Helen Szoke
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Dr Helen Szoke |
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|---|---|
| Born | 1954 Broken Hill, New South Wales |
| Nationality | Australian |
| Alma mater | University of Melbourne Deakin University University of Tasmania |
| Occupation | Chief Executive, Oxfam Australia |
Dr Helen Szoke (born 1954) is Chief Executive of Oxfam Australia, and a commentator and advocate on issues of human rights, poverty, inequality, gender and race discrimination. Throughout her career, she has held leadership roles across the health sector, human rights and public policy, and international development sector.
Szoke's early years were lived in South Australia, attending Tea Tree Gully Primary School, and Modbury High and Willunga High Schools. After Szoke's family moved to Tasmania, she then studied at Smithton High, Wynyard High and Burnie High Schools in Tasmania.
Szoke studied at the University of Tasmania, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts (Politics and Psychology). Following a move to Victoria, Szoke undertook studied a Masters of Arts Preliminary at Deakin University, as well as a Graduate Diploma in Public Policy (1992) and then PhD Public Policy (2004) both at the University of Melbourne. Her PhD thesis was entitled “Social regulation, reproductive technology and the public interest: policy and process in pioneering jurisdictions.”
Following her matriculation in Tasmania, Szoke worked for a Commonwealth Bank branch as an Information Officer, and as a waitress at Wrest Point Casino, whilst studying for her undergraduate degree. After relocating to Melbourne, Szoke worked as a community education officer, and then with the Victorian Teacher’s Union.
Szoke then worked for a health consumer organisation, the Health Issues Centre, ultimately becoming Executive Director. After leaving the Health Issues Centre, Szoke undertook a period of private consulting while her children were young in the areas of organisational and strategic planning, and consumer health research. Szoke returned to the health sector, joining the Royal Melbourne Hospital, first overseeing the mainstreaming and closure of the Royal Park Psychiatric Hospital, then as Director for the Psychiatry business unit.
Szoke became the inaugural Chief Executive of the Infertility Treatment Authority (now the Victorian Assisted Reproductive Treatment Authority) in 1996, during an expansion of access to reproductive technology, including the availability of in vitro fertilisation to lesbian and single women.
In 2004 Szoke joined the Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission, holding roles as Chief Conciliator and Chief Executive, before being appointed in 2009 as Commissioner and Chairperson of the Board. Following a change of state government, these roles were separated, and Szoke continued as Commissioner.
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