This 2-day workshop will focus on revitalising Gender and Development for the 21st Century from the perspective of Australian and Pacific feminist scholars.

‘Gender and development’ (GAD) is an innovative approach first developed in the 1990s. It arose out of a desire to go beyond merely including women in processes of ‘development’, but to also address gender relations and power inequalities. It focused on ‘women’s empowerment’ as a radical idea which was liberatory and holistic, not narrowly confined to economic ideas of empowerment and corporate interests.

In recent years GAD scholarship has arguably stagnated as donors and aid actors have become preoccupied with multiple priorities (particularly in the era of Covid-19). Moreover, as gender has continued to be ‘mainstreamed’ throughout most bilateral and donor agencies, it is a constant effort to ensure that feminist principles influence development programming.

In addition, most GAD theory initially given prominence arose from academics and practitioners at UK institutions. Since the 1990s, this UK dominance in theorising has continued but with an expansion to the U.S. and some Global South countries. Very little is written about GAD from an Australian and Pacific perspective, however.

As this workshop will demonstrate, there is much to learn from experiences in the Pacific and Australia. This workshop draws together leading scholars and practitioners from the Pacific and Australia to reinvigorate GAD approaches for the 21^st Century.

Keynote Speaker

Ms Virisila Buadromo (Director, Urgent Action Fund for Women’s Human Rights Asia & the Pacific), will deliver a keynote talk on 27 July entitled Transforming Gender and Development in the Pacific

Virisila Buadromo is a Fijian feminist, catalyst, bookworm, and dreamer. She is the Co-Lead of Urgent Action Fund for Women’s Human Rights Asia and the Pacific. She focuses on strategic partnerships and activating philanthropy. In her previous avatars, Virisila freelanced as a feminist facilitator, trainer and gender advisor in the Pacific and Asia focusing on organisational strengthening and supporting feminist coalitions and movements in the two regions. Virisila’s feminist beginnings were nurtured at the Fiji Women’s Rights Movement, a cutting-edge feminist organisation that she led for more than 13 years. When she’s not at work disrupting the patriarchy, she can be found buried under a mountain of books, or on a walk in the park with her two-year old.

Speakers

• Associate Professor Rochelle Spencer (Murdoch University), Gender transformative approaches to rural development in the Anthropocene.
• Dr Kelly Gerard (University of Western Australia), Preserving Women’s Empowerment: Advocating for Feminist Participatory Action Research.
• Dr Samanthi Gunawardana (Monash University), Unapologetic Educators Undoing Coloniality.
• Dr Chrisanta Muli (CEO of OneGirl), Unapologetic praxis undoing coloniality.
• Dr Mandy Yap (CAEPR, Australian National University) and Associate Professor Krushil Watene (Massey University), From gender equality to Indigenous wellbeing: reflections from Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand.
• Professor Sharon Bessell (Director of Gender Equity and Diversity at Crawford School of Public Policy, Australian National University), Reclaiming Resisting Remaking: The possibilities for GAD in the 21st century. 
• Associate Professor Elise Klein OAM (Australian National University) and Dr Neil Howard (University of Bath), Bringing Power back into EmPOWERment practice.
• Professor Kuntala Lahiri-Dutt (Australian National University), Intersectionality in gender and development practice: Useful tool or a blunt-edged sword?
• Dr Sonia Palmieri, Australian National University, A tale of two programs: Australia’s role in supporting women political leaders in the Pacific.
• Honorary Associate Professor Sally Moyle, Gender Institute, Australian National University, Gender equality in development – towards a feminist future? View from practice.
• Dr Annabel Dulhunty, Australian National University, Gender Equality Beyond Business.

A light morning tea, lunch of sandwiches and afternoon tea will be catered each day.

Supported by the ANU Gender Institute, the Crawford School of Public Policy and the ANU College of Asia and the Pacific