Hon. Cheryl Edwardes AM

Hon. Cheryl Edwardes AM | HHG Giving Back | Honorary Special Counsel

Admitted to legal practice in 1984, Cheryl predominantly practiced in the areas of corporate law until she made the move to politics in 1989.

Cheryl was elected to the Western Australian Legislative Assembly as the Liberal member for Kingsley. She was immediately promoted to the front bench as Shadow Minister for Education and remained a senior frontbencher for the rest of her career, including serving as the first woman Attorney-General of Western Australia from 1993 to 1995, Family and Services Minister from 1995 to 1997, and Environment Minister from 1997 to 2001.

Following her retirement from politics in 2005, Cheryl returned to private practice for a few more years but then made a commitment to assisting the WA mining industry via a number of operational, advisory and Directorship roles. In addition to her roles within the mining industry, Cheryl is also a part-time member of the Foreign Investment Review Board (FIRB) and a Commissioner and Deputy Chair of the WA Football Commission.

She has been awarded an Order of Australia in the Queen’s Birthday Honours 2016 for “significant service to the people and Parliament of Western Australia, to the law and to the environment, and through executive roles with business, education and community organisations.” Cheryl was also named in the 100 Women of Influence 2016, inducted into Western Australian Women’s Hall of Fame 2016 and was a finalist in the Women in Resources Award 2015.

Cheryl joined HHG Legal Group on a part-time basis in October 2020, focusing on pro bono work and the development of the firm’s charitable arm, HHG Giving Back. Her immediate focus will be facilitating the launch of a community legal assistance clinic for Grandparents Rearing Grandchildren (WA) Inc, a registered charity offering support services to grandparents who are raising their grandchildren on a full-time basis.

In the very little free time she has, Cheryl enjoys reading.