The community is invited to attend an afternoon of inspirational dialogue to recognise and celebrate International Women’s Day in Manningham at the ‘Women Inspiring Women’ luncheon on Sunday 6 March.
Held on 8 March each year, International Women's Day is a global day celebrating the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women. This year’s theme is ‘Pledge for Parity’ and focuses on how gender equality can be improved in societies worldwide.
Presented by Manningham Council in partnership with the Food for Thought Network,the ‘Women Inspiring Women’ event will include a keynote address from Professor Gillian Triggs, President of the Australian Human Rights Commission. Guest speakers will include: Manningham Mayor Cr Jennifer Yang; Author, Consultant and Curator Tasneem Chopra; founder and director of Seven Women Stephanie Woollard; and advocate for cultural awareness, workplace diversity and cultural change, Maria Dimopoulos.
About the Speakers
Keynote Speaker – Professor Gillian Triggs
Emeritus Professor Gillian Triggs is the President of the Australian Human Rights Commission, taking up her appointment in 2012. She has combined an academic career with international commercial legal practice and worked with governments and international organisations on human rights law. Professor Triggs has focussed her presidency on the implementation in Australian law of the human rights treaties to which Australia is a party, and to work with nations in the Asia Pacific region on practical approaches to human rights.
Guest Speaker – Manningham Mayor, Cr Jennifer Yang
Cr Yang was first elected to Manningham City Council in January 2011 and is the current Mayor for 2015/16. Jennifer is a passionate advocate for a diverse range of community issues, particularly in the areas of services for senior citizens, young families, migrants and special needs groups. She is the multicultural committee member for the Municipal Association of Victoria and an executive committee member for the Australian Local Government Women’s Association (Victoria). Jennifer also sits on a number of other committees including the National Australian Chinese Women Association.
Guest Speaker - Tasneem Chopra
An author, consultant and curator, Tasneem is also Chairperson of the Australian Muslim Women’s Centre for Human Rights where she works tirelessly to address the challenges that Muslim women face in Australia. As an Australian Muslim of Indian–Kenyan heritage, she has put much energy into conquering stereotypes that affect minorities. Tasneem has been named by The Age as one of Melbourne’s most influential ‘Movers and Shakers’ and The Australian listed her as one of 100 Emerging Leaders.
Guest Speaker - Stephanie Woollard
Stephanie is the founder and director of Seven Women, an award winning social enterprise which helps train marginalised and socially isolated women in Nepal, enabling them to improve their quality of life. She believes that having a realistic understanding of the causes of poverty and culture in developing countries is essential in the field of international development and a crucial ingredient for bringing peace and tolerance in a globalised world.
Guest Speaker - Maria Dimopoulos
Maria is nationally and internationally recognised as an expert on gender equality and violence against women with a particular expertise in working with multicultural communities. Much of her work has been aimed at promoting and enhancing a gendered approach in the ongoing complex legal and political reform processes and in ensuring the meaningful inclusion of diverse women’s voices and perspectives in those reform processes.
Tickets to the ‘Women Inspiring Women’ event are $50 per person, which includes a 2 course lunch, with local entertainment and door prizes.
Funds raised will go towards the purchase of a Braille laptop and scanner for the Event Sponsoree, Alexandra Douros. Alexandra is an 18 year old Doncaster resident who is blind and has cerebral palsy. Having completed Year 12 at Koonung Secondary College, she received a very high Australian Tertiary Admission Rank (ATAR) of 92 and will be starting a Bachelor of Arts at the University of Melbourne as an undergraduate requirement for law.
Event Summary
Women Inspiring Women Luncheon
Presented by Manningham Council, in partnership with the Food for Thought Network
Sunday 6 March, 11.30 am – 3.30 pm
Manningham Function Centre, 699 Doncaster Road, Doncaster
Tickets $50 per person (including 2 course lunch)
For bookings and for more information, visit www.manningham.vic.gov.au/IWD or phone 9840 9405.
