Michele is an accomplished public sector executive with extensive expertise in gender equality, emergency management, and national security.
With a career that spans the Victorian and Commonwealth public service, as well as the UK Civil Service, Michele has a comprehensive understanding of policy development, program delivery, and public administration. Her professional journey has been defined by a deep commitment to serving the community and fostering positive societal change.
Michele’s career achievements include directing counter-terrorism operations, leading the development of Victoria’s comprehensive strategy for combating and responding to violent extremism, and spearheading the state’s gender equality policy and programs. She continues to champion outcomes for women and girls across Victoria through her engagement with public entities, private industry, unions, and the community sector.
Her passion for challenging entrenched gender stereotypes and driving systemic change has been central to her role in developing and implementing groundbreaking reforms such as the Victorian Gender Equality Strategy and Gender Responsive Budgeting. Michele is a well-regarded public speaker on issues of gender equality and women’s leadership and, in 2023, she delivered a TEDx talk titled "Reference Man and the Gender Unequal World," highlighting the pervasive impact of gender bias on society.
Michele’s career experiences have uniquely placed her to explore the critical nexus between the misogynistic radicalisation of young men and violent extremism within a national security framework. The Churchill fellowship will provide an opportunity to further explore this connection and leverage international initiatives for countering violent extremism to address violence against women.
Michele is currently a non-executive Director of the Victorian Emergency Relief and Recovery Foundation. She holds a Bachelor of Arts/Law (Hons) from the University of Queensland and a Graduate Diploma in International Relations from the Australian National University.
Project
To investigate the application of counter terrorism measures to address violence against women
Michele Clark
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