While important progress has been made, women still face significant obstacles to equal participation in the economy. Without equal access to education, employment pathways, financial services and literacy, how can we ever achieve gender equality?

Executive director of the Office for Women at the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet Padma Raman PSM will explore the priority theme for the United Nations 68th Commission on the Status of Women – Count her in: Invest in Women. Accelerate Progress.

The Helen Williams Oration honours the contribution to the field of public administration of Helen Williams AC, the first female to be appointed Secretary of an Australian Government department. Ms Raman will deliver the oration ahead of International Women’s Day, discussing pathways to greater economic inclusion for women and girls.

The oration will highlight how, when women are given equal opportunities to earn, learn and lead – entire communities thrive. Join us for a morning of discussing how we can all make contributions to ensuring women and girls are given equal opportunity to build their capabilities and strengthen their capacity to learn, earn and lead.

Genevieve Jacobs will MC the event and host an audience Q&A following the event.

Katherine Jones, Secretary, Attorney-General’s Department and IPAA ACT president, will chair this event.

What you will learn

Go home with some key takeaways on

• Work being done by the Office for Women to progress gender equality & economic outcomes for women
• the Status of Women Report Card
• National Strategy to Achieve Gender Equality due to be released in 2024.

Who this event is for

Anyone interested in gender equality and advancing women’s economic participation in the workplace.