GIRL TALK Shire reveals line-up for International Women’s Day event

NOTED feminist, author and public speaker Clementine Ford will headline the Surf Coast Shire’s celebrations for International Women’s Day (IWD), to be held next week.

Ms Ford will join regional executives Jo Plummer, from Business in Heels, and Vanessa Schernickau, from the Great Ocean Road Coast Committee (GORCC), at the event in Aireys Inlet.

The three women and shire mayor Rose Hodge will be part of a panel talk inspired by the global theme for IWD, #BalanceForBetter, and Cr Hodge urged the community to come along and be part of it.

“International Women’s Day is about celebrating achievements but also generating discussion on progressing gender parity,” she said.

“Our leading question this year asks how we can build a gender-balanced community in Surf Coast and beyond, and I am sure we can look forward to some insightful, thoughtful and vigorous discussion from our distinguished panellists. Join us as we look to balance for better.”

Ms Ford’s first book was the awardwinning Fight Like A Girl, and her latest, Boys Will Be Boys, addresses toxic masculinity and misogyny by examining what needs to change for true equality to become a reality.

Ms Plummer is co-owner and executive director of Business in Heels and works to empower women locally and globally by connecting them with the opportunities, resources and choices they need to level the gender playing field and succeed in business.

The business strategist serves on several boards including as chair of Barwon Water, and Geelong Regional Football Committee.

Ms Schernickau is chief executive of GORCC, which manages 37 kilometres of coastal reserves between Torquay and Lorne.

A graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, she has previously held senior leadership roles with the City of Port Phillip, Northern Territory Government and Geelong Regional Library Corporation.

The IWD event will be held at the Aireys Inlet Community Centre, 6 Great Ocean Road, Aireys Inlet, on Thursday March 7.

Bookings are essential. Head to surfcoast.vic.gov.au and click on the “events” tab.