CENTRAL Coast mayor Lisa Matthews is looking forward to doing her bit this Saturday to encourage more women to stand for local government.
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That's when the Central Coast will host the Australian Local Government Women's Association NSW executive board meeting at The Entrance Visitors Centre.
ALGWA was formed in 1951 to support and encourage women's participation in local government.
Fifteen women, both elected representatives and in senior leadership roles at councils, make up the executive committee.
Cr Matthews, who is on the executive board, said she was looking forward to encouraging women to stand for local government elections and to supporting female staff into leadership roles.
"We are now just one year away from the next local government election and it would be fantastic to see more women on the Central Coast throw their hat in the ring to represent their community," Cr Matthews said.
"Historically women have been under-represented on councils yet local communities are likely to be better served if there is greater diversity in community leadership.
"ALGWA's vision for local government is that 50 per cent of elected representatives and leaders in councils are women. Here on the Coast we are making great strides with 40 per cent of our elected councillors are women. That is higher than the current national average of 35 per cent."
The Central Coast also has a female deputy mayor, Cr Jane Smith.
ALGWA NSW president Cr Cassandra Coleman said it was good to hold the meeting outside of Sydney.
"We are looking forward to meeting Central Coast women interested in ALGWA and local government," she said.
Visit algwa.org.au/executive-committee for more.