Having walked through places marked by deep pain, like Israel and Ukraine, Berlin brings its own unique weight. A quiet heaviness that demands reflection.
Yesterday I stood at the remnants of the Berlin Wall, a powerful reminder of division, resistance, and eventually, hope. I walked through Tiergarten Park, not far from the site where some of the darkest plans in history were orchestrated: the systematic euthanasia of people with disabilities and mental illness under the Nazi regime. As a woman who lives with a rare disease, who leads a disability organisation, and who advocates for equity in all its forms, this moment cut deep.
And yet, standing in that same city, I also found something else: a force of women leaders from across 65 countries, united under one banner at the Global Summit of Women, determined not to let history repeat, and not to let progress stall.
I’ve had the privilege of meeting and spending time with women whose impact is seismic.
- One woman I’m incredibly proud to stand beside, not just here in Berlin, but back home in Australia too, is Jeanne Zweck, As President of the Sutherland Shire Business Chamber and Founder of Mint Marketing, Jeanne is the kind of leader who doesn’t just talk about elevating women in business, she builds the platforms for them to rise. Jeanne is strategic, generous, and bold. She leads with both heart and precision, using her voice to raise the hard issues. Whether it’s shaping policy through her advocacy work, mentoring women in business, or creating space for local businesses to thrive, Jeanne shows up. Every day. Her influence isn’t performative, it’s embedded in the fabric of the community and economies she serves.
- Sandra D’Souza and Kiri Brain, whose bold mission to support 100,000 women into leadership and board roles by 2030 is both a vision and a call to arms.
- Narelle Hooper, a lifelong advocate for leadership that balances women, men, and economy, captures it best in her own words: “New women. New men. New economy.” Such a kind soul & someone I am so grateful to have crossed paths with.
- Magdalena Kosior-Molloy, MCom, whose influence in banking and finance demonstrates what fearless leadership looks like in male-majority industries.
- Lee Kelly, is a powerhouse of regional leadership and national influence. With deep roots in policy, advocacy, and economic development, she has spent her career connecting communities to opportunities, especially for women. Lee understands that progress doesn’t happen in isolation, it’s built through collaboration, courage, and consistency. Her work reminds us that when women lead, regions thrive, industries grow, and voices once overlooked become central to the conversation.
- Lyn Lewis-Smith OAM, is a visionary whose leadership extends well beyond titles. As a driving force behind global economic inclusion, Lyn has consistently elevated women onto the world stage, turning policy into action and visibility into impact. From leading Business Events Sydney to championing global platforms like the Global Summit of Women, she’s shown what happens when women are not only in the room but shaping the agenda.
- Elizabeth Newlan, whose work in tech and innovation is proof that women are not just participating in the future – we are building it.
- Marie Herkenrath is part of the next wave of leadership we have all been waiting for, young, sharp, and purpose-driven. As a German-Australian advocate and economist, Marie is already influencing global conversations around gender equity, economic policy, and youth inclusion. Her voice is clear, courageous, and refreshingly solutions-focused. She represents the kind of leadership our future needs, grounded in lived experience, data-literate, and globally aware. Watching Marie engage with international leaders here in Berlin, it’s clear: she’s not waiting to lead tomorrow, she is leading today.
- Ann Sherry, a powerhouse in business and a relentless advocate for inclusion. As former CEO of Carnival Australia and Chair of the C20 Gender Equality Working Group, Ann has spent her career shifting systems, not just mindsets. She reminded us that sport is still lagging, In Australia, only 23% of CEO positions in sport are held by women, and even fewer in male-dominated codes. Her call to action was clear: representation must be structural, not symbolic. Ann doesn’t just open doors, she redesigns the whole room to make space for everyone
Quotas Are Just a Start. What We Need Is Pointed Action.
I have long believed in equity not just for the sake of it, but for the sake of our future. We cannot afford to accept symbolism when what we need is structure. Yes, quotas play a role. But quotas without action are just numbers. They don’t shift culture, they don’t challenge bias, and they don’t build leadership, they just count it.
Australia is showing up in the global data and rightly so. We’ve made strides in workforce participation, board representation, and policy commitment to gender equity. Our leaders, both women and men, are helping reshape what leadership looks like, and conversations around inclusion are no longer fringe, they’re foundational. But as Christine Lagarde, President of the European Central Bank, reminded us with clarity and urgency:
“Keep going. More so now than ever before. Don’t let us shift backwards.”
Her words echo deeply. Because even as we make progress at home, the fight for equality is far from over globally. Christine Lagarde herself is living proof of what’s possible when women lead at the highest levels, but also of what it takes to get there: tenacity, excellence, and the courage to challenge deeply entrenched systems. Her legacy has never been about ticking boxes, it’s been about raising the bar for how institutions serve everyone, not just the powerful few.
And that’s why it’s not enough to look at our own wins and stop there. There are still countries such as Afghanistan, Iran, Somalia, Yemen, where being a woman means living in silence. Where rights are not debated, they’re denied. Where going to school, walking outside without permission, or daring to speak your truth is considered a crime. In Afghanistan, girls are banned from secondary education. In Iran, women continue to risk their lives simply to protest for basic freedoms. In too many places, choice is a luxury only some can afford.
And while I stand in Berlin surrounded by women who are leading change across the globe, I carry the weight of those who can’t yet speak, who aren’t yet seen, who are still waiting for the world to catch up.
That’s why representation matters. Everywhere. In every arena. Including one that’s close to my heart – sport.
As Ann Sherry pointed out, sport remains a bastion of male leadership, and that must change. I’m proud that since becoming the first female President of the Sutherland Shire Football Association,our Executive Committee now has the most women it’s ever had: four women and five male allies. And that balance is not just a statistic, it’s a signal.
It signals to young girls on the pitch that they can lead. To boys, that leadership doesn’t come in one shape. And to the community, that sport is where equality plays out, not just where it’s talked about.
The most powerful thing about being at the Global Summit of Women isn’t just the speeches or the data, It’s something quieter, something you feel in the in-between moments. It’s the unspoken understanding that pulses beneath every handshake, every shared story, every nod of recognition: we are not done.
We are nowhere near done until every woman has real, tangible choice, not just the illusion of it. Until every woman, no matter her postcode, passport, or level of ability, has the freedom and power to make decisions about her own life, not someone to be spoken for. Until allyship from our male colleagues, partners, and leaders isn’t seen as extraordinary, but as the standard.
Because true equality doesn’t come wrapped in a policy. It lives in practice. It’s what happens when the systems are redesigned, not just repainted. When women from all walks of life, not just the privileged few, can thrive, lead, and shape the future on their own terms.
And until that becomes the norm, not the exception, we keep going. More so now than ever before.
Equity doesn’t begin and end at the summit table. It begins in our homes, our boardrooms, our clubs, and our parliaments. It continues every time we choose action over apathy, courage over comfort, allyship over ego. We owe that to ourselves. We owe that to each other. And we definitely owe it to the generation rising behind us.
You Can Be Something, its up to us to make sure they can too.
