Padma Raman has a wealth of experience as a senior executive at both the state and federal level, and in 2018 was awarded the Public Service Medal for outstanding service leading significant cultural, technological and governance change. Before starting as CEO of ANROWS, she was the Chief Executive of the Australian Human Rights Commission for 11 years.

Prior to that, she established and was Chief Executive Officer of the Victorian Law Reform Commission for nine years.  Ms Raman sits on a number of boards, including the ANU Council.She has a Master of Laws by research focusing on the experiences of immigrant and Indigenous women under the Australian legal system.