The program features successful and influential women leaders who will share personal stories, career development, insight and experience on the challenges facing women in business. It also provides participants insight into developments regarding Perth’s social and business communities women may not otherwise be aware of, making them more capable, knowledgeable and equipped to take on leadership roles.

G+T’s Perth partner, Claire Boyd, said networking opportunities in Perth can be limited for professional women.

“It is true that in focusing on professional success and the challenges that come with that, women often look up after reaching a certain level of success and find they have a narrower circle than their male counterparts,” Ms Boyd said.

She said the program has a framework to provide members with an opportunity to build professional working alliances across sectors, “that have the potential to help guide them through their entire career.”

The 50 women taking part have been identified as future leaders within their respective fields and were handpicked by their chief executive officers for the program, and represent a diverse cross section of organisations, including leading corporations, the arts, industry sectors, community and government entities.

The program of keynote speakers includes the likes of Federal Minister for Foreign Affairs the Honourable Julie Bishop, Moya Dodd in her role as executive committee member of the Asian Football Confederation, world leading burns specialist Dr Fiona Wood, and TEN Eyewitness news Perth anchor Narelda Jacobs.

According to Ms Boyd, “participants will gain valuable information and learn about important developments regarding Perth’s social and business communities that they might otherwise not be aware of. The more they know about key policy initiatives, community and commercial issues, major projects and future planning, the more capable, knowledgeable and equipped they will be to take on these leadership roles.

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“It is our hope that more women will be selected to have a seat at the decision-making table in all spheres and that sooner rather than later, women will run more organisations, sit on more boards and help determine government policy in greater numbers.”

Extending the program into Perth is a natural fit, Gilbert + Tobin, the firm’s Perth lead partner, Michael Blakiston has said.

“Thirty five per cent of our partners are women, and women make up 62 per cent of our total employees. Our people come from a broad range of backgrounds and points of view and we really see the value diversity brings to the firm. It is therefore important that we support the next generation of talented women to step up into leadership roles and achieve gender balance in our businesses, institutions and across society more broadly.”