International Women's Day 2025
Event description
Join us for an afternoon in celebration of our diverse and vibrant community of women, and upcoming International Women's Day.
This free event will feature a special address from Mayor Karen Vernon, alongside inspiring conversations with distinguished guest speakers.
Event Guest speakers
Speakers will explore how we can embrace new ideas and transformations in both a personal and professional sense, and support women and girls through every phase of life. Speakers include:
Maryann is an award-winning social entrepreneur and advocate for gender equality and cultural inclusion. As the Founder & CEO of Reach Her Inc., she has built a platform dedicated to empowering women in business, leadership, and personal growth.
Maryann’s impact has been widely recognised, earning her the Community Citizen of The Year 2025, The United Nations Association of Australia Western Australia division (UNAAWA) Gender Equality Award in 2024, Swan Woman of the Year in 2024, Not-for-Profit Excellence Award in 2023, and Multicultural Business Excellence Award in 2022. Maryann is also a TEDx Speaker and #1 bestselling author, making her a change maker who inspires and uplifts diverse communities.
Rita has lived experience with disability from being a deafblind person and a NDIS participant with a guide dog, Joel. Since birth, Rita has had hearing loss and developing sight impairment since her early twenties. Later, she was formally diagnosed with Usher Syndrome. Rita is the Chair of Valued Lives Partnership and Chair of Deafblind West Australians. Additionally, Rita provides free legal advice and promotes their advocacy services to various organisations in Perth.
Rita has experience managing community services and has previously worked at a Community and Outreach Law Centre in Liverpool, United Kingdom, with its specialisms in disability, housing, employment, community care and consumer law. Furthermore, Rita has a solid legal and practical understanding of the National Disability Insurance Scheme, having worked as a senior planner/coordinator from January 2015 to September 2018, and on various engagement projects within the NDIA in Midland.
Emily Williams
Emily is an intersectional feminist whose activism spans across various demographics and geographies to combat injustice. She started her advocacy journey in student politics, seeking support for postgraduate students for their mental health and welfare needs. She continues to support the LGBTIQA+ community and feminist issues.
Emily has been leading Mandurah Peel to connect with the LGBTIQA+ community and strengthen advocacy to represent regional voices in the metropolitan area. Emily has founded- AACE, to empower emerging change-making journeys on their journey as part of a workshop series developing their activist toolkit.
Emily currently works with the Geraldton Advance to Zero community to facilitate and strengthen a collective response to end rough sleeping. Emily was the recipient of the WA Youth 2024 Mission Australia Young Change-Maker of the Year for their commitment to positive change, and in 2025 was selected as a delegate for the Humanitarian Affairs Asia Global Peace Summit at the United Nations in Thailand.
Key Info
- The event aims to share in women's strengths and successes
- This is an inclusive event and includes provision of an Auslan interpreter
- Snacks and refreshments will be provided, alongside time to chat and share with others attending the event
- Dietary requirements accommodated
- Auslan interpreter will be in attendance
- Limited spots available - book your ticket now!
This event is proudly presented by the Town of Victoria Park in partnership with the Victoria Park Community Centre.
Tickets for good, not greed Humanitix dedicates 100% of profits from booking fees to charity
