Chantelle Stratford PSM

Chantelle lives and works on Ngunnawal Country. She is a
passionate feminist and gender equality expert dedicated to
advocating for and creating lasting improvements for women
and non-binary people globally. As part of the 2024 Australia
Day Order of Australia Honours, Chantelle received a Public
Service Medal for outstanding leadership and innovation in
gender equality and women’s policy.

As the elected Chair of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation’s Policy Partnership on
Women and the Economy she plays a pivotal role in centring equality and feminism in the
global economic discussion. She also serves as Australia’s representative for Women’s
Empowerment at the G20 and is the W20 Sherpa. Chantelle is an experienced international
advocate, representing Australia’s interests in women’s rights at the United Nations, OECD,
and other global fora.
Chantelle has served as the Head of Australia’s Office for Women, where she oversaw the
introduction of key economic and social policy reforms, including legislating pay
transparency, introducing Australia’s first gender budgeting system, and securing policy
reform for women in paid parental leave, housing, the Australian Skills Guarantee, care
economy and industrial relations.
Chantelle led national policy on Women’s Safety for many years, notably steering the
National Plan to Reduce Violence Against Women and their Children and securing record
government investments. Her role included contributing to the Women and Women’s Safety
Ministerial Taskforce, addressing sexual and family violence during COVID-19 and
overseeing the 1800RESPECT national domestic violence service. Chantelle has served on
the boards of Australia’s National Research Organisation for Women’s Safety (ANROWS)
and Our Watch – the national primary prevention agency, in addition to leading large scale
reforms to modernise Victorian community services as part of their response to the Royal
Commission into Family Violence.
Chantelle holds a Master of Arts and post-graduate qualifications in gender mainstreaming,
international development, and women’s health and human rights.