Intersectionality & Leadership Forum

You will be immersed in discussion and exchange of ideas, connection, learning and unlearning.

Alignment with the intent of intersectionality is at the core of this forum. 

We will explore practical intersectional approaches and think critically about the influence of power. 

CHECK OUT THE CONFERENCE PROGRAM

• Be absorbed by the words and energy of our fabulous keynote speaker Marsha Uppill

Marsha Uppill

Proud Adnyamathanha woman, Marsha Uppill is the Co-Founder and Director of Arranyinha Pty Ltd. Arranyinha is Marsha’s birth name and means first born woman of her mother in Adnyamathanha language. Marsha lives with her family on Wadawurrung Country in Djilang. Drawing on more than 30 years across government, community and industry, Marsha brings cultural knowledge and systems thinking together to challenge conventional ways of understanding people, leadership and change.

A natural-born storyteller, Marsha has a gift for taking the familiar and inviting people to see it differently. Through story, truth and lived experience, she challenges certainty, sparks curiosity and leaves people wanting to know more.

• Collectively, we will be immersed in two x 1.5 hour facilitated workshops where we will work through translation of theory into day-to-day work that is actionable.

Prior to the forum we will reach out with invitation to identify your preferred workshops to participate in. There will be two rounds of concurrent workshops, one in the morning and one in the afternoon.

Here is a snippet about some of our workshop facilitators, we will be making further announcements and updating workshop information soon:

Workshop facilitator: Dr Nilmini Fernando

Dr. Nilmini Fernando is a Sri Lankan Australian transdisciplinary feminist scholar, educator, and pracademic specialising in critical intersectional praxis, decolonial feminism and racial literacy. She has pioneered innovative approaches in family violence work with migrant, multicultural and asylum-seeking communities.

Nilmini translates complex theoretical frameworks into practical tools, bridging academic knowledge with practice to better serve marginalised women affected by violence and intersectional discrimination.

Workshop facilitator: Malavika Kadwadkar

Malavika is the Community Outreach Lead at WHISE where she works to improve access to essential health services for women, particularly those facing disadvantage.

With over a decade of experience in gender equality, health promotion, and community engagement, Malavika advocates for intersectional approaches to address gender-based violence and inequality.

Workshop facilitator: Dr Virginia Mapedzahama (PhD)

Dr Virginia Mapedzahama (PhD, Sociology) is a nationally recognised Black feminist sociologist, racial equity scholar, and Adjunct Professor at Charles Darwin University. Virginia is a renowned racial equity and intersectionality scholar-practitioner with over two decades of experience across academic research, DEI leadership, and organisational transformation.

She is the Founder and Director of VicNetC Consulting (VNC), former Racial Equity and Intersectionality Director at Diversity Council Australia and lead researcher on the federally funded RISE Project, an intersectionality-informed national workforce study on gendered racism.

Workshop facilitator: Rita Nasr

Rita is an experienced professional specialising in workplace safety, wellbeing and inclusion, and training; bringing deep expertise in organisational culture and advocacy. Rita is an author at Women's Agenda and is a PhD Candidate undertaking a research thesis looking at “Intersectional gender equality in Australian workplaces and the paradoxical effects of the HR system”.

Workshop facilitators: Women with Disabilities Victoria

Felicity Antony 

Felicity is the Manager, Gender and Disability at Women with Disabilities Victoria, with more than 12 years’ experience working across gender equity and the prevention of gender-based violence. Felicity’s work has focused on supporting organisations and communities to think differently about gender and inclusion, and to turn these ideas into practical changes in policy, programs and practice.

Felicity is particularly interested in making intersectionality practical and meaningful - recognising how different forms of power and inequality intersect, and supporting people and organisations to consider this in the way they lead, make decisions and work with communities. 

Katie Gomes

Katie is the Gender and Disability Training Coordinator at Women with Disabilities Victoria, specialising in accessible and inclusive workforce development and the prevention of gender and disability-based violence. 

Katie supports practitioners and organisations to build capability and confidence, moving beyond awareness to organically embed intersectionality, accessibility and inclusion into everyday practice.

• At the point of registration check out you will be asked:

  What is a specific issue you are facing right now in understanding and or applying an intersectional approach in your day-to-day work and leadership?

Responses to this question will shape a facilitated workshop at this forum, designed to focus and respond to these issues.

Morning tea and Lunch will be provided. We are engaging Jubilee Park Stadium and Djambana Catering for these catering services.

Please note: Registration payment via invoice is possible. This payment option will be displayed at the point of checkout, after your registration details have been entered.