Women and Girls Emergency Centre

Shannay was born and raised on Dharawal Country in South-West Sydney and is a proud descendant of the Dharawal peoples of La Perouse and the Dharug peoples of the Hawkesbury River. She brings extensive experience across corporate, government, NGO, and community sectors, with a strong commitment to advocating for and supporting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.

As Senior Projects Manager at the Women and Girls Emergency Centre (WAGEC), Shannay leads strategic planning, program evaluation, and cross-sector collaboration, embedding cultural safety, accountability, and lived experience into organisational systems. A passionate advocate for ethical research and community empowerment, she has a proven record in qualitative and quantitative research, evaluation, and policy development across social and emotional wellbeing, suicide prevention, disability, and family and domestic violence.

Grounded in community engagement and driven by a commitment to addressing social determinants of health, Shannay works to strengthen social and emotional wellbeing and promote self-determination within Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. Her leadership advances reconciliation through inclusive governance, authentic partnerships, and communications strategies that honour Aboriginal ways of knowing, being, and doing.

Shannay’s dedication to ethical practice and community-led change continues to drive meaningful outcomes and lasting impact.