Activists, Advocates and Leaders to Take to Stage this International Women’s Day

Un Women Australia

UN Women Australia has unveiled the full line-up of inspiring speakers for each of its five International Women’s Day events across Australia on Friday 4 March.

The official United Nation’s theme for International Women’s Day Changing Climates: Equality today for a sustainable tomorrow includes a carefully curated list of speakers, bringing together women who work tirelessly to change the climate of inequality in their communities, in the face of disasters and during times of crisis, conflict and global pandemics.

Sydney will be joined by Kavita Naidu, an international human rights lawyer who works in feminist climate justice advocacy and movement building. Ms Naidu is working to ensure that the voices of the most marginalised and oppressed women are amplified in regional and international advocacy spaces to influence laws, policies and development.

The Canberra event will feature the recently appointed Ambassador for Women and Girls Christine Clarke CSC, while Professor Kerrie Wilson, the Pro Vice-Chancellor (Sustainability Strategy) at Queensland University of Technology will provide a thought-provoking address in Brisbane.

Kirsten Rose, Executive Director Future Industries at CSIRO, will take to the stage in Perth and Melbourne ticket holders will hear from Amanda Lamont, Co-Founder of the Australasian Women in Emergencies Network, which she founded on International Women’s Day in 2018.

Alison Davidian, UN Women Afghanistan Representative, will share her firsthand experiences of working on the ground, and in the region, sharing personal insights from Kabul detailing the integral role UN Women is playing on the ground in supporting the women of Afghanistan.

This year’s events will also feature an exclusive in-depth interview with internationally renowned and celebrated scientist, conservationist and human rights activist, Dr Jane Goodall. Appearing virtually, Dr Goodall will be interviewed by Linh Do, a sustainability activist and leader in her own right.

UN Women Australia CEO, Simone Clarke, said that attendees at this years’ IWD events will have the unique opportunity to hear, first-hand, from some of the leading humanitarian, STEM and sustainability champions from around Australia and across the globe.

“These women are all leaders in their fields – activists, advocates and thought leaders, working every day to make a difference and accelerate the pace of the changing climate of gender equality,” she said.

“We’re delighted our IWD events provide the opportunity to showcase the work of such inspiring women and create a space for us to reflect on how much has changed, while at the same time recognising how far we still have to go before we achieve gender equality.”

Ms Clarke stressed that International Women’s Day is as critical and relevant now as it ever has been. “No country in the world has achieved gender equality and that is the reality of where we are at. The pace is slow and sadly many of our recent gains have been eroded,” she said.

“Through our IWD events, we aim to put the spotlight on global issues that perpetuate gender inequality and highlight actions we can all take on the path to a gender equal world – while raising critical funds for women and girls across the world.”

UN Women Australia will be holding IWD events in Melbourne, Canberra, Sydney, Brisbane, Perth, and online on Friday 4 March 2022. To purchase tickets and

/Public Release.