Jude Munro AO honoured as an outstanding leader

The VPA would like to congratulate chair Jude Munro AO, for being named one of Google and Deloitte’s 50 Outstanding LGBTI Leaders of 2018.

The leaders span a diverse range of industries and were selected for showing how passion, energy, resilience, visibility, courage – and above all, leading as your true self – can drive a successful career.

VPA chief executive, Stuart Moseley, said the award was a fitting testament to Jude’s career in urban management and public service.

“Jude’s excellent leadership demonstrates to Victorian public servants, and particularly urban planners, that diversity is valued,” he said.

“We are delighted she received this recognition for a lifetime of inspiring public service.”

Jude said she was honoured to receive the award, and that it was tremendous to see how society had evolved to become more accepting of LGBTI people in the workforce and beyond.

“This award encourages people to be themselves, to be out and proud, and highlights the importance of diversity. Diversity leads to better workplaces, improved culture and smarter decisions.”

Jude said her greatest role model was her mother, who “showed me the value of a life of service, the importance of hard work and that every individual matters”.

Jude was CEO of Brisbane City Council from 2000 to 2010. This included managing a $2.6bn budget, tunnels and bridges, and more than 10,000 employees.

Jude is an experienced non-executive director and board chair. As a co-founder of Gay Liberation in Melbourne in 1972 as a 21 year old, she then went on to more activism including publishing the Young, Gay and Proud publication.

Jude is currently Chair, Victorian Pride Centre.

Photo credit: Richard Wearne