Congratulations to Women in Rotary on their eighth International Women’s Day Breakfast. Networking events such as these allows us to acknowledge and celebrate the many achievements of women; in business, industry and the community.
These forums also allow us to share varied journeys to success and it is through these dialogues that we can inspire the next generation of women to build a more gender balanced world.
My hope is that girls today will increasingly see the opportunities for success not the barriers. The increasing number of women in leadership roles is somewhat of a recent phenomenon and the campaign behind gender equality is one that we have fought hard for and must continue to drive. We have begun to see and feel a turning of the tide for women. Attitudes and workplaces are changing around us and we are actively changing them.
A female Lord Mayor is a rare breed in Melbourne’s history and I don’t take for granted the role I campaigned so hard to achieve.
The theme for this year’s breakfast panel discussion is “Let’s work together celebrating difference”.
It reminds us that we all have a responsibility to support and advance the next wave of women, including those from diverse cultural and socioeconomic backgrounds, not just at the City of Melbourne but across the world and always remembering that our diversity is our strength.