Dr Shaymaa Elkadi

About

Executive leader. System reformer. Cultural bridge-builder. Shaymaa brings over two decades of leadership experience in some of Australia’s most complex sectors—justice, mental health, multicultural affairs, and family violence. She’s led statewide reforms, built national-first models of care, and supported organisations through moments of growth, challenge, and change. Her expertise spans strategy, governance, cultural reform, and trauma-informed practice. But what really defines her work is how she does it—with humility, precision, and a deep respect for people’s lived and professional wisdom. Shaymaa’s background is as layered as the systems she works in: a PhD in neuropsychology, executive roles in government and not-for-profits, board leadership in mental health and women's health, and current legal studies focused on systems accountability. She’s as comfortable in boardrooms as she is in community spaces—able to hold complexity without losing sight of the human impact.