First elected: October 2005
Current term expires: October 2026
Contact details:
Email: cr.mduniam@warwyn.tas.gov.au
Mob: 0427 351 935
Dr Mary Duniam was elected to Waratah-Wynyard Council in October 2005, elected to the role of Deputy Mayor in 2014 and became Waratah-Wynyard Council’s first female Mayor in 2022.
She is currently Chief Representative on the Cradle Coast Authority, Council representative on the Australia Day Awards committee, and is ex officio on other Council committees.
Dr Duniam graduated with a PhD with the Institute of Regional Development (UTAS), with a focus on the relationship between Local Government and Social Enterprises to build community value and was honoured as 2017 Valedictorian at UTAS Cradle Coast Campus. She has lectured in Applied Business, Agribusiness and Social Entrepreneurship with UTAS. Her other qualifications include B.AdVocEd Hons (UTAS), Dip IT (Project Management), Dip Business (Administration), Cert IV Assessment and Workplace Training & Assessment, and Cert IV Small Business Management (Tas TAFE). Dr Duniam was a TAFE teacher, workplace trainer and assessor for Diploma of Business and workplace training. Dr Duniam has co-published book chapters relating to Social enterprises in rural community governance and Social enterprises as rural development actors.
Past roles with Council have included Finance Director and Chair of the Tulip Festival, member of the WarWyn and Circular Head Resource Sharing Committee, Waratah-Wynyard Tourism Advisory Group, Waratah-Wynyard Community Advisory Group and Somerset Indoor Sports and Recreation Committee.
Dr Duniam is actively involved in the local community as past Secretary and Past President of Rotary Club of Somerset Inc, and as past Assistant District Governor for Rotary Tasmania. She was NW representative on the Tasmanian Premier’s Women’s Council (2018 – 2023), past Director of Multicap Tasmania, past Director of Heritage Tasmania, Local Government representative of Rural Clinical School Community Advisory Board, WWC member of BighART Community Advisory Committee; and WWC representative on the Premier’s NW Flood Recovery Advisory Group.
Dr Duniam’s regional representation include; Chair of the Learning and Development Group (LGAT), General Management Committee (LGAT), and the Premier’s Local Government Committee.
Dr Duniam is also Chair of ALGWA Tas (Australian Local Government Women’s Association Tasmania) and has undertaken the role of Master Mentor with ALGWA National for women wishing to enter politics at any level.
Dr Duniam was inducted onto the Tasmanian Honour Roll for Women in 2023 and was awarded Life Membership of the Local Government Association of Tasmania in 2025.
Dr Duniam’s Interests include research, writing, reading, music, sewing, cooking and family.
Council Committees:
- Australia Day Committee
- Waratah-Wynyard Audit Panel (observer)
External Committees:
- Cradle Coast Authority
- Local Government Association of Tasmania (LGAT)
- TAS Water