International Women's Day

What should every woman know?

Join us at Woollahra Council to celebrate International Women's Day and find out "What every woman should know".

There will be:

• A stimulating panel discussion.
• Speed mentoring. Each mentee will have 12 minutes one-on-one time with a mentor for guidance and learning. If you are interested in being mentored you must book online and register at 1:45pm on the day. Registration for mentors will be on a first come first served basis.

The event will conclude with time to connect with the speakers, mentors and other participants. Nibbles and bubbles provided, as well as a sensational view of Sydney Harbour.

Register your interest in either the panel discussion or the speed mentoring

Our panellists

• Dr Ginni Mansberg
  Aside from her General Practice and supervisory role in the Discipline of General Practice at the University of Notre Dame, Ginni has written five books and has worked extensively as a medical journalist and columnist. She is an experienced TV presenter working with Channel 7 as their resident GP for many years and as the host of Embarrassing Bodies Down Under. She is also the host of Drivetime Medical, an educational podcast for primary care physicians.
• The Hon. Helen Coonan
  Helen is the inaugural Chair of Australian Financial Complaints Authority and a former Senator in the Australian Parliament, Cabinet Minister and Deputy Leader of the Government in the Senate. Her current appointments include non-executive directorships of Crown Resorts Limited and Snowy Hydro Limited. Before entering politics, Helen had an extensive legal career with roles including solicitor, partner in a large commercial law firm, commercial barrister and trained mediator of disputes.
• Jane Flemming
  During Jane Flemming's sporting career, the dual Olympian won two Gold and two Silver Commonwealth Games medals. On retiring from athletics, Jane has worked for Channels 7, 9, 10 and SBS and radio, presenting nightly sports news.  Jane is also the managing director of the international sponsorship and marketing company, Flemming Promotions, who’s clients include Cadbury’s, Samsung, British Airways and Coates Hire. Jane also manages to devote time to a number of charities, including fund raising.
• Jessica Rowe
  Jessica is an accomplished journalist, television presenter and best-selling author. A mother of two girls and a self-confessed 'crap housewife', she shares with humour and honesty her amusing misadventures on CrapHousewife.com. Jessica is a passionate advocate for mental health awareness, having herself experienced post-natal depression. In 2015 she was honoured as a Member of the Order of Australia for her mental health advocacy work and her contribution to Australian media.
• Wendy Holdenson
  Wendy is Director and Chief Operating Officer of investment conglomerate Mitsui & Co. Australia. She has been Australia’s Consul-General and Trade Commissioner in Japan, and an executive at Ernst & Young, Caltex, and GHD. She is also on the Maggie Beer Foundation Board, working hard to improve the quality of food for aged care residents.

Moderated by Michaela Kalowski.

Our mentors

• Alexandra Joel
  Alexandra is the former editor of Harper’s Bazaar, and of Portfolio, Australia’s first magazine for working women. She is the author of “Parade: the Story of Fashion in Australia” and her latest book “Rosetta: A Scandalous True Story”, has been optioned for the screen by a major studio. Alexandra has also worked as a trained counsellor and psychotherapist.
• Claire Vernon
  Claire has been Chief Executive Officer at Jewish Care since January 2007. She came to the non-government sector after many years in senior executive roles in NSW Government Departments. She started her career as a social worker in the 1970s and then moved to policy and program administration in diverse areas such as women’s health, funding reform, disability, home care and helping victims of crime.
• Cr Claudia Cullen
  Claudia has spent twenty years in the Australian Advertising industry and has worked with many leading brands, as well as running her own successful agency. Claudia is currently the brand custodian for Hungry Jack’s. She brings a wealth of experience about the advertising and marketing industry with a particular passion for emerging technologies and social media, as well as environmental sustainability and community not-for-profit projects.
• Elizabeth Meryment
  Elizabeth is a journalist, editor and publisher. After a 20-plus year career in newspapers, more than half of which was spent as a food critic and food writer, in 2018 Elizabeth launched Local Publishing Co., an independent publishing house dedicated to producing quality local and custom magazines. The group’s titles include the Eastern Suburbs monthly glossy, Local East.
• Dr Gene Sherman AM
  Gene is a philanthropist and leading cultural expert in art, fashion, architecture, and French and English Literature. Dr Sherman is Founder and Executive Director of Sherman Centre for Culture and Ideas (SCCI), and formerly Founder and Director of the Sherman Galleries and Sherman Contemporary Art Foundation (SCAF).
• Cr Harriet Price
  Harriet is a lawyer and an active member of her community. She was elected to Woollahra Council in 2017 and is the recipient of the 2019 ‘Sydney Electorate Woman of the Year’. Harriet is the former President of both the Glenmore Road Public School P&C Association and its School Council.
• Helen Argiris
  Helen’s career spans over 20 years in general tax advisory and accounting services, with clients including private business, fast-growing start-ups and subsidiaries of multinationals. As head of the BDO Global Outsourcing team in Australia, Helen assists clients in the establishment of their Australian and international operations. Helen currently serves as Chairman of BDO Australia and as International Liaison Partner.
• Professor Jill Bennet
  Jill is Scientia Professor and Australian Research Council Laureate Fellow at UNSW, where she is Director of fEEL Lab and founding Director of The Big Anxiety –  a festival of arts, science and people which focuses on the theme of empathy. She is a writer, curator and immersive media producer whose projects focus on arts and mental health, trauma, ageing, dementia and memory loss.
• Cr Lucinda Regan
  Following a successful career in the legal industry as a senior lawyer, Lucinda focused on her commercial career, working in the banking and then property and construction industry where she gained extensive experience in risk strategy, project commercial analysis, budgeting and project delivery. Lucinda was elected to Council in 2017 and is a strong supporter of local community interests, local heritage and environmental issues.
• Lulu Pinkus
  A NIDA trained stage, film and television actress and producer who has studied Jacques Lecoq mime in Paris, hosted her own solo painting exhibitions in Barcelona and at Sydney's Arthouse Gallery and is currently exploring social media photography.
• Cr Mary-Lou Jarvis, Deputy Mayor Woollahra Council
  Mary-Lou's professional career spans law, public relations and politics. She has been an adviser to 3 Federal Government Ministers. Her current roles supporting women include NSW Liberal Women's Council President and director of Kincoppal-Rose Bay. Her community service was extensive: director of the National Trusts of Australia and pro bono roles for the Salvation Army, Our Big Kitchen, The Australian String Quartet and Sydney Cancer Centre  (now Chris O'Brien Lifehouse). Mary-Lou is married with 2 daughters.
• Cr Megan McEwin
  Megan is a mother and lawyer, specialising in telecommunications and IT. Megan is also active in her community, serves as a Councillor on Woollahra Council and is currently standing as The Greens candidate for the seat of Vaucluse in the NSW election.
• Cr Susan Wynne
  Susan has been a Vaucluse Ward Councillor since 2008 and Mayor of Woollahra in 2011/12. Susan has over 25 years of experience as a businesswoman, a community leader, marketer and business strategist. A mother of two girls, Susan also works as Director of Development and Philanthropy at Sydney Children’s Hospital. She is Deputy Chair of Red Cross Society of Women Leaders and was Chair of Lokahi Foundation.
• Toni Cody
  Toni has an executive background in fast-moving consumer goods, retail and start-up’s and over 15 years of non-executive Board Director experience in health, education and the arts. Toni is currently a non-executive director for National Film and Sound Archive and Academy of Performing Arts and is a former non-executive director for Sydney Theatre Company, The Australian Ballet, and Consultant to Australian World Orchestra.