Since December 2000 Chris McDiven has been the State President of the Liberal Party (NSW Division), only the second woman to be elected to this position. Prior to the 1996 Federal election Chris was the President of the Liberal Federal Women's Committee and President of the NSW Liberal Women's Council. While serving in these roles she initiated and coordinated both the State and Federal Liberal Women's Forum training programs, which have been widely credited with increasing the number of Liberal women in Parliament. The increased participation of women in the political process was achieved by training, mentoring and supporting women through Party preselections.