Published: 12 September 2019

BRAVO to Ruth Forrest, well done on your recognition as a woman of influence.

Being recognised by the Australian Financial Review in its 100 Women of Influence is a significant achievement.

Even as a nominee in the public policy sphere you sit among some women with significant national profiles, who are also leaders within their various fields.

This year's group has been described by the AFR as champions of reinvention.

And from a nurse and midwife to childbirth educator and now a politician is a fair shift, but one that Ms Forrest has taken on with great gusto.

In more than a decade in Tasmania's Parliament, Ms Forrest has been anything but a shrinking violet.

She has made others around the Legislative Council sit up and take notice of the needs of Murchison, but Ms Forrest has also taken a broader view of what is good for the state.

Over that time her knowledge and connections within the health system has seen her ask the difficult questions of health ministers from both sides of the political spectrum.

And she also works hard to understand the other issues which come before the Parliament, from the complexities of the budget through to the more socially charged issues including pill testing and gender on birth certificates.

But the question remains following the release of the nominees for the AFR list, where are the other Tasmanians?

Surely there are others who are worthy of making it into the esteemed company?

It may be a little early, but firebrand Senator Jacqui Lambie has certainly been having an influence on the Federal Parliament since her return earlier this year. Time will tell how influential she is going forward.

And maybe it's not the right time for the likes of Governor Kate Warner, but her track record in Tasmanian legal circles would certainly be worthy of recognition.

With a few minutes, many of us could reel off another few within business, academia, politics and the community who are worthy of recognition.

 

The Advocate Wednesday, 11 September 2019

 

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