As we emerge from one of the most challenging years many of us have ever seen, it’s time to stop, reflect, seek out and celebrate the achievements of the female leaders in our midst. And that includes you!

The focus for IWD 2021 is Women in Leadership: Achieving an equal future in a COVID-19 world; and is captured by the theme ‘Choose to Challenge’.

• A challenged world is an alert world and from challenge comes change.
• So let's all choose to challenge.
• How will you help forge a gender equal world?
• Celebrate women's achievement. Raise awareness against bias. Take action for equality.

During our morning we’ll hear from 3 inspiring local women who have chosen to challenge in their fields of endeavour.

Sue Howse, Founder & CEO Black Diamond

Sue Howse is a highly experienced Talent Industry executive and thought leader with over 25 years’ experience in Human Resources, Talent Strategy, Talent Management, Talent Acquisition and holistic Talent Solutions – locally and globally. Having designed and led some of the most complex Talent Solutions globally, Sue is known for her expertise in leadership, strategy design and execution. With a deep industry perspective she works with organisations to optimise their human capability – unleashing the potential of people!

Tricia Ashelford, Market Manager, Kiama Farmer’s Market

Who doesn’t know Tricia? She was named Kiama Citizen of the Year 2021, and for the past 7 years has helped make Kiama Farmer’s Market an important outlet for local food producers as well as a community hub for people to shop, eat and socialise. During this past year, when things have seemed at their worst, Tricia was at her very best. During the summer bushfires the Markets became a drop-off point for donations of bottled water for our firefighters down the coast. And, at the start of COVID-19, Tricia played a critical role in ensuring that the Farmer’s Market remained open, adapting the Markets format to meet rapidly-changing health orders over the weeks and months.

Elizabeth Flack, Civil Engineer

Elizabeth grew up local to the Illawarra/Shoalhaven region and has continued to pursue her interests and career ambitions locally. She is part of a small percentage of engineers worldwide that are female working in a largely male dominated industry. She has worked on many projects, big and small, and locally (Berry-Bomaderry Bypass and Gerringong Family Medical Practice) as well as around the state (from Albury to Byron and everywhere in between). Elizabeth is passionate about promoting more women into STEM careers and in particular Engineering. She is still involved with the University of Wollongong in this aspect by providing continued support to the Women In STEM (WiSTEM) Society for current students and the STEM Camp for Girls for those not yet graduated from High School.

Brought to you by Number$ Count

Proudly supported by Kiama Municipal Council & Kiama Small Business Forum

International Women's Day (March 8) is a global day celebrating the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women. The day also marks a call to action for accelerating women's equality. The first IWD gathering in 1911 was supported by over a million people. Today, IWD belongs to all groups collectively everywhere. IWD is not country, group or organisation specific.