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Gai Brodtmann
November 2025
From her first day as Member for Canberra to her current work championing women’s empowerment and national security, Gai Brodtmann has dedicated her career to creating meaningful change. She shares lessons on leadership, resilience, and staying true to one’s moral compass through every chapter of her journey.
"You have the privilege of being educated, which was an opportunity denied to my female forebears. There’s no excuse for you not to think big and be bold in this process."
Gai Brodtmann
Looking back, was there a particular moment or project that made you stop and think, “This is exactly why I do what I do”?
It was the first day in my electorate office as the newly minted Member for
Canberra when I took my first call from a constituent.
The call was from a woman who was living in her car with her teenage daughter
and son. She had escaped domestic violence, fled the family home and was
undergoing chemotherapy for breast cancer. She couldn’t go to a women’s refuge
because they didn’t accept mothers with adolescent sons. Her children weren’t in
school.
She was desperate for a social house, and I was desperate to get her one.
Thanks to tireless advocacy, I did. Years later, a member of my team ran into her
and she said that home was a game changer. The security of a safe space of her
own meant she could get a job, her children could go back to school – in fact they
were at university by then – and they could all get on with their lives. Her cancer
was also in remission, which was great news.
My team and I helped many women and their children flee domestic violence and
secure homes during my nine years as the Member for Canberra. And it was a
joy to see many of them afterwards, who would drop by my mobile offices to
share their news. The children showed me photos of their bedrooms and
backyards. The mothers told me how their “whole life changed for the better after
getting a home”. I went into Parliament to improve people’s lives, make a
difference and shape public policy. Those women and their children were exactly
why I did what I did.
You’ve had a remarkably dynamic career - from serving as a counsellor for public affairs in India, to being an MP, and now contributing at a strategic level on various boards. What habits or skills have grounded you through all these transitions?
Setting my moral compass and sticking to it – it is the guiding light that has determined where I work, who I work with, how I work and how I respond to uncertainty, challenges, new environments and circumstances where there are no handbooks.
Working hard – you cannot succeed, earn respect and generate opportunity without hard work and application.
Being prepared – doing your homework and being across the detail means you are in control of any situation.
Trusting my gut – intuition is a much overlooked quality. If something feels right, go for it. If something doesn’t, run!
Backing myself and being prepared to take risks – my career has had lots of twists and turns and has been great fun. Apart from the first decade, none of it has been planned. I have just been open to opportunities and, if they fit with my values, sound exciting and offered me the chance for growth, grasped them with both hands.
My communication degree and experience – this specialist skill gave me entry to coveted public policy areas in the first decade of my career. I then sought opportunities to branch out into different disciplines, which developed and expanded my skills, expertise and knowledge.
Being bold and courageous – if someone is offering you an opportunity, they clearly respect you and think you can perform the role. Go for it. Ignorethat evil little voice in your head saying you’re not ready or can’t do it.
You’ve been a strong advocate for women’s health, particularly around endometriosis awareness. How has personal passion influenced your professional journey and the causes you champion?
I come from what I’ve dubbed a working-class matriarchy. Three generations of
single mothers who were denied choice and opportunity due to poverty and
disadvantage. Their lives have left an indelible impression on me, and are the driving
force behind the causes I champion.
Women’s empowerment comes from education, reproductive rights, financial
independence, self-respect and equitable access to gendered health and mental
health services that treats them with dignity.
It’s my own experience and that of family, friends and women I’ve met over the years
that has influenced my advocacy work on endometriosis, menopause, fertility control,
financial literacy and women in national security.
What advice would you give to young people - especially women - who want to build careers in public policy, national security, or advocacy, but don’t know where to start?
You have the privilege of being educated, which was an opportunity denied to my
female forebears. There’s no excuse for you not to think big and be bold in this
process.
In terms of public policy and national security, take the time to work out what you
want to do, and why. Where do you want to be in five years, and ten? Do you want to
work on health, climate change or immigration policy? Do you want to work in
defence, finance, intelligence or cyber security? What future gets you excited?
This can be hard when you are starting a career because there are so many options
and pathways, and it can be overwhelming. Just remember, taking one path does not
rule out others. The career journey is not linear. You will have many careers over the
course of your professional life. Just think of all those unknown possibilities!
That said, the first few years get you going, so invest the time to work out what that
initial step will be. To help in that process, join associations in your area of interest.
You will meet other people already in the field who will give you a good idea about
options. And check out the myriad graduate and internship programs in government
agencies and think tanks. They are a great way to start your career journey in public
policy and national security.
But don’t be hard on yourself if the first choice isn’t what you want or doesn’t work
out. Understanding what you don’t want will bring you closer to knowing what you do.
When it comes to advocacy, think about the issues you really care about, and what
change you want to make. Once you’ve worked that out, align yourself to an
organisation or mobilise like-minded people, and then go and make change happen.
Change comes from people who turn up, have a crystal clear and realistic
understanding of the problem and the solution, and are respectful but relentless in
the pursuit of their goal. Change often takes years – it has taken five and a half years
to secure government funding for Fearless Women – so you also need to be resilient
and tenacious.