SOUTH east Queensland advocate Jessica Taylor is transforming the way Australia understands and supports women living with endometriosis, adenomyosis, and chronic pelvic pain.
Her tireless work shines a light on the physical, emotional, and systemic challenges women face when navigating healthcare that has historically dismissed or misdiagnosed them.
For her outstanding contributions, Jessica has been named the 2026 Queensland Award recipient in the Australian Awards for Excellence in Women’s Leadership, presented by Women & Leadership Australia (WLA).
Endometriosis affects a significant proportion of women, yet it remains widely misunderstood. Research from the Australian Longitudinal Study on Women’s Health indicates that around 1 in 7 women born between 1973 and 1978 were diagnosed with endometriosis by age 44–49. Among younger women born between 1989 and 1995, the diagnosis rates are even higher at younger ages — 9.2 per cent by age 31 compared with 6.9 per cent of the older cohort. These figures highlight not only the prevalence of endometriosis but also the growing awareness and earlier diagnosis among younger generations of women.
As Chief Executive Officer of QENDO Australia, Ms Taylor brings a deeply informed perspective to healthcare reform, drawing on her lived experience with endometriosis and adenomyosis.
“I’m deeply honoured to receive the 2026 Award for Excellence in Women’s Leadership,” she said. “This recognition reflects the collective strength of the millions of women and girls whose experiences of endometriosis, pelvic pain, and gendered health inequity have too often been unseen. My work is driven by them — by their stories, their courage, and their insistence that our systems can and must do better. This award celebrates not just leadership, but community, lived experience, and the power of women working together to transform care, research, and justice in Australia.”
Karen Surmon, General Manager of WLA, highlighted Jessica’s transformative leadership.
“This award recognises Jessica Taylor’s exceptional impact in advancing women’s health and outcome-centred system reform,” she said. “Through her roles as CEO of QENDO, Chair of the Endometriosis Coalition of Australia, and Co-Founder of Consumers in Research Australia (CIRA), she has changed how Australia understands and supports people living with endometriosis, adenomyosis, PCOS, and chronic pelvic pain.”
Ms Taylor has led national, consumer-driven programs spanning peer support, multidisciplinary telehealth, digital health pathways, and Australia’s first lived-experience–driven research infrastructure for endometriosis. Her work blends equity, innovation, and personal insight to drive cultural and structural change across health, research, workplaces, and government, amplifying the voices of women and girls whose experiences have too often been unseen.
Alongside Jessica, WLA announced 2026 award recipients from across Australia, including Kit McMahon (National), Katherine Berney (ACT), Leah Bennett (NSW), Taylah Peters (NT), Dr Heidi Mumme (TAS), Divya Pasupuleti (VIC), Drisana Levitzke-Gray (WA), and Anne Tonkin (SA).
These leaders represent diverse fields, from health and advocacy to education, governance, and community services, each contributing to equity and impact in their sectors.
“Equity doesn’t happen by accident — it’s driven by courageous leadership and sustained action,” Surmon said. “The Australian Awards for Excellence in Women’s Leadership recognise leaders reshaping workplaces, strengthening communities, and driving lasting change. By celebrating their achievements, we build momentum toward a more equitable future for all.”
