International Women’s Day (IWD) is celebrated annually on March 8th. It’s a day where we celebrate the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women, as well as to raise awareness about gender equality and women’s rights.

The 2024 theme was – Count Her In: Invest in Women. Accelerate Progress.

Count Her In examines the pathways to greater economic inclusion for women and girls everywhere. While important progress has been made, women face significant obstacles to achieving equal participation in the economy. Without equal access to education, employment pathways, financial services and literacy, how can we ever hope to reach gender equality?

How did ESV mark IWD?

We shared an ‘inform’ piece on our Intranet for all team members which provided insights into the history of the day and spoke about how we can all celebrate IWD.

Then the women of ESV – our RISE members – had the opportunity to attend an IWD event. Some of our team enjoyed a First Nations Breakfast and Panel – the event celebrated the voices of First Nations women. As part of the oldest continuous culture in the world, First Nations women have been at the forefront of change for tens of thousands of years. Their wisdom, resilience and leadership have played a crucial role in shaping our nation.

Whilst others enjoyed a Wine & Culinary Delights Evening under the sails of the Opera House. We heard from sixteen groundbreaking female Australian winemakers who shared their stories of what it’s like to be a female winemaker in a male-dominated industry over a tasting or three of wine! An incredible bunch of women who have a passion for wine and storytelling and together, are committed to overcoming the barriers of gender equality in the wine world.

What does ESV do ‘beyond the day’?

ESV fosters an inclusive environment for all team members everyday. We have created a RISE program which aims to provide the women of ESV with a supportive environment and networking opportunities to aid in overcoming barriers to career progression, both perceived and real. Our RISE Program aims to educate, inspire and connect the amazing women at ESV with the purpose of helping them on their journey as they grow.

Past RISE events have included ….

• Guest speakers
• Art of negotiation and leadership training sessions
• Book Club
• Networking events
• Self-care activations
• And more … we have an exciting program planned for 2024 – tune into our socials to see the RISE women!

What role can we all play?

We need to encourage every girl and woman to follow their dreams and have the strength to break down any real or perceived barriers.