Celebrating the women shaping the future of Western Sydney

Winner: Leanne Tobin

Leanne Tobin is a multi-disciplinary artist and educator, sharing her Dharug histories focusing on environmental responsibility and respect for Ngurra (Country).  With 35 years' experience as a primary teacher, Leanne has also worked as a TAFE teacher, teaching Indigenous inmates and now teaches Cultural/Visual Arts to Indigenous students in Western Sydney. Her art practice tells of place and extends into public installations and exhibitions. She was a featured artist in the 22nd Biennale of Sydney (NIRIN) and the 23rd Biennale of Sydney (Rivus).

Leanne is preparing for a survey exhibition in July and developing her play Bulunggayi for Sydney Festival 2027 .

Winner: Dr Sera Yilmaz

From Fairfield, Dr Sera Yilmaz has dedicated her career to amplifying multicultural voices and advocating for vulnerable communities across politics, academia, and the nonprofit sector. Elected to Fairfield Council then serving as Deputy Mayor, she volunteered five years as Secretary for the Australian Local Government Women’s Association, leading workshops across NSW to empower diverse women to run for office.  As Manager and Disability Advocate at MDAA over six years, Sera champions multicultural people with disability and has presented on human rights, intersectionality, and civic space within NGOs at the United Nations in Thailand. Her 2025 PhD on skilled migration challenges and work as a casual lecturer mentoring placements drives research and advocacy that uplifts communities and fosters human rights and belonging.

Winner: Dr Danièle Hromek

Dr Danièle Hromek is a Saltwater woman of Budawang/Murramarang/Dhurga/Yuin – Burrier/Dharawal ancestry, with French and Czech heritage. She is a pioneering Country-Centred spatial designer and the first Indigenous person in Australia to earn a PhD in spatial disciplines. Danièle’s research informed the Connecting with Country framework and Designing with Country discussion piece by Government Architect NSW.

She serves on the Heritage Council NSW and NSW/ACT Design Review Panels. As director of Djinjama, she leads projects that integrate Country, culture, and community into the built environment, advising governments, museums, and industry professionals.

Winner: Mahalia Murphy

Mahalia Murphy is a proud Indigenous woman, born in Blacktown and raised in Western Sydney, with deep ties to the region she calls home. With family connections to Walgett in north-west New South Wales, she carries a strong sense of community and cultural pride, inspiring others through her leadership and representation. An elite athlete with a distinguished career across rugby league, rugby union, and rugby sevens, Mahalia debuted for the Jillaroos in 2015. She has represented NSW in State of Origin, the Indigenous All Stars, competed internationally with the Australian Rugby Sevens (2015–2020), played for the Wallaroos (2017–2022) and NSW Waratahs. Mahalia debuted in the NRLW with the St George Illawarra Dragons in 2020 and returned in 2023 with the Parramatta Eels, where she now serves as captain. She rejoined the Jillaroos in 2025 for international fixtures and continues to lead both on and off the field. Beyond sport, Mahalia has appeared on TV programs including Ultimate Tag, SAS Australia, and Black Comedy. Through her achievements and commitment to community, she continues to be a powerful role model across Western Sydney and beyond.

Winner: Adriana Assey

A Western Sydney University graduate, Adriana Assey is a passionate Project Engineer who seeks to contribute to Western Sydney Infrastructure, the international and local community. She has worked across major NSW infrastructure including NorthConnex, Western Sydney Airport Bulk Earthworks, Airside Civil and Pavements, M12 Motorway and Parklife Metro, revolutionising Western Sydney’s economy. She is a dedicated volunteer for Engineers Australia having volunteered for over five years in various committees and STEM outreach initiatives. She has led several initiatives to enlighten students about the limitless opportunities engineering grants superseding socioeconomic barriers to achievements. Adriana seeks to inspire engineers to dream and contribute to the world to make it a better place.

Winner: Hiro Kojo

Hiro Kojo is a young mum, Assistant in Nursing and Western Sydney University student training to become a Registered Nurse. She has been part of a number of co-design projects, most notably Young Well Beings which aims to support young mums and their mental health through a digital resource that improves health literacy. Through this project, Hiro has presented at conferences such as the PIMH symposium, where she has shared her lived experience to spread awareness on perinatal mental health. Hiro has also been part of the WSLHD Youth Council where she has advocated for changes in the youth health sector.

Winner: Natalie Camilleri PSM

Natalie Camilleri is an accomplished city-scale strategist, planner and developer with a strong grounding in enabling infrastructure for international gateways, greenfield and urban renewal sites. She has made significant contributions to Western Sydney’s growth with 25 years of experience working in New South Wales’ leading government agencies and state-owned corporations. Through her continued lived experience in Western Sydney, Natalie has a deeply intertwined understanding of the region. At present, she is passionately committed to working on delivering Australia’s first new city in over 100 years at Bradfield City, on the doorstep of the new Western International Airport.