2025 WA Women’s Hall of Fame: Diverse group of talented West Australian woman inducted

They are diverse, trailblazing, passionate and forward thinking — and they are this year’s WA Hall of Fame inductees.

Each of these women has committed themselves to improving the lives of their fellow West Australians, standing as role models for future generations.

They have worked in industries often dominated by men, implemented change, advocated for education and human rights, and created businesses that improve lives.

For 15 years, the WA Women’s Hall of Fame has honoured the achievements of women across a range of sectors in WA, and this year, 16 inductees have been added to the list.

For Professor Linley Lord — who is being honoured for her work in gender equity and for her unrelenting quest to ensure leaders provide space for women to take their place alongside men — the induction came as a surprise.

“What an honour to even be considered with people that I admire whose work I’ve long looked up to,” she said.

It was similar for Sally Pilbeam, who inspires the next generation of athletes through her resilience and success.

“You never think that what you do is worthy of this sort of thing, so it was very special,” she told the West Australian.

Mrs Pilbeam represented Australia in the Paris Paralympics and was the two-time winner of the ITU Paratriathlon World Championship.

One thing all these women have in common is their power to inspire the WA community.

Passionate community educator and former Telethon general manager Marie-Anne Keeffe said this recognition was a chance to create more change and to tell more stories.

“I know that educating people through the power of storytelling is not only able to change our community but can change the whole world,” she said.

Changing lives through community education has always been the centre of Ms Keeffe’s career, whether it was during her 25 years at Channel Seven, her time on the communications team working on the State Government’s COVID response, or during her current role as director of communications at the Department of Education.

Recognised for her advocacy for victim-survivors of domestic and family violence, with her own experience of intimate partner violence and homicide with the murder of her sister Jessica in 2019, Alison Scott, a proud Noongar woman, was “incredibly grateful” people see the work she is doing and appreciate it.

”All that really matters to me is making a difference in the community. So to get this was reaffirming in many ways that keep on going it is making a difference,” she said.

The WA Women’s Hall of Fame was established in 2011 in recognition of the centenary of International Women’s Day and a Roll of Honour was created in 2012 to acknowledge women who have passed away.

Since 2011, over 300 women from diverse backgrounds have been inducted into the WA Women’s Hall of Fame and Roll of Honour.

2025 WA Women’s Hall of Fame inductees:

Dr. Dorothy Erickson, jeweller, historian, and writer

Lesley Murray, Anaiwan artist and lecturer

Julie Adams, co-director and co-founder for chemo@home

Kim Farmer, Magistrate of the Children’s Court

Alison Scott, co-chair National Domestic, Family and Sexual Violence Lived Experience Advisory Council

Dr Hannah McGlade, human rights advocate, researcher, and community leader

Glenys Collard, advocate for Aboriginal English

Maria Osman, advocate for multiculturalism

Marie-Anne Keeffe, community educator and storyteller

Professor Linley Lord, gender equity advocate

Lorna Cook, registered nurse and co-founder of chemo@home

Professor Juli Coffin, creator of Yawardani Jan-ga Equine Assisted Learning

Sally Pilbeam PLY, para triathlete and Paralympian

Dr. Renu Sharma, chief operating officer, International Centre for Radio Astronomy Research

Jawaria Mahmood, engineer and founder for Tech Aware

Professor Michaela Lucas, clinical immunologist/allergist

Posthumous inductees:

Valma Frances Doherty, chief superintendent WA Police Force (1934-2022)

Professor Barbara York Main, the spider lady (1929-2019)

Janet Oobagooma, teacher of Country and culture (1942-2022)

Christina Sewell, land and real estate trailblazer (1882-1971)