Celebrating The Women Of Parramatta Square

Celebrating the women of Parramatta Square

What does International Women's Day mean to you?

International Women's Day to me means an opportunity to recognise the importance of the equal contribution of women and men in all aspects of life. One of my passions is supporting women to identify and pursue their personal and career development goals, extend existing skills and capabilities to make the most of their lives and talent.

Alison O'Loughlin

Director of Commercial Development Property & Development NSW

International Women's Day means celebrating the uniqueness of women, as well as just celebrating our being human, regardless of gender. Women are no doubt different to men, but such differences are superficial, it is no different to each person being different to another.

Jyoti Shankar

Project Officer NSW Planning Group Department of Planning & Environment

What does International Women's Day mean to you?

International Women's Day is a day where we celebrate achievements of women globally. We need to keep this movement alive for a better world, a gender equal world where women will be valued and respected.

Mohsina Parveen

Service Delivery Lead Department of Customer Service

International Women's Day means unity. Where women from all over the world celebrate the many positive changes that have happened to create equality. I am so thankful to the brilliant, passionate and supportive women in my life who have taught me and mentored me.

Violet Davies

Project Officer NSW Dept of Natural Resources Access Regulator

What is the most important advice you have been given?

To find a job that makes you happy and stop comparing your career achievements with others.

Amy McAneney

Senior Administrative Officer NSW Planning Group Department of Planning & Environment

“It's harder to define success than it is to achieve it."

Success means different things to everyone, and it has helped me to acknowledge that especially when building relationships with others.

Kiana Weymark

Customer Experience Manager Department of Customer Service

Why do you think diversity in the workplace is so important?

Diversity in the workplace is vital in every way as well as the community. A diverse workplace provides so many opportunities to all people with different cultural backgrounds, different skills/abilities, and sexual orientation.

Carol Leedham

Senior Administrative Officer NSW Planning Group Department of Planning & Environment

A workplace without diversity is like a song with only one chord, a rainbow of one colour, a feast of a single course. The best teams have diversity of gender, of differing backgrounds, of lived experience and outlook.

Trish Marinozzi

Media & Public Affairs Advisor Business Western Sydney

Why do you think diversity in the workplace is so important?

I value inclusivity and equity, and in my experience, a workplace that reflects these principles has achieved high and sustainable outcomes for staff and clients alike. It is rewarding to work with individuals with hugely different lived experiences to my own. We live in a diaspora. Why wouldn't we reflect that in our workplace?

J Pamo

What is the most important advice you have been given?

Life is all about managing expectations "most of all, your own".

Carol Al-Ali

Project Officer NSW Planning Group, Department of Planning and Environment

Share a women's empowerment moment that inspired you.

I have three women in my life that have empowered me to become the woman I am today; my kinship mother Sue Lovett, Grace Toomey Snr and Homa. Each of these women have empowered me throughout my journey.

Without their guidance, support and love, my life may have turned out very different.

Uppannia Sullivan

Senior Project Officer, Housing Client Services Aboriginal Housing Office

My Grandmother was a trailblazer, going in search of a life that many of her generation would have thought was impossible, for a woman, in a foreign country at the start of a war. Through my Grandmother and her unsurprisingly equally independent and inspirational daughter, my dear Mum, I have always felt empowered to take control of my life, to be a trailblazer. They have empowered me to be courageous and to live authentically, to make sure I can enjoy the very best that this life can offer.

Nicole Tyson

Director, Workplace Strategy & Transformation Department of Communities & Justice

Share a women's empowerment moment that inspired you.

The person who has inspired me was my mother. When I became a mum for the first time, I knew I was going to be a great mum as I was taught by the best, my own mum. Mum had inspired me to go after my dream and be involved with people on a day-to-day basis and lead by example. So I say, thank you, Mum! Kerrie-Anne McLeod

Venue and Events Manager Business Western Sydney

If you could have dinner with three inspirational women, who would they be and why?

Corazon (Cory) Aquino - first Woman Filipino President. I want to ask her how a homemaker with no political experience remained courageous and calm while leading the nation in taking down a Dictator who reigned for 20 years.

Ashleigh (Ash) Barty - Ash is such an inspiration for younger Australians. I want to know how she kept the self belief and faith in second chances.

Celeste McMillan

Project Officer, Office of the Deputy Secretary Planning NSW

Gladys Berejiklian - I want to have dinner with Gladys and ask her what her secret is to be graceful .

If you could have dinner with three inspirational women, who would they be and why?

Leigh Sales - Australian journalist and author. I would ask her about her most interesting and challenging interviews and what she is currently reading, watching and cooking.

Brene Brown - researcher of courage, vulnerability, shame and empathy.

There is so much to learn from Brene, and having dinner with her would be an honor.

Michelle Cordwell

Senior Manager, Workplace Services NSW Planning Group Department of Planning & Environment

Ronni Kahn - founder and CEO of OzHarvest. I would ask Ronni what is lined up for her and OzHarvest.

Tell us about a professional achievement that has inspired you and/or your team.

The achievement that inspired my team and myself was the result of our love for our craft and sheer grit of refusing to become irrelevant. From that, my team and I learned invaluale lessons; innovating outside the boundaries, valuing diverse ideas and individuals, confidence in colleagues, being determined and resilient in the face of adversity and, above all, kindling hope.

Mallika Roy

Senior Business Analyst NSW Planning Group Department of Planning & Environment

Happy International Women’s Day #BreakTheBias