Cr Yvonne Jennings OAM

Cr Yvonne Jennings has played a significant role in a number of community and regional organisations, with an emphasis on education and leadership particularly for youth and business.

In 2006, Yvonne received the Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation Victorian Rural Woman of the Year Award, and went on to set up Step Out, Aspire and Reflect, a leadership and community development initiative for women in the Swan Hill region.

She has held the position of Deputy Mayor of Swan Hill Rural City Council since December 2009 and is Chair of Swan Hill and District Rural Women, convening the 'Women on Farms' gathering and a series of multi-skilled workshops and forums.

She participated in the establishment of the Loddon Murray Community Leadership Program and chaired the Community Cultural Development project Walls at 'Lake Boga'.

Her involvement on numerous boards has included the Victorian Government Women in Primary Industries Advisory Panel, the Central Murray Area Consultative Committee, Australian Women in Agriculture and the Victorian Farmers' Federation and Rice Growers Association.

More recently Yvonne participated in the delivery of the LeadAbility for Women project, an innovative leadership program in north western Victoria for women with disabilities.

Yvonne continues to encourage women's participation in leadership in regional areas and was the National Ambassador for the 2010 Year of Women in Local Government.