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; Board of Director; PhD Researcher; Chair of the Board of Directors; Children and Young People with Disability Australia; 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

MOYA
DODD
Premier of Queensland
Partner, Gilbert + Tobin; Former Matildas Vice Captain

ZAHRA
AL HILALY
Human Rights Activist; Entrepreneur; Inspirational Speaker; Philanthropist; Mentor
Youth Activist; Speaker; Author

DONNA
ADAMS APM
Human Rights Activist; Entrepreneur; Inspirational Speaker; Philanthropist; Mentor
Commissioner, Tasmania Police; Secretary, Department of Police, Fire and Emergency Management

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

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

BELINDA
HAZELL OAM
Human Rights Activist; Entrepreneur; Inspirational Speaker; Philanthropist; Mentor
Principal Consultant, Optimum Standard

VICKI
ABRAHAM
Premier of Queensland
Managing Director, Abraham OT Services Pty Ltd

DR BE
PANNELL
Human Rights Activist; Entrepreneur; Inspirational Speaker; Philanthropist; Mentor
Course Leader, MBA and Coaching, Australian College of Applied Professions

09:40 - 10:10
Opening 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.

11:00 - 12:30
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.

12:30 - 13:00
Lunch

16:25 - 17:00
Closing Comments
DR JANET SMITH
Program Specialist and Lead Facilitator, Women & Leadership Australia
KAREN TAYLOR GAICD
Chief Executive Officer, Women & Leadership Australia
13:00 - 13:30
Keynote Address

MELANIE TRAN
AFR Top 100 Women of Influence 2019; Product Designer; Board of Director; PhD Researcher; Chair of the Board of Directors; Children and Young People with Disability Australia; Board of Directors, International Youth Foundation
Named one of the Top 100 Women of Influence 2019 by the Australian Financial Review, Melanie Tran is a designer, an innovator, an activist, and a public speaker. Melanie’s work as a User Experience (UX) Designer and her impact in the social enterprise sector has been recognised internationally, including being named the winner of the Laureate International Universities Global Here for Good Award 2018. Melanie’s lived-experience, developed skills and knowledge allow for her work to span the disability, health and technology sectors. With over eight years’ experience, and through her role as a UX Designer at Hireup, Melanie specialises in bringing together the worlds of business, design and social impact. Melanie is currently a Board of Director at the International Youth Foundation and completing a PhD in design innovations in healthcare at Torrens University Australia.

ONLINE
Friday 1st September 2023
If you need assistance with your purchase, please email us at events@wla.edu.au


14:30 - 14:45
Break

10:45 - 11:00
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.

13:30 - 14:30
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.

