18 May 2015
Gillian Triggs, Tracey Spicer and Clare Bowditch are among an incredible line up of speakers for this year’s She Leads Conference at Hotel Realm on 19 May 2015.
Hosted by feminist, not-for-profit organisation, YWCA Canberra, the annual event will shine a spotlight on women’s leadership in Australia.
Despite the gains women have made in recent decades, there is still a dearth of women in top tier leadership positions in the government, not-for-profit and corporate sectors.
A recent ASX200 survey found there are more men named Peter leading top 200 companies in Australia than there are women, and despite a doubling of the number of women in Federal Cabinet after a re-shuffle earlier this year, the grand total is a meagre two.
YWCA Canberra Executive Director, Frances Crimmins, believes women have been in the backseat too long, and it shows in many of the decision-making processes in all levels of government.
“The last Federal Budget made a meagre commitment to the prevention of domestic violence. I believe that is a symptom of women’s voices not being heard – even though our Australian of the Year is a woman campaigning publicly on this issue.
“At YWCA Canberra, we have developed strategies to empower women to have the skills, the confidence and the resources to be able to take on leadership roles.
“But women can’t do this alone. Governments and corporations need to look at their structures and ask the question, ‘Are we hearing women’s voices?’ and ‘Do women have equal representation here?’
“It is outrageous that in 2015, 51 per cent of the population is still being locked out of major decision making.”
The 2015 She Leads Conference will host more than 200 women at Hotel Realm tomorrow for a day of inspiration, skill sharing and networking, to resource aspiring and emerging women leaders.
A handful of last minute tickets for the She Leads Conference are available to be purchased online and plenary sessions will be live streamed at www.ywca-canberra.org.au.
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Interview opportunities can be arranged with speakers, and YWCA Canberra Executive Director Frances Crimmins.
Media contact: Karan Gabriel 0429 210 881.
Full program available here.
About YWCA Canberra: YWCA Canberra is a feminist, not-for-profit community organisation that has been providing community services and representing women’s issues in the Canberra community since its establishment in 1929. YWCA Canberra employs more than 300 staff across the ACT, and delivers 30 quality programs in children’s services, community development, housing, youth services, women’s leadership, advocacy, and training. Represented in 122 countries, the YWCA has a global reach of 25 million women and girls. As part of this international movement, YWCA Canberra works for a world where reconciliation, justice, peace, health, human dignity, freedom and care for the environment are promoted and sustained through women’s leadership.
For more information visit: www.ywca-canberra.org.au
Follow YWCA Canberra on social media:
Twitter: @YWCACanberra
Facebook: facebook.com/YWCACanberra
YouTube: youtube.com/YWCACanberra
Instagram: @YWCACanberra
Flickr: YWCA Canberra
Download the media release in full as a pdf.
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