Megan Maack Honoured As Manly's Local Woman Of The Year 2026
On Thursday March 5 2026 local resident and founder and CEO of the Childhood Dementia Initiative, Megan Maack, was named Manly’s Local Woman of the Year at the NSW Women of the Year Awards in Sydney.
The Local Women of the Year Awards celebrate visionary thinkers, everyday heroes, social advocates, and trailblazing role models who make a meaningful difference in their communities.
Manly’s Local Woman of the Year, Megan Maack, was nominated by Member for Manly, James Griffin MP, in recognition of her tireless efforts in raising awareness and advocating for funding and crucial research to transform outcomes for children and families affected by childhood dementia.
Megan founded the Sanfilippo Children’s Foundation in 2013. She held the position of Executive Director for 7 years looking after all the day to day running of the foundation before moving to stategic leadership role on the Board. This move allowed her to create a new organisation, Childhood Dementia Initiative, focused on driving innovative and collaborative research into the disorders that present with childhood dementia.
Megan is the mother of two children, Isla and Jude, who both have Sanfilippo syndrome.
Prior to making the Sanfilippo movement her life’s work, Megan’s occupation was a management consultant, specialising in large-scale IT project management and organisational change management.
As founder and CEO of the Childhood Dementia Initiative, Megan has spearheaded efforts to elevate national awareness of the condition, driven collaboration across healthcare and research sectors, and has championed families navigating the impacts of rare and devastating paediatric disorders.
Mr Griffin paid tribute to Megan, recognising her outstanding commitment to increasing awareness and accelerating therapeutic research for childhood dementia.
“Megan’s advocacy is deeply shaped by her lived experience, and that is what makes her leadership so powerful. As a mother of two children with childhood dementia, she brings real humanity and a relentless dedication to ensuring children with dementia and their families are seen, supported, and understood.
“Childhood Dementia is a rare and lesser-known disorder impacting thousands of families right across Australia. Support services and research are extremely limited by both a severe lack of funding and the perception that dementia only affects people later in life. Megan is determined to change that.
“I congratulate Megan on this thoroughly deserved recognition. Our local community can be proud to stand behind her as an outstanding advocate, mother and role model to young women across the Northern Beaches. She is a true pioneer in her field, and her devotion to improving the lives of others is truly inspiring,” Mr Griffin said.
Shadow Minister for Women, Felicity Wilson, congratulated all the award recipients.
“Right across NSW, we have seen countless women acknowledged today for their work as inspirational role models to women and girls right across NSW. Their work makes a real difference in the lives of others and deserves to be recognised and celebrated,” Ms Wilson said.
“Every award winner honoured today truly embodies this year’s International Women’s Day theme, ‘Give to Gain’. Progress is driven when we invest in women’s leadership and elevate their voices, not just today, but every day.”
Introduced by the Liberal National Government in 2012, these annual awards continue to recognise the women and girls whose determination, bravery, skill and passion have inspired their communities and others to achieve great things.
All Local Women of the Year were recognised during the 2026 NSW Women of the Year Awards ceremony, held at the International Convention Centre in Sydney today, on Thursday 5 March.
To read more about the Childhood Dementia Initiative and Megan’s advocacy, please visit https://www.childhooddementia.org
For further information on the NSW Women of the Year Awards, visit www.nsw.gov.au/wotya26