Striving to create empowering and safe spaces where every girl can flourish.
Our Board
Meet our board, led by Dr Brenda Hamlett as our Chair. The Girl Guides Western Australia Board is a vibrant group of individuals, each bringing their unique backgrounds and skills to guide our organisation towards new heights of excellence, growth and success. Together, they embody our values of empowerment, community and leadership.
Board Chair - Dr Brenda Hamlett
Brenda grew up in the UK and qualified as a high school mathematics and physics teacher. Two years teaching in Sierra Leone with Voluntary Service Overseas was followed by two years back home working at her old high school before the travel bug bit and she moved to WA and settled in the south west.
Having been involved with guiding since the age of seven, Brenda was soon recruited to lead 2nd Bunbury Guides and over the years has held positions as a Unit Leader, District and Region Manager, State and National Trainer and State Commissioner. As a member of the Asia Pacific Training Pool, she conducted trainings in Korea, Papua New Guinea and even the Maldives. She attended the Philippines World Conference of WAGGGS as the rapporteur and travelled to Ulan Bataar as part of the team assessing the Girl Scouts of Mongolia application to become an Associate Member of WAGGGS.
After taking time off to raise her children, Brenda returned to high school teaching for some years and then switched to post-secondary education at TAFE and University. She retired after over 20 years teaching Primary Education at Edith Cowan University where she earned her doctorate in Mathematics Education.
Elected Guiding Member - Julie Brooks
Julie is a dedicated Girl Guide leader with many years of hands-on experience in Guiding. She brings a thoughtful, community-focused perspective to the board, ensuring that strategic decisions stay grounded in the needs and voices of members. Julie is known for her “can do” attitude, always approaching challenges with positivity and determination.
She has a strong interest in governance, developed through her various community roles, where she has contributed to shaping strategy, strengthening organisational processes, and supporting transparent, collaborative decision-making.
Olave Representative - Lucy Jakob-Boyle
State Commissioner - Dr Sharon O'Brien
Sharon brings an impressive 37+ years of Girl Guiding experience. Sharon has organised a multitude of events, including state and international camps, environmental projects, and leadership development programs. Her background as an Assistant State Commissioner further underscores her familiarity with the role’s requirements. Sharon’s vision includes a keen awareness of the challenges families face, promoting growth, and exploring innovative ideas to support our members such as alternative program delivery and flexibility.
Assistant State Commissioner - Erin Farley
With extensive Guiding experience since she was 7 years old, Erin possesses a wealth of communication skills and excels in leadership. Holding a Bachelor of Science in Conservation and Wildlife Biology, her profound love for the outdoors is seen in her active contributions to the water team and hiking activities. Erin provides support to Units in the Joondalup region.
Executive Officer - Ghylène Palmer
As Executive Officer, Ghylène brings a wealth of leadership experience from the community sector and local government and academic libraries to Girl Guides Western Australia. As a seasoned Board Director, she currently serves on the Linkwest Board, the peak body for Neighbourhood Centres and Community Resource Centres across WA. Additionally, she chairs the Joondalup Lotteries House Management Committee. Having served on the GGWA Board for two years and the GGA Board for one year, Ghylène is deeply invested in the mission and vision of the organisation.
Known for her transformational leadership style, Ghylène inspires and motivates those around her to achieve their full potential. She is dedicated to fostering an environment of innovation, collaboration and continuous improvement. Ghylène is responsible for delivering the overall strategic direction of the organisation and ensuring that all areas align with each other and with the organisation’s goals and values. She works closely with the State Commissioner to engage with external stakeholders, and the community to build relationships and secure support for the organisation.
Ghylène’s academic credentials include a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science, French, Italian and Japanese, a Graduate Diploma in Information Science and a Master of Business Administration. These qualifications, combined with her extensive experience, equip her with a diverse skill set that she passionately applies to her role at Girl Guides Western Australia.
Our Policies
Our policies at Girl Guides WA are crafted with care to uphold ethics, inclusivity, and seamless operations. They’re the foundation of our dedication to ensuring a safe, welcoming space for all, focusing on protection and celebrating diversity. For our members, detailed access to our constitution, By-Laws, and policies is conveniently available through the Member Portal, with more Guiding policies accessible on the Girl Guides Australia website.
Our Patrons
The Girl Guides Western Australia patrons are His Excellency the Honourable Chris Dawson AC APM Governor of Western Australia, and Mrs Darrilyn Dawson.
Our Strategic Plan!
