Release: Thursday 4 April, 2019

Women’s Legal Service Tasmania today announced that the Board of Management has appointed Ms Yvette Cehtel as incoming Chief Executive Officer, after the resignation of Ms Susan Fahey.

“We are fortunate to have someone of Yvette’s experience available to continue to lead Women’s Legal Service Tasmania.  With offices in Hobart, Launceston and Burnie, the number of Tasmanian women seeking assistance through the Service is at unprecedented levels” said Dr Sonia Shimeld, speaking on behalf of the Board of Management.

“We very much appreciate Susan Fahey’s contribution to Women’s Legal Service Tasmania as CEO over the last eleven years, and look forward to continuing and expanding the positive impact that the Service is achieving for Tasmanian women.”

Ms Cehtel says that gender inequality remains at the heart of the struggle many Tasmanian women and girls experience in their lives on a day to day basis and it was the opportunity to work on this that attracted her to the role and to the Service.

“It is gender inequality that drives the gender pay gap, meaning women continue to be paid less than men, and it is gender inequality that drives family violence, with reports of family violence increasing.  These issues will continue to drive demand for women to access legal services.”

It is the role of Women’s Legal Service Tasmania to support women as they continue to strive for equality, and the Board is confident that Ms Cehtel will build on the achievements of the Service towards this goal.

For further information, please contact Dr Sonia Shimeld, Convenor of the Board of Management, Women’s Legal Service Tasmania, phone 0414 394 714.