The Australian National University's Department of Pacific Affairs, and the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade invite you to a special 2019 International Women’s Day Pacific Leadership Seminar, followed by refreshments and the opportunity to network. Join their panel of eminent Pacific and Australian leaders and academics for an afternoon of lively discussions and sharing of ideas on the theme of 'Balance for Better: Women’s Political Participation in the Pacific'.

The Event

The fifth Pacific leadership seminar – celebrating International Women’s Day – will be held in Canberra on the afternoon of 8 March 2019.

Drawing on this year’s theme, 'Balance for Better', we will explore gender balance through the prism of women’s political participation in the Pacific.

Many Pacific countries currently rank amongst the lowest in the world for women’s representation in legislatures and other formal decision-making bodies. This means women’s political participation is a prominent regional development issue.

Despite significant efforts to boost participation, the numbers of Pacific women in national and sub-national levels of government continues to be low. Factors attributed to this include social, cultural and/or customary norms that deem politics to be a man’s job; women’s lack of access to property, finance and other resources; and institutional and structural hindrances, including lack of childcare and leave provisions.

On the panel will be:

• Convenor and MC- Kerryn Baker
• Honourable Alofa Tuuau
• Dr Transform Aqorau
• Sarah Garap

Agenda

• 2.00 pm- Welcome and DFAT opening remarks
• 2.10pm- Introduction of Women's Leadership Initiative
• 2.20pm- Panel discussion
• 3.20pm- Q&A
• 4.00pm- Refreshments and networking
• 5.30pm- Event close

We invite you to join the discussion were we will:

• Examine gender balance and women’s political participation in the Pacific;

• Discuss the current evidence, lessons learned, and challenges, benefits and opportunities for increasing women’s political participation;

• Examine the role of male leaders in helping to change power dynamics and open up decision-making spaces to women;

• Discuss pathways to women’s leadership from community and local levels up to national, regional and international levels; and

• Network and build links between Australia Awards scholars, Pacific leaders, Australian academics, and other prominent guests over refreshments following the panel discussions.

Please register for the event via this link

For enquiries, please contact Felicity Mascetta at the Women’s Leadership Initiative:felicity.mascetta@australiaawardsleadership.org

This seminar is brought to you by the ANU Department of Pacific Affairs, and the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade