Two inspiring women will share their leadership stories as part of an International Women’s Day panel, Women of Whittlesea – Inspiring stories and candid conversations, on Wednesday.
Host Kim Stadtmiller, from the Hume Whittlesea Local Learning and Employment Network, will introduce panellists Bobby Lama and Özge Sevindik-Alkan to speak on how they became leaders to other women in their communities.
After arriving in Australia from Nepal in 2007, followed by an abusive relationship, Ms Lama, along with a group of friends, created the Band of Women in Action group to support young mothers and women with a Nepalese background in the northern suburbs.
Ms Sevindik-Alkan is a librarian, writer and director of the Australian Muslim Writers Festival who co-founded The Right Pen Collective for Muslim Australian Writers in 2021, and co-authored two Hijabi Girl junior fiction book series.
Administrator Peita Duncan said the free event highlighted female leadership within the community, telling stories of two remarkable women.
“International Women’s Day is a day to acknowledge and celebrate the achievements of women, and I am very excited to hear Bobby and Özge’s stories, two local women who have taken it upon themselves to build a community that provides support and empowerment to others by following their passions,” she said.
“The event will also include a traditional dance performance by Wurundjeri women’s dance group Djirri Djirri.”
The panel will be at 10am, in the Great Hall at the City of Whittlesea Civic Centre, 25 Ferres Boulevard, in South Morang.
The one hour event will be followed by a light morning tea.
For more information and to register, visit www.whittlesea.vic.gov.au/events.
