UN Women Australia has announced that Governor of the Reserve Bank of Australia Michele Bullock will feature in its national events celebrating International Women’s Day on 8 March.
Last year, Bullock became the first woman in the Reserve Bank of Australia’s 63-year history to hold the influential position of Governor.
“UN Women Australia is delighted to welcome one of Australia’s most prominent economic leaders for this one-of-a-kind conversation,” said Simone Clarke, CEO of UN Women Australia.
The exclusive virtual presentation will feature an in-depth conversation with Governor Bullock, where audiences will hear insight into her visions and aspirations, her passion for inclusion and her views on the importance of diverse leadership.
The theme for International Women’s Day 2024 is ‘Count Her In: Invest in Women. Accelerate Progress’. It’s based on the priority theme for the United Nations 68th Commission on the Status of Women, exploring the pathways to greater economic inclusion for women and girls everywhere.
Around 2.4 billion women of working age are not afforded equal economic opportunity as men. Nearly 1 in 3 adolescent girls from the poorest households around the world has never been to school, while more than 342 million women and girls could be living below the poverty line by 2030, according to UN Women’s 2023 Gender Snapshot.
The Snapshot shows an additional $360 billion per year is needed to achieve gender equality and women’s empowerment. However, only 26 per cent of countries have a comprehensive system to track gender budget allocations.
“Women’s economic empowerment is central to a gender equal world,” says UN Women Australia. “When women are given equal opportunities to learn, earn and lead– entire communities thrive.”
Over the coming weeks, UN Women Australia will also be unveiling the inspiring line-up of speakers who will be across Canberra, Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne and Perth, as well as a live virtual stream of all events on Friday, 8 March 2024.