Pru Goward became Federal Sex Discrimination Commissioner in July 2001. Following the introduction of the Age Discrimination Act in 2004, Pru Goward was also appointed Commissioner Responsible for Age Discrimination. She is an economist by training and a broadcaster by practice, having spent 19 years with ABC TV and Radio as a current affairs journalist and later as a political reporter and commentator. She is best known for her efforts to promote a national scheme of paid maternity leave and a better balance of work and family. She is considered by both The Australian and The Australian Financial Review newspapers to be one of our most influential Australians, her speeches and columns are widely reproduced in journals and books and in 2001 she was awarded a Centenary Medal for services to journalism and women's rights. She has also co-written a biography of Prime Minister John Howard with her husband David Barnett.
Pru spoke at WIC's October 2005 HOT Breakfast on the topic of "Striking the Balance: Women, men, work and family. (How we share the care)".