Published on 06 October 2020 Ms Harriet Pointon Mather (author), LSIS Richard Cordell (photographer) Location: Leeuwin Barracks, WA Minister for Defence, Senator the Hon Linda Reynolds CSC, fourth from left, with members of the Defence Women’s Mentoring Group at Leeuwin Barracks, Western Australia. The Western Australian Defence Women’s Mentoring Circle was privileged recently to host the Minister for Defence, Senator the Hon Linda Reynolds CSC, at [...]
Jenny Morris challenges the assertion "That advice to women to ‘lean in’, be more confident… doesn’t help". Would you tell a young girl or a young woman not to be confident? Not to believe in themselves? Not to try to be their best selves in whatever arena they choose to be in? I suspect your answer would be ‘no’. It seems to me that we are [...]
I often find it difficult to find the words to adequately explain the real power of our circles. This arrived in my inbox this morning, from a women in an Australian Government Department whose Mentoring Circle program has finished after 12 months. She describes her journey below. I hope it brings a smile to your face Testimonial from 'Liz, APS6, Canberra' The very first session I [...]
After a truly wonderful 8 years working across the APS I am very sad to say goodbye to the Women in IT Coaching Circles. Over this period I have had the privilege of experiencing, at a personal level, the quiet power that emerges when women support other women. I’ve seen women blossom, I’ve seen their confidence grow, I've seen them gain skills and grow their networks …all through [...]
The Australian Government Coaching Circles program has now come to a close and we would like to thank everyone who has been involved. This highly successful program ran from 2012 to 2020. It coached and mentored 537 participants and provided much-needed networking opportunities and career support for women in digital. The program was designed and delivered by Orijen and is an excellent example of an effective and [...]
I have long been passionate about the power of women coming together in closed, safe spaces – coaching or mentoring circles - where they could both learn from each other and contribute to the personal and professional growth of their peers. I have been facilitating such sessions for the past 10 years (well before ‘lean in’ circles were recognised, and Skype and Zoom came along). I [...]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cHjvU94kgVg After a very successful collaboration between Orijen, the DTA and Dell, we launched the Dell Women in IT Executive Mentoring Program (WITEM) - our first ‘virtual’ launch in the 12 years we’ve been running the program. It was most encouraging to match the twenty-eight EL2 women who had enrolled as mentees with the mentors from the ranks of the SES. Equally as rewarding was [...]
Having worked with 2 very different cohorts of women in the last month - one with aspiring women politicians and the other with women in the Dept of Defence - I am more than ever of the belief that we need to expose the unwritten rules that form barriers to women’s advancement. I have seen a growing awareness as women progress their careers, that working harder [...]
Call it out ......early! Having had the privilege to meet and talk with two outstanding women leaders Julia Gillard and Sara Hansen-Young, I’m struck by their strength and grace. Both women have been at the receiving end of public abuse and humiliation, yet continue to stand up for their values and commitment to supporting women and girls in their journeys into leadership. A cogent message that [...]
It couldn’t have been a perfect start to the day. The very best of Sydney! It’s 7 am on Friday, and I’m looking across at the Harbour Bridge from the steps of the Opera House, about to spend my next hour walking through the Botanical Gardens. I’m feeling both a little anxious and a lot excited as I await the introductions to the 3 women [...]
