Sex Discrimination Commissioner Kate Jenkins

Kate Jenkins is Australia’s Sex Discrimination Commissioner and a member of the Australian Human Rights Commission.  Her purpose is to advance gender equality and the rights of LGBTIQ+ communities, consistent with the Sex Discrimination Act and the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women.

Kate is the Chair of the Respect@Work Council and leads action to implement the Respect@Work: National Inquiry into Sexual Harassment in Australian Workplaces Report (2020), including conducting the 2022 National sexual harassment survey. Kate leads the Commission’s collaborative projects on cultural reform with the Australian Defence Force, Australian Federal Police and Australian Border Force.  Kate’s other projects include: Change the Course: national survey sexual harassment and sexual assault at Australian universities (2017); Change the Routine: Review of Gymnastics in Australia (2021); and Set the Standard: Independent Review of Commonwealth Parliamentary Workplaces (2021). She is also an Ambassador for the FIFA2023 Women’s World Cup.

Prior to joining the Commission, Kate spent three years as the Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commissioner, 20 years as lead equal opportunity partner with Herbert Smith Freehills and many years serving on the boards of Berry Street Victoria, Heide Museum of Modern Art and Carlton Football Club.