About
Laura Cowell
You can be something
Laura Cowell is an award-winning leader recognised for her impactful contributions across the corporate, government, and not-for-profit sectors.
As Group CEO of a group of purpose-driven organisations supporting people with disability and older Australians, and as a prominent community leader, Laura is known for her strategic, people-centred, and compassionate leadership. She consistently delivers strong outcomes while driving meaningful social and community impact.
Leadership &
Civic Engagement
Laura Cowell is deeply committed to building communities that are connected, safe, and inclusive where people of all ages and abilities are supported to live active, meaningful lives.
Her leadership is characterised by collaboration, integrity, and purpose. Laura focuses on building high-performance teams, strengthening governance, and delivering strategies that drive sustainable growth and long-term impact. She is known for fostering transparent, respectful relationships and for mentoring and coaching colleagues, leaders, and partners across sectors.
Leadership & Governance Roles
Laura currently holds several senior leadership and governance positions, reflecting her commitment to civic service, social impact, and community engagement:
Group CEO, Tender Loving Care
President, Sutherland Shire Football Association
Director, Fibrous Dysplasia / McCune Albright Syndrome Australia
Member Protection Information Officer (MPIO) Trainer, Office of Sport NSW
Podcast Host, Amplify with Laura Cowell
Local Government Leadership
Laura was first elected to Sutherland Shire Council in late 2021, serving until 13 September 2024. During this term, she held the following roles:
Councillor, Sutherland Shire Council
Committee Roles:
Deputy Chairperson – Shire Services & Environment / Environment & Sustainability
Chairperson – Sport & Active Communities
Member – Strategic Planning
Member – Infrastructure
Member – Corporate Governance
Member – Australia Day & Events
Member – Community Grants & Sustainability
Member – Lucas Heights Community Reference Group
Member – Sutherland Shire Crime Prevention Community Safety Precinct
Current Council Term (2024–2028)
In 2024, Laura was re-elected as Councillor for E Ward and elected as Deputy Mayor (2024–2026).
Current Committee & Reference Group Roles:
Planning Standing Committee
Infrastructure Standing Committee
Community Standing Committee
Corporate Standing Committee (Chairperson)
Audit, Risk & Improvement Committee
Sport & Active Communities Reference Group (Chairperson)
Resource Recovery & Waste Management Reference Group (Deputy Chairperson)
Business & Industry Reference Group
Cleanaway Expansion Proposal Negotiations Working Party (Deputy Chairperson)
Sutherland Shire Crime Prevention Community Safety Precinct Committee
Flood Risk Management Committee
View Laura’s official Council profile:
https://www.sutherlandshire.nsw.gov.au/your-council/our-organisation/your-mayor-and-councillors/councillors/cr-laura-cowell
Empowering Communities Through Volunteerism
Volunteerism sits at the heart of Laura’s leadership. She has dedicated decades to community organisations, sport, education, and media often stepping into roles where leadership, protection, and inclusion were most needed.
Laura currently serves as the first female President of the Sutherland Shire Football Association, championing safe, inclusive participation for thousands of players, volunteers, and families across the Shire. She was also a volunteer radio presenter with 2SSR 99.7 FM, using media as a platform to amplify community voices, leadership, and social impact.
Her volunteer contributions span multiple grassroots organisations, including Menai Hawks Football Club, Minerva School, Cafe Y, and Loftus Cricket Club.
Across these roles, Laura has contributed as a Member Protection Information Officer, Mini Hawks Coordinator, Team Manager, Fundraising and Marketing Lead, and hands-on volunteer consistently focused on safeguarding, participation, and community connection.
Her volunteer journey reflects a lifelong commitment to service, leadership through action, and building environments where people feel safe, valued, and supported to belong.
Driving Systemic Change through Advocacy & Leadership
Laura Cowell is committed to breaking down barriers and advancing inclusion across disability, community leadership, and sport. Her advocacy is grounded in lived experience, governance expertise, and a deep belief that systems must work for people not the other way around.
As a speaker, writer, and host of Amplify with Laura Cowell, Laura uses storytelling and conversation to raise awareness of the issues facing the disability community and to amplify voices that are too often unheard. Through media, leadership forums, and public platforms, she challenges stigma, promotes understanding, and encourages action.
In her role as Group CEO, Laura actively works to remove exclusion in all its forms embedding inclusive practice, accessible design, and people-centred decision-making across organisations and services. Her governance roles, including Director of Genetic Alliance Australia and Fibrous Dysplasia / McCune Albright Syndrome Australia, enable her to influence policy, research priorities, and sector-wide reform.
As a Councillor, trainer, and Chair of Sport & Active Communities, Laura is equally focused on access and equity in sport working to ensure participation is safe, inclusive, and available to all, regardless of age, ability, or background.
Through advocacy, governance, and leadership, Laura drives change not only at an individual or community level, but at a systemic onehelping shape structures, policies, and cultures that enable people to belong, participate, and thrive.
Authentic Leadership: Living Values, Not Just Roles
Beyond her professional roles, Laura is a devoted mother, grandmother, and wife who values time with family, staying active, reading, travelling, and being involved in sport and community life.
Laura brings a holistic approach to leadership one that recognises people are not separate from their lives, experiences, or responsibilities. She leads with empathy, balance, and honesty, drawing on lived experience to inform how she shows up for others.
Whether in leadership, advocacy, or at home, Laura brings her authentic self to everything she does. She is deeply committed to improving wellbeing, expanding opportunity, and strengthening community believing that meaningful leadership is not just about what you do, but how you live and who you are while doing it.
Leading with Kindness
Laura Cowell leads with a deep belief that kindness is not a soft skill, but a powerful driver of meaningful change. Across her roles as a CEO, speaker, radio presenter, and community leader, her leadership is grounded in empathy, fairness, and inclusion.
Laura champions environments where people feel heard, respected, and valued whether in local communities, boardrooms, sport, or the disability sector. Her work across director and governance roles reflects a consistent commitment to equity, transparency, and ensuring decisions are shaped by the voices of those most impacted.
By leading with kindness, Laura challenges traditional notions of power and authority, demonstrating that strong leadership can be both compassionate and decisive. She actively works to break down social barriers, promote understanding, and foster cultures where diversity is recognised as a strength.
At the core of Laura’s leadership is a simple but enduring belief: when kindness guides action, communities are stronger, systems are fairer, and people are given the opportunity not just to participate – but to thrive.
Vision
A connected and safe society where people, communities, and systems are designed for everyone to belong, contribute, and thrive.
Purpose
To lead with kindness and purpose to remove barriers, amplify voices, and empower people to thrive.
Values
Perseverance
Facing challenges head-on with courage, resilience, and determination, especially when the path is difficult or uncertain. I push boundaries not for recognition, but to create better outcomes for people and communities.
Empowerment
Believing deeply in the potential of every person. I lead in ways that uplift, enable, and create space for others to grow, contribute, and succeed on their own terms.
Meaningful Impact
Acting with intention to create positive, lasting change. I focus on outcomes that genuinely improve lives, guided by empathy, thoughtfulness, and a strong sense of responsibility.
Kindness in Action
Leading with strength grounded in kindness and care. I show compassion through consistency, fairness, and respect knowing that how we lead matters just as much as what we achieve.