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 [...]
As always, the final Circle of any WITEM (Women in IT Executive Mentoring) program is a day of mixed emotions! Delight in hearing the women share their journeys and sadness at saying goodbye. However, what stays with me is the safe space that the Circle provides for these women to reflect, support each other and flourish... so very blessed to do the work I do ???? [...]
Originally published on WFEA.org.au. The announcement by Senator Nova Peris of her retirement from Parliament after serving just one term – three short years – should be greeted with universal sadness and regret. An outstanding candidate. A high achiever in her own right as an Olympic Gold Medalist and an OAM, Peris’s entrance into parliament was not through the traditional pathway of service to the [...]
"I have been reflecting on the universal applause of the doubling of the number of women in our federal parliament recently. This came, of course, with the elevation of Malcolm Turnbull to the Prime Ministership. And while I think that any advancement in the number of women holding the most senior positions in our public offices is truly worthy of celebration (given it seems do damned [...]
I am very excited to be sharing our Australian research at WFE in Ireland in September. Suzanne Collins gives a compelling case for gender equality - Click here to see the original article Collins: “The bottom line is you either support the idea of gender balance in our national parliament or you don’t.” Suzanne Collins is the Director of Operations and Campaigns for Women for Election the non-partisan, [...]
