Jacinda Ardern showed the world a new style of leadership by deciding to foreground kindness and empathy. Her example has been a shining light to many, especially women. I congratulate her on all she has achieved to date and wish her well in this next phase of her life.
Just catching up on a bit of reading before the show. Not Now, Not Ever is out today in all good book stores.
“I do think we, as women, can’t just keep self-limiting. We do have to find a way of hitting that tone when it’s justified or when behaviours go uncalled out or unaddressed or only addressed meekly or politely. And one thing I do think about the coming generation of feminists and activists is they’re less worried about being characterised as impolite.” Thanks to @stellarmag & @sarrahlemarquand for chatting to me ahead of my upcoming events in Melbourne (sold out) and Sydney for ‘Not Now, Not Ever’ to mark 10 years since the misogyny speech. Last minute tickets have been released in Sydney; you can find them via link in my bio. Photography: @stevenchee Styling: @irenetsolakas HMU: @kellyaallison Interview: @sarrahlemarquand The full interview and shoot can be seen inside The Sunday Telegraph (NSW), Sunday Herald Sun (VIC), The Sunday Mail (QLD) and Sunday Mail (SA).
Today I joined Premier of South Australia @pmalinauskasmp and Education Minister @blair.boyermp to announce I have been appointed the lead the Royal Commission into Early Childhood Education and Care. As a proud South Australian, I thank the Premier for inviting me to play a role in helping all our children to thrive in the first five years of life through access to high quality early childhood education and care. Education policy has been a career passion of mine, and I am delighted to now have the opportunity to support the next important steps to improve the early childhood education system in South Australia. Life chances are defined early and I want every child in SA to be set up for success. 🔸You can learn more about the Commission via the link in my bio.
I am terribly sad to learn of the death of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. My thoughts are foremost with the Queen’s family and friends at this time. She was dearly loved and the Royal Family will be grieving her loss deeply. Millions of people around the world will be pausing and reflecting on her loss, and life of service. The Queen has been a powerful presence for as long as many of us can remember. She was a remarkable role model; responsibility for service thrust on to her as a young woman, and taken up with grace, devotion and dignity during her reign. The Queen will be remembered as an extraordinary monarch who witnessed – and influenced – the trajectory of modern history. I am in awe of the Queen’s legacy and remember my own personal meetings with her fondly, especially at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Perth. She was strong and steadfast, but also kind and had an engaging sense of humour. Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II will be mourned but forever remembered. 📸- Getty Images
🎧🎙NEW PODCAST EPISODE🎙🎧 I had so much fun discussing the ‘f’ word – feminism – with comedic trailblazer @hannah_gadsby. This episode was a long time in the making. It took us over a year before we could line up our schedules to chat, and Hannah is still touring the world for her latest show ‘Body of Work’. I’m so glad we persevered. I know you’ll love listening to it as much as I enjoyed recording it. Follow the link in my bio to listen to this and all other episodes of Podcast of One’s Own.
Today is a day that will give rise to complex and conflicting emotions. For many, it will be a time of deep pain and sorrow. I want to acknowledge that 26 January is scorched into the consciousness of many First Nations people as a day of profound mourning. As the Chair of Beyond Blue – an organisation with a mission to support everyone in Australia to achieve their best mental health – I believe it’s vital we recognise the grief that this day can evoke. It’s a date connected to the ongoing impacts of colonisation. Dispossession, violence, disempowerment and the fracturing of ancestral and cultural knowledge are a source of historical and ongoing trauma that continues to impact on the social and emotional wellbeing of First Nations people. As we understand more about our history, more Australians are reflecting on how to engage with 26 January. These conversations may be challenging but they are necessary for us to mature and heal as a nation. Beyond Blue continues to advocate for action to Close the Gap, to improve social and emotional wellbeing, and to prevent suicide. We support the Uluru Statement from the Heart and a First Nations Voice to Parliament. While we cannot change our past, we can learn from it. If we accept the truth of our shared history, we can walk together in a spirit of healing and reconciliation towards a brighter future. If you find this day difficult, support is available. Contact 13YARN or the Beyond Blue Support Service on 1300 22 46 36
Classic dad move 😂 #TheABCOf Stream now on ABC iview or Tuesdays 8pm on ABC TV. #Parents #JuliaGillard #PrimeMinister
There’s something about the simple act of sharing food – the comfort, connection and conversation – that lends itself to open and honest discussions. And that’s exactly what we need when we talk about mental ill health. I was thrilled to share a cuppa and a bite to eat with Masterchef legend Julie Goodwin and cooking sensation @nats_what_i_reckon as part of @beyondblueofficial Big Blue Table, a new event to start important conversations about mental health and raise funds for people impacted by anxiety, depression and suicide. From October 1 to 8, to mark the start of World Mental Health Month, we’re inviting you to host your own Big Blue Table – whether it’s by having a long lunch with colleagues, decking your whole kitchen out in blue, or having a picnic in the park with friends and family. Every dollar raised will go towards keeping up with ever increasing demand for Beyond Blue’s support services, which have received record contacts over the past few challenging years. Big Blue Table provides a safe space to have life-changing conversations. To get access to your free conversation starters and host kit, register today. https://bigbluetable.com.au/
“Most leaders don’t get remembered for very much.” #TheABCOf Stream from 8pm Tuesday on ABC iview or ABC TV. #JuliaGillard #MisogynySpeech #AusPol
Thrilled to share that ‘Not Now, Not Ever’ is now available to stream! Head to the link in my bio to access. These were unforgettable evenings that have left me energised and inspired about what’s next to create a gender equal future, while raising funds for @GIWLKCL and @GIWLANU. Filmed from @awaresupertheatre with me, host @dearindira talented music guest @katemillerheidke and an empowering and thought-provoking group of special guest speakers – @mikepbowers, @nyadolnyuon, @giwlanu Professor Michelle Ryan, @georgiestone, @activist.ash, @shelley_ware and @mynameisjoella_ Access will end on Friday 28 October. Don’t miss it!
Thank you, Melbourne. See you tonight, Sydney! 📸 @ladydrewniak
Today I released the interim report of The Royal Commission into Early Childhood Education and Care in South Australia. In recent months, the Commission has heard from expert witnesses, key stakeholders, and South Australian parents about the importance of quality, fairness and accessibility of early childhood education and care services. I am grateful for all the insights shared. The Interim Report details the Commission’s vision for the future of preschool and outlines a pathway for the delivery of preschool for all South Australian 3-year-olds, with roll out beginning from 2026. This is an exciting opportunity for South Australia to lead the world and transform early years services for our state’s children. There is still time to have your say on the 33 recommendations in the Interim Report and the work of the Royal Commission overall, which can be submitted via the Royal Commission website until 19 May 2023. Inquiries continue into workforce supply, how to ensure universal availability of Out of School Hours Care (OSHC) and the role of early childhood education and care in supporting children in their first 1000 days, for inclusion in the Royal Commission’s Final Report. The final report is due to be released in August. You can find a copy of the Interim Report, and provide feedback via the link to the Royal Commission in my bio.
“The focus of everyone working for and with Wellcome is on delivering the goals we’ve set, pushing the boundaries of scientific knowledge and helping to solve the urgent health challenges of our time.” So writes Julia Gillard, Chair of Wellcome’s Board, in our annual report. 2022 was full of challenges, but also many successes. From new funding calls and campaigns to appointing a CEO, we have ambitious plans to build on those successes in 2023. We can’t wait to share them all with you. #wellcometrust #wellcome
I am in the world’s smallest book club with my friend Josephine. While we jointly read many books, she always devours far more than me. In lieu of my usual end of year reading list, this year I would like to share her top 10 holiday reads. And to make it a dozen, of course I must add my own book of essays on misogyny – Not Now Not Ever; and Kate Mosse’s Warrior Queens & Quiet Revolutionaries – How Women (Also) Built the World. Happy holiday reading! 1. Horse by Geraldine Brooks 2. Trust by Hernan Diaz 3. Never by Ken Follett 4. The Uncommon Reader by Alan Bennett 5. Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus 6. Two Nights in Lisbon by Chris Pavone 7. The Woman in the Library by Sulari Gentill 8. Disorientation by Elaine Hsieh Chau 9. Leadership by Henry Kissinger 10. From Strength to Strength by Arthur Brooks
In my latest episode of A Podcast of One’s Own for @giwlkings and @giwlanu I am joined by my friend and renowned journalist Indira Naidoo in a powerful discussion of grief and sisterhood. Indira and I chat about the incredible bond she shared with her sisters, and how the healing power of nature helped her after she lost her youngest sister through suicide. Indira will also be joining me on stage as the host of Not Now, Not Ever in Melbourne on 4 Oct (sold out) and 5 Oct in Sydney. If you want the chance to hear more from Indira and myself in person, ADDITIONAL TICKETS have just been released for our SYDNEY event. 🎟 tickets available via link in bio. 🎧 podcast available via link in bio ***Listeners are advised that this episode contains discussion of suicide. If you need support at any time, please call Beyond Blue 1300 22 4636 or Lifeline on 13 11 14.*** @dearindira
🎙️NEW PODCAST EP IS OUT!🎙️ For my latest episode I had the absolute pleasure of speaking with @roanna_mcclelland, who is an author, an academic researcher, a political adviser, a former colleague and a friend. Roanna has just published her first book, The Comforting Weight of Water, which is set in a near future where it never stops raining and a young adolescent runs wild. Water, the environment, and the relationship between humans and the natural world are not just themes of Ro’s book, they are themes of her life and she pursues them as an active feminist and deep thinker on gender inequality. I hope you enjoy this conversation as much as I did. 🎧Listen at link in bio 📸 @elledsphotography
✨A Podcast of One’s Own is back for a new season! ✨ And what a way to start. In this first episode for 2023, I go hunting for the origins of patriarchy by speaking to award winning science journalist and author @angeladsaini Her new book, Patriarchs, examines how male dominated societies became the norm. 🎧Listen via link in bio.
In the UK, @giwlkings has found 2 in 3 parents now spend more on childcare than housing, women are leaving work due to rising costs & early years staff feel overlooked undervalued. Read more about it in the ✨ NEW✨ edition of Essays on Equality via the link in my bio.
The festive season can bring with it all kinds of thoughts and feelings; some positive, others less so. From excitement and joy to exhaustion or loneliness, it’s a time of year when many of us could use a little extra support. The Beyond Blue Support Service is available 24/7, staffed by skilled mental health counsellors who can offer advice, information and referrals. There’s no issue too big or small. Visit the link in my bio for more information.
🎧NEW PODCAST EPISODE🎧 Dame Sharon White made history when she became the first female Chair of John Lewis & Partners, the largest employee owned business in the UK. As part of International Women’s Day, I had the pleasure of speaking with Sharon about her career, her upbringing and the way forward on gender equality. 🎙️Listen at the link in bio
🎙️NEW PODCAST EPISODE🎙️ The Stella Prize is a major literary award celebrating Australian women’s writing. For this episode, I had the pleasure of speaking with the 2023 winner, Sarah Holland-Batt. Sarah’s work, The Jaguar, is a deeply personal collection of poems, delving particularly into her beloved father’s long journey with Parkinson’s. The book really resonated with me and made me reflect on the loss of my own father and mother. I hope you enjoy our chat about life, love and grief as much as I did! ✨Listen at link in bio
Welcome Chanel Contos – a vibrant new addition to the ranks of the Global Institute for Women’s Leadership ANU. Chanel will be Chair of the @giwlanu Global Youth Advisory Committee. Her activism has been central to the important and ongoing conversations being had around consent, respect, and gender equality. Chanel’s advocacy in these spaces has her well suited to her new role with GIWL ANU, and invaluable in identifying emerging challenges young people face. Chanel has shown herself to be an outstanding leader already and will be a wonderful resource in our mission to champion the next generation of women leaders.
🎙️NEW PODCAST EPISODE🎙️ It turns out the issue of gender inequality isn’t confined to our planet, it’s even a problem in outer space! In this episode I speak with award winning gender researcher Dr Elise Stephenson about the major barriers for women and marginalised groups in the industry, and the opportunity it has to build a gender equal future. 🎧Listen at link in bio.