International Women's Day

International Women’s Day is a time to reflect on progress, to call for change and to celebrate the courage and determination of the women who changed history, and those who are working to advance gender equity into the future.

IWD is celebrated each year on 8 March, and this year we looked forward to using this time to put a spotlight on global issues and highlight actions we can all take to continue moving towards a more equitable world.

Cracking the Code: Innovation for a Gender Equal Future

This year, we are supporting the UN theme #CrackingTheCode. This theme highlights the role that accessible education and inclusive technologies play in addressing and alleviating the marginalisation of women globally.

By ensuring equal access to education for women and girls and creating pathways and inclusive workplaces for women, we can continue to move closer toward cracking the code to gender equality.

Events at UNSW

Global Feminism: Mona Eltahawy

This women's day we heard from Mona Eltahawy, one of the world's most prominent feminists and a fierce advocate for women's rights for a timely conversation about how we might advocate for women not just in the West, but across the globe.

This women's day we celebrated the power and strength of global feminism as we work towards a future where all genders are treated with equality and respect.

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Dress for Success Clothing Drive

UNSW Business School led a Dress for Success Clothing Drive to empower women by donating high quality professional attire.

Learn more about Dress for Success Clothing Drive.

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UNSW Canberra Celebrates International Women's Day

Hosted by UNSW Canberra at the Australian Defence Force Academy, we heard from award winning businesswoman, former educator, best-selling author and engaging storyteller, Heidi Dening, on how you can positively manage your own wellbeing and influence a culture of change across campus with three simple, evidence-based, strategies.

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Dismantling barriers for a gender equal future

Good health and education are crucial to combat inequity, however women continue to face barriers in accessing these rights – due to systemic inequity and a range of social determinants.

This International Women’s Day, the Kirby Institute invited everyone to join with a diverse group of women though leaders who drew on their professional and personal experiences of dismantling barriers to health and education.

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Celebrating [STEMM] Women

Innovation is a driver of change and by embracing modern technologies and championing the unique skills and knowledge of women in science, technology, engineering, mathematics, and medicine (STEMM), so we can accelerate our progress towards a gender equal future.

Health and science reporter, Tegan Taylor, sat down for a conversation with three inspiring women who are making an impact in their field, who shared their expertise and experiences from their STEMM journeys.

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UNSW Founders Women's Breakfast

UNSW Founders hosted an International Women's Day breakfast and fireside chat with Dr. Juliet Bourke, an adjunct professor at the UNSW Business School.

Dr. Bourke has over 30 years' experience as a lawyer, entrepreneur, workplace consultant and in the area of business diversity and inclusion.

The tickets were by donation and the proceeds went towards the Female Founders Fund, supporting the next generation of women entrepreneurs.

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Listen back: past IWD events at UNSW

Grace Tame smiling and looking to her left, with her hair tied up and wearing a camel coloured shirt

Grace Tame; Speaking Out

In this 2022 conversation, hear Grace joined by Michael Salter, Kyllie Cripps, Emma A Jane and Ann Mossop in a conversation about the catalytic power of collective women’s voices, achieving better education on sexual abuse and Grace's aspirations to continue to hold those in power to account.

^{Presented by UNSW Centre for Ideas}

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Illustration of a woman with red hair, wearing a yellow top on a blue background

The right to sex

Hosted by UNSW Associate Professor Emma A Jane, this conversation with political philosophy professor Amia Srinivasan was an unflinching exploration of the way our sexual lives reflect the political context of the wider world - and how to challenge these inequalities and blind spots, within ourselves and society.

^{Hosted by UNSW Associate Professor Emma A Jane at the Sydney Opera House}

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Roxane Gay posing with her chin in her hands, smiling and looking up

Roxane Gay in conversation

Sharp, tough, funny and humane, Roxane Gay’s work spans fiction, non-fiction and commentary. Since she came to global notice with ‘Bad Feminist’, she has published essays, stories and a memoir that take on questions of race, misogyny, trauma and body-shaming. Hear her 2022 conversation with UNSW academic Nicole Watson, a Murri woman who works on Indigenous storytelling.

^{Presented by UNSW Centre for Ideas and supported by the Sydney Opera House}

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Supporting Women at UNSW

A focus on gender equity and inclusion is central to our Strategy 2025 as we continue to strive to be an international exemplar of equity diversity and inclusion. We seek to foster a culture that is truly inclusive, in which all students and staff can participate equally in all areas and levels to achieve their full potential.

Group of colleagues sitting during a meeting

Equity Diversity & Inclusion

International Women’s Day is a time to reflect on progress, to call for change and to celebrate the courage and determination of the women who changed history, and those who are working to advance gender equity into the future.

Cracking the Code: Innovation for a Gender Equal Future