International Women’s Day Great Debate – first speakers announced

The 2016 IWD Great Debate promises to provide big laughs and inspired insights on the topic of gender equality as our teams in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane debate the topic of: Men and Women – Equal at Last.

Our first speakers for the Sydney IWD Great Debate taking place on Tuesday March 8 are former New South Wales Liberal party leader Kerry “Chika” Chikarovski and fashion editor and presenter, Amber Renae. One of Australia’s most respected and admired former female politicians, Kerry Chikarovski was the first woman to lead a major political party in the state of New South Wales.

Civil engineer, entrepreneur, fashion editor and presenter, Amber Renae is a celebrated style icon who has been featured in the second series of Project Runway Australia, was Fashion Editor for Australian Women’s Health and Fitness Magazine, and resident fashion presenter on Foxtel’s Fashion TV.

The Melbourne IWD Great Debate, also on March 8 will feature award winning screen producer Sue Maslin and leading social commentator Bernard Salt. Sue Maslin, whose credits include The Dressmaker, winner of the 2015 AACTA Award for Favourite Australian Film, is also Adjunct Professor of the School of Media & Communication RMIT University, Patron of Women in Film and Television Victoria and President of the Natalie Miller Fellowship, a leadership program for women in the Australian screen industry.

Bernard Salt has popularised demographics through his books, columns and media appearances over the past 25 years. His body of work is encapsulated in six popular best-selling books beginning with The Big Shift published in 2001 through to his most recent work More Decent Obsessions published in 2014. He also writes two weekly columns for The Australian newspaper that deal with social, generational and demographic matters.

Just announced to be appearing at the IWD Great Debate in Brisbane on March 4 are Peta Pitcher FAIM, Director of The Lady Musgrave Trust and Kristin Devitt, Managing Director of KDPR. Peta has spent more than 25 years dedicated to community causes and is currently the Director of The Lady Musgrave Trust, a charitable organisation that provides housing and support for homeless or at risk young women and children.

Kristin has forged a successful career spanning more than 20 years as a highly effective communications strategist. With a background in broadcast journalism including time spent as a journalist and presenter with the Ten Network, Kristin has well established credibility on the media map.

With more well-known and credentialed speakers available on our website, Members are encouraged to book their tickets for themselves and their teams now to avoid missing out. With last year’s debates selling out in each city, tables are once again filling up fast so click here to book your place.

Follow AIM on Facebook and LinkedIn to hear more about our debate speakers as we announce them.