Celebrating First Nations Women Leaders this International Women’s Day

This International Women’s Day, we celebrate the power, leadership, and vision of First Nations women, who are shaping thriving communities across Australia. Steph Harvey, a Bidjara woman from Queensland and CEO of Community First Development, reflects on what it means to lead and to create meaningful change.

“When women lead, the whole world changes,” Steph says.

“We are thought leaders and caregivers, rule breakers, and peacemakers. Without us, things just stay the same.” For Steph, leadership isn’t about being above or below others, it’s about being part of a whole community, an ecosystem where every voice counts.

Community First Development is a national Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community development organisation that works by invitation, supporting what communities identify as their greatest need. Last year alone, we supported over 150 community partners, including 75 new ones. Steph explains that this trust reflects both the relationships built over time and the fact that 90% of communities report they cannot access this kind of support elsewhere.

“It’s about equity, not equality,” Steph emphasises. “We start in different places, and genuine progress happens when people listen with their hearts and talk with their ears. We’re claiming our own space, just like everyone else has the right to make decisions for their own lives and communities.”

On International Women’s Day, Steph’s vision for progress is clear: “This should be the last time we’re talking about lack of parity or opportunity. We cannot keep having the conversation. Things must change. The conversation should be about thriving communities, successful families, and women firmly at the forefront of change.”

Her leadership is guided by transparency, trust, and alignment between personal and organisational values. She describes her greatest learning as CEO: “When people genuinely engage with issues that impact Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, and by extension all Australians, real change happens. It’s not a black fella or white fella issue; it’s a human issue. It takes all of us to contribute to a better world.”

Steph also highlights the unique strength of First Nations women in decision-making: “We don’t just strengthen decision-making, we are the decision-makers. We hear our youth voices, we share equal space at the table, and we lead alongside our men. Leadership is about the whole, not about being above.”

For those seeking to support women in leadership, Steph warns against tokenism: “True support isn’t performative or extractive. Include us in the conversation, respect our expertise, and recognise that the solutions we lead benefit everyone.”

This International Women’s Day, Steph reminds us that supporting First Nations women isn’t just an act of advocacy, it’s an investment in thriving communities, stronger cultures, and a more equitable Australia.