Lisa has always recognised that change comes within democratic systems. She has represented her community at local, state and Commonwealth levels and is highly respected and loved by her electorate of Maylands. She’s currently in her fourth term as MLA Maylands.

Prior to her election to the WA Parliament Lisa represented her local community as a Mundaring Shire councillor from 1998 – 2001.

In her first term Lisa was elected as an Acting Speaker of the Legislative Assembly and in May 2017 was appointed Deputy Speaker of the Legislative Assembly. She contributes much time and energy to a range of Parliamentary Committees: - Member, Education and Health Standing Committee from 6 May 2009 to 30 January 2013 and again 2021-2024. (Deputy Chair 17 June 2009 to 26 May 2010, currently serving as Deputy Chair). Chair, Joint Standing Committee on the Commissioner for Children and Young People from 22 May 2013 to 30 January 2017. Member, Procedure and Privileges Committee from 23 May 2017. (Deputy Chair from 24 May 2017).

In opposition Lisa was Shadow Parliamentary secretary for Women, Communities and Small business and she continues to lead debates on human rights, child protection, gender, LBGTQIA+ issues, ageing and homelessness, the community sector and micro economic reform.

Lisa is a member of the CPA [Commonwealth Parliamentarians Association] and was Chair of the subchapter Commonwealth Women Parliamentarians for Australia.

Early in her adult life Lisa realised that having a liveable income makes the difference between a good quality of life and the stresses of living in poverty. Women in western and developing countries can be severely disadvantaged in their income earning capacity for cultural, gender and caring life challenges.

Lisa’s enterprise development work with and for women in WA, Australia and globally has been outstanding and pioneering:

• 1980’s – Lisa conducted Australia’s first research on womens’ contribution to economic development through small business. As a result, she created the first women’s enterprise training in Australia that impacted on thousands of Western Australian women.
• In the 1980’s Lisa founded WEDO [Women’s Economic Development Organisation] and provided enterprise training and support to thousands of women in WA during its 10 year life span. WEDO was a catalyst that used the WA developed New Enterprise Incentive Scheme to leverage skills and finance for female entrepreneurs. 30 years later, the federal government continues to offer a version of the originally WA based programme, rebadged as the New Enterprise Incentive Scheme.
• 1987 - The International Labour Organisation commissioned Lisa to work in Indonesia and develop a project to assist women to open and run businesses in tourism and hospitality. The project attracted bilateral funding and ran for three years assisting many women and their families to gain a sustainable income.
• 1988 – stationed in Nepal with the ILO, Lisa worked with women throughout the region, NGO’s and the Nepalese Government, on micro economic development through supporting women’s entrepreneurial skills. She developed the program to include micro financing and business skills development. This project worked across three geographic sites in Nepal and helped over 200 women and their families
• 1995 – United Nations Industrial Development Organisation [UNIDO] commissioned Lisa to conduct Asia Pacific research into key issues for women. She wrote and presented a paper as UNIDO’s Regional Consultant and Internal Expert on Gender to the UN’s 4^th World Conference on Women held in China.
• On her return from Nepal, Lisa commenced work as a senior executive with the newly created National Native Title Tribunal. Lisa was in charge of the corporate aspects of launching this new tribunal and seeing it established successfully across all Australian States.

Since becoming MLA for Maylands in 2008 Lisa has done so much work to encourage and build the capacity of female MP’s in other countries. Her outstanding work with and for women has included:

• 2010 – Chair Australia Region Commonwealth Women’s Parliamentarians Committee. In her 3 year term she introduced a competition designed to introduce young women to the functions and role of the Commonwealth; arranged a study tour for women MP’s from Asia and the Pacific to visit Australian legislatures; built a process for strengthening bonds between women MP’s in Australia to support and mentor candidates and women MP’s in the Pacific region. Lisa was the first chair to succeed in gaining federal funding of $3million to undertake regional development work with Pacific women.
• 2010 – commissioned to train and build the capacity of newly elected Indonesian women MP’s
• Lisa has continued her contact with the Nepalese community in WA to support and build their capacity and networks.