Empowerment and Insight: Reflecting on the Women in Business IWD Panel Event
Reflecting on the Women in Business IWD Panel Event
The air was electric at our International Women’s Day (IWD) event last week! It was a morning filled with inspiration, connection and empowerment, featuring thought-provoking conversations that truly celebrated the spirit of women's leadership and community impact.
We were especially honoured to partner with Dr. Joe McGirr to bring this impactful event to life and to host the celebration of the Wagga Wagga Electorate’s Local Woman of the Year 2025, a truly inspiring moment for our community.
The Power of the Panel
The heart of the morning was an engaging panel discussion led by the exceptional Dr. Stacey Jenkins, Executive Director of Safety, Security and Wellbeing at Charles Sturt University. Drawing on her extensive expertise in HR, mental health and research on women in male dominated industries, Stacey skilfully guided the conversation across a range of vital topics, from workplace safety to community-led change.
Our three panellists offered incredible insights from their diverse and accomplished careers:
Lynne Graham (Community Changemaker): Lynne, the driving force behind the charity Carevan Wagga (providing over 600 meals per week), shared her journey from teacher to recognised leader. As the Wagga Wagga Citizen of the Year (2020) and Local Woman of the Year (2024), her dedication to establishing Wagga Community Kitchen and Carevan has brought warmth, dignity and hope to the region's most vulnerable.
Dr. Sabine Wardle (Social Justice Advocate): As a Senior Social Worker, Academic, Researcher and Women’s Health Counsellor, Dr. Wardle spoke passionately about social justice and the critical need for culturally inclusive care. Drawing on her experience supporting women navigating family health crises and caregiving roles, Sabine highlighted how compassionate support can empower women and families during life’s most challenging moments.
Jenny Nechvatal (Inclusion & Education Specialist): Jenny, a passionate advocate for disability inclusion and early childhood education, shared wisdom from over 30 years in education and 22 years as a carer for her own children with disabilities. As the founder of Innovate Support Coordination and Innovative Disability Solutions and author of Embracing Disability in Early Childhood, her work has made a lasting impact on countless families and professionals navigating disability support.
The collective experience and fierce commitment of these four women Dr. Jenkins, Lynne, Dr. Wardle and Jenny, made for a truly unforgettable and deeply insightful discussion.
A huge thank you again to Dr. Joe McGirr for his partnership, to our incredible panellists and to Stacey Jenkins for leading such an engaging and empowering morning.