.”

She said the Joan Kirner Emerging Leaders program was an important part of that effort.

“Our gender equality strategy sets targets for more women in leadership across the public service, and that change influences the private sector as well. Programs like this help us get there.”

Hutchins told the rapt audience: “That's why I really believe in targets, because the conversation changes when you get 30 per cent of women in a workplace, or 30 per cent of women in leadership roles. That tone starts to change, let alone when you get to 50 per cent. The evidence is very clear that we need more leadership programs for women, [and] I'll continue to fight for that.”

Graduates sought hugs and high-fives from the minister as she presented each of them with a certificate.

After the ceremony, the minister said the Victorian Government’s support for the program reflected the fact that it was “committed to advancing gender equality”.

“We aim to ensure women and gender-diverse people have an equal voice and occupy leadership roles not only at work, but in communities, sport, media and the arts.

“We know there are many women who are talented and capable leaders but don’t have access to programs for emerging leaders. We also understand people require training to ensure policies and structures support women as leaders.”

She said the barriers to leadership were harder to overcome for women and gender-diverse Victorians “at the intersections of race and ethnicity, sexuality and gender identity, disability, and structural and systemic barriers”. 

She said the state’s Gender Equality Strategy and Action Plan included a series of actions designed to tackle that challenge.

She hoped the Joan Kirner Emerging Leaders Program would encourage participants to “act as agents of change in their respective organisations and communities”.

Among the graduates was Ruhee Meghani, who praised the course’s trainers, guest speakers, and her fellow students for providing leadership lessons and new connections.

“The program really shifted something in me, as I'm sure it did for all of you. Sure, the frameworks are useful … but the best learnings came from watching leadership live in action.

“Your perspective challenged my very self-limiting beliefs. Your courage reminded me that leadership doesn't wait until we're ready. It waits until we decide.”

She said one of the biggest lessons for her was understanding that “we lead best when we listen first. Empathy, curiosity and storytelling drive more change more effectively than authority and data alone.”

She said leadership, done well, “becomes powerful, unapologetic, authentic, and audacious”.

Fellow graduate Niti Bhargava reflected on the program in a LinkedIn post, saying it meant “even more when you’re a migrant woman building a voice, a platform and a purpose-driven career here in Australia.”

“Leadership isn’t about being the loudest, it’s about being purposeful,” she said.

Community Directors executive director Adele Stowe-Lindner said Joan Kirner’s legacy was an important one for Community Directors.

“That’s the reason why this program resonates so deeply with us,” Stowe-Lindner said.

“A lot has been done to advance gender equality in leadership, and this program stands on the shoulders of giants. If Joan were with us today, I’m sure she would congratulate you and then ask, ‘What’s next?’”

“Leadership takes courage to try new things, admit errors, ask questions others aren’t asking, and share opinions. These things shouldn’t require courage, but they often do.”

Applications for at least 40 places in the next Joan Kirner Emerging Leaders Program will open in March 2026.

More information

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