International Women’s Day bigger than ever before on the Gold Coast
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For Karen Phillips, it’s about the next generation and the opportunities to come.
The organiser of one of many events across the city to mark International Women’s Day and celebrate the city she calls home made a point of having leaders from Gold Coast schools on stage to share their hopes and dreams.
AB Paterson College vice captain Chloe Ward, Merrimac State High vice captain Jasmine Dick, St Hilda’s Year 11 student Madeleine Trouchet and St Michael’s Year 11 student Jade Engels courageously spoken on stage before the more than 750 people at the Sea World Resort convention centre on Friday morning.
Ms Engels presented a speech about “fostering an environment where gender equality is not merely an ambition, but a lived reality”.
Ms Dick said: “It’s imperative we recognise the diversity of challenges we women face, but also acknowledge that there is so much to celebrate,” she said.
She added it was important female voices weren’t just heard on International Women’s Day but every other day of the year - and “amplifed”.
Ms Trouchet said: “From a young age I felt a weight of societal expectations and limitations placed purely on gender.
“There is often a sense that certain paths are more accessible for men than they are for women. But in facing these challenges I’ve discovered the power of supporting each other as women. It’s about creating places where everyone regardless of gender feels empowered to succeed.”
It was just one of multiple events across the city including a Trinity College breakfast in Surfers Paradise and Experience Gold Coast luncheon at Star Gold Coast.
Ms Phillips, the organiser of the 31st annual International Women’s Day City Celebration Breakfast, said the city was expanding “rapidly”with endless opportunities for women.
“As grown women for most of us in the room, this is an opportunity for us to come together to celebrate, to join and to connect,” Ms Phillips said.
“For our young women, it’s critical to hear the voices of leaders, to have the opportunity to get out of their school box, and to see what else exists.”
The panel of speakers included neurologist Dr Laetitia de Villiers, the first woman in the world to perform robotic brain surgery.
Ms Phillips said the students spoke “eloquently” on stage and made her proud.
“To see and hear those young students from Year 11 to 12 speak so eloquently with so much passion was just gorgeous and it made me so proud”.
“International Women’s Day on the Gold Coast is always an incredible celebration for our young woman, our woman in business and our women in politics coming together as one.”
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Originally published as International Women’s Day bigger than ever before on the Gold Coast
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