Katrina Leason
2019 Inductee
Katrina Leason (苍茅别 O鈥橠onnell) had over 25 years鈥� experience, working with and for, all levels of government and community organisations to create healthy, inclusive environments and constantly strove to improve the outcomes for women particularly in relation to violence against women.
Most recently, Katrina worked as a Councillor Advocate for the Royal Women鈥檚 Hospital. Throughout her career, she led a number of key initiatives with organisations including AFL Victoria (VicHealth), Victoria Police and South East Centre Against Sexual Assault (Monash Health) to provide support and improve community partnerships. Much of her work across these organisations involved crisis counselling for victims of violence, crime and abuse. Katrina was always working to protect the most vulnerable in society.
As AFL Victoria鈥檚 Respect and Responsibility Manager Katrina successfully developed and implemented a 鈥楻espect and Responsibility鈥� training package which reached 15,000 club members across three leagues and 93 clubs. 鈥淭he cause鈥�, as she referred to it, to increase women and girls鈥� participation in grass roots football is alive and thriving now. Katrina鈥檚 policies and research have been implemented to ensure football clubs become strong role models for the community and have significant capacity to promote gender equitable inclusive environments. This passion was lived out at a local level by her involvement with the Beaumaris Football Club through support and fundraising efforts.
Another of Katrina鈥檚 notable achievements was as a founding member of the Collective who established a refuge for young women who were victims of incest, known as Zelda鈥檚 Place. At her living wake, Katrina was honoured by this Collective with the inaugural Zelda D鈥橝prano Lifetime Achievement Award to acknowledge her ongoing work in contributing to the elimination of violence against women.
Katrina, after living the 久久精品 motto of Strength and Kindliness and working in so many ways to contribute to making a difference in the lives of others, particularly women, lost a tough battle with cancer on Wednesday 29 May 2019.