top of page

BROOKE
BLURTON

Human Rights Activist; Entrepreneur; Inspirational Speaker; Philanthropist; Mentor​

Author; Youth Worker; Mental Health Advocate

MELANIE
TRAN

Human Rights Activist; Entrepreneur; Inspirational Speaker; Philanthropist; Mentor​

AFR Top 100 Women of Influence 2019; Product Designer; PhD Researcher ; Board of Directors, International Youth Foundation

THE HON. SUE ELLERY MLC

Former SBS Newsreader, Television & Radio Presenter, Journalist

Minister for Finance; Commerce; Women's Interests, Department of Premier and Cabinet, Government of Western Australian

PAT
ANDERSON AO

Human Rights Activist; Entrepreneur; Inspirational Speaker; Philanthropist; Mentor​

Chair, Batchelor Institute

DONNA
ADAMS APM

Human Rights Activist; Entrepreneur; Inspirational Speaker; Philanthropist; Mentor​

Commissioner, Tasmania Police; Secretary, Department of Police, Fire and Emergency Management

ZAHRA
AL HILALY

Human Rights Activist; Entrepreneur; Inspirational Speaker; Philanthropist; Mentor​

Youth Activist; Speaker; Author

BELINDA
HAZELL OAM

Human Rights Activist; Entrepreneur; Inspirational Speaker; Philanthropist; Mentor​

Principal Consultant, Optimum Standard

ASHA
BHAT OAM

Board Director, Author and Youth Advocate

Chief Executive Officer, Southern Aboriginal Corporation

DR BIANCA
CAPRA

Prime Minister of Australia, 2010-2013​

President, Australian Fluid Mechanics Society; Diversity and Outreach Officer, International Society of Air Breathing Engines Board and the Spitfire Association of Australia; NAVIGATE Participant, Defence Science and Technology Group

VICKI
ABRAHAM

Premier of Queensland

Managing Director, Abraham OT Services Pty Ltd

MANASI MURTHY
MITTINTY

Human Rights Activist; Entrepreneur; Inspirational Speaker; Philanthropist; Mentor​

Advanced Global Clinical Scholar Research Fellow, Harvard Medical School 2022-2023; Senior Lecturer, Flinders University College of Medicine and Public Health; Winner Women's Agenda National Emerging Leader in Health

DR BE
PANNELL

Human Rights Activist; Entrepreneur; Inspirational Speaker; Philanthropist; Mentor​

Course Leader, MBA and Coaching, Australian College of Applied Professions

08:40 - 09:00

REGISTRATION

09:00 - 09:30

Welcome & Acknowledgment of Country

DR JANET SMITH

Program Specialist and Lead Facilitator, Women & Leadership Australia

09:30 - 09:40

Welcome Address

KAREN TAYLOR GAICD

Chief Executive Officer, Women & Leadership Australia

09:40 - 09:45   Video Presentation

The National Award for Excellence in Women’s Leadership

KAREN MUNDINE

Chief Executive Officer, Reconciliation Australia

09:45 - 10:15

Keynote Address

THE HON. SUE ELLERY MLC

Minister for Finance; Commerce; Women's Interests, Department of Premier and Cabinet, Government of Western Australian

Sue Ellery is currently Leader in the Legislative Council in Western Australia’s State Parliament and is the Minister for Finance, Commerce and Women’s Interests. Sue has been a member of the WA Parliament since 2001 and is the first woman to lead the Government in the Legislative Council. As the Minister for Women’s Interests, Sue is focused on delivering positive outcomes for women in all areas. As a senior Minister in Government, Sue is keen to see practical and impactful changes that will ensure women can achieve to their full potential in all areas of their lives. Prior to Parliament Sue worked as an advocate in both the community sector and the trade union movement representing low paid workers.

10:15 - 10:20

Gold Sponsor Address

Australian College of Applied Professions

78344401-2EF3-A53A-9C34-4C1B74DE8AEA.jpg

10:40 - 12:10

PANEL DISCUSSION

Cracking the Code: Innovation for a Gender Equal Future

Building upon UN Women Australia’s theme for International Women’s Day, our panel will look at innovative ideas, technology, and accessibility in the modern age. How can creative ideas and use of technology reduce equality barriers and forge more diverse, inclusive, and accessible workplaces? What can leaders do to foster these types of environments? Our expert panel will share their experiences and stories of technology and innovation and give advice on incorporating these ideas into your own workplace to help shape an equal future for our world.

Panel Members

BELINDA HAZELL OAM

Principal Consultant, Optimum Standard

Belinda Hazell is Principal Consultant at Optimum Standard, a Tasmanian based consultancy business that is proud to help build better futures for business.  Belinda is passionate about farming, food and the stories behind it, which has seen her become a leading advocate for the agricultural sector. Belinda is Emeritus Chair of Tasmanian Women in Agriculture - an organisation which has over 2,500 women connected to its network. She believes that there are many issues impacting rural women that remain invisible until shared. In 2018, Belinda was awarded a Churchill Fellowship to ‘Investigate the use of horticultural QA Standards to stay ahead of social license demands’ and out of this research, #howandwhywefarm was born. In 2022 she was awarded an Order of Australia Medal for services to primary industry. 

ASHA BHAT OAM

Chief Executive Officer, Southern Aboriginal Corporation

Asha Bhat leads the award-winning regional Southern Aboriginal Corporation (SAC), which provides services and programs that address the Noongar peoples' needs and aspirations in cooperation with other community and business organisations. Asha spends every day ensuring that critical services are provided seamlessly to some of Australia’s most vulnerable communities. Asha is now an Australian citizen; however, she was born in India. English is her third language. She has risen to the top of the organisation because she tirelessly invests her time and energy into helping to improve the culture and environment for everyone. In 2017, Asha received the Albany Citizen of the Year award and is a 2017 and 2020 Telstra Businesswomen’s Award Finalist – For purpose and Social Enterprise category.

DR BIANCA CAPRA

President, Australian Fluid Mechanics Society; Diversity and Outreach Officer, International Society of Air Breathing Engines Board and the Spitfire Association of Australia; NAVIGATE Participant, Defence Science and Technology Group

Bianca is a strategic thinker, leader, advocate for diversity and inclusion and aerospace engineer.  She is currently a Defence Science and Technology Group (DSTG) NAVIGATE participant. Bianca brings 16 years experience across Academia and Industry to this role, which she commenced in mid 2022. Bianca is a creative problem solver who enjoys working in and leading teams to solve interesting technical and structural challenges. Bianca holds several leadership roles on national and international Boards including the President of the Australian Fluid Mechanics Society, Diversity and Outreach Officer on the International Society of Air Breathing Engines Board, and the Spitfire Association of Australia. Before leaving Academic Bianca was the Chair of YoWIE. Bianca is passionate about creating inclusive teams and engaging effectively with stakeholders to deliver impactful solutions to enhance Australia’s defence capabilities.

VICKI ABRAHAM

Managing Director, Abraham OT Services Pty Ltd

Vicki is an Occupational Therapist by trade and is the Managing Director of Abraham OT Services (AOTS).  Vicki’s vision has always been to continually evaluate community needs and for her practice to provide timely and evidence-based services to her clients so they can live their best life no matter their disability.   Vicki’s sole desire has always been to be able to provide Australians with care and services that are considered routine in the rest of the world.  In 2014, after much research within the rehabilitation field, Vicki established an evidence-based clinic specialising in Upper Limb Rehabilitation, utilising robotic and computer-based devices – the first of it’s kind in Australia. Now in 2022 this has expanded to lower limb robotics also.  Vicki’s clinic has been recognised as the only Tyromotion Reference Centre in Australia due to all the work Vicki has been doing with Tyromotion devices.

MANASI MURTHY MITTINTY

Advanced Global Clinical Scholar Research Fellow, Harvard Medical School 2022-2023; Senior Lecturer, Flinders University College of Medicine and Public Health; Winner Women's Agenda National Emerging Leader in Health

Dr Manasi Murthy Mittinty is a physician scientist at the University of Sydney, currently undergoing advanced clinical research fellowship with Harvard Medical School. Dr Mittinty is the 2022 Winner of Women’s Agenda Emerging Leader in Health Award. She is passionate about empowering patients and families thrive and live a meaningful life despite experiencing pain. Her novel translational work has started powerful conversations around sex, gender, religion and racial inclusivity for enhancing patient care. Her vision is to achieve mental health equity for all Australians by developing individualized patient care programs. 

DR BE PANNELL

Course Leader, MBA and Coaching, Australian College of Applied Professions

Dr Be Pannell is a leadership expert and academic who combines business experience in senior management with a deep understanding of psychology and neurobiology to facilitate the thinking required of future leaders. Be provides coaching and leadership development programs in Corporate, Government and Academic sectors. With expertise in senior management, academia, coaching psychology and applied neuroscience, she brings over 20 years of experience working with thousands of people in the field of adult leadership development.

16:25 - 16:30

Closing Comments

DR JANET SMITH

Program Specialist and Lead Facilitator, Women & Leadership Australia

KAREN TAYLOR GAICD

Chief Executive Officer, Women & Leadership Australia

12:50 - 13:25

Keynote Address

MELANIE TRAN

AFR Top 100 Women of Influence 2019; Product Designer; PhD Researcher; Board of Directors, International Youth Foundation.

Melanie Tran is a designer, an innovator, an activist, and a public speaker. As a Design Manager at Nous Group, Melanie’s work brings together the worlds of technology, design, health, business and social change. Her work has been recognised internationally, including being named the winner of the Laureate International Universities Global Here for Good Award 2018, the Recalibrate Gender Equity Award 2022 and one of the Top 100 Women of Influence 2019 by the Australian Financial Review. Melanie is currently a Board of Director at the International Youth Foundation and also completing her PhD on design innovations in healthcare at Torrens University Australia. Melanie specialises in solving complex problems by harnessing the power of technology to create solutions that innovate and disrupt.

Online BG.jpg

ONLINE

Friday 1st September 2023

If you need assistance with your purchase, please email us at events@wla.edu.au

14:25 - 14:45

Break

10:20 - 10:40

Break

15:45 - 16:25

Keynote Address

BROOKE BLURTON

Author; Youth Worker; Mental Health Advocate

Brooke Blurton is a proud Noongar-Yamatji woman and broke records as the first Indigenous and bisexual Bachelorette for Network Ten's reality television franchise. Brooke is a passionate mental health advocate and champion of young people, especially First Nations and queer youth, and all people of colour. Brooke developed her passion for mental health advocacy as a youth worker by reflecting on her own challenging journey and educating young people about essential life skills, including Aboriginal Mental Health First Aid. Brooke is an RUOK Ambassador, supports the Uluru Statement from the Heart via the Uluru Youth Network, and is a champion for LGBTIQ groups. Most recently Brooke released her Memoir BIG LOVE. 

78344401-2EF3-A53A-9C34-4C1B74DE8AEA.jpg

13:25 - 14:25

DEVELOPMENT SESSION

Women’s Economic Security – in partnership with the Australian Gender Equality Council

Increasing women’s economic security is an urgent societal and personal priority, as the data reveals that Australian women are persistently and overwhelmingly less economically secure than men. Australian women continue to lag behind men in terms of employment security, income and superannuation balance. This development session will examine the current data on Australian women’s economic security and highlight ways that intersectionality further multiplies discrimination and disadvantage for women.

14:45 - 15:05   Award Session

The Western Australia Award for Excellence in Women’s Leadership

ZAHRA AL HILALY

Youth Activist; Speaker; Author

15:05 - 15:25   Award Session

The Tasmania Award for Excellence in Women’s Leadership

DONNA ADAMS APM

Commissioner, Tasmania Police; Secretary, Department of Police, Fire and Emergency Management

15:25 - 15:45   Award Session

The Northern Territory Australia Award for Excellence in Women’s Leadership

PAT ANDERSON AO

Chair, Batchelor Institute

12:10 - 12:50

Lunch

bottom of page