2026 Inductees with His Excellency the Honourable Chris Dawson APM, Governor of Western Australia, and Mrs Dawson, with The Hon Simone McGurk, Minister for Women's Interests.
Six graduates from Edith Cowan University (ECU), along with one current student, are among the 16 women who have joined the WA Women's Hall of Fame in 2026, with a further four women recognised posthumously through the Roll of Honour. The WA Women's Hall of Fame recognises women across eight fields, including Arts, Business, Community, Culture, Education, Sport, STEM and Technical Trades.
ECU's presence at this year's ceremony highlights the University's enduring connection to women who lead and shape public life. The recognition also echoes ECU's namesake, Edith Dirksey Cowan, who was among the first inductees into the Hall of Fame.
ECU Chancellor Gaye McMath presented the ECU-sponsored Education category inductees, Emerita Professors Lynette Abbot and Margaret Nowak AM, with their honours, for their contributions to the sector.
L-R Emerita Professor Margaret Nowak AM, Gaye McMath, ECU Chancellor, Emerita Professor Lyn Abbott
The inductees were honoured on 6 March, during a ceremony at Government House Ballroom in Perth. In attendance was His Excellency the Honourable Chris Dawson APM, Governor of Western Australia, and The Honourable Simone McGurk MLA, Minister for Women's Interests.
Transforming ballet education
Janine Ban, a Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts (WAAPA) graduate with a Diploma of Performing Arts (Dance) in 1986, has spent decades shaping ballet education in Western Australia.
As co-founder of the Perth School of Ballet, Ms Ban has co-created a training model that blends technical discipline with academic study and emotional wellbeing. The goal was to make ballet more accessible to young dancers. The school offers dual pathways, allowing students to pursue intensive ballet training while continuing their education.
Diversity and inclusion are central, and the programs are designed to help dancers grow as artists and individuals while maintaining strong relationships and a sense of balance.
A voice in contemporary art
Artist, curator, and writer, Sue Starcken, returned to University as a mature-age student and graduated from ECU with a Bachelor of Arts (Visual Arts) with Honours in 2004. Ms Starcken was also instrumental in forging an enduring alliance between ECU and the Parliament of Western Australia, leading to the development of the Artist-in-Residence program in 2016.
During her studies, Ms Starcken lectured, exhibited widely, and contributed essays to art publications. Her work, nationally and internationally recognised, explores culture, gender, and identity. By creating space for Western Australian women artists, Ms Starcken has made a lasting contribution to the state's contemporary art record and academic discourse.
Champion for gender equity
Business leader Megan McCracken earned a Graduate Diploma of Business (Secretarial Studies) in 1989 from ECU's School of Business and Law.
Ms McCracken has led across multiple industries, including resources, logistics, and manufacturing. Alongside her corporate roles, she has championed gender equity as Chair of the National Association of Women in Operations, promoting mentorship, structural change, and pathways to leadership for women in male-dominated sectors. Her work bridges strong business practices with meaningful social impact.
Strengthening regional communities
Community leader Deb Wilkes, an Illawadjardi woman with ancestral ties to the lands and waters around Shark Bay, holds a Bachelor of Social Science (Youth Work), which she obtained in 2002, and a Master of Research Practice, which she obtained in 2020, from ECU.
For three decades, she has worked across local government, charities, and the not-for-profit sector, including as Deputy Chief Executive Officer at the Shire of Shark Bay. Ms Wilkes focuses on building strong families and communities, particularly in regional Western Australia. Through board roles and community projects, she supports local leadership and creates opportunities for young people.
Sharing culture and knowledge
Noongar cultural leader Rosemary Walley graduated from ECU with a Bachelor of Arts in Education (Early Childhood Studies) in 1997.
A Whadjuk and Pindjarup yorga woman, Ms Walley has connected education, culture, and community health throughout her career. She has contributed to child health research in partnership with Aboriginal communities and Elders and now works through her family business, Kambarang Services, delivering cultural programs that strengthen identity and community wellbeing.
A life devoted to women's football
Penny Tanner Hoath, an ECU alumna with a Bachelor of Applied Science (Sports Science) in 1992, has dedicated more than forty years to women's football in Western Australia.
Ms Tanner Hoath represented Australia in the early 1990s and later became a broadcaster, mentor, and historian of the game. Ms Tanner Hoath created WomenSoccer.com.au, an archive preserving the history of women's football, and presents The World Football Programme, the country's longest-running football radio show. Her work ensures the sport's legacy thrives and supports players and fans across the state.
Advancing mathematics education
Current ECU student Donna Buckley, who is pursuing a Master of Cyber Security, 2024–present, has already made a major impact in education and STEM.
Ms Buckley is President of the Mathematical Association of Western Australia and won the 2023 Australian Prime Minister's Prize for Excellence in Science Teaching in Secondary Schools.
Ms Buckley focuses on building strong mathematical and technical skills, inspiring creative and curious learning, and helping young people develop solutions that improve society and the environment.
A community behind their success
The 2026 Hall of Fame inductees reflect the role education and community support play across a lifetime of work.
Together, their stories show how universities, communities and mentors help open doors.
