From Susan Jones, BPW Asia-Pacific Regional Coordinator

I have just received wonderful news from BPW Nepal President, Ambica Shrestha in relation to the work undertaken as a result of donations received from BPW Sisters worldwide.

42 houses have been completed from the donations received and President Ambica will arrange to hand them over to the people of Nepal in March.  Dates are approximately 1st to 4th March. I understand from speaking to Ambica that one of the houses has been specially built to accommodate a blind married couple who lost their home during the earthquake.  The members of BPW Nepal have worked tirelessly to make this a reality and many of you would have followed their efforts on social media.

The invitation to join BPW Nepal on this wonderful occasion is open to all.  If you require any further information please contact Ambica - copied here. This is such a wonderful start to our BPW year and we thank you all again for your generosity. Your donation has been truly life changing. Please pass on the news to your BPW sisters.

Warmest Regards

Susan

S: susanmjones

E: susan.jones@bpw-international.org

2 DAYS.

100 SPEAKERS.

1 MESSAGE.

Breakthrough is a new gender equality event in Melbourne bringing big ideas, leading thinkers and passionate change-makers to the fore.

Breakthrough is proudly presented by the Victorian Women's Trust

Congratulations go to Michael Gunner, Northern Territory's new Chief Minister, for appointing the first female majority Cabinet in Australia, with five of the eight ministerial roles going to women. 

The new Cabinet was sworn in yesterday. New Treasurer, Nicole Manison, was also sworn in as Deputy Chief Minister. Natasha Fyles as Attorney-General will also take on the roles of Minister for Justice and Minister for Health. Dale Wakefield, following her historic win in Alice Springs, will be in Cabinet as Families Minister. Lauren Moss will take up the critical environment portfolio, amongst other responsibilities, and Eva Lawler the education portfolio.

In addition, Independent Member, Kezia Purick, will remain as Speaker of the House, which assures a well ordered Parliament.

Yesterday Mr Gunner refuted John Howard's recent comments at the National Press Club - that there could never be an equal number of men and women in politics - as simply wrong. 

"It's 2016 and let's celebrate we have a lot of women in parliament," Mr Gunner said. "We have a very strong female team and there should always be strong female voices in our parliament."

BPW is Addressing the Australian Gender Pay Gap

and encourages all the CEOs and Company Directors
to start taking one step in the right direction this year! 

Download now our free eBook full of strategies,
case studies and actions that you can take right away. 

Government of WA, Department of Communities Grants for Women

BPW WA Division was a successful grant recipient to conduct a 'Women’s Leadership Weekend'. The project will include a residential weekend with seminars on a range of leadership and economic independence topics with mentoring opportunities. Day attendance will also be encouraged. Personal and professional skill building will be available including negotiation, career planning, financial management, self-confidence and stress control.

Congratulations to WA President Kate Waters

Belmont Business Enterprise Centre was also a successful recipient with grant funds to conduct the ‘BPW Business Incubator ONLINE Retirement Income Planning for Women’ project to educate women in home-based, micro-businesses on their options for superannuation and retirement. The project will take the form of 8 webinars, 4 forums and mentoring to over 40 participants. Discussions will explore options for women who intend to start a business, options for existing self-employed women, for women who intend to start home-based businesses, micro and small businesses, Indigenous, CaLD individuals, as well as rural and regionally located participants. The project will be addressing both the criteria of community benefit, and the priority of women’s economic independence.

Congratulations to BPW Belmont member, Carol Hanlon

Inside Perth's Women-only clubs by Kate Emery The West Australian newspaper

22 June 2016

BPW WA State President Kate Waters. Picture: Michael Wilson/The West Australian.

Tuesday 7 June 2016:  BPW Australia joined thought leaders from the private sector, sporting, academia and civil society to gather case studies from participants that (as examples) can be replicated and scaled up by business, governments and communities around the world. BPW Australia was alongside  captains of industry, the co-chairs, the Secretariat Representative and Women’s Leadership Institute Australia and Chief Executive Women. It was an amazing event!

This consultation was used not only to support high-level advocacy of women’s economic empowerment and increase its profile and support, but importantly, support the creation of a new roadmap for organisations globally who want to be bold and pro-active in inspiring and actioning measurable change towards a more rapid achievement of gender parity.

Find out more...

BPW International Past President Freda Miriklis and BPW Australia National President
Janis Shaw with delegates from the worlds of business, sport and not-for-profits 
gathered together to provide vital data for the United Nations report.

A BPW Australia delegation that included Susan Jones, BPW Asia Pacific Regional Coordinator, Marilyn Forsythe, BPW Pacific Regional Coordinator, and Carol Hanlon, Past President BPW Belmont, visited BPW Port Moresby for International Women’s Day 2016. It was inspirational for these BPW Australia members to witness the work of BPW Port Moresby supporting the education of young women and girls. In less than eight years, through the club’s Education Fund, more than 1600 girls have been funded to further their education. During visits at three schools, the girls told their stories about how the Fund is giving them a better life. The Education Fund has been supported by BPW Australia members for several years. If your club would like to support the Fund please contact Marilyn Forsythe at marilyn.forsythe@bigpond.com.  $400 Australian will fund support for a girl at high school for one year.

There are 20 places available in the BPW Swan Hill Stepping Up to Leadership Program, funded by the Foundation for Regional and Rural Renewal (FRRR) and delivered locally by BPW Swan Hill.  The Program is an ongoing opportunity for women in the region to improve themselves not just in business, but for those interested in our community to Step Up Into Leadership.

Applications are now open and close 5pm 15th April 2016.  Find out more...