On Sunday 6 March, the Food for Thought Network, in partnership with the Manningham City Council, presents an extended International Women’s Day luncheon.

Topics on the day will cover many diverse perspectives on raising awareness about the issues women face in Australia’s multicultural society, while providing opportunities for networking and social action.

The speakers will hold a broadened talk on stereotypes and how that affects social engagement and interaction, sometimes leading to discriminatory assumptions.

Marking 15 years since the establishment of the organisation, its founder and chair Varvara Ioannou has launched yet another inspirational dialogue featuring a number of high-calibre women.

Emeritus Professor and president of the Human Rights Commission Gillian Triggs will provide the keynote address, followed by a discussion with Mayor Jennifer Yang, human rights activist Tasneem Chopra, Seven Women’s CEO Stephanie Woollard and gender equality advocate Maria Dimopoulos.

“Our 2016 anniversary is celebrated with a first-class event not only in terms of the speakers, but because of the content, the support from the local council, as well as the philanthropic aspect of it,” says chair Varvara Ioannou.

“We take pride in having created a community organisation for women with a multicultural appeal, which has never excluded men from its functions.”
One of the multiple dimensions of the organisation is how people with power can make use of that privilege to help others succeed in life and contribute back to the community. Food for Thought, having a strong development focus, supports the education and goals of a young, inspirational woman every year.
“Our event sponsoree this year is Alexandra Douros, a remarkable 18-year-old Doncaster resident who is blind and has cerebral palsy and received a very high Australian Tertiary Admission Rank (ATAR) of 92.”

“Any funds raised at the event will go towards the purchase of a Braille laptop and scanner that Alexandra will need for her studies,” the chair continues.

Emeritus Professor Gillian Triggs has combined an academic career with international commercial legal practice and worked with governments and international organisations on human rights law. Professor Triggs has focussed her presidency on the implementation in Australian law of the human rights treaties to which Australia is party, and to work with nations in the Asia Pacific region on practical approaches to human rights.

Tasneem Chopra – author, consultant and curator – is also chairperson of the Australian Muslim Women’s Centre for Human Rights, where she works tirelessly to address the challenges Muslim women face in Australia. As an Australian Muslim of Indian-Kenyan heritage, she has put much energy into conquering stereotypes that affect minorities. Tasneem has been named by The Age as one of Melbourne’s most influential ‘Movers and Shakers’ and The Australian listed her as one of 100 Emerging Leaders.

Stephanie Woollard is the founder and director of Seven Women, an award-winning social enterprise which helps train marginalised and socially isolated women in Nepal, helping them to improve their quality of life. She believes that having a realistic understanding of the causes of poverty and culture in developing countries is essential in the field of international development and a crucial ingredient for bringing peace and tolerance in a globalised world.

Maria Dimopoulos is nationally and internationally recognised as an expert on gender equality and violence against women, with particular expertise in working with multicultural communities. Much of her work has been aimed at promoting and enhancing a gendered approach in the ongoing complex legal and political reform processes and in ensuring the meaningful inclusion of diverse women’s voices and perspectives in those reform processes.

Jennifer Yang was first elected to Manningham City Council in January 2011 and is the current mayor for 2015/16. Jennifer is a passionate advocate for a diverse range of community issues, particularly in the areas of services for senior citizens, young families, migrants and special needs groups. She is the multicultural committee member for the Municipal Association of Victoria and an executive committee member for the Australian Local Government Women’s Association (Victoria). Jennifer also sits on a number of other committees, including the National Australian Chinese Women Association.

 

Tickets for the event are $50 per person including a two-course lunch and beverages with local entertainment and door prizes.

For more information please visit www.fftn.org.au or call 04 03034527.

 

When: Sunday 6 March, 11.30 am-3.30 pm
Where: Manningham Function Centre, 699 Doncaster Road, Doncaster