Date: 14 Mar 2025
Women leaders from across Vanuatu gathered for a special International Women’s Day Breakfast in Port Vila, which included Member of Parliament, Hon. Marie Louise Milne, Port Vila’s Lady Mayor Jenny Tasale Regenvanu and the Australian High Commissioner to Vanuatu, His Excellency Max Willis.
Last Thursday, women leaders from across Vanuatu gathered for a special International Women’s Day Breakfast, celebrating the theme “Accelerate Action.” The event, hosted by the Women’s Leadership Initiative (WLI) Vanuatu Alumni in collaboration with Balance of Power (BOP) Vanuatu, provided a platform to discuss women’s political participation, leadership in governance and gender equality.
Held in Port Vila, the breakfast brought together prominent female leaders, policymakers and civil society representatives, reinforcing the growing presence of women in leadership roles. Port Vila’s Lady Mayor Jenny Tasale Regenvanu and the newly elected Member of Parliament, Hon. Marie Louise Milne, were among the keynote speakers, sharing their experiences and calling for greater women’s representation in decision-making spaces.
Also, in attendance was Australian High Commissioner to Vanuatu, His Excellency Max Willis, who reaffirmed Australia’s commitment to supporting women’s leadership.
“The idea is to intercept the amazing women that are going through Australia Awards and make sure we give them extra tools so that they can translate their studies and their personal leadership to make progress in their careers and we are very proud to be your partners,” he said.
For the first time in almost 30 years, a woman was elected from the Port Vila constituency, marking a milestone for women in politics. In her address, Hon. Marie Louise Milne emphasized the importance of mentorship, collective advocacy and resilience in overcoming barriers to leadership.
“Women have always been at the forefront of change, but we need to ensure our voices are heard where policies and decisions are made,” Hon. Milne said.
The Lady Mayor, who has played a key role in post-earthquake recovery efforts, spoke about the challenges of leading in times of crisis and the need for women’s leadership to be valued and supported.
The event provided an opportunity for women leaders to connect, share insights and strategize on accelerating progress toward gender equality. Discussions focused on women’s legitimacy in leadership, the importance of peer networks and mobilising resources to support women entering politics and governance.
Balance of Power Country Manager, Wilson Toa highlighted the event’s impact.
“This breakfast was a testament to the power of collective action. Seeing women from different sectors come together, exchange ideas and build relationships reinforces the strength of the movement for gender equality in Vanuatu,” Toa said.
With the success of this year’s International Women’s Day Breakfast, organisers are hopeful that the momentum will continue, inspiring more women to step into leadership roles and drive meaningful change in Vanuatu.
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