We launched the first iteration of the Women’s Agenda Leadership Awards one decade ago.
They started within months of launching this publication – what to me seemed like an ambitious feat at the time, but an ambition my then boss and founding publisher Marina Go felt very confident about getting up and running, attended and sponsored.
We had a larger lineup of awards back then – we still celebrated emerging leaders as we do today, but also mentors and champions of change. We’ve since stripped the award categories back to be a little simpler and adapted categories from year to year to meet the needs of different industries, especially to help celebrate women across male-dominated areas.
But one thing I recall about that first event in Sydney on the 7th March 2013, was hearing from Professor Megan Davis on stage.
And especially, her message about hope. Something she said was necessary for her work at the time with the United Nations, and is fundamental to anyone pursuing consistent, hard and game-changing ambitions.
Davis was awarded the Inspirational Ambassador Award at that first event, chosen from a long list of finalists for her work demonstrating innovation and leadership in inspiring the next generation. She was also recognised for her strong commitment to creating change for the future.
Those judges, back in 2013, were clearly on to something.
Davis will be on stage again at the Women’s Agenda Leadership Awards next week. This time, in Melbourne, she will be sharing the keynote speech, on the eve of the referendum.
We are incredibly honoured to have Davis involved, especially at this pivotal point in Australian history.
Megan is a Cobble Cobble woman from southwest Queensland with a long and impressive international career and someone who has been and continues to be instrumental in The Voice debate and the upcoming referendum. She is Pro Vice-Chancellor Indigenous UNSW and a Professor of Law, UNSW Law. She currently serves as a United Nations expert with the UN Human Rights Council’s Expert Mechanism on the rights of Indigenous peoples based in UN Geneva
Back in 2013, Davis had been nominated for the award by one of her own mentees, and she used her acceptance speech to highlight what she had learned from this young woman, particularly the “fresh eyes” and hope she inspired, which is so necessary working for the UN.
Davis also acknowledged her key mentors and the role they had in her career. She also highlighted her gratitude for being nominated for the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues by then Indigenous Affairs minister Jenny Macklin, highlighting how so often such positions were given to men. Davis would later be re-appointed.
And Davis also took the time to speak about her mother.
“I think it’s fitting for me to acknowledge the person who really has got me here. That is my mum. She is my inspiration.”
She spoke about attending the awards just as she was about to fly out to Congo, the first country in Africa to legislate the protection of Indigenous peoples, and first country in the world to implement the UN Declaration on the rights of Indigenous people into legislation.
“The promise of the UN is about hope, and the promise that states that individuals can be a better version of what we are now,” Davis said.
Next week we’ll also hear a live set from Jack River, our first foray into sharing live music, and comedian Kirsty Webeck as MC.
And we’ll also be learning the ten winners of the Women’s Agenda Leadership Awards for 2023, following more than 40 finalist interviews with the judges of this year’s program this week.
We are, once again, in awe of the calibre of nominations that came through for this year’s awards, and the finalists who were ultimately selected. They are emerging leaders in their organisations, industries and key areas of work. They lead with integrity and values. And at this current moment – with so many of us wondering what is next, with so many ongoing challenges and more to come, they are a group that bring hope — something Davis herself acknowledged is an ever present necessity in consistently pursuing hard and gamechanging work.
We have some limited tickets still available for dinner on the 13th October in Melbourne. Please join us. Tickets are available here.