Biography

Senator Helen Kroger is the Chief Opposition Whip in the Senate, the first Victorian Senator elected to this role. She is the Federal Parliamentary Patron for the Liberal Party’s Federal Women’s Committee and has held key leadership positions in the Liberal Party, including State President of the Victorian Division and Federal Vice President.

Prior to her election to the position of Chief Whip, Senator Kroger was Chairman of the Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade References Committee and Acting Deputy Chairman of the Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Legislation Committee. In the lead up to the 2010 Victorian state election, Senator Kroger strongly advocated that the Liberal Party not preference the Greens. The Victorian Division subsequently decided to preference the Greens last and won government in an electoral landslide. This principled decision, along with the continuing scrutiny of Greens policies, has shaped the national agenda.

Senator Kroger is a member of the Parliamentary Education Office Advisory Committee. She is also a member of the Education and Industry and the Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Coalition Backbench Policy Committees.

Senator Kroger is the Coalition Convenor of Parliamentarians Against Child Abuse and Neglect (PACAN), a Parliamentary Friendship Group that aims to increase awareness of, and take positive action in, eliminating the serious issue of child abuse and neglect.

Before entering Parliament, she was a successful small business owner and remains a passionate advocate for the sector. She was the Fundraising Director for Wesley College Melbourne for six years and has a great appreciation of volunteerism and the central role it plays in Australia.