The council, to be chaired by the Minister for Women, Jodi McKay, will provide specialist advice to the New South Wales Government and will advise on issues affecting the status of women in NSW. It replaces the former representative Premier's Council for Women after its term concluded this year.

Those appointed to the council include Gilbert + Tobin's head of corporate social responsibility Traci Williams, Bartier Perry workplace relations lawyer and co-chair of the NSW Women Lawyers' workplace practices sub-committee, Susan Price; and principal solicitor at Women's Legal Services NSW, Janet Loughman.

Other members of the council include Dr. Rae Cooper (deputy chair), who is currently lecturing in the faculty of economics and business at the University of Sydney; Ruta Asimus, who recently established an executive coaching business to improve women's participation in leadership positions; Dr. Lyn Craig, currently the ARC Queen Elizabeth II Fellow at UNSW's Social Policy Research Centre; and Denele Crozier, the executive officer of Women's Health NSW.

The seven council members were selected from around 150 applicants after the NSW Government undertook an 'expressions of interest' process for membership.

"Each member brings with them experience across a range of areas that impact on women including employment, work and family issues, pay equity, leadership, health, safety and access to justice," Premier Kristina Keneally said.

McKay said the council would be closely aligned with the day-to-day policy development work of the Office for Women's Policy.