Authenticity is empowering to lead your best life.
Maree Davenport is a passionate advocate for women's equity. She holds a Master of Leadership in Gender Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion. She is a member of Chief Executive Women and Women on Boards, and she speaks nationally at International Women’s Day, leadership summits, and conferences on women's health as well as at corporate events.
As a registered Lobbyist in every jurisdiction, she shares her expertise on politics ‘who’s who in the zoo’, lobbying and advocacy, for corporates and not-for-profits.
Her personal advocacy on endometriosis, a gendered health issue affecting 1 in 7 Australian, enhanced media coverage and government engagement, leading to successful awareness campaigns and resulting in Federal Government funding, listing of medications on the PBS and Medicare subsidies.
Maree authored "The Australian Guide to Living Well with Endometriosis," published by Wiley. Maree served on the Board, as Chair and then CEO of an endometriosis charity. Previously, she chaired and served on the Board and was a member of the Federal Department of Health Endometriosis Expert Advisory Group. She is also on the organising committee for the 2025 World Congress on Endometriosis in Sydney and chairs the Patient Liaison Committee.
Maree is currently on the Board of the St Vincent’s Institute of Medical Research Foundation and the Board of Her Place Women’s Museum of Australia.
Appointed as an Ambassador for Carlton Football Club in 2013, Maree is also an Ambassador for the Housing Industry Association (HIA) Building Women and an accredited Mediator (AMDRAS) with the National Mediation Accreditation System. She also served as President of an adult disability service for many years.
With over 30 years in media, Maree has experience across editorial, radio, and all commercial television networks, including SBS, ABC's 7:30 Report, The Drum, The House of Wellness, and various morning shows and news programs. She is a sought-after public speaker, delivering keynotes and panel presentations at events like the Chief Executive Women Leadership Summit and national Women in Leadership events, including the Public Sector Women in Leadership.
For seven years, until 2020, Maree Davenport served as the Chair of the Victorian Minister for Planning's Building Advisory Council, allowing her to influence policy and practice in the building and construction industry. She was also a Member of the Victorian Building Authority Building Appeals Board.
Maree is a strategic advisor, community activist, and the founding and Managing Director of Regs and Corporate Advisory Pty Ltd. Her clients span various sectors, including health, housing, aged care, community services, building and construction, large iconic charities, health services, property development, pharmaceutical, and health technologies. She serves on the Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman (ASBFEO) Practitioner Panel. She specialises in Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR), with extensive experience in workplace mediation and strata building and construction disputes.
Maree was the youngest woman elected to the Parliament of Victoria at age 28 and the first to have a baby while serving. She held senior policy roles, including Parliamentary Secretary for Health, Housing, Community Services, and Aged Care. She also holds tertiary qualifications in property, communication risk (GIA), and governance (AICD).
Talking Points
Women’s Health & Work Wellbeing
Maree Davenport has expertise in the health age and stage challenges faced by women. She speaks about workplace policy and accommodations for endometriosis, infertility treatment, pregnancy loss and neonatal death, and peri and menopause.Women’s Health & Work Wellbeing
“Employers who support women to manage age and stage female + health and wellbeing challenges reap the financial benefits, with empirical evidence that flexibility and increased ability to self-manage their worktime leads to increased productivity.”
Leadership and Mentoring
Maree speaks about ‘Jive and Thrive to Drive Success’.Leadership and Mentoring
She mentors in tools to identify your authentic self and how to demonstrate authenticity; how to establish trust among other leaders, peers and followers; the art of creating and communicating a consistent, clear vision to inspire and motivate; limber up to be agile and adapt as required by environmental factors; how to lead by example; and practice.
Gender Equity - Not Tick a Box
Maree Davenport supports using a gender lens to normalise an inclusive culture, modelling strong, authentic female leadership in the Not-for-Profit, for purpose, government and private sectors, as fundamental to sustainable change in gender equality across masculanised industries .Gender Equity - Not Tick a Box
“Going through the motions of Workplace Gender Audits and Gender Equality Action Plans ‘ticking boxes’ is disrespectful and costs the economy in productivity, skills and experience.”
Governance, Risk & Compliance (GRC)
Regulatory Impact Statements, Social Procurement Frameworks, Building Equality Policies, and Corporate Social Responsibility Plans are LIVING documents, not for an annual review and file.Governance, Risk & Compliance (GRC)
Maree Davenport specialises in GRC, required by government, regulators, procurement managers, clients and customers. Giving a helping hand up to those less advantaged is a shared responsibility. It is also good business.
“I facilitate discussions within organisations to develop frameworks, build community partnerships and coach enterprises on compliance with regulations and tender requirements.”
Video
Endometriosis Australia at 7NEWS, The Latest
Maree is one of the most positive, energetic, and driven people I know. Her energy and enthusiasm is infectious! In the time I have known her she has overcome hurdles, both personal and prof ... keep reading Kidsafe
Maree is an engaging speaker with a unique perspective from a government, peak body, charity and community perspective. I have known her for over 25 years. I served with her on the Building Advisory Council from 2013 until its completion in 2020. In this role, Maree provided strong leadership and collaboration between a large group of appointed representatives on the Council. She understands stakeholders’ perspectives and intuitively draws the conversation on panels to a point where each is well represented. Maree is outcomes focused and always ensures clear goals and outcomes are established from the outset.
The ‘Talking science with business, government and the public’ was very informative and helpful. I was peppered with lots of great feedback – the only constructive criticism was that they wished it was longer!
Maree is committed to empowering first nations people and has personally supported me through career transition. She is developing leadership and mentoring programs to support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women in their career, professional life and governance development. She is a motivational, engaging and inspiring keynote speaker and would enhance any panel.
Maree has solid and effective communication skills as evident by her work promoting a positive culture particularly around her charity work and has empowered members others so to achieve their goals and strategic Her critical thinking and problem solving skills provide solutions. She has a strong entrepreneurial spirit. I endorse her 'take charge' leadership qualities without hesitation and am fortunate to have worked with her and hope to work with her again in the near future.
Maree Davenport spoke passionately of her frustration around the SSDD she’s seen across her career – Same Shackles Different Decade. She noted that businesses need a gender equality program – ensuring it is established, measured, monitored and maintained.
Maree has worked with Women’s Housing Ltd for over 15 years and organised our highly successful Women’s Futures Conference, the National Housing Conference with the Community Housing Federation and has MC’d, ‘s facilitated sessions and taken part in panels. I cannot speak more highly of Maree’s professionalism and strategic management.
