Balancing the Scales: It’s Time to Break Down the Barriers

An engaging International Women’s Day panel sharing journeys of change, breaking barriers, and shaping a more balanced future for all.

Join Women in Energy – Perth for our 2026 International Women's Day celebration.

This year’s panel and networking event explores how balance means fairness - not favouring one gender over another, but removing the visible and invisible barriers that limit everyone.

In the energy sector, we recognise that no single organisation can manage the energy transition alone - and we certainly can't afford for half of the workforce to be left behind, or for the other half to be overburdened by outdated expectations.

Together, we will explore the barriers that stand in the way of balancing the scales FOR ALL - because they were built, and that means they can be dismantled.

This year’s keynote speaker - Dr Linda Friedland - will provide a thought provoking address on the importance of mental health and wellbeing in balancing the scales.

Our panellists will each share their personal journeys - real unfiltered stories of the challenges that they have encountered; the barriers that they have broken; and the courage it takes to keep pushing for change.

Our panellists:

🎙️ Pierre Yang MLC, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Health; Mental Health, Parliament of Western Australia

🎙️ Kirsten Rose FTSE GAICD , Executive General Manager WA and Strategy - Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO)

🎙️ Talar Anjer Koushian, Cyber Security Awareness Specialist, South32

🎙️ Louisa Frome, Senior Manager Marketing & Insights, Horizon Power

Our charity partner:

We are thrilled to announce Reach Her as our Charity Partner for this event, and look forward to hearing from their CEO, Mary Francis, who will join us as a guest speaker.

Reach Her Inc is a Western Australian not-for-profit organisation supporting women to build confidence, wellbeing, and leadership capability, creating sustainable pathways for participation in work, leadership, and community life. Reach Her works with women experiencing structural, cultural, or personal barriers, delivering programs grounded in psychological safety, inclusion, and strengths-based wellbeing.

Event day information:

• Registration and networking: 5:00–5:30 pm; program starts 5:30 pm sharp. Dr Linda will deliver the keynote presentation, followed by our panel discussion. Formalities will wrap up at 7pm, stay back to join us for networking over drinks and canapés.
• Catering: Drinks with canapés

Phone Donation Drive:

We’re proud to be a collection partner of DV Safe Phone - a national charity that refurbishes and redistributes mobile phones to victims of domestic and family violence.

You can help make a real difference by bringing along your old, unwanted phones (and chargers if you have them) to donate via our on-site collection box at this event. Every phone collected will be securely repurposed to provide a vital lifeline, offering safety, connection, and support to someone in need.

Please note a tax invoice will be sent as an attachment with your tickets. If you have any issues receiving your tax invoice, it can also be acquired by logging into your Eventbrite account.