Announcing the Leadership WA Distinguished and Honorary Fellows 2024

Established in 2013, the Leadership WA Awards recognise exceptional leadership, community contribution and support for the work and values of Leadership WA.

We are excited to announce the worthy recipients of Leadership WA's 2024 Distinguished and Honorary Fellow Awards.

2024 Distinguished Fellow: Dawn McAleenan (Rising 2016) | CEO, Crosslinks

Dawn has over two decades of leadership in the not-for-profit sector, with experience spanning national, regional and local levels. Deeply committed to reducing social exclusion, she actively advocates for equitable, collaborative solutions that create lasting value for communities.

Dawn is involved with a number of NFP Boards including the Centre for Accessibility Australia and Hello Initiative. She is part of the National Disability Services WA State Committee, an active mentor for other business leaders and entrepreneurs, and has been a great supporter of Leadership WA, in particular as a LeadAbility Project Mentor, dedicating herself to cultivating aspiring leaders in the sector.

2024 Honorary Fellow: Alec Coles OBE | CEO, WA Museum

A tireless advocate for Culture and the Arts, Alec led the development of the Western Australian Museum in Perth, ensuring collaboration with all peoples and cultures to achieve a museum truly reflective of our State. He was also a member of the team that delivered the award-winning National Anzac Centre in Albany.

Recognised through numerous awards and honours, Alec is known for his commitment and passion for creating museums owned and valued by their communities. His leadership in incorporating Indigenous voices into the WA Museum’s development has been widely commended in the museum and cultural sectors.

An Evening with Leadership WA | 20 February 2025

Our congratulations to Dawn and Alec on this well-deserved recognition for their exceptional leadership which will be recognised at ‘An Evening with Leadership WA’ on 20 February 2025.

Alumni are invited to join us for this major event in the Leadership WA calendar, where we will also celebrate all that we have achieved together in 2024. Please refer to your emailed invitation or your December Alumni newsletter for details on how to register.

We look forward to sharing this special Leadership WA celebration with you.