International Women’s Day Breakfast 2022
On Friday, March 4th, we were privileged to attend Mac.Rob’s annual International Women’s Day Breakfast. This year’s theme was “Break The Bias”, which aimed to challenge the biases women face in the workplace. Hosted at the vibrant Greenfield’s Albert Park, we were able to connect with people who have broken a multitude of biases in their lives; whether they be past principals, notable alumni, educators, or government officials in our local area.
Some of our highlights included listening to our Principal, Ms. Sue Harrap, share her journey as a leading educator, and how she has broken biases in many aspects of her life. We heard from Jasmine Nguyen, Brimbank’s youngest Councillor and first Vietnamese-Australian Mayor, as she shared her inspiring story of empowering young people and helping the most disadvantaged communities. Finally, we heard from Katja Bizilj, former captain in the Royal Australian Navy, an inspiring woman who has achieved many “firsts” in her career. Her selection as the first and only female Naval Attache in Indonesia brought many challenges with it, something she now looks back upon as a defining moment in shaping her into who she is today.
Following a delicious gourmet breakfast, we were fortunate enough to have the opportunity to ask some questions during a Q&A panel. From questions about the biases that they encountered and overcame during their lives to what motivates them on a day-to-day basis, we gained a better understanding of what made Jasmine and Katja the remarkable people they are today. What stood out to us most was Katja’s recommendation for us to read widely and question everything we came across. In her eyes, every challenge she came across was an opportunity to learn and engage with her community.
We are so grateful to have listened to the insights such empowering women provided us that day. Below is an excerpt from the official International Women’s Day website, a message which resonated with us all.
Individually, we're all responsible for our own thoughts and actions - all day, every day.
We can break the bias in our communities.
We can break the bias in our workplaces.
We can break the bias in our schools, colleges and universities.
Together, we can all break the bias - on International Women's Day, and beyond.
Ananya (School Captain), Aditi (Vice Captain), Jessica & Gaatri (SRC Co-Presidents)