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Now in its 19th year, The International Women’s Day Debate returns to Australia this week, to reignite debate around the topical question: ‘Men and Women – equal at last?’ Kicking off the International Women’s Day Debate series, hosted by the Australian Institute of Management (AIM), the first event will take place at Brisbane Convention Centre on Friday 4th March, followed by Sydney and Melbourne on Tuesday 8th March.
While the IWD Great Debates are designed to be light-hearted and fun, they always contain an important message: gender diversity remains a critical issue in the workplace.
The AIM IWD Great Debate Series also provides a great opportunity to raise funds for local grassroots causes. In recent years, the amount raised at the AIM IWD series has steadily increased. Across the three events this year, the organisation hopes to raise more than $50,000, with funds going to local charities Micah Projects (Brisbane), Manly Women’s Shelter (Sydney) and Aboriginal Family Violence Prevention and Legal Service Victoria (Melbourne).
The 2016 IWD Great Debate will feature two teams of well-known business professionals, journalists and media identities (please see full list below).
“The Australian Institute of Management believes that a diverse workforce is fundamental to the success of business in Australia,” said AIM Chief Executive David Pich. “Diversity matters from the boardroom to the shopfloor and it matters in ASX listed companies, and small business. Diversity matters because a diverse workforce reflects the diverse nature of Australian society.”
L to R: Leisa Barry-Smith, Sarah Maree Cameron, Gretel Killeen
The first AIM International Women’s Day Debate will be held at the Brisbane Convention Centre on Friday 4th March, followed by debates in Sydney & Melbourne on Tuesday 8th March, each with different debaters involved. All events are expected to sell out so those interested should get in quick.
Tickets are available from the AIM website: http://pages.aim.com.au/iwd-2016
Brisbane, 4th March 2016
Hosted by best-selling author and theatre performer Leisa Barry-Smith
- Monica Bradley – Non Executive Director, B Corporation Australia, City Smart, QLD Government Business Development Investment Fund.
- Tom Potter – Franchise Founder, Interim CEO, Non-Executive Director, Speaker, Entrepreneur – QSR, Retail Food, Franchising.
- Kristin Devitt – Founder & Managing Director at KDPR.
- James Baker – Communications Director at Boeing, Army Officer, previously an Australian Federal Government Media Adviser and Network 10 journalist.
- Peta Pitcher FAIM – Director at The Lady Musgrave Trust, Executive Manager – Family & Member Support, for Playgroup Queensland.
- Dr Kathleen Turner – Manager Strategy at Griffith Asia Institute (GAI).
Sydney, 8th March 2016
Hosted by award-winning writer, performer, journalist and humanitarian Gretel Killeen
- Kerry Chikarovski – Former NSW Liberal Party Leader.
- Professor David Thomas – Director of The Kinghorn Cancer Centre, Garvan Institute.
- Hilda Clune – Business Transformation Leader & CIO at PwC AU.
- Lucy Brogden – Commissioner at the National Mental Health Commission.
- Amber Renae – Civil Engineer, Entrepreneur, Fashion Editor & Presenter.
- Rowan Ardnt – Inclusion and Diversity Specialist, Presenter & Facilitator.
Melbourne, 8th March 2016
Hosted by award-winning journalist and radio presenter Sarah Maree Cameron
- Eleanor Jackson – Poet, Performer, Arts Producer, Writer and Feminist.
- Bernard Salt FAIM – KPMG Partner, Keynote Speaker, Social Editor / Columnist for “The Australian”.
- Commander Stacey Porter FAIM – Royal Australian Navy.
- Sue Maslin – Producer of The Dressmaker and Member of the Screen Australian Task Force.
- Ken Parry FAIM – Professor of Leadership at Deakin University.
- Colleen Pearce – Victorian Public Advocate.
“AIM has supported International Women’s Day for almost 20 years. Whilst progress has been made during this time, there is still lots to do to see a workplace that is truly gender balanced. There are still too few women in leadership positions and those who ‘make it’ have often have to overcome obstacles that, in AIM’s view, are easily removed,” Mr Pich said.
“IWD shines a spotlight on the issue of gender diversity and the AIM Great Debates, whilst engaging and in a sense a little light hearted, project a crucial message; Diversity Matters.”
Pictured: Screenshot from video of 2015 AIM International Women’s Day Debate in Melbourne