Women for Election In Conversation with the Hon Kelly O'Dwyer :: 14 July 2021

The Hon. Kelly O’Dwyer served as a member of the Australian Parliament for over nine years representing the Liberal Party in the Federal seat of Higgins.

Elected at 32, Ms O’Dwyer was the youngest woman appointed to Cabinet, the first woman to serve in Cabinet in a Treasury portfolio and the only Cabinet Minister to have given birth whilst in office.

Ms O’Dwyer held a number of senior economic portfolios including Minister for Jobs and Industrial Relations; Minister for Revenue and Financial Services; Minister for Small Business; and Assistant Treasurer. Ms O’Dwyer also served as Minister for Women; as well as Minister Assisting the Prime Minister with the Public Service. She was internationally recognised as one of the most inspiring and influential women of 2018 in the BBC’s 100 Women list.

Ms O’Dwyer was a member of the Federal Cabinet and the Cabinet’s Budget Committee (the Expenditure Review Committee) from 2015 until her retirement from Parliament in 2019.

Prior to entering Parliament, Ms O’Dwyer worked in law, government and finance. Ms O’Dwyer is currently a non-executive director of listed companies Home Consortium and Equity Trustees, a non-executive director of Barrenjoey and a member of the School Council of Caulfield Grammar School. She is married with two young children and lives in Melbourne.

Ms O’Dwyer holds a Bachelor of Laws (Hons) and Bachelor of Arts from the University of Melbourne. 

Register now for this free event to hear about Kelly's journey into politics and why she's a passionate advocate for seeing more women enter Australia's parliamentary chambers. You will receive your zoom link on the morning of the event.

Please Note: Registrations close 3 hours before the event commences.