ICPA Awards
2026 Presented with ICPA Australia Life Membership - 30 July
Wendy Hick is an active member of Mt Isa Branch of the Air and has held several Executive roles over the years. At the State Conference in 2010, she was elected a member of ICPA Qld State Council. After one year she stepped up from her Councilor role into that of Vice President, a position she held for the next four years. In her final year as Qld Vice President, Wendy was head hunted to take on a role on ICPA Federal Council and not just any role - she went straight to the top job as Federal President! At the Qld Conference in 2015, Wendy officially retired from State Council to focus on her role as Federal President.
During her last years on State Council, Wendy mentored incoming Councillors. Indeed, even once stepping onto Federal Council she continued to provide support and guidance to those who sought it. To this day she continues to provide an ear, a supportive and kind word and impart her deep knowledge and understanding of ICPA policies, procedures and intent to whomever contacts her.
Having been elected as Federal President role at the 2015 Conference in Brisbane, Wendy added a new cap to her collection at her home North of Camooweal where she lives with her husband Lloyd and where together they raised their two sons, Adam and Zac. Leading with a confidence borne from lived experience in the classroom tutoring her two boys before time spent supporting her boys through boarding school and university to complete their education, Wendy continued building on the consistent and constant advocacy for which ICPA is known and respected to seek equity in educational access and opportunity for rural and remote students.
It was while Wendy was on Qld State Council that she cut her teeth in the communications portfolio. Once in the chair as Federal President and then Immediate Past President, Wendy really took the bit between the teeth and became a force to be reckoned with, advocating for rural and remote students being able access communications for schooling. Wendy is well known and widely respected by all Telcos, and they maybe slightly afeared, in her determination to ensure that remote families are not being left behind in the communication revolution. Today as Wendy continues to be involved in the communication world away from ICPA, the members and families of ICPA are always in the forefront of her advocacy work.
While known for both her attention to detail, as evident in her long emails and reports where no piece of information was left out and her respectful and equal treatment of all – regardless of their job title, location or status, it is Wendy’s professionalism, passion and commitment to the role that stands out most when recalling her time as President. She gave each and every person attention and time, because to Wendy no person was deserving of more or less than any other and every issue deserved at least 100% of her energy and effort in order to create successful outcomes for families “beyond the black stump”.
In 2019 after fulfilling the four year term in the President role Wendy assumed the Immediate Past President role for the following four years. After this role finished, she continued in an off-Council position for a year as the Communications guru. While this role has formally finished Wendy continues to share her accumulated depth of knowledge and experience in communications and technology when called upon. As Wendy pursues other interests including board roles of various organisations, It is well known that Wendy continues to be an advocate for ICPA and the members by raising the profile of the organisation wherever she goes.
It’s been quite a journey from Chicago to Camooweal, and along the ICPA path Wendy has travelled she has left an indelible track – made through quiet yet determined steps, forceful yet respectful imprints – all leading forward towards educational equity, accessibility and opportunity
Wendy’s passion for, and commitment to, ICPA, our members and their families is inspiring and, at once, valuable and valued. It is a pleasure and honour to acknowledge her significant contribution by awarding Wendy Life Membership of ICPA (Aust).
