Networking Event to Promote Women’s Leadership
For Immediate Release
Halifax, NS – In honour of International Women’s Day, emerging and established women leaders will be at Saint Mary’s University the evening of March 12 to talk about the opportunities and barriers for women in leadership. Mend the Gap: Emerging Women Leaders is a collaborative effort between StudentsNS, the SMU Students’ Association Equity Centre, the Nova Scotia Advisory Council on the Status of Women, and Equal Voice Nova Scotia.
“We are incredibly excited to bring together students from across the province to learn from the experiences of respected women leaders”, said Katie Glowach, SMUSA Equity Officer. “We want students to leave the event inspired to take on leadership roles in their communities.”
Data from the Nova Scotia Advisory Council on the Status of Women indicates that women represent fewer than 30% of elected officials across Nova Scotia (outside School Boards) and on average hold only 32% of senior management positions. According to StudentsNS research with university student unions, women represent just 46% of all student representatives and only 32% of student union presidents, whereas almost 60% of university students are female-identified.
“I am so pleased StudentsNS and their partners are taking this on.” says Dr. Wanda Thomas Bernard, Chair of the Nova Scotia Advisory Council on the Status of Women, “Young people are our future leaders and the engagement of young women in this work is so important.”
Hosted by CTV Atlantic reporter Marie Adsett, the event will feature a spectrum of prominent women from business, politics, academia, government and the non-profit sector including:
Faten Alshazly (Co-Founder, WeUsThem Inc.)
Dr. Patricia Bradshaw (Dean, Sobey School of Business, Saint Mary’s University)
Dr. Felicia Eghan (Immigration and Human Rights Advocate)
Jill Francis (Aboriginal Education Officer, Nova Scotia Human Rights Commission)
Honorable Maureen MacDonald (NDP Leader)
Karla MacFarlane (PC MLA)
Kate Shewan (Executive Director, The Youth Project)
Marcia Seitz Ehler (Public Affairs Specialist, US Consulate General – Halifax)
Joyce Treen (Liberal MLA)
“Mend the Gap empowers women where they are being moulded as leaders of tomorrow. We need to ensure that these women understand our hopes and our expectations of them as they take the reins when they leave academia,” said Faten Alshazly, co-founder of WeUsThem Inc. and one Canada’s Top 100 Most Powerful Women in 2014 according to Women’s Executive Network.
The event is an initiative of StudentsNS’ Mend the Gap campaign, which seeks to support leadership development for female-identified students. It will take place at the Unilever Lounge at Saint Mary’s University from 6-9pm, but will be followed by an open social at the Gorsebrook Pub. Space will be limited, but those interested in participating can confirm attendance by emailing equity.smusa@smu.ca. Travel bursaries are available for those interested in participating who are located outside of Halifax. On March 13th, the events will continue with a “Check Your Brand” branding workshop and a panel/roundtable discussion of the barriers facing women in leadership and how we can improve as individuals and as a community moving forward.
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Students Nova Scotia is a not-for-profit and non-partisan advocacy and research group that represents post-secondary students from across Nova Scotia. Our members include Acadia, Cape Breton, Saint Mary’s, and St. Francis Xavier Universities, the Kingstec Campus of the Nova Scotia Community College, and the Atlantic School of Theology.
For more information, please contact:
Allison Sparling
Phone: 902 488 7109
Email: allisonsparling@gmail.com
Or
Katie Glowach, SMUSA Equity Officer
Phone: 867 445 8707
Email: equity.smusa@smu.ca