Plant Health Australia (PHA) is proud to celebrate the achievements of our CEO, Sarah Corcoran, who has been awarded the 2025 Office of the Inspector-General of Emergency Management (IGEM) International Women’s Day Practitioner Award for Excellence in Disaster Management in the Practitioner category.

At the ceremony recently held in Brisbane, Sarah delivered a heartfelt speech reflecting on the importance of resilience, leadership, and collaboration in disaster management.

“Disaster management is not just about responding to events; it’s about building resilience, protecting lives, and strengthening communities before, during, and after a crisis,” Sarah said.

“It requires a commitment to collaboration, innovation, and compassion — and above all, a deep respect for the people and environments we serve.”

Throughout her career, Sarah has championed the critical link between strong biosecurity and disaster resilience. Her leadership has helped bridge the spaces between science, policy, and community, ensuring Australia’s plant industries and environments are protected against emerging threats.

Receiving this award, Sarah acknowledged the mentors, colleagues, friends, and family who have supported her professional journey. She also recognised the broader community of individuals working every day to strengthen Australia’s resilience.

This year’s theme: ‘For ALL Women and Girls: Rights. Equality. Empowerment’ strongly resonated with Sarah’s message. She emphasised that true resilience is built when every voice is heard and valued, and that empowering future leaders is key to creating lasting change.

“Today, I share this award with every individual committed to creating safer, stronger, and more resilient communities,” Sarah said. “May we all continue to protect what matters most, and may we inspire others to do the same.”

PHA congratulates Sarah on this well-deserved recognition and thanks her for her continued leadership, passion, and dedication to strengthening Australia’s plant biosecurity system and beyond.