Diana Taylor AM

From Australian rules football to law and end-of-life care, Diana Taylor AM wears many, many hats.

A pioneer for women in AFL, she combined her love for her hometown and passion for football to become the first ever female vice president at the Geelong Football Club in its over 150-year history. 

She was also instrumental in the establishment of the Geelong Cat’s AFLW team, was the first women to be appointed to the VFL tribunal and was the first female president of a men’s metropolitan football league.

“The greatest impact of my work in football has been to support the building of a game that changes people’s lives, and to provide women and girls with the opportunity to experience the games as equals,” she says. 

Ms Taylor’s achievements span multiple fields. She is also the director of Diana Taylor Legal Consulting, general counsel of Netball Australia, the chair of Anam Cara House Geelong – who provide care to those with life-limiting illnesses – as well as the chair of the Geelong Authority. 

In 2016, she was the Victorian winner of the Telstra Business Woman of the Year award.

“Real outcomes and improvement not only in the quality of people’s lives but in the delivery of exceptional palliative care at end-of-life brings me moments of great joy, along with Geelong Cats’ premierships,” she says. 

Ms Taylor thanks her parents and husband for their values, strength, wisdom, and support throughout her life.

“When I first heard that I was being considered for this recognition I was in a state of disbelief. I am overwhelmed and humbled by the thought of my name being placed in the company of so many revered Australians,” she says.

 “I thank my Order of Australia nominators, the Geelong community and everyone in the Australian rules football community with whom I have worked and served.”