Annual Report 2025
A Message from our Board Chair
2025 has been a year of significant global impact, as we close out UN Women’s 2022–2025 Strategic Plan and step into an important new chapter. Having served on the Board for several years, it is a privilege to now take up the role of Chair, and to reflect on what our collective effort has made possible for women and girls around the world.
In 2025, UN Women’s work helped ensure that 3.1 billion women and girls across 110 countries now live under a more supportive legislative and policy environment protecting their rights, and essential services for survivors of violence were expanded in 104 countries, offering protection, dignity and hope. These outcomes are a testament to the power of collective action.
Here in Australia, that global mission was powered by extraordinary generosity closer to home. In 2025, 9,544 people across the country stood with women and girls around the world, donating a combined $733,323 to UN Women Australia, strengthening women’s economic independence and meeting urgent needs from conflict zones to communities rebuilding after disaster.
None of this would be possible without the generosity and commitment of our donors, partners, sponsors, staff and volunteers. Your support remains the foundation of our success and the driving force behind our ability to lead global efforts from Australia.
While significant challenges remain, so too does our resolve. Together, we continue to prove what’s possible when we unite for change.
On behalf of the UN Women Australia Board, thank you for your unwavering dedication. We are proud of what we achieved in 2025, and energised by what lies ahead.
Alison Terry
Board Chair
UN Women Australia
Delivering for 4 Billion Women and Girls
In 2025, 9,544 people across Australia stood with women and girls around the world — donating a combined $733,323 to UN Women Australia. Individually, each gift was an act of belief in a fairer, equal future; together, they became a powerful source of change. That generosity powered programs advancing gender equality, strengthening women’s economic independence, and meeting the urgent needs of women and girls in crisis — from conflict zones to communities rebuilding after disaster.
It’s a reminder that lasting change is rarely the work of one organisation alone, but the result of thousands of people choosing, again and again, to show up for a cause bigger than themselves.
A Year of Impact
In 2025, UN Women reached new milestones in its work to empower women and girls — from legal reforms that expand rights and protections, to life-saving aid delivered in the hardest-to-reach places. Each achievement reflects the progress that’s possible when the right support meets sustained effort.
None of it would happen without our donors, and without close collaboration with governments, civil society, and other United Nations agencies. Together, they carried UN Women’s work through the final year of its 2022–2025 Strategic Plan, driving change across communities, institutions, and systems — as the organisation now transitions into its 2026–2029 Strategic Plan.
3.1 Billion
women and girls in 110 countries now have a more supportive legislative and policy environment protecting their rights following UN-Women’s successful collaboration with national partners
> 18,300 organisations
across 100 countries have strengthened capacities to deliver quality goods, services, and resources for women across the humanitarian-development-peace continuum
USD 285.2 million
disbursed to civil society organisations, local women-led organisations and networks as the backbone of open and democratic societies, and inclusive humanitarian responses and peacebuilding processes
556.2 million
>14 million
women and girls accessed services, goods, resources and/or information, including 7.4 million in humanitarian and crisis settings, in close partnership with the United Nations system, national actors and women-led organisations
78 countries
adopted 732 gender-responsive national and local multi-sectoral policies, strategies and plans, addressing issues such as equal pay, the care economy, violence against women, the environment and climate change, and women, peace and security, potentially benefitting 2.9 billion women and girls
Source: Visit UN Women’s Transparency Portal to learn more about where and how UN Women is making a difference around the globe.
Our Impact in Action
Every data point represents a person, someone’s story of resilience, leadership, and change. Our work is to amplify the voices and strength of women and girls, helping break down barriers and realise rights that are rightfully theirs.
Accelerating Gender Equality
Partners Working Together For All Women and Girls
Australia and UN Women: Working together to advance gender equality globally
The Australian Government is a long-time and valued partner of UN Women, supporting UN Women programs since it was established in 2010.
Together, we share a commitment to empowering women and girls globally, working to advance gender equality and women’s empowerment with a focus on promoting women’s economic opportunities, combating violence against women and girls, enhancing women’s leadership and political participation, and addressing the gendered impacts of climate change.
In remote parts of the Solomon Islands, where places like Neo Island have no police station or hospital, women facing gender-based violence often have nowhere nearby to turn. Team leader Sophie Rolyn of the Family Support Centre has become a lifeline, often escorting survivors at dawn on an hour-long boat trip to Santa Cruz Island for police, medical, and counselling support. One survivor, known as Mary, lost her unborn child after years of abuse before SAFENET connected her with medical care, legal help, and a protection order — support she credits with giving her the courage to speak up and finally feel safe.
This network exists because in 2019, UN Women backed by the Australian Government’s Pacific Partnership to End Violence Against Women and Girls expanded SAFENET into the country’s remote provinces, including training healthcare workers to respond with greater compassion and skill. That training has helped triple the number of cases reported to SAFENET’s health providers. The program also focuses on prevention through schools, churches, and community leaders and as Sophie proudly notes that women on Neo Island are stepping into leadership roles. ‘We now have three women chiefs,’ she says. ‘Women and girls are speaking up and being heard.’
Australia’s contributions to UN Women play a pivotal role in addressing emerging priorities in the challenging global landscape, fostering peace, and advocating for the human rights of women and girls worldwide.
The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade have also proudly partnered with UN Women Australia for more than a decade to deliver International Women’s Day events across Australia.
Government Partner: Department of Foreign Affairs
The Australian Government and the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade have proudly partnered with UN Women Australia for more than a decade to deliver International Women’s Day events across Australia.
University of Sydney Business School
To advance our shared commitment to women’s leadership and accelerating progress towards gender equality, UN Women Australia has partnered with the University of Sydney Business School since 2014. Together, we offer two scholarships – the UN Women Australia MBA Scholarship, valued at over $70,000, and the UN Women Australia Global Executive MBA Scholarship, covering 66% of tuition fees – recognising outstanding leadership and a genuine commitment to advancing women’s rights and opportunities. More than 20 scholarships have now been awarded. In 2025, we were delighted to award the MBA Scholarships to PT: Amna Karra-Hassan and Taleah Stofka, our EMBA Scholarship winner was RuKaren Kwedza.
As a dedicated partner, the University of Sydney Business School also served as the NSW Education Sponsor for International Women’s Day 2025. We also welcome University of Sydney interns each year, offering future leaders meaningful ways to contribute to the advancement of women’s rights while gaining valuable industry experience.
IWD 2025 of QUT x UNWA Student Mentoring Prize winner Camille Luchs (centre), with Bec Manley (left), UNWA Brisbane Chapter chair and one of Camille’s mentors. On the right, is Professor Peter O’Connor, Head of School of Management, QUT
Queensland University of Technology Business School
UN Women Australia’s partnership with the Queensland University of Technology (QUT) Business School continues to grow, reflecting our shared commitment to advancing gender equality by unlocking opportunities for women to lead and thrive across all sectors of society.
At the postgraduate level, a dedicated scholarship supports women with senior or executive-level leadership experience to further develop their capabilities, offering a 50% tuition fee waiver for QUT’s Executive MBA program and helping accomplished women amplify their impact within their organisations, industries and communities.
In 2025, the partnership expanded to undergraduate students through the new UN Women Australia Prize, recognising Business and Law students who demonstrate a genuine commitment to gender equality. Recipients receive three mentoring sessions with a UN Women Australia representative, covering goal setting, advocacy skills and strategies for driving gender equality initiatives, alongside a complimentary ticket to our International Women’s Day event. Building on the foundation of the MBA and EMBA scholarships, the prize is helping equip the next generation of changemakers with the tools and connections to mobilise real progress towards a more equal world.
The partnership also continues to promote broader learning through the annual public lecture, sharing research insights and profiling women leaders.
By investing in women’s education, leadership and mentoring at every stage, and supporting real-world research and application, this partnership exemplifies how enduring collaborations can drive meaningful progress toward a more inclusive and equitable future.
Women in Leadership Summit
UN Women Australia was once again proud to partner with the Women Leaders Institute to deliver the Women in Leadership Summit. Now in its 11th year, the Summit brings together emerging and established leaders from government, business and for-purpose sectors to develop leadership capability. The Summit continues to grow as one of the standout events on the calendar, offering a full program of keynote speakers, interactive workshops and networking sessions aimed at equipping women with practical tools and insights to advance their leadership journeys.
Attendees had the chance to build meaningful connections, exchange lived experiences, and leave with renewed confidence and inspiration to lead. A portion of ticket sales, along with proceeds from a dedicated raffle, were donated to UN Women Australia, raising $52,000 to support our global work advancing the rights and opportunities of women and girls.
Marriott International ANZP
In 2025, UN Women Australia continued its partnership with Marriott International ANZP, building on a shared commitment to champion women’s leadership, inclusion and economic empowerment. As our official hotel partner, Marriott is supporting UN Women’s Markets for Change (M4C) project, which empowers women market vendors across the Pacific. M4C is implemented by UN Women Fiji MCO in partnership with UNDP and the Government of Australia.
Throughout the year, the partnership worked to increase impact for M4C, with Marriott Associates and guests across the region engaging with fundraising activities and awareness-raising events. The partnership also delivered capacity-building opportunities for Associates, guests and M4C vendors, deepening understanding of the barriers women market vendors face and the transformative impact of economic empowerment. Marriott further supported UN Women Australia through in-kind contributions, extending the reach and impact of the partnership beyond fundraising alone.
Through these activities, the partnership has so far contributed $101,000 to support and amplify the work of M4C. We extend our sincere thanks to Marriott International ANZP for their ongoing generosity, commitment and dedication to creating lasting change for women across the Pacific.
With thanks to our 2025 Partners and Sponsors
We are deeply grateful to our partners and sponsors for their unwavering generosity and commitment over the past year. Your invaluable contributions of time, expertise, and resources have been instrumental in advancing our mission to achieve gender equality. Together, we are creating a more inclusive and equitable future for all.
Financials
Thank You
We extend our heartfelt thanks to our dedicated monthly supporters, campaign donors, partners, sponsors, Board members, volunteers, interns, and the incredible staff of UN Women Australia. Your collective commitment and collaboration are the driving force behind our progress.
Together, we are turning the vision of gender equality and women’s empowerment into a global reality.
Thank you for standing with us.
