I’m proud to share that the George & Jaqui Maree Fellowship, created in partnership with the Women’s Housing Company, is now underway.

My wife Jaqui Maree and I established this Fellowship to support women in building confidence, leadership skills and opportunities for personal and professional growth. Over 10 weeks, participants take part in workshops, mentoring and team activities designed to help them identify their strengths and connect with others who share similar goals and experiences.

The Women’s Housing Company provides vital housing and homelessness services to women across NSW, particularly single women, women with children, and those who have experienced domestic and family violence. Last year alone, they provided homes for almost 1700 women and children, and supported more than 300 women experiencing homelessness. Their work highlights a truth we can’t ignore: housing insecurity and homelessness are not just economic issues, they are human ones, affecting safety, dignity, and the chance to rebuild.

Through this Fellowship, we want to help women who have faced significant challenges to see their own potential and to feel supported as they take their next steps. Everyone deserves the opportunity to feel secure, valued, and hopeful about the future.

Empowering women, particularly those who have been marginalised or overlooked, benefits entire communities. When women have stability, education and confidence, the positive effects ripple outward: children thrive, workplaces strengthen, and communities grow more resilient.

I’m deeply grateful to the Women’s Housing Company for the work they do every day, and to everyone involved in making this Fellowship possible. It’s a privilege to play a small part in helping create new opportunities for women who deserve every chance to succeed.