Ku-ring-gai's International Women’s Day Forum

Published on 08 March 2024

In celebration of International Women’s Day, Ku-ring-gai Council hosted a forum at Killara Golf Club on 6 March.

The event was aligned with International Women’s Day theme for 2024 and focused on economic empowerment and gender equality. 

Women still face significant obstacles to achieving equal participation in the economy. By investing in women, we can realise our community’s full social and economic potential and Ku-ring-gai Council is starting at a local level.

Attendees included local women, young people, community workers and community leaders including Deputy Mayor Christine Kay, Cr Simon Lennon, Cr Alec Taylor, Cr Barbara Ward, Cr Greg Taylor and Matt Cross MP, Member for Davidson.

The first part of the day included consultation with school students from 8 different local schools exploring gender inequalities and how they were impacted in their own lives. 

The 110 attendees were welcomed by a musical performance by the Ku-ring-gai Philharmonic Orchestra and local opera singer Sun Young Kim.

First keynote speaker Chiou See Anderson (Founder and operator of the Elements Retirement Villages in Brisbane, President of the National Council of Women of Australia) shared about the biggest barriers compounding women’s economic inequality, followed by our second keynote speaker, Dr Mihajla Gavin (Senior Lecturer at UTS Business School, Secretary of Association of Industrial Relations Academics of Australia and New Zealand) who shared her expertise in employees, gender violence and safety in the workplace.

The event included facilitated roundtable discussions, where the community explored structural barriers, carer's economy and lifelong economic educations. Participants identified new ideas and solutions around realising women’s equal economic participation.

Leaders in the room who heard our local community voices were encouraged to act on feedback.

Council will take the findings from these important conversations to inspire future women’s forums, advise future planning and inform the Status of Women’s Advisory Committee currently being formed. 

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Media enquiries: media@krg.nsw.gov.au Ku-ring-gai Council 9424 0000