Meet Our New Chair

Meet Our New Chair: A Conversation with Gabrielle

We’re delighted to welcome Gabrielle as the new Chair of Success Works. With more than 25 years of experience in human resource management across Australian and US organisations, and a deep commitment to supporting women impacted by the criminal justice system, Gabrielle brings exceptional leadership, insight, and compassion to the role.

We sat down with Gabrielle to learn more about her passion for the work of Success Works and her vision for the future.

What inspired you to become involved with Success Works?

Gabrielle: For two years, I volunteered as a facilitator at Silverwater and Dillwynia prisons before joining the Success Works Partners board, working to prepare women for employment after their release. That experience showed me first-hand the challenges and barriers these women face when they leave custody. It’s why I decided to get involved with Success Works, I wanted to be part of an organisation where I could make a real difference to women who deserve a fair chance.

You’ve spent more than 25 years working in human resource management. How has that experience shaped your perspective on employment and opportunity?

Gabrielle: I strongly believe in the power of work as it provides essential structure, a genuine sense of purpose, and the dignity of contributing to something meaningful. With employment comes real opportunity: the chance to build practical skills, regain confidence, and reshape one’s path. I would love to see more organisations take a much closer look at their recruitment and hiring practices, moving past blanket exclusions to genuinely consider women with a criminal record as candidates worth backing.  Reintegration starts with an open door, and giving our women a fair chance isn’t just good social policy, it’s smart business.

Success Works supports women impacted by the criminal legal system to achieve meaningful employment and economic independence. Why is this mission important to you personally?

Gabrielle: I strongly believe every woman including those impacted by the criminal legal system has a right to meaningful employment and economic independence. Their past shouldn’t be a reason to exclude them from opportunity. The women Success Works supports want to work and contribute to society, and the benefits of work, for them and for the community, are enormous. When we give women affected by the legal system a fair chance at employment we offer economic independence, break cycles of disadvantage and access a remarkably resilient, dedicated talent pool that most companies overlook. True inclusion means extending opportunity to those who need it most and recognizing that a person’s past does not define their capacity to contribute.

What strengths and experiences do you hope to bring to your role as Chair?

Gabrielle: I hope to bring a balance of strategic vision, interpersonal leadership and strong governance oversight. I want to encourage diverse perspectives from the board and help synthesise debate into clear decisions. I’m also committed to supporting our CEO, Yvette, and being a credible voice for Success Works when engaging with key stakeholders.

What excites you most about the future of Success Works?

Gabrielle: What excites me most about the future of Success Works is the incredible momentum we are building. Under the leadership of our CEO and a deeply dedicated team, we work tirelessly every day to push our vision forward and transform lives. We are immensely grateful for the vision and generosity of our funders, whose investment allows us to extend our reach. Even more exciting is our growing network of strategic, cross-sector partnerships with complementary agencies.  Together, we’re creating a multi-sector safety net so that women don’t fall through the cracks. Leaving the criminal legal system can be daunting, but with our holistic approach, they step into a continuous community built to support them every step of the way.

What do you see as some of the biggest opportunities for Success Works in the coming years?

Gabrielle: Looking ahead, the greatest opportunity for Success Works lies in expanding our reach and deepening our impact so that every woman in NSW impacted by the criminal legal system gets a fair chance to thrive. By scaling our program into regional areas, increasing flexibility to boost long-term retention, and growing our test-and-tag social enterprise, we can provide immediate, flexible pathways into the workforce. Crucially, our women remain our most powerful advocates, their success in the workplace proves to employers that backing women impacted by the criminal legal system works. By strengthening our network of employer, community, and government partners, we can deliver holistic wrap-around support while continuing to champion the systemic change required to break cycles of disadvantage for good.

What advice would you give to women who may be struggling to see their own potential?

Gabrielle: I’d encourage them to reframe their past as an event, not a character trait. It’s not a measure of their capability or worth. Set manageable goals to rebuild momentum and learn to trust the process when completing the Success Works program. Documenting achievements, however small, helps build a concrete record of progress over time, and that record becomes proof of what’s possible.

How can our community, supporters, and partners help create more pathways for women rebuilding their lives after involvement with the criminal legal system?

Gabrielle: Creating sustainable pathways requires a coordinated approach across every sector, moving beyond short-term intervention toward long-term systemic change. Women leaving custody need stable housing and immediate access to support systems, Supporters and funders can help by providing flexible capital to scale our social enterprises and fund core infrastructure, so we can focus on delivering services rather than just surviving. And employers can help by creating direct pathways through inclusive hiring, removing automatic disqualifications for offences that aren’t relevant to the role.

Finally, what message would you like to share with the Success Works community as you begin this new chapter as Chair

Gabrielle: Stepping into the role of Chair is both a privilege and a responsibility. Success Works has always been defined by the strength of its people—our incredible staff, partners, supporters, and the extraordinary women we serve. The work ahead is vital, and with your continued partnership, I am confident that we will create transformational change for every woman stepping into her future.