Women in Super celebrated our 30^th Anniversary in sparkles and finery last, amongst volunteers, members, partners, supporters and allies. And, of course, hovering above us all (and, as Cate warned us, taking notes, and hopefully, some pride in the colourful room) the spirit of Mavis Robertson – the fearless, innovative, irresistible, fighter for equality and justice and the rights of women and founder of Women in Super.

Combining anecdotes from WIS stalwarts Fiona Reynolds, Louise Davidson and Mel Birks, former Women in Super Chair Cate Wood delivered a retrospective, looking back over the last 30 years from when Mavis first gathered a small group of women at a superannuation conference to connect and support each other in what was otherwise a sea of grey suits. Back then, it was a simple yet transformative idea. What started as a small breakfast event has grown into a national movement that has brought women together, nurtured careers, and inspired change.

As Fiona Reynolds remarked, ‘it is incredible to think that 30 years ago, Women in Super was just an idea, and today, it’s a powerful force within the superannuation industry.’ Women in Super stands as a testament to the power of collaboration and the need for women’s voices in superannuation and in finance more broadly.

Cate’s speech served to remind us of what we have achieved in Australia, with a few important wins over the last 20 years, and our role at the forefront of advocacy for a superannuation system free of gender inequality. This was followed by a powerful message from the incredibly gracious, inspiring and thought-provoking former Prime Minister Julia Gillard (a mere two days after the 12 year anniversary of her game-changing speech) who applied a global lens to the issue of gender inequity.

Julia spoke about the need to continue working towards women’s economic safety, separating the ‘noise’ from real outcomes, and shared her reflections and hope for the future with us, recognising the ongoing work needed to build a fairer future for women. She spoke at length about the importance of inclusivity and not leaving boys and young men behind in the next stage of the gender equality journey.

It was an incredible evening, made all the more special by our dinner guests – like-minded, and encouraging of each other. It was all the support and generosity felt in the room at any other Women in Super event, magnified by x1000.

To those who were able to join us, thank you for being an essential part of that feeling.

To those who missed out this time, we will find a way to make it up to you!

Thank you to our sponsors for this event, IQ Group and Cbus - we are so grateful for your continued support.