Dr Mary Duniam
Board Member
Dr Duniam was elected to the Waratah-Wynyard Council in 2005 and elected Deputy Mayor in 2014. In 2022, Dr Mary Duniam was the first female ever elected to the position of Mayor of the Waratah-Wynyard Council. As a very mature-aged student Dr Duniam was awarded a University of Tasmania PhD scholarship and in 2017 was honoured as the 2017 Valedictorian at the University’s Cradle Coast Campus. Her PhD research has contributed to the understanding of the nature and extent of existing relationships between local government and local social enterprises and the possible influence of these relationships on community capacity building. Dr Duniam has co-published two book chapters on interactive community governance.
As a Councillor, Dr Duniam has been Chair and member of various Waratah-Wynyard Council’s committees and is Waratah-Wynyard Council representative for LGAT, the North West Councils’ representative on the General Management Committee (LGAT), and Premiers Local Government Council. She is currently Deputy Chief Representative on the Cradle Coast Authority and a member of the Tasmanian Selection Committee of Tas Water.
Dr Duniam is passionate about Local Government and this resulted in her undertaking research into female civic leadership in Tasmanian local government which incorporated views of female elected representatives on leadership, decision-making and challenges for local government in Tasmania – and how this can influence change. Dr Duniam is a past Director of Women Tasmania, the Tasmanian Heritage Council and Volunteering Tasmania. She is Chair of Australian Local Government Women’s Association Tasmania, and Tasmanian delegate on the ALGWA National Board. She is currently the local government representative on the Tasmanian Library Advisory Board and a member of Local Government Division Governance Group – Councillor Learning and Development. She is also Deputy Patron of Surf Life Saving Tasmania, and a current member of the Rural Clinical School Community Advisory Board and Big hART Community Advisory Board.
Dr Duniam has lived in the North West region all her life and was a partner in her husband’s small business for 28 years. She is dedicated to working with her community to build capacity and resilience through the establishment of local social enterprises. She is a past teacher/trainer with TAFE Tasmania, and past researcher, tutor and lecturer with UTAS.
Dr Duniam is actively involved in her community and has held several roles within Rotary District 9830 (Tasmania) as District Secretary, Assistant Treasurer and Assistant District Governor as well as President and Secretary of Rotary Club of Somerset Inc. In 2023, Dr Duniam was inducted onto the Tasmanian Women’s Honour Roll for service to Community; Advocacy and/or inclusion; Government and Public Service.