07 Mar 2018
NewsFrom the CEO — Together we can foster a more inclusive and gender equal world
International Women’s Day is also a time to celebrate the extraordinary acts of courage, determination and resilience of ordinary women who have shifted the needle in their local and global communities.
Being awarded the 2017 Telstra Australian Business Woman of the Year places a big responsibility on me to continue advocating for gender inclusivity and change.
I want to acknowledge all the wonderful women at SSI, those women that lead amazing initiatives or walk next to the people we support to help them have better lives every day
This week we had the honour of hosting the NSW launch of the National Harmony Alliance. The Harmony Alliance is one of the six National Women’s Alliances funded by the Australian Government to promote the views of all Australian women, to ensure their voices are heard in decision-making processes.
Its purpose is to provide a national inclusive and informed voice on the multiplicity of issues affecting experiences and outcomes of migrant and refugee women, and to enable opportunities for women from migrant and refugee backgrounds to directly engage in driving positive change.
Yesterday, in true SSI style, we hosted an intercultural celebration at a Community Kitchen packed with workshops, activities, performances and an amazing lunch, with empowerment and participation of women as the silver thread.
Now, more than ever, there’s a strong call to action to press forward and progress gender parity. That’s why this year’s theme for International Women’s Day is #PressforProgress — a call to motivate and unite friends, colleagues and communities to think, act and be gender inclusive.
On International Women’s Day, I invite you to take the time to reflect on the theme “Press for Progress” and to celebrate all the wonderful women you know. Together, we can raise our collective voice and foster a more inclusive and gender equal world.
Violet Roumeliotis
SSI CEO