International Women's Day
International Women’s Day (IWD) is celebrated internationally on the 8th of March each year and provides a day for celebration and reflection on the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women. This day also marks a call to action for gender parity. Visit Gender Equity to find out more about current initiatives at Western.
IWD 2024- Inspire Inclusion
The International Women’s Day (IWD) theme for 2024 was #InspireInclusion. The United Nations (UN) also has an annual IWD theme. This year, the UN seeks to #InvestInWomen. Both of these themes highlight the valuable contributions women make to the world and strive to create a world where women of all backgrounds and walks of like have equal access and opportunities.
This year in collaboration with the Division of Research, Enterprise and International, Equity and Diversity hosted a Workshop and Panel facilitated by Associate Pro Vice-Chancellor, Research, Associate Professor Freya MacMillan. The panel consisted of Senior Manager, Innovation Strategy & Services, Launch Pad, Carla Dias Wadewitz, Associate Dean – Graduate Studies, School of Business, Associate Professor Dilupa Nakandala, Entrepreneur in Residence for the Women & Multicultural Program, Launch Pad, Lucy Lin, and Dancer and Programs Assistant, Western Success, Irene Toro.
Affirmation cards were also made available to students, staff, and Western community members to celebrate inspirational women.
“When we inspire others to understand and value women’s inclusion, we forge a better world.” – International Women’s Day, 2024
“Count Her In: Invest in Women. Accelerate Progress.” – United Nations, 2024
Previous events
Western Sydney University has celebrated and hosted International Women’s Day events for many years. Highlights of previous years’ events are outlined below.
IWD 2023 – Embrace Equity
2023 was a welcome return for students, staff and community partners to an in-person, and remotely accessible event to celebrate International Women’s Day (IWD). The event was held on the 8th of March at 1 Parramatta Square, 1PSQ.
Delivering 2023s keynote address was Padma Raman, Chief Executive Officer of ANROWS, an independent, not-for-profit research organisation producing evidence to support the reduction of violence against women and their children. The keynote was followed by a panel session drawing on expertise from Western and our partners with a focus 2023's IWD theme #EmbraceEquity. A copy of the program for this event can be downloaded here
The theme for 2023 IWD was #EmbraceEquity reminding us that equity is not just a nice to have; it is a must have.
IWD 2022 - Breaking Barriers
The event included a presentation from keynote speaker Amna Karra-Hassan, an activist and advocate for diversity, inclusion and gender parity. Amna is founder of the first women's AFL team in Western Sydney and is widely recognised for the diversity she brought to the game, taking the code to Western Sydney and pioneering programs for women from minority communities. Amna's presentation was followed by a panel discussion with members from our University community.
View the full event program here.
IWD 2021
In 2021 students, staff and community partners came together for the seminar Reflections on 2020: Gender Equity Lessons and Opportunities. The event was held in hybrid mode (online and some in person attendance on Parramatta South campus) on Monday 8th of March from 1pm to 2:30pm.
The event brought together a panel of experts from across the University to reflect on the 2020 experience and discuss the gender equity lessons and opportunities we are now presented with both in higher education and across our broader community. The full Program is available here.
IWD 2020
In 2020 Western highlighted some of our leading and emerging Women in Research through a series of events across our campuses.
This year’s International Women’s Day event was celebrated on Monday 9th March at the Parramatta South Campus. A luncheon was held to celebrate the contribution of women from all areas of our university, both professional and academic staff. Professor Anna Cody, Dean School of Law, opened the event with addresses from Vice Chancellor Professor Barney Glover and Professor Deborah Sweeney. They spoke about the world we are living in and the role women have played in society.
Distinguished Professor Belinda Medlyn from Hawkesbury Institute for the Environment delivered the keynote address. Professor Medlyn has many achievements under her belt but chose to focus her address on navigating life circumstances and career opportunities. She credited her receptiveness to change and the support of her family to her accomplishments. Professor Medlyn answered questions from the delegates and provided advice on how to make the best of your life journey.
The luncheon was the central meeting point for both the Network for Emerging Women who hosted a morning event, and the Senior Women’s group who hosted an afternoon event.
IWD 2019
International Women's Day Staff Breakfast
Professor Kerry Robinson from the School of Social Sciences and Psychology 
and Associate Professor Susanne Gannon from the School of Education were the keynote speakers of 2019. Professor Robinson and Associate Professor Gannon were the recipients of a 2019 ARC grant for their research project Gender Matters: Changing gender equity policies and practices, and both have a diverse research history, including a focus on gender equity.
Early/Mid-Career Academic Showcase
Western's early/mid-career Academic Advisory Groups, with the support of the Deputy Vice Chancellor, Research and Innovation and Organisational Development, hosted a series of events showcasing early and mid-career female academics on their campus, with an opportunity for sharing ideas and networking across disciplines. These events served to provide a platform for developing researchers, and facilitate increased awareness of research initiatives currently underway across the University.
Campbelltown Showcase - Celebrating Women and their Success!
Professor Lynn Kemp, Director of Translational Research and Social Impact Research Group (TReSI) within the School of Nursing & Midwifery, provided the keynote address and opened this event, and introduced 12 early/mid-career female researchers outlining their current research focus, and their lived experience as a developing researcher.
Bankstown Showcase - Celebrating Western Women
The Bankstown Campus ECA/MCA Advisory Group celebrated and shared the achievements and experiences of Western Sydney University female staff and students on International Women's Day. The event intended to be friendly, sociable and supportive and showcased exciting research projects from multiple Schools and research fields, as well as important leadership work happening in our curriculum innovation spaces.
Penrith Showcase - Doing the Heavy (up)Lifting: Women Supporting Women in Academic Spaces
In the spirit of International Women’s Day, the Penrith early/mid-career academic advisory group hosted an event which engaged a panel of female researchers to discuss how working with inspirational women has supported them in their careers to date. The event served to showcase some of the innovative and inspiring work the researchers are currently engaged in.
IWD 2018
In 2018 the University were pleased to have Professor Janice Aldrich-Wright from the School of Science and Health as our keynote presenter. Professor Aldrich-Wright is internationally recognised in the field of anticancer chemistry and pharmacology and is the Academic Lead for our Science in Australia Gender Equity (SAGE) Project at Western. View Professor Aldrich-Wright's full biography.
Professor Aldrich-Wrights presentation, GenderUNLIMITED* at WSU: The SAGE Journey, outlined the progress of the SAGE project to date, highlighted the influence of women across the University, and spotlighted SAGE’s developing plans to amplify the contributions of women and gender diverse people moving forward. The full presentation is available for download here.
IWD 2017
Western Sydney University hosted a series of events for IWD in 2017. It was fortunate to have Professor Sharon Bell from the Australian National University as our guest speaker at our IWD Breakfast. Professor Bell's presentation "Be Like Gough: 75 Radical Ideas to Transform the Australian Academy" explored the current patterns of participation and success of women in higher education and looked at the implications for our sector, our students, our communities and our future, laying the challenge to find different, and radical, ways to transform the academy to better reflect the diversity and values of our communities. View Professor Bell's Presentation. PDF, 916.36 KB
Professor Bell also hosted a workshop for early career research staff on our Parramatta campus titled "Still Waiting in the Wings?" - exploring the current patterns of participation and success of academic women in higher education and the relevance of the enduring questions How Far Have We Come? and Why So Few? View Professor Bell's presentation. PDF, 646.99 KB . The full recording is available via the Reseacher Skills icon in My Career Online (staff login required).
A senior women's dinner was also held with Professor Bell as guest speaker.
IWD 2016
The 2016 theme for International Women's Day Pledge for Parity was taken up by the Vice-Chancellor in his opening address for our International Women's Day staff breakfast on the 8th of March. Professor Glover spoke of the need to keep a strong focus on gender equality and women's rights. He outlined the University's Gender Equality Strategy and urged staff to think about the actions that they could take to help achieve gender parity more quickly. This was followed by an engaging presentation on Using Gender Equality to Drive Innovation and Success by guest speakers Rodin Genoff and Narelle Hooper, authors of the recently released and highly acclaimed book "New Women, New Men, New Economy".
The Annual Western Sydney Women of the West and Young Women of the West Awards were held on Friday 18 March at Parramatta Campus. Ambassador for the Awards was Lisa Wilkinson AM, with special guest speaker Lucy Turnbull AO, Chief Commissioner of the Greater Sydney Commission.
IWD 2014
Rhonda Hawkins, Acting Vice-Chancellor hosted the Annual Staff International Women's Day Breakfast on Monday 10 March at Penrith Campus. Guest speaker Dr Marguerite Evans-Galea delivered an excellent presentation on "Women in Research: Closing the Gender Gap".
The Annual UWS Women of the West and Young Women of the West Awards were held on Friday 7 March at Parramatta Campus. Special guest speaker was Australian business leader, company director and first female Lord Mayor of Sydney Lucy Turnbull AO.
IWD 2013
A Staff Breakfast at the Boilerhouse Restaurant on Parramatta Campus hosted by the Vice-Chancellor. Guest Speaker Barrister Jane Seymour spoke about the impacts of the new Workplace Gender Equality Act and proposed changes to Anti-Discrimination legislation.
The 2013 UWS Women of the West and Young Women of the West Awards were hosted by the Vice-Chancellor. Guest Speaker was acclaimed theatre director and writer Ros Horin. The 2013 Women of the West Awards video (opens in new window)
can be viewed on YouTube.
IWD 2012
The 2012 Brunch was hosted by the Acting Vice-Chancellor and included a keynote address by Associate Professor Susanne Gannon and a musical performance by UWS Student Kay Proudlove. Link to YouTube video clip of the IWD Staff Event.(opens in new window)
A community event, hosted by the Vice-Chancellor at which the Annual UWS Women of the West Awards were announced.
