Celebrating International Women’s Day in Whittlesea

Local female leaders will share their stories about how they support their communities and what learnings have been driven out of Covid-19 during a live panel discussion celebrating International Women’s Day 2021.

The free virtual session, to be held on Thursday 11 March, is open to everyone living in the City of Whittlesea. It will explore the 2021 global UN Women theme for International Women’s Day, Women in leadership: achieving an equal future in a COVID-19 world.

The theme celebrates the efforts of women and girls from around the world in shaping a more equal future.

Facilitator Sandra Morris from Women’s Health in the North will lead the discussion with panellists including Bubup Wilam Aboriginal Child and Family Centre CEO Lisa Thorpe, National Growth Areas Alliance Executive Officer Bronwen Clark, Kirsty Branagan and Sarah Alchin from Lalor Running Club and Whittlesea Interfaith Network President Gulhan Yoldas. 

Chair Administrator Ms Lydia Wilson will open the event and said it would highlight some of the burdens women have carried during the pandemic, and the lessons we can learn.

“The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted some of the disproportionate burdens women carry, but it also shone a light on how our local women are strong, capable and efficient, and willing to take up a leadership mantle in the face of a crisis,” Ms Wilson said.

“The women on our panel certainly took on the challenge, both officially and unofficially, to support their communities through the pandemic and beyond. We look forward to hearing their inspiring stories of how they lead and are committed to making a change.”

CEO Craig Lloyd, who will also attend the event, said International Women’s Day was an opportunity to reflect on the advancements towards gender equality and acknowledge the progress still to be made. 

“The City of Whittlesea acknowledges this important day on the global calendar as an opportunity to promote gender equality and the prevention of violence against women,” he said.

“Council is committed to changing organisational practices and removing structural barriers to equality. 

That can be through initiatives as diverse as women’s leadership programs, grants to increase female participation in sport, or bringing a gendered lens to how we design lighting in our public places.”

The online panel discussion will take place via MS Teams Live from 11am-12pm and bookings can be made at https://www.trybooking.com/BOYXP.