Women's Dais

An important message from Leisa Barry-Smith...

Book your tickets now for the 2009 AIM International Women's Day Debate.

And the winning team is....

Yes, the crowd has spoken, the negative team has won the debate!

The negative team - Di Thorley, Jodie Bache-McLean and Belinda Clark

Congratulations to everyone who was involved - it was a fantastic debate. And thank to everyone who bought raffle tickets... we just raised over $15,000 for charity!!

See you next year, folks!

What Women Want Raffle draw & special offer

The What Women Want Raffle has been drawn, and one lucky attendee has just walked away with about $15,000 worth of amazing prizes.

But wait, you don't have to miss out entirely on these fabulous goodies in the raffle…

Kim Alvena is also giving a special offer to people celebrating International Women's Day with us… You can receive 20% off Kim Alvena belts (just mention AIM's International Women's Day Debate), normally valued at $900.

Call 0409 726 883 to purchase or visit www.kimalvena.com to enquire online.

Thank you, Kim Alvena!

Third speaker negative: Jodie Bache-McLean

Our final speaker today has dedicated her career to enhancing confidence in women of all ages to achieve their career dreams. As the Queensland director of June Dally-Watkins she represents style and grace and encourages others to love the skin they're in.

When asked what she would like to see invented for women in the future she answered "A white wine that burns fat and creates muscles" (we want in on that!). It's Jodie Bache-McLean!

Third speaker affirmative: Linda Brown

Third speaker for the affirmative team is a true international woman of mystery. She was born in Scotland and has worked in England, China, the Torres Strait, Indonesia and India and has presented in the United States, Europe and Asia.

Even though she could retire on her frequent flier points, she remains a passionate educator who, on a day-to-day basis as the TAFE Institute Director, heads a team of 1000 staff with 40,000 students over 10 campuses. Her favourite saying is "you must BE the change you want to see in the world" and she's certainly leading by example.

It's Linda Brown!

Second speaker negative: Belinda Clark

Next up for the negative team is a woman who has really made it in a man's world. She was the first woman to run Cricket Australia's Centre for Excellence, she has scored more one day international runs than any other female player in history and still holds the record for the highest one day international score for the boys or the girls of 229 not out.

She was awarded an Order of Australia Medal in January 2000 for her services to cricket. The only woman to ever bowl out Brian Lara, it's Belinda Clark!

Second speaker affirmative: Fleur Madden-Topley

Our second speaker for the affirmative team is a fiery red-head who is small in stature but big in presence. She started her own PR company at the tender age of 23 and now has a top team of Charlie's Angel-type PR professionals helping her represent local and international clients.

She lists her best attribute as not being able to sit on the fence, and her worst attribute as not being able to sit on the fence. Fortunately for her we found this out a few days ago as we were thinking of not actually have chairs this year but instead having one long fence - and obviously Fleur would have had an issue with that.

But she's fine in the chair and she's coming your way... it's Fleur Madden-Topley!

First speaker negative: Dianne Thorley

Our first speaker for the negative team has trained as a nurse, is passionate about youth issues, is an energetic champion for the environment and water usage, and in her spare time runs Toowoomba. She has earned a reputation as a dynamic mayor who makes things happen and her favourite saying is "don't allow any crap in your brain without paying any rent". 

It's a big Woombie welcome to Mayor Dianne Thorley.

First speaker affirmative: Jenny Woodward

Our first speaker for the affirmative team has the power to ruin picnics and cricket matches right around Queensland as the ABC's resident weather guru. She lists Jane Austen, Amelia Earhart and Geraldine Doogue as dream lunch companions, and credits a dear friend with this sage piece of advice - "The best way to eat an elephant is one bite at a time." 

For those of you who'd like to watch the beautiful Women in Film footage by Philip Scott Johnson that we caught a glimpse of in Jenny's speech, you can watch it here.

Meet the debaters

It's been a closely guarded secret… up until now. Unveiling for the first time the AIM International Women's Day Debaters!

Today's debaters are "ordinary" women doing something "extraordinary". The point is, they have families and jobs and, for a brief moment, will assist us all to reflect upon and appreciate the trials and triumphs of women.

For the Affirmative Team:

Weather Presenter from ABC TV and household name you wouldn't leave home
without... Jenny Woodward

Managing Director of Red Public Relations and the unstoppable "it" girl
of Brisbane... Fleur Madden-Topley

Institute Director, Metro South Institute of TAFE, gorgeous Scottish lassie and
education powerhouse... Linda Brown

Now for the Negative Team:

Mayor of Toowoomba, political dynamo and one woman provocateur... Dianne Thorley

Former Australian Women's Cricket Captain, Manager of Cricket Australia's Centre for Excellence - the woman every cricket fanatic wants to know... Belinda Clark

Director of June Dally Watkins, the sharpest dressed babe in town and oh so chic
trendsetter... Jodie Bache-McLean