It’s a historic milestone in a state established a century ago that ensures the dominance of pro-UK unionists. 

“That such a day would ever come would have been unimaginable to my parents and grandparents’ generation,” said O’Neill, 47, in her speech, addressing the Chamber for the first time as First Minister. 

“This is an historic day which represents a new dawn,” she said. “I will serve everyone equally and be a first minister for all.”

“I am sorry for all the lives lost during the conflict without exception,” she added. 

O’Neill now shares a joint office with her counterpart, the newly appointed Deputy First Minister, the DUP’s Emma Little-Pengelly, who also acknowledged that “for many today, it is a historic moment”. 

On Saturday, Northern Ireland’s devolved government was restored two years to the day since it collapsed. 

The DUP had boycotted the devolved government for two years over post-Brexit checks on goods going between Northern Ireland and Great Britain. Power-sharing rules state that the devolved government can only operate with both unionists and nationalists involved in decision-making.

The Sinn Féin party’s leader, Mary Lou McDonald made the remark earlier this week that O’Neill’s appointment put the possibility of a united Ireland “within touching distance”.

O’Neill, however, steered clear of this subject in her opening speech, saying instead: “This place we call home, this place we love, North of Ireland or Northern Ireland, where you can be British, Irish, both or none, is a changing point.”

“To all of you who are British and unionist: your national identity, culture and traditions are important to me.

“I will be both inclusive and respectful to you,” she pledged.

“Our allegiances are equally legitimate. Let’s walk this two-way street and meet one another halfway. I will be doing so with both an open hand and with heart.”

With strong family ties to the region’s troubled past, O’Neill comes from a republican family in Clonoe, Co Tyrone. Her father was an IRA prisoner during the conflict involving republican paramilitaries fighting to reunite Ireland, loyalist paramilitaries battling to remain in the UK and British security forces.

As the former political wing of the Irish Republican Army (IRA), Sinn Féin was historically shunned by both sides of the political establishment. 

Representative of the “changing times”, it’s now the most popular party in the Irish republic. Despite Sinn Féin’s victory at the 2022 election, however, a series of opinion polls have since found the people of Northern Ireland would still vote decisively against a united Ireland if there was a referendum. 

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Growing up, sport was a presence in the background of her life– played on TVs in the home or at bars– but it wasn’t until she got older that it began to emerge as an avenue of connection to other people. 

“In the backdrop of when I grew up– which was post 9/11– there were things that you could talk about with people that kind of became like a passport for your social interactions,” says Hussain.

“[Sports-related topics] were humanising and built connections with other people, where perhaps without those things, you would feel very isolated.”

It was after this realisation that she says she began to pay more attention to the current events of the sporting world, particularly cricket.

“I went to the cricket all the time with my community as a young person, so I just had that understanding and knowledge,” she said. “And when I spoke about sports, it just kind of melted away whatever barriers were between me and the rest of the world.”

As the Program Founder of her own consulting organisation Good.Human and a Board Member at the Victoria Women’s Trust, Hussain has graced the sports sector for over ten years, championing inclusion and diversity. She’s a respected media commentator and often speaks to organisations and community groups, sharing her experiences in the sector as a Muslim-Indian woman. 

Most recently, the Office for Women in Sport and Recreation for the Change Our Game movement selected Hussain to join a group of seven other women ambassadors raising awareness on key issues for women in sport. 

Between now and International Women’s Day 2024, she will be using this platform to foster belonging through sport and media, specifically with culturally and linguistically diverse women.

“It’s humbling to be an ambassador,” Hussian says. “Especially because I’m not an athlete.”

“I sort of inhabit this space in sport, where I represent a voice [for] non-athletes, kind of representative of the traditional sports fan or administrator.”

“So to be an ambassador in the capacity that I am representing people who aren’t traditionally in sport is very, very meaningful, and hopefully has an impact.”

Through her continued advocacy, Hussain says she wants to encourage and listen to other Muslim women and women of colour interested in getting involved in sport. 

“What I would love to see– and I think it’s starting to happen now– is conversations and opportunities and programs that wrap around cultures and communities to address their needs rather than kind of asking communities into existing avenues to participate in sport,” she explains.

And while Hussain does see change happening, it’s not always as meaningful as it has the potential to be. 

“That was really why I wanted to be part of this ambassador program,” she says. “To continue to hold that space quite visibly and show it is possible to inhabit.”

“We can be our full selves, with our cultural identities and religious identities and turn up in public spaces– particularly ones that are so important to the national psyche like sport.”

Hussain would love to see more meaningful diversity in positions of power in the sporting world, where there’s “agency and ability to actually impact the system”. 

Sport, she says, “has this incredible ability to bring people together, to remove those exclusionary barriers and create a level playing field”. 

While that doesn’t discount the fact that there’s been historical systemic barriers often counteracting this inclusion, Hussain notes that through her advocacy work, she often frames the conversation in a way that most sports-minded people can relate to: what’s fair or not fair. 

“I think there’s a natural feeling of fairness,” she says. “Sport is all about fairness.”

“If you’re best on the ground, it doesn’t matter where you’ve come from.”

Between now and International Women’s Day 2024, Change Our Game Ambassadors will use their platform to help drive change and raise awareness on key issues and barriers for women in sport. The Change Our Game series is put on by the Office of Women in Sport and Recreation. Be sure to follow the Ambassadors’ journeys through @ChangeOurGame on socials.

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Although the incidents happened in the academia world a pond over in the US, it hit me like a ton of bricks.

Both cases resonated so deeply with me because sadly, the narratives are not isolated incidents but are more common than expected.

I am a corporate girlie (among many other accomplishments) who is looking to pursue executive leadership in the corporate world, but a running theme that I continually discuss with my therapist is, “at what cost?”. So, I continue to progress in my career journey with trepidation.

WGEA reported that in Australia, women constitute 42 per cent of all employees, yet make up just a quarter of executives and only 10 per cent of CEOs for large, for-profit companies. For my case, I will need to add the intersectionality of being a migrant and being a Black woman which further widens the gap.

Not only do I have to navigate through a glass ceiling, but when I am in executive leadership, KPMG’s report She’s Price(d)less quantified the Australian gender pay gap to be worth ~$1bn, with the gap widening from 6 per cent among the lowest earning workers to 18 per cent among the executives.

In Australia, we have seen a fair share of women in executive leadership face the guillotine; from the misogyny faced by Julia Gillard to Christine Holgate’s public execution, as well as the most recent target Kelly Bayer Rosmarin. Is that what comes with the territory?! Should it though?! There are many other cases but so far the narrative around executive leadership is not sounding appealing to me AT ALL!

I hold onto hope that possibly Macquarie Group’s CEO Shemara Wikramanayake may have a positive story but I fear finding out more about her leadership experience as it may taint my perspective.

There have been countless DEI initiatives that have been implemented across the board, some successfully, others not so much. However, the fundamental flaw I see is the attempt to retrofit into an industrial system never designed with women in mind. There needs to be a radical rethink of how we look at the way we work and job design. Factors such as the impact of the burden of care, equitable access to opportunities and equitable compensation of labour all need to be considered to fashion an inclusive workplace that supports women.

The challenge is, not many want to invest in dismantling the system, especially when one benefits from it, so you get a lot of resistance to changing the status quo. Reality is the status quo is not working for half of the population and that is a costly problem for the economy. 

We have recent experience of pivoting quickly and on a large scale with our COVID experience, so don’t tell me it’s impossible. Radical change will also need to involve changes in societal attitudes towards women and the contribution women make to the functioning of society. Are we faring any better in that realm? With violence against women still a prevalent problem in Australian society, we still have a fair way to go in turning around sentiments. The discourse needs to be ongoing because the health of a functioning economy is subject to the status of the well-being and welfare of its participants.

As I contemplate my next career move, I am continuously seeking out positive representation and narratives that will fuel my hopes to enter executive leadership.

I have hope for the future and we are progressing as a society albeit at a slower rate than desired. However, I am embarking on the journey with my eyes wide open and prioritising my mental health with every step because what I am not going to do is sacrifice my well-being for the sake of a title.

So if you know of stories of women in executive leadership who are thriving, please share. Help a girl out!

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It marks the first time the Ultra Violette has taken outside captial and comes ahead of the brand’s five-year anniversary. The sunscreen brand was first founded in 2019 by Rebecca Jefferd and Ava Chandler-Matthews. The pair hatched the idea while working together at Mecca Cosmetica.

Already, Ultra Violette’s success in Sephora Australia has seen it expand into 12 European markets. It’s also in New Zealand, Hong Kong and South-East Asia, Net-A-Porter globally as well as Space NK, Liberty and Harrods in the UK.

With this latest backing from Aria Growth Partners, the business has its sights set on North America. They expect to be stocked across Sephora Canada from March 2024 and are eager to jump into the US market in 2025.

“Strategically, [Aria] brings strong expertise in North America, which is very important to us,” Jefferd told the AFR. “This capital raise is not about the money, it’s about embracing the opportunity to expand into North America. We want the resources and knowledge to move into that market.” 

Following the investment, Mathews and Jefferd will remain majority owners of Ultra Violette and continue to helm the business. 

Aussie cosmetics on the rise

Australian cosmetic and beauty brands are having their moment. This partnership between Ultra Violette and Aria is only the latest backing in a string of high value investments.

Last year in April, L’Oréal acquired the Australian cosmetics brand Aesop for $2.5 billion, the largest ever acquisition for the French conglomerate. 

Australian self-tanner and skincare brand Bondi Sands was acquired last year by Japan’s chemical and beauty giant Kao Corporation for an estimated $450 million.

And in July last year, Australian luxury tan brand, Loving Tan, received a notable investment from private equity firm Gauge Capital.

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She hasn’t taken promotion after promotion with a sole focus on one industry, nor did she start her first career in psychology with leadership aspirations. She hasn’t served in a CFO position, which is the most common prelude to taking a CEO role. 

Rather, she’s taken opportunities as they have come up and been driven largely by the need to build financial security for her family. Now, she wants to share more about this drive to help normalise conversations about earning more money as an immediate and necessary ambition for many women. 

“As a single parent for around 15 years, if I’m brutally honest, a lot of the career decisions I’ve made were driven by financial necessity, for a long time,” she says. 

“I tried to search for and pick jobs that paid well so I could provide financial security for my girls.” 

But while there was no set career plan, Taylor does say one thing she did deliberately do was examine opportunities carefully to determine how and if they could take her to the next step.  

“If it wasn’t the perfect opportunity or the one I really wanted, I would reframe it in terms of being another opportunity for my career that could lead to the thing I really wanted. And in the meantime, it could pay the salary I needed.”  

While Taylor always ensured the opportunities she did pursue would align with her values, she is open about the financial goals she had earlier on in her career in the hope it normalises the conversation among women. 

Taylor’s kids are now independent, but her drive for achieving better financial outcomes has seen her make career changes, shift industries, pick up management positions and increasingly take on more responsibilities. 

Having been in the CEO role of Women & Leadership Australia for around 18 months now, an organisation that provides courses and symposiums to support women in leadership, Taylor’s career now incorporates leadership of the organisation, as well as advocating for women’s financial security and empowerment. She does this by sharing some of her own experiences, as well as leveraging the research work Women & Leadership Australia does and the anecdotal evidence they have from the thousands of women they work with every year, to highlight some of the barriers facing women on pay, promotion and opportunity. 

She also says that it’s important to think about what your years of experience bring and might extend to. 

“I think we actually need to start talking about that. ‘Hey, I need to be paid well for the skills and the knowledge that I’ve accumulated over 40 years of working.”’

Taylor started her career in psychology but moved out of clinical work before moving into vocational education and training. 

She took a job with Mission Australia and worked her way up the ranks and into higher management positions, giving her the experience to become Deputy CEO of the Australian Institute of Management. Taylor’s first CEO role was at Government Skills Australia 

Taylor says she’s in a dream role at Women & Leadership Australia now, especially being a “card-carrying feminist” since the age of 14 and quickly realising that almost everyone working for Women & Leadership Australia is doing so because of their strong belief in the power of gender equity. She adds that the diversity of their workforce extends well beyond gender and results in a “range of terrific humans who work for us.” 

“The key role of a CEO is to set the structure, set the strategy, set the tone and set the culture so that people can actually do their job to the best of their ability,” she says. “So with those things set, it’s then getting out of their way and letting them do those jobs.” 

Sparking conversations is also essential for a leader, she says, even if it’s just about saying “hello”. She shares a strategy she once used in an office which involved putting time aside early to respond to emails and set things up for the day before actually blocking out time in the diary to ensure she was available to greet and check in with team members as they were starting the day. 

Taylor says setting a tone around culture and strategy should be a no-brainer for leaders, but that she has seen many senior managers who routinely do the opposite and ultimately make it harder for people to succeed. 

Looking into 2024, Taylor will be leading Women & Leadership Australia as it further grows its leadership courses and continues a national program of conferences. 

She believes the next year will be pivotal for addressing some of the barriers holding women back from leadership. 

Pay transparency particularly is set to be a game changer, with the Workplace Gender Equality Agency set to release the gender pay gaps of organisations with more than 100 employees within the first few months of the year. 

“If people call it naming and shaming then so be it,” she says on firms seeing their gender pay gaps published. “If you have more than 100 employees, then you have an HR team. You should have the resources to address gender inequity. 

Taylor says we should expect the competition for talent to also be a key issue for leaders in 2024, given the continued skills shortage and Australia’s low unemployment figures. That means workplaces will need to work harder at providing great policies for potential and existing talent, especially around flexibility, work-from-home options, paid parental leave and other areas. She especially wants to see more men taking up flexibility, highlighting how such trends will ultimately support women. 

“Leaders need to focus on shifting the conversation about flexibility being a woman’s issue,” she says. 

“Flexibility is about breaking down patriarchal structures which we know don’t just negatively affect women – they negatively affect men as well.” 

Taylor also sees 2024 as bringing a greater push for more evidence on how leadership programs and other activities are actually shifting the dial for women in leadership. Women & Leadership Australia has been measuring such activities for some time, with a 2021 survey of 2000 participants highlighting what their programs have delivered for them. 

The push for transparency on program success will also be important considering the gender pay gap data WGEA will be publishing. Organisations will want to see evidence of what works. 

“We don’t want participants to be taking on courses and wasting their time on things that might be nice to do and feel good but don’t actually impact their world or work in any way,” she says. 

Taylor highlights the role of Women & Leadership Australia in providing an alternative to more traditional coaching, especially for women who may spend a lot of time at work and at home dealing with the needs and demands of others and aspire to build on their own personal 

“We hear from women that coaching is often just another way of trying to get them to do things a certain way when actually they want to do things their own way. And they ask, ‘why is my style or my approach less valued than others? Why do I need to be coached to be a certain way?” 

As for providing a women-only program, Taylor says that the research shows women’s only programs provide psychologically safe environments. “We get the pushback, ‘what about the men’? But frankly, men have had it all their way for a really long time. And I’m not saying they don’t need support, but there is a whole lot of stuff out there that has been designed by men, for men.” 

Taylor says that in her 18 months in the role, she’s genuinely been overwhelmed by the quality of the programs and symposiums. 

“Yes the outcomes for women are driven by the quality of the content and the teaching and the practical solutions offered, but it’s also driven by the psychological safety of providing a women’s only environment,” she says. 

Women’s Agenda has partnered with Women & Leadership Australia in 2024 to elevate the voices of women involved in their symposiums and programs and to report back from their events. You can check out all the upcoming symposiums here. https://www.wla.edu.au/symposium/

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Following a nearly five-year engagement, the wedding had been a long time coming as the couple had originally planned to marry in 2022 but postponed it due to the country’s Covid restrictions at the time.  

“13.01.24 Worth the wait. ”, Ardern wrote on Instagram, next to a stunning wedding photo of herself and Gayford at Craggy Range vineyard. 

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Ardern wore a fitted ivory sleeveless, cowl-neck halter gown with a high neckline and low back by New Zealand fashion designer, Juliette Hogan – who is reportedly a close friend of Ardern. Her shoes were from Mount Maunganui designer Chaos and Harmony, the New Zealand Herald reports. 

The couple’s daughter, Neve, walked down the aisle with her father, wearing a dress made from Ardern’s mother’s wedding dress. 

Details of the event were kept private, but it’s believed only family and close friends, as well as a handful of Ardern’s former political colleagues were invited. Among them were Ardern’s successor and former prime minister Chris Hipkins. 

During her emotional remarks to reports when she resigned as prime minister in January 2023, she had said, “To Clarke, let’s finally get married”. 

Ardern’s resignation shocked many as she stepped down after five-and-a-half years as prime minister, citing burnout by saying she did not have “enough in the tank”. 

“It’s about knowing when you’ve got what it takes and what is needed to lead, but also have the courage to know when you don’t,” she said.

During her time as PM, her leadership style earned international recognition for navigating the country through a number of crises, including the Covid-pandemic, a horrific mass shooting in Christchurch and the White Island volcano eruption.

One year since departing politics

After stepping down from Prime Minister, a job she called ‘the greatest role of my life’, Ardern has been continuing her advocacy work and enjoying more family time. 

In April 2023, she was appointed a trustee of the Prince of Wales’ environment award, the Earthshot Prize, which was created by Prince William to fund projects that aim to save the planet.

Ardern said since Earthshot’s creation she had believed in the prize’s “power to encourage and spread not only the innovation we desperately need, but also optimism”.

Since resigning as PM, she’s also temporarily joined Harvard University after being appointed to dual fellowships at the Harvard Kennedy School. And she’s taken an unpaid role in combating online extremism. 

In June 2023, Ardern was made a Dame Grand Companion for her leadership through a mass shooting and pandemic. This title is one of NZ’s highest honours. 

That same month, Ardern also announced she’d be writing a book on being ‘your own kind of leader’. There’s much anticipation for the book as she’s promised to expand on her unique style of leadership. 

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Since departing parliament, Ardern has kept a low profile on political matters but has shared a bit of her life on social media, noting her precious time spent with family. 

In an adorable birthday post on Instagram last July, she wrote: “Can’t remember the last time I had a birthday that was quite as normal as this one. Tea and toast in bed, work, and dinner with my loves. Feeling very lucky today…and just a little older. ”

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While not the first US city to elect an all-female council, the news has made international headlines as St. Paul is believed to be the biggest city to reach such a milestone, with a population of about 300,000.

“This new class of leaders sends a clear message from St. Paul voters, I believe, to the whole world,” said St. Paul’s City Council President Mitra Jalali ahead of the swearing in ceremony. 

“We trust the leadership of these women. We believe in their personal and professional experiences and vision. Philanthropic and policy leaders, executive directors of nonprofits, an engineer… wow,” she said to a cheering crowd. 

While the council’s historic female representation is being widely applauded, Jalali responded to critics in her speech with grace and wit, saying, “If you read my Twitter replies lately, the responses sure are something. They’re fighting for their lives in there.”

“Let’s just say, a whole lot of people who were comfortable with majority male, majority white institutions for the nearly 107 years of city history are suddenly sharply concerned about representation,” she said to even more cheers from the crowd.

“My thoughts and prayers are with them in this challenging time.”

Who are the members of this all-female council?

All seven women are under 40 years old, and six out of the seven are women of color. First-term Council Members include Anika Bowie, Saura Jost, Hwa Jeong Kim and Cheniqua Johnson, while incumbents include Jalali, Rebecca Noecker and Nelsie Yang.

All of them will serve four-year terms, and their election victories brought across-the-baord victory for progressive Democrats in St. Paul.

“Thank you for being change-makers. Thank you for being the road-pavers. Thank you for being the firsts,” said Lt. Gov, Peggy Flanagan in an address at the swearing-in ceremony. “By sitting in these chairs today, you are inspiring more girls than you can ever imagine.”

Since the new council members started moving into their offices last week, Jalali joked that the City Hall “has felt a bit like the Barbie movie.”

Members held their first city council meeting Wednesday, with Jeong Kim, the council’s vice president and Jalali saying their top priorities include a comprehensive housing policy, renter protections, climate action, public safety interventions that use police officers less and mental health responders more, and economic development. 

The most senior member of the council, Noecker, gave closing remarks at the ceremony and urged the group to “really change things” with this momentous opportunity.

“We have the chance to show– through our actions, not just our words– what we all believe,” she said. “That government can be a force for good in people’s lives”. 

In Minnesota, women made up 35 per cent of the municipal office holders in cities with over 10,000 people, tying with Michigan for 16th place among the 50 states, according to data from the Center for American Women and Politics at Rutgers University. 

Jean Sinzdak, associate director of the center, told AP News that left-leaning and Democratic communities tend to have more women elected officials because Democratic women outnumber Republican women.

St. Paul’s city council is a nonpartisan office, but all seven members are Democrats. The city is also considered to be strongly Democratic, so Sindzak said she’s not surprised “that a city like this achieved this milestone first”. 

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For 52 years, Queen Margrethe has reigned over the country as head of state, but on 14th January, she’ll officially relinquish her role and the crown will be passed along to Margrethe’s son, the new king, Frederik X. 

This means the Crown Princess Mary will step into the role of Queen Consort of Denmark after almost 20 years of being married to the Crown Prince. The couple met in Sydney, Australia during the 2000 Olympic Games.

A popular royal family member among the Danes, the 51-year-old advertising executive turned crown princess is credited with helping modernise the Danish monarchy. She is known for her advocacy work, fighting against bullying, domestic violence and social isolation, as well as promoting mental health and women’s rights. 

The upcoming royal reshuffle follows an announcement from Queen Margrethe during her New Year’s speech that she would step down as Queen of Denmark due to a back injury . Her announcement a surprise to many, considering that Margrethe had previously suggested she hold the role for life.  

“The surgery naturally gave rise to thinking about the future – whether the time had come to leave the responsibility to the next generation,” said Margrethe, during her speech. “I have decided that now is the right time.”

“On 14th January – 52 years after I succeeded my beloved father – I will step down as Queen of Denmark. I leave the throne to my son, Crown Prince Frederik.”

How did an Australian woman become Danish royalty?

Born in Hobart, Tasmania, Mary Donaldson was working as an advertising executive in Australia when she met Frederick on a night out with friends in Sydney. This was during the summer Olympics in 2000. Mary has said she only discovered Frederick was the crown prince of Denmark after they had met. 

It seemed to be love at first sight for Frederick, who told the newspaper Kristeligt Dagblad that meeting Mary was “not only a rush of love, but also the feeling of having met my soulmate”. 

After hitting it off, the pair began a discreet long-distance relationship and officially married in May 2004 in Copenhagen Cathedral. 

It’s been reported that Mary won over her mother-in-law, Queen Margrethe quite quickly, and impressed the Danish public as well with her drive to learn the Danish language.

Mary and Frederik are now parents to four children: Prince Christian (18), Princess Isabella (16), and twins Prince Vincent and Princess Josephine (13).

Succession in the Danish monarchy

The Danish Crown is inherited upon the death of the sovereign– a monarchy tradition since the 1600s. And until 1953, only male descendants of the king were able to inherit the throne. This rule, however, was changed with a referendum in 1953 to allow that female descendants are allowed to inherit, granted that male descendants have precedence. 

A more recent amendment has made it so that the throne is now inherited by the sovereign’s oldest child regardless of gender. 

Following the death of her father in 1972, Queen Margarethe ascended the throne as, traditionally, the succession to the throne occurs the moment a sovereign dies.

The Danish palace put out a statement explaining how things will be different this weekend, due to the Queen’s abdication.

“This time, the succession will first take place during the meeting of the Council of State at the moment The Queen has signed a declaration of her abdication,” the statement said.

“HRH The Crown Prince will thus arrive at Christiansborg Palace as a crown prince and leave it as King. Likewise, HRH The Crown Princess will arrive as a crown princess and depart as Queen.”

“HRH Prince Christian will leave Christiansborg Palace as Crown Prince (heir to the throne). Upon the succession to the throne, the new sovereign takes charge of all of the functions which, according to the constitution, are incumbent on the head of state.”

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As current president and COO of the company, Geraghty will succeed the current CEO Robin Hayes, who is stepping down for health reasons. She will begin the role on 12 February 2024 and join the airline’s Board of Directors as well.

“I’m excited to continue working with JetBlue’s 25,000 crewmembers who are as energized as I am about challenging the status quo and bringing humanity to an industry long dominated by the legacy carriers,” said Geraghty. 

“I’m so proud of what we’ve accomplished over the last 20-plus years, and I am looking forward to building on this momentum as we execute on our strategic initiatives, return to profitable growth, and generate sustainable value for our shareholders and all our stakeholders.” 

Geraghty’s promotion is major news in the aviation industry in the US, where women are underrepresented in leadership roles. Here in Australia, three women currenlty hold positions as airline CEOs. 

Jayne Hrdlicka has been leading Virgin Australia since November 2020, Stephanie Tully has been CEO of Jetstar since November 2022 and Vanessa Hudson took over as Qantas Group CEO in September 2023. 

Other international airlines such as KLM, Air France, Aer Lingus and Vietjet also have female CEOs, as well as smaller US airline, Cape Air. 

Geraghty’s career at JetBlue spans more than two decades, having previously served as Executive Vice President of Customer Experience, Chief People Officer, Vice President, Associate General Counsel and Director, Litigation and Regulatory Affairs before becoming President and COO in 2018, where she was responsible for the airline’s operations and commercial performance.  

Board Chair Peter Boneparth congratulated Geraghty on her appointment, saying “the Board unanimously voted to transition the role to Joanna, knowing she is fully prepared to step into the role”.

“Joanna is a proven strategic leader and she is clearly the right person to carry JetBlue forward into this next chapter.”

Her time as CEO will begin as the airline navigates the next steps of an acquisition process that has been ongoing since July 2022 with the airline’s proposed merger with its rival Spirit.

The US Justice Department has initiated legal action against this merger, arguing it would result in increased airfares, JetBlue is the sixth-largest US airline and Spirit is the seventh-largest. A decision from the judge on whether JetBlue can complete the $3.8 billion acquisition is expected in the coming weeks. 

Having spearheaded the acquisition of Spirit, former CEO Hayes has said he’s confident in the leadership Geraghty will provide moving forward, and that she’s “the right leader at the right time”. 

“She guided the operation through the most turbulent time in airline history, has overseen the development and execution of new commercial initiatives, and has tirelessly worked to make JetBlue a better place for our crewmembers and customers,” said Hayes. 

“She has been actively engaged in our integration planning with respect to our proposed Spirit transaction. In addition, Joanna and the team have developed a strong plan for JetBlue as we work to return to profitability.”

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These women will be agenda setters, thanks to their leadership positions, their talent and their sheer tenacity. 

We’ve selected these women according to our news coverage over the past 12 months or so and following editorial meetings and research regarding what we can expect from 2024. 

They are, of course, just a sample of the women who will be establishing new agendas and new paths forward. And, just like in 2023, we know there will be women and new names that will emerge throughout the year. Also, just like in 2023 and every year before it, we are also well aware of all the women who lead and establish agendas in their own essential spheres of influence, leadership that doesn’t make the headlines but is just as important regardless. 

We have chosen the below categories to focus on, based on the key areas we cover on Women’s Agenda.

Politics

Senator Penny Wong, Minister for Foreign Affairs

As a humanitarian crisis in Gaza threatens widespread war in the Middle East, all eyes will be on Minister of Foreign Affairs Senator Penny Wong, who will drive Australia’’s foreign policy response to the unfolding situation.

Jacinta Allen, Premier of Victoria

Jacinta Allen has not yet served six months as the Premier of Victoria, the second woman to lead in the state’s history. She will play a key role in meeting the goals and objectives set out in Victoria’s gender equality strategy and action plan 2023-2027.

Jodie Harrison MP, Minister for Women

The NSW Minister for Women Jodie Harrison was behind the establishment of the NSW Women’s Advisory Council, which met for the first time in December 2023. She, along with the twelve community leaders who sit on the council, will ultimately shape the political agenda for women in NSW.

Zoe Daniel MP, Independent Member for Goldstein

Zoe Daniel is one of the “teal independents” who sits on the crossbench in the House of Representatives. The Member for Goldstein, along with other independent MPs, has been very vocal on climate action, integrity in polics, women’s safety economic equality and health, as well as sexual violence on university campuses. She shows no signs of slowing down in 2024.

Sussan Ley, Deputy Leader of the Opposition

Sussan Ley is the Deputy Leader of the Opposition and the Shadow Minister for Women. Although last year she came under fire for her views on strip clubs, she ended the parliamentary year by launching a domestic violence awareness drive. As domestic violence took the lives of 63 women in 2023, Ley will be vital in putting pressure on the government from the Opposition to turn these statistics around.

Tech

Luli Adeyemo, Executive Director of the TechDiversity Foundation

The tech industry is evolving ever so rapidly, and we need diversity in the sector now more than ever. As Executive Director of the TechDiversity Foundation and the winner of the 2023 Women’’s Agenda Emerging Leader in Tech award, Luli Adeyemo is on a mission to do just that.

Melanie Perkins, co-founder and CEO of Canva

Melanie Perkins is leading the charge in Australia’s tech industry, as the co-founder of Canva topped the list of the Australian Financial Review’s Young Rich List for the third year in a row.

Ashi Bhat, founder of the INSIDER app

Ashi Bhat describes herself as a serial entrepreneur. Over a year ago, the TEDx speaker and marketing leader founded INSIDER, an app that revolutionises brand loyality programs using blockchain technology.

Shirley Gwynn, CEO of TALK5

Shirley Gwynn was appointed as CEO of TALK5, Australia’s first AI-powered, voice enabled Work Health and Safety (WHS) software platform, at the end of last year. Heading into 2024, Gwynn will play a key role in breaking down cultural, literacy and language barriers to bridge the gap between safety protocols and frontline workers.

Prof. Svetha Venkatesh, co-director, A2I2, Alfred Deakin Professor at Deakin University

As the leading Australian computer scientist, Professor Svetha Venkatesh has already made headway in activity and event recognition in multimedia data. Her work, which has been recognised internationally, will be vital in Australia’s tech industry coming into 2024

Dr Ramona Vijeyarasa, chief investigator, Gender Legislative Index

Dr Ramona Vijeyarasa is the woman behind the Gender Legislative Index, the first comprehensive IT-based tool to improve legislation for women in Australia. Her passion and expertise in women’s rights and gender equality is much needed in Australia’’s tech scene.

Business

Michele Stanfield, founder of Cauldron

Climate change, overpopulation and other environmental issues has elicited food insecurity in many parts of the world. Michele Stansfield is set to change that with her biochemistry start-up Cauldron, a fermentation business creating nutritious and sustainable compounds for new and innovative plant-based foods.

Michelle Simmons, founder of Silicon Quantum Computing

Michelle Simmons, the 2018 Australian of the Year and Scientia Professor at the University of New South Wales, is still at the forefront of Australia’s quantum computing discipline. Now, her new startup Silicon Quantum Computing has the potential to advance the field even further.

Vandana Chaudhry, founder of Andisor

Vandana Chaudry has been an executive at Deliveroo, Crocs and now has founded her very own business, Andisor. The e-commerce platform seamlessly connects retailers and wholesalers on an easy-to-use digital platform, revolutionising the sector.

Mundanara Bayles, founder of BlakCast

At the end of 2023, Australia’s first ever network of podcasts highlighting stories of First Nations Peoples and people of colour launched. The woman behind BlakCast, Mundanara Bayles, has certainly given opportunities for First Nations Peoples to reclaim their narratives and strengthen cultural identity, starting in 2024 and beyond.

Shemara Wikramanayake, CEO of Macquarie Group

The managing director and CEO of Macquarie Group Shemara Wikramanayake ranked number nine in Fortune’s 100 Most Powerful Women of 2023. This impressive accolade makes her one woman to watch in the business world – both in Australia and worldwide.

Vanessa Hudson, CEO of Qantas

Vanessa Hudson stepped up as CEO of Qantas last year in what was certainly the ultimate “glass cliff” situation. After a horror year for the aviation company, Hudson will determine how Qantas will bounce back.

Lacey Webb, founder of Resource Hub

Lacey Webb’s female-led small business Resource Hub has revolutionised waste management for businesses in Australia. As the winner of the 2023 Women’s Agenda Small Business Leader of the Year award, she is certainly one to watch, setting the agenda in the Waste and Resource Recovery sector.

Suzie Betts, founder of Boob Armour

Women’s sport had its biggest year yet in 2023 – and interest is only getting stronger. Suzie Betts’ revolutionary product Boob Armour will help sport for women become safer and even more accessible. Betts was the 2023 Women’s Agenda Emerging Entrepreneur of the Year.

Tara Croker, founder of Yaala Sparkling

Tara Croker is a proud Wiradjuri woman and the founder of Yaala Sparkling, non-alcoholic beverages that honour the true flavours her Ancestors have enjoyed for generations. In 2023, Croker, a finalist in the Women’s Agenda Leadership Awards, received investment from Shark Tank’s Dr Catriona Wallace, which will surely boost the success of what is already a successful business in 2024.

Health

Sam Mostyn, Chair of Beyond Blue

Accomplished business leader and advocate Sam Mostyn is set to play a pivotal role in the mental health space this year, as she settles into her new role as Chair of Beyond Blue. Mostyn has replaced former Prime Minister Julia Gillard in the role, and says she is focused on increasing digital and other accessible support for mental health and wellbeing. She is also the Chair of the government’s Women’s Economic Equality Taskforce.

Samantha Payne, founder of the Pink Elephants Support Network

As the founder of the Pink Elephants Support Network, Samantha Payne is a leader in the national conversation on miscarriage and early pregnancy loss. Named Agenda Setter of the Year at the 2023 Women’s Agenda Leadership Awards, Payne will continue to push for policy reform to improve the lives of women and families going through the devastation of pregnancy loss.

Professor Gita Mishra, NHMRC Leadership Fellow, University of Queensland

Professor Gita Mishra first came onto our radar last year when she was a senior author in a University of Queensland study that found women with endometriosis are likely to experience high rates of other health conditions. The longitudinal research was the first of its kind, and will help support the improvement of women’s quality of life. We expect Professor Mishra to be a central figure in endometriosis research this year.

Dr Danielle Wilhour, neurologist, UCHealth Neurosciences Center

As a board-certified neurologist who specialises in headache medicine, Dr Danielle Wilhour, has written about gender differences in migraines – more than three times as many women experience migraines – and the importance of bridging the gender gap in migraine research to empower women and advance our understanding of the condition.

Associate Professor Anna Boltong, CEO of Ovarian Cancer Australia

Associate Professor Anna Boltong was appointed CEO of Ovarian Cancer Australia towards the end of last year, and will continue to play an influential role in the health sector this year as she looks to develop the organisation’s strategic plan. Ovarian Cancer Australia is focused on bridging gaps to ensure everyone has equal access to timely and comprehensive support for ovarian cancer.

Sport

Ariarne Titmus, Australian Olympic swimmer

One of Australia’s hottest prospects at the Paris 2024 Olympics, Ariarne Titmus is one of the key athletes to keep an eye on this year. She excelled at the Swimming World Championships last year and is expected to do the same in Paris.

Kelsey Lee Barber, Australian Olympic athlete: javelin

Kelsey Lee Barber is the reigning world champion in javelin and will be one of the key Australian athletes to know at the upcoming Paris Olympics.

Jade Melbourne, WNBL player for University of Canberra Capitals

WNBL and UCCapitals player Jade Melbourne has been named in the Australian Opals extended squad ahead of the Olympic Qualifying tournament in February, where the Opals will look to secure their spot for the Paris Olympics. At just 21 years old, she was the youngest player in the WNBA in the US last year.

Zarlie Goldsworthy, AFLW player for GWS Giants

GWS GIANTS’ Zarlie Golsworthy was named the Rising Star at the 2023 AFLW awards, and at just 19 years old, also made her maiden appearance on the All-Australian side for the AFLW. As we head into the next season, she is one to keep watching.

Cortnee Vine, Australian soccer player for Sydney F.C. and the Matildas

Matildas up-and-comer Cortnee Vine was one of the most exciting players to watch at the FIFA Women’s World Cup in 2023 – memorably scoring a winning penalty against France – and is a player to watch at the upcoming Olympics as the Matildas look to secure a medal.

Leadership

Katherine Berney, Director of the National Women’s Safety Alliance

Katherine Bearney is a central figure in the sexual, domestic and family violence sector, and uses her platform to drive change to create better outcomes for women across Australia. She was recognised last year as Women’s Agenda’s Emerging Leader in the NFP sector.

Prabha Nandagopal, founder of Elevating Consulting Partners

Human rights lawyer Prabha Nandagopal, the founder of Elevating Consulting Partners, has worked with employees across Australia who have faced sex-based discrimination, sexual harassment and racism. She recently spoke to Women’s Agenda about the importance of employers implementing positive duty properly and has a background as the Director of Legal for the Commonwealth Parliamentary Workplaces review in 2021.

Charmaine Hunzwi, President of Incubate Foundation

Charmaine Hunzwi is the President of Incubate Foundation, an organisation supporting young African Asutralians to reach their fullest potential; and Founder of Safe Space Media which creates content that challenges the narratives of under-represented communities. She was named an Agenda Setter finalist at the 2023 Women’s Agenda Leadership Awards, and is a changemaker to watch this year.

Angelique Wan, co-founder and CEO of Consent Labs

Co-founder and CEO of Consent Labs, Angelique Wan was named Agenda Setter of the Year at the 2023 Women’s Agenda Leadership Awards, and is continuing her work to help young people develop a better understanding of consent through education.

Arts/Culture

Shankari Chandran, author, Chai Time at Cinnamon Gardens

In 2023, Shankari Chandran won the Miles Franklin Literary Award for her novel Chai Time at Cinnamon Gardens. This year will see her fourth novel, Safe Haven, published, a story highlighting the plight of refugees seeking asylum in Australia. Her book no doubt will help change the narrative around asylum seekers in this country.

Bri Lee, author, The Work

The arts industry continues to battle with the struggles of funding, cost of living and more. Bri Lee, author of Who Gets to be Smart and award-winning Egshell Skull, explores these struggles plus so much more in her new book The Work, which will be published this year.

Gracie Otto, director, Ladies in Black

Ladies in Black is a television drama expected to hit screens this year. The female-led production team created the series to explore the lives of women in Australia in the late 1950s, where although much has changed, some challenges are still relatable even today. The show was directed by Gracie Otto.

Emma Hough Hobbs and Leela Varghese, writers, Lesbian Space Princess

Lesbian Space Princess is an animated television series, written by Emma Hough Hobbs and Leela Varghese. The show will champion greater representation for LGBTQIA+ identities, plus so much more, for 2024.

Cathy Randall, director, Red Rock Run

Cathy Randall is well-known for directing Hey Hey It’s Esther Blueberg (2008) starring Toni Collette. This year, she will be directing the feature film Red Rock Run, following the story of a young girl pursuing to run a gruelling 120km race.

The post Who will define 2024? These are our top picks for women to watch appeared first on Women's Agenda.

Elisabeth Borne resigned earlier this week amid a cabinet reshuffle. In her resignation letter, Borne suggested she resigned at Macron’s request, citing the president’s “will to appoint a new prime minister”. 

At 34 years old, Attal will become France’s youngest ever and first openly gay prime minister. He’s known as a close ally to Macron and became a household name during the COVID pandemic for his role as a government spokesman. Most recently, he has served as education minister.

Under the French political system, the prime minister is appointed by the president and accountable to the parliament. 

Recent opinion polls put Attal as one of the country’s most popular politicians, and his appointment by Macron signals a desire by the president to improve his centrist party’s chances of a win in the European parliamentary elections in June. 

Last year, Macron’s party made unpopular pension and immigration reforms aimed at strengthening the government’s ability to deport some foreigners. The reforms were only able to pass after his centrist alliance made a deal with the conservative Republicans, which many people saw as a shift to the right side of politics. 

At the time of these policy moves, Borne, 62, had been in charge of implementing domestic policy and coordinating the government’s team of ministers. She was appointed in May 2022, following Macron’s re-election for a second term. 

At the beginning of the summer, riots erupted across France after a deadly police shooting of a teenager of North African descent. Borne and Macron were also faced with mass protests against unpopular pension changes. 

The various controversial policy moves raised questions from observers over the ability of Borne’s government to pass future major bills.

Speaking on the state of the country as he steps into the role of PM, Attal said: “I’m well aware of the context in which I take on this job.”

“Too many people in France doubt our country, doubt themselves or our future.”

As education minister, Attal took a hard stance on authority and secularism by defending a ban on girls in state schools from wearing abayas and experimenting with introducing school uniforms. 

“I have decided that the abaya could no longer be worn in schools,” Attal told French television at the time. “When you walk into a classroom, you shouldn’t be able to identify the pupils’ religion just by looking at them.”

Attal will appoint a new government in the coming days and has said he’ll pursue what he described as Macron’s pro-business drive to transform the French economy, while focusing on young people and education. 

Referred to by some as a “baby Macron”, Attal labeled his appointment by Macron was a bold move. “The youngest president in [French] history is appointing the youngest prime minister in [French] history. I want to see it as a symbol of audacity,” he said.

Critics of Attal’s appointment are sceptical that it will bring any change, with Socialist Party leader Olivier Faure telling France Inter Radio, “Elisabeth Borne, Gabriel Attal or someone else, I don’t care, it will just be the same policies.”

The post Gabriel Attal becomes France’s youngest and first openly gay PM, replacing Elisabeth Borne appeared first on Women's Agenda.

The Labor Caucus met on Wednesday afternoon and came to the unanimous decision that the Member for Drysdale will replace former Chief Minister Natasha Fyles, who resigned from the position on Tuesday this week.

In a statement on Facebook, Lawler said her focus as the new Chief Minister is focusing on cost of living in the Northern Territory, creating more opportunities for Territorians and prioritising the safety of the community.

“The Territory is one of a kind, and today I have been given the honour to serve as the Territory’s next Chief Minister,” Lawler wrote.

“Our Government’s absolute focus is on creating jobs, tackling cost of living pressures and making the Territory safer.

“Those are our priorities because those are Territorians’ priorities.”

Upon Natasha Fyles’ resignation, many predicted Nicole Manison, Fyles’ Deputy Chief Minister, to step into the role. However, it was also decided in the Labor Caucus meeting that Manison would step away from the Deputy Chief Minister role and return to politics in 2024 as a backbencher.

In a statement on Facebook, Manison said she made the decision so she could prioritise her family more.

“I love the Territory with all my heart,” Manison wrote. “I have given it my all and my proudest accomplishment is the example I have set for girls growing up here that you can be a mum and a Cabinet Minister.”

Stepping in as Eva Lawler’s Deputy Chief Minister is Chansey Paech. He will give up his current roles as the Attorney-General and Aboriginal Affairs Minister to be sworn in as the second-in-charge in the Territory.

“As a little kid running usually barefoot around Alice Springs, I never dreamed that one day I’d be Deputy Chief Minister of the Northern Territory,” he wrote in a statement on Facebook.

“As I grew older, I decided I wanted to work towards making my home realise it’s wonderful potential, to share what I saw with my eyes and my heart.

“That’s my dream, and I know it’s one I share with Chief Minister Eva Lawler, who today has given me the huge honour of working with her as Deputy.”

Why did Natasha Fyles resign?

On Tuesday, Natasha Fyles announced her resignation as the Northern Territory’s Chief Minister, following reports of undisclosed shares in mining and gas companies.

Speaking to reporters in a press conference, Fyles declared her decision to resign from the top job in the Northern Territory follows her failure to disclose more than $2000 worth of shares invested in South32, a company that owns a manganese mine in Groote Eylandt island.

While many suspect foul play, Fyles assured reporters it was an unintentional “mistake”.

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The Territory’s Liberal opposition leader, Lia Finocchiaro, released a statement on Fyles’ resignation, saying her legacy is one “dogged by integrity scandals”.

“Natasha Fyles’ failures to manage conflicts of interest and adhere to the Ministerial Code of Conduct made her position untenable,” she wrote.

“At a time when Territorians desperately need Government leadership, as crime continues to dominate, our economy is in freefall, all Territorians have is a Labor team more focussed on themselves than on managing the Territory.

“If Labor cannot manage themselves, they cannot manage the Territory. The ultimate price for Labor’s failures has been paid by Territorians.”

The post Meet Eva Lawler, the new Northern Territory Chief Minister appeared first on Women's Agenda.