WPSP Partners with the Bond University Gender Generation

On June 8, 2016 the Bond University Gender Generation (BUGG) hosted their inaugural event entitled “Some Leaders are Born Women.” This event marked the official launch and partnership between the Bond University Gender Generation and the Wilson Center’s Women in Public Service Project. Gwen Young, Director of the Women in Public Service Project, gave a welcome address for the event. Sophie Devitt, partner at DLA Piper law firm, and Bond University professors, Dr. Danielle Ireland-Piper, Associate Professor of law and Co-Convener of the Transnational, International, and Comparative Law and Policy Network, and Dr. Lisa Abel, Assistant Professor of Society and Design, provided three key speeches on specific gender equality issues. Following a welcome address from WPSP Director, Gwen Young, Briar Blount, President of the Bond University Gender Generation, kicked off the event with some opening remarks. BUGG Executive Team member, Kathryn Randle, then offered a reading of Ambassador Natasha Scott Despoja’s, Australia’s Ambassador on Women and Girls, personal statement to frame the evening’s conversation.

The event continued with a series of TED-talk style presentations. As the first of three presenters, Dr. Danielle Ireland-Piper spoke on the ambiguity of apology and gender linguistics. Dr. Lisa Abel continued the theme of women’s leadership and speech with a presentation entitled, “Watch your Language: The Unintended Harms Embedded in What We Say.” DLA Piper partner Sophie Devitt weighed in on the discussion by offering her thoughts on points raised in chapter seven of Sheryl Sandberg’s Lean In. After each of the presentations, the speakers engaged in a Q&A panel discussion moderated by Ms. Briar Blount.

Earlier this year, the Women in Public Service Project and BUGG signed a memorandum of understanding to collaborate and work towards their common goal of advancing women’s participation and leadership in public service in Australia and around the world. As a student organization at Bond University, located in Gold Coast, Australia, BUGG seeks “to close the leadership and pay gap between men and women in Australia and the wider Pacific Islands community.” The group aims to leverage the knowledge and resources of the Wilson Center to educate, empower, and promote women’s leadership among high school and university students. By working in tandem with one another, both institutions stand to bolster their missions and advance women’s leadership around the world.