Founded by Varvara Ioannou in 2001, the Food for Thought Network (FFTN) has a development focus and runs several inspirational events per year aimed at connecting cultures, generations and professions while promoting female empowerment.

FFTN is back celebrating International Women’s Day and asks us to once again take groundbreaking action, to make a difference and build leadership capabilities through support and empowerment.

Presented in partnership with Manningham City Council, the 2017 luncheon event sponsored by Delphi Bank, promises to be an afternoon of inspirational dialogue on Sunday 5 March involving a number of distinguished guest speakers and advocates towards gender equality.

“Each of us – with men and women joining forces – can be a leader within our own spheres of influence and take bold pragmatic action to accelerate gender parity. We can collectively help women advance and unleash the limitless potential offered to economies the world over.”

“We have urgent work to do,” says president Varvara Ioannou. “Be bold to change is this year’s theme.”

Mrs Ioannou has chosen women and men that are already leading advocates in equality issues and are trying to cover more diversity areas.

“FFTN is proud to be addressing the Indigenous perspective this year, amongst other mainstream issues of concern relating to women,” Mrs Ioannou continues.

“Even though Victoria is leading in gender equality strategy, we still have a long way to go. Both men and women can assist in this area. A girl that comes into the world today will not earn as much money as her brother. We are doing everything in our power to raise awareness.”

This year’s panel includes: Dr Jackie Huggins, Chair of the National Congress of Australia’s First People’s. Jackie is a Bidjara and Birri-Gubba Juru woman from Queensland who has worked in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander affairs for over thirty years. A celebrated historian and author who has documented the lives of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people throughout the decades, she received the Member of the Order of Australia for services to her community in 2001. Throughout her career she has played a leading role in reconciliation, literacy, women’s issues and social justice.

Alana Johnson, a rural consultant and Convenor of the Victorian Women’s Trust. A fifth generation Benalla farmer, she was voted Victorian Rural Woman of the Year in 2010 and is recognised nationally and internationally for her work in rural and regional development and leadership training. She was named in the inaugural 100 Women of Influence in Australia by the Australian Financial Review in 2012 and the inaugural 100 Women in Australian Agribusiness by Rural Press in 2014. She is President of the Voices for Indi and a founding member of Australian Women in Agriculture. She has served as president of the Foundation for Australian Agricultural Women, as a director of the Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation as well as Chair of the Women in Rural Industries Advisory panel to the Victorian Minister for Agriculture. She features in a book launched by the Governor General to celebrate the 100th anniversary of International Women’s Day.

Evelyn Tadros, barrister and founder of HRAFF Human Rights and Film Festival & Chair of the HRAFF Board. Evelyn practices predominantly in commercial and public law. She lectures in administrative law with Spencer Zifcak at Australian Catholic University in addition to teaching regularly at Leo Cussen Institute, including in administrative law and advocacy. Prior to coming to the bar, Evelyn was Senior Associate to the Honourable Justice Almond at the Supreme Court. She also practised for four years as a litigation lawyer at one of Australia’s top law firms, Clayton Utz during which she was seconded for four months to Homeless Law. Meanwhile, she has worked for over 10 years with various not-for-profit organisations, founded and co-directed the Human Rights Arts and Film Festival and is currently Chair of the board. She is a regular presenter on Right Now Radio, a human rights focused podcast on Triple R. She is also on the policy committee of Liberty Victoria.

This year’s FFTN sponsoree is track and field athlete – Anastasia Marinakou.

In 2015, Anastasia was voted one of Greece’s top young athletes and recently run alongside Usain Bolt in Australia. Driven away by the crisis, she made the decision to relocate to Melbourne together with her family. She has engaged Kathy Freeman’s coach and we are pleased to fundraise and assist Anastasia achieve her dreams. The sponsorship will go towards her personal development costs.
The Greek Economic Crisis has made approximately half a million talented young people to migrate. This has been described as a “brain drain” for Greece. Greece’s economic crisis holds down its best and brightest has cost the country 50 billion euros ($55.05 billion) in lost talent. Australia and other host countries will benefit from the best and brightest. Anastasia Marinakou is one of those talented young people who will hopefully qualify to compete for Australia at the next Olympics.

Maria Dimopoulos will be the panel moderator. Maria is nationally and internationally recognised as an expert specialising in the intersections of cultural diversity, gender equality and the law. As Managing Director at MyriaD Consultants she has had extensive experience in policy formulation for Government, research for social planning and in community education. In 2008, she was appointed by the Federal government to the National Council to Reduce Violence Against Women and their Children. Maria was also a member of the Access and Equity Inquiry Panel which reported to Government in 2012 on the accessibility of government services to multicultural Australia.

Entertainment on the day by vocalist and musician Jewels Anthea Sidiropoulos.

* The International Women’s Day Luncheon ‘Women Inspiring Women’ will be taking place on Sunday 5 March at Manningham Function Centre, 699 Doncaster Road, Doncaster, VIC from 11.30 am-3.30 pm.
To find more about Food for Thought Network and secure a visit their website www.fftn.org.au