Executive Women’s Leadership Forum with the Hon. Simone McGurk MLA

We are pleased to present Committee for Perth’s Executive Women’s Leadership Forum – a conversation with the Hon Simone McGurk MLA, on Wednesday, 29 October 2025.

Simone McGurk is the State Labor Member for Fremantle and currently serves as Minister for Creative Industries, Heritage, Industrial Relations, Aged Care and Seniors, and Women. She has represented Fremantle in the WA Legislative Assembly since 2013 and has a distinguished background in union leadership.

In this forum, Simone will share insights on her journey to public office, what drives her and the legacy she hopes to build. A passionate advocate for women’s affairs, the arts and Fremantle community, she will reflect on her diverse portfolio and the broader impact of her work across sectors that shape Perth’s social, cultural, and economic landscape.

The Executive Women’s Leadership Forum is a community of executive level, senior and future-leading women in Committee for Perth’s membership, who meet throughout the year to hear from inspiring leaders about their career and life journey.

Our Speaker

Hon. Simone McGurk BA(Arts) BA(Comms) MLA
Minister for Creative Industries; Heritage; Industrial Relations; Aged Care and Seniors; Women

Simone is the State Labor Member for Fremantle, and the Minister for Creative Industries, Heritage, Industrial Relations, Aged Care and Seniors, Women.

On 17 March 2017, McGurk was sworn in as Minister for Child Protection; Women’s Interests; Prevention of Family and Domestic Violence; Community Services. She oversaw significant family and Domestic violence reforms and introduced legislation for safe access zones around Abortion clinics.

She served as Minister for Training; Water; Youth from 14 December 2022 to 8 December 2023, then Minister for Training and Workforce Development; Water; Industrial Relations.

Prior to her election in 2013, Simone worked in the union movement for over 22 years. She was one of the first women elected to be an Organiser for the Australian Manufacturing Workers Union, before being elected the Assistant State Secretary in 1997. She later worked with the United Workers Union.

From 2007, Simone served as Assistant Secretary, and later Secretary, of UnionsWA. There, she campaigned for more local content and local jobs during WA’s mining boom.

Simone has worked as a producer in the ABC and has also served on the State Training Board and on the Board of Directors for AustralianSuper.

Simone holds degrees in History from the University of Melbourne and Media from Murdoch University.