Carole Shaw, an Icon of Change from Australia

Icons of Change International Awards 2025

Carole Shaw
Chief Executive Officer – Executive Committee, Asia Pacific Women’s Watch (APWW)
Co-Chair, Asia Pacific NGO Committee on the Status of Women (AP NGOCSW AP)
Member, Business & Professional Women International – Human Rights Standing Committee
Technical Advisor, Government Delegations – United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (CSW)

SDG Focus: Sustainable Development Goal 5 – Gender Equality
Changemaker in Women’s Rights and Global Advocacy (Australia)

Carole Shaw is a globally recognized strategist, advocate, and mentor whose work has shaped gender equality policies, advanced women’s rights, and strengthened civil society networks across the Asia Pacific and beyond. With decades of experience spanning advocacy, policy development, non-profit leadership, and grassroots empowerment, Carole’s career exemplifies the transformative impact of committed, intersectional leadership.

As Director of International Access Networks, Carole develops and drives high-level strategies that amplify the voices of marginalized women, building coalitions that span governments, NGOs, and community organizations. Her work prioritizes mentorship and sponsorship, opening pathways for young women leaders to collaborate, innovate, and influence decisions at the highest levels.

Her distinguished career includes initiatives in integrated conservation development, community education, university lecturing, and women, peace, and security research, providing Carole with unique access to diverse women’s groups, including those in refugee and post-conflict contexts. Following the COVID-19 pandemic, she coordinated a broad network of health organizations with Gender Equality Victoria (GenVic), supporting the implementation of the Gender Equality Act (2020) and helping state entities integrate gender-responsive policies across the public sector.

Carole’s impact extends to the global stage. She has overseen Australia’s National Five-Year Reviews on the Beijing Platform for Action from Beijing +5 through B+30, contributed to Shadow Reports for CEDAW processes, and served as a technical advisor on government delegations at the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (CSW). Her work has been pivotal in ensuring governments uphold commitments to women’s economic empowerment, women, peace, and security, and the Sustainable Development Goals, particularly SDG 5.

As CEO of APWW and Co-Chair of AP NGOCSW AP, Carole leads networks of women-led NGOs across the Asia Pacific, ensuring grassroots perspectives shape international policy. Through voluntary initiatives such as the Women’s Rights and Gender Equality Caucus (WRGE), she continues to advance structural reforms that empower women, promote justice, and dismantle systemic barriers to equality.

Carole’s expertise bridges policy, governance, and grassroots activism, encompassing gender policy, international relations, nonprofit management, program evaluation, and movement building. Her leadership is grounded in intersectional human rights principles, ensuring that women and girls across socio-economic and cultural contexts gain access to resources, representation, and opportunity.

Today, as an Icons of Change International Awardee 2025, Carole Shaw is celebrated as a visionary changemaker whose work strengthens institutions, amplifies marginalized voices, and advances global gender equality. Her career is a testimony to the enduring power of advocacy, collaboration, and strategic leadership in creating a world where women and girls are empowered to thrive.

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