Brisbane CEOs to ‘dance like wallies’ for domestic violence

A group of prominent Brisbane’s CEOs will exchange their suits for costumes on Saturday night for an event expected to raise more than $1m for the Women’s Legal Service.

A group of high-profile CEOs are set to tear up the dance floor on Saturday’s election night to raise money for victims of domestic and family violence (DFV).

Kim Weigand, founder of the Julip Advisory legal consultancy organisation, and 10 News Queensland state political reporter Brendan Smith are two amateur dancers who have been rehearsing for six months in the lead up to the iconic annual Dancing CEOs event in Brisbane.

The longstanding event aims to raise DFV awareness among Brisbane’s corporate community and has raised more than $2m for the Women’s Legal Service since 2014.

Mr Smith will be taking the stage with his partner Brendon Mann, founder and CEO of Epic Hair Designs in.

The fundraiser is particularly close to the pairs’ heart after Mr Smith reported on the murder of Alison Bayden-Clay, who was last seen alive at one of Mr Mann’s salons in 2012.

“That really affected the staff there because she was a regular client,” Mr Smith said.

Brendon Mann and Brendan Smith pose up at their charity gala which raised $50,000 for the Women's Legal Service. Picture supplied

“Decades ago, there was a stereotype around domestic violence and now the conversation has shifted from just because I haven't been physically abused, it still is domestic violence, we have coercive control, financial abuse, sorties like Hannah Clarke, which I covered, it's important to give these women a voice.

“So many people and women are ashamed to speak up and when you look at Hannah Clarke, she was putting in all the mechanism to escape and she was still failed.”

With two daughters of her own and the state government last week announcing it would invest $363 million towards bettering its response to DFV, Kim Weigand said now was the perfect time to keep the DFV conversation alive.

“I’ve worked in law for 20 years and I’ve seen the women who need these services. Within just two weeks of my involvement in this event, I was contacted by three very senior and very professional industry women who had experienced DV, including coercive control,” she said.

“We have to stop thinking that these things don’t happen within our organisations when 1 in 5 women experience this … it’s a topic we need to raise awareness about at the highest level.

“If you look at the recommendations in Hear Her Voice report, looking into the first responders, believing the woman, those are the messages we need to keep repeating.”

Kim Wiegand is taking part in the Dancing CEO's event to raise money for DV services and victims. Picture: Zak Simmonds

“I think it’s important for men in particular to have that conversation with their male friends,” Mr Smith said.

“It’s important men know how to treat women properly. And with these new changes, they’re highlighting that we need to get in their early. We’re equals, it’s not a man vs women world,” he said.

The Dancing CEOs event is expected to raise more than $1m this year, with every $50 raised going directly to a half-hour consultation with the Women’s Legal Service.

“Half an hour with an expert who can walk them (victims) though the laws, options and what the next step can be because statistics show it’s seven attempts before someone fully leaves a DVF relationship,” Mr Smith said.

Despite being nervous to get on stage in front of her colleagues tomorrow night, Ms Weigand said she’s ready to “dance like a wally” for a good cause.

“I’m not an influencer or anything, but I have a platform and I believe others who have a platform should use it for good,” she said.

“If I can get through these two and a half minutes of pure terror and uncomfortableness, that’s a drop in the ocean compared to what they (DFV victims) experience every day.”