2026 IWD Panel Event: Balance the Scales

Hosted by Professor Liz McKinley and presented by a panel of Indigenous female leaders including Associate Professor Jessa Rogers

Join us in celebration of International Women's Day to listen to a panel of Indigenous female leaders as they respond to the International Women’s Day 2026 theme, “Balance the Scales”, followed by audience Q&A.

Balance the Scales is a promise that every woman and girl – regardless of background or identity – should be safe, heard, and free to shape their own lives.

Yet in 2026, too many across Australia and the world are still denied that fair go. Discriminatory laws, policies, and practices persist. Gender-based violence remains widespread, and structural barriers block too many from seeking or receiving justice.

These barriers are not inevitable. They are built – and they can be dismantled.

Equality is not about advantage for some; it's about dignity, safety, and fairness for all.

When women and girls stand equal, families are stronger, workplaces are fairer, communities thrive, and society becomes safer for everyone.

This International Women’s Day let's Balance the Scales together.

Date: Tuesday 3rd March 2026

Time: 2.30pm Afternoon tea refreshments | 3pm - 4pm Presentations

Venue: Q230 Theatre
Level 2, Kwong Lee Dow Building (Building 263)
234 Queensberry St, Carlton.

This event will be held in-person only. A recording will not be available.

PANELLISTS:

Inala Cooper is a Yawuru woman based in Narrm/Melbourne. Inala has a Bachelor of Arts and a Master of Human Rights Law and has long been an advocate for Indigenous rights and access to education. Inala has over 16 years’ experience working in higher education. Currently she is the Director of Murrup Barak at University of Melbourne and is a regular contributor on ABC News Breakfast (and The Drum). Inala is a director on a range of not-for-profit boards including State Library Victoria, Emmanuel College Foundation, National NAIDOC Committee, and Adam Briggs Foundation. She is the author of Marrul: Aboriginal Identity and the Fight for Rights and has presented at many education and literary events including World Indigenous Peoples Conference on Education (WIPCE), Native American and Indigenous Studies Association (NAISA), Adelaide Writers Week, Sorrento Writers Festival, and Queenscliffe Literary Festival.

Dr Sue Mentha lectures in the Faculty of Education in Indigenous Education and works within the REEaCh Centre, Indigenous Education Research hub, and teacher education. She has worked in the early childhood and primary (including Higher Education) for 30 years. Sue has held holds advisory positions in research projects such as the Early Learning Needs Assessment (Ngarrngga curriculum and knowledge-growth project) and continues with advisory for national and state government EC policy reform. Sue’s focus is strengths-based approaches, children’s rights, co-production and design processes and enacted voice so that all Australians have voice in and ownership of their education and research.

Professor Nikki Moodie is a Gomeroi woman and Director of Indigenous Studies in the Faculty of Arts. She is a Fulbright Senior Scholar and recipient of the 2025 Australian Indigenous Fulbright Award, where she was invited to spend the semester with the Indigenous Governance Project at Harvard University.

Nikki’s research interests are Indigenous self-determination and higher education. She has worked community organisations, government departments and universities to develop innovative approaches to Indigenous adult education and professional development. She oversees the Indigenous Studies undergraduate offering, Treaty Education micro-credential, and will bring online a new Master of Global Indigenous Studies from 2027.

VENUE INFORMATION:

There are two entrances available to the Kwong Lee Dow Building via Queensberry St or Leicester St. Please see images below.

Please take the lifts to Level 2. Stairs are also available.

Parking:

On-street parking may be available in Barry St, Leicester St and surrounds. Alternatively, public parking can be found at University Square Car Park. The entrances are at 244 Bouverie Street or 206 Berkeley Street. A map can be found here: https://maps.unimelb.edu.au/parkville/building/107

Tram:

The closest tram stop is stop 4-Queensberry St/Swanston St, Melbourne - Serviced by routes 1, 3/3a, 5, 6, 16, 64, 67, and 72.

Alternatively, stop 9-Pelham St/Elizabeth St. The event venue is then a short walk along Pelham Street and down Leicester St.

View of the entrance to Kwong Lee Dow Building via Queensberry St (with stairs)

View of the entrance to Kwong Lee Dow Building via Leicester St (ground level entrance, no stairs)

Inside the Q230 Theatre, seats 198