Sapphire IWD Panel at the Victorian Pride Centre

Pride in Diversity (PID)’s Sapphire Program is proud to host our annual International Women’s Day (IWD) event.

Now in its third year at the Victorian Pride Centre, Sapphire IWD continues to centre sapphic LGBTQ+ experiences, leadership and visibility, aligned with this year’s UN Women Australia theme, Balance the Scales.

The day will open with reflections by Michelle Sheppard, a highly respected trans advocate, radio personality, presenter and trainer in gender equity, affectionately known as “Mama Mish” in the community and a 2023 Victorian Honour Roll of Women inductee. Michelle will reflect on International Women’s Day and the growth and impact of Sapphire over the past three years.

Senior Relationship Manager CB Bonnar will then lead this year’s panel discussion:

Living at the Intersections – The Realities of Sapphic LGBTQ+ People Navigating Life, Identity and Marginalisation

This conversation explores how multiple identities shape everyday life, access to systems, safety, belonging and experiences of justice for sapphic LGBTQ+ people.

Panellists:

Annette Xiberras
Wurundjeri Woiwurrung and Wamba Wemba Elder and Managing Director of Urban Colours Arts, Annette has worked in Aboriginal cultural heritage for more than 42 years. A long-standing community-elected leader and respected Koori Court Elder, she brings cultural authority, governance expertise and lived experience to conversations about justice and land justice.

Dr Judy Tang OAM
Commissioner at the Victorian Multicultural Commission, Clinical Neuropsychologist and Board Director at the Victorian Pride Centre. Dr Tang has more than 15 years of leadership and advocacy across multicultural and LGBTQ+ communities and was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia in 2026 for service to mental health, cultural diversity, equality and ageing.

Anastasia Le
Deputy Chair and Board Director at the Victorian Pride Centre, Victorian Honour Roll of Women inductee (2025), and radio presenter on JOY 94.9. Anastasia is a governance and equity leader whose work spans social justice, representation and systemic reform. Drawing on lived experience as a Vietnamese Australian woman with trans lived experience, she champions inclusion for people living at the intersections of gender, culture and identity.

Madeleine Hogan
Three-time Australian Paralympian and Paralympic medallist, speaker and disability inclusion advocate. Madeleine brings deep sporting achievement and lived insight into access, visibility and equity for people navigating disability and identity in public systems.

Time is 4.00 pm to 5.00 pm AEDT in the Theatrette, Victorian Pride Centre

This year we are so excited to be able to offer a national livestream via JOY Media, proudly sponsored by Datacom.

Tickets: Free, but registration is essential.

Don’t forget to register to attend the 5pm-8pm post panel Networking Event on the VPC Rooftop.

BIG thanks

We gratefully acknowledge the generous support of our event sponsors and community partners.

Origin Energy, our key founding sponsor, has supported this event for the past three years and continues to champion sapphic LGBTQ+ visibility and inclusion.

Datacom has joined us this year to enable the national livestream through JOY Media, expanding access and visibility for communities across Australia.

We also acknowledge the Victorian Pride Centre for creating such an exceptional and enduring space for conversations like this to thrive.

Our sponsors and partners ensure these events continue to grow year on year, helping to keep sapphic LGBTQ+ visibility, storytelling and leadership at the forefront of International Women’s Day.