Celebrating Women, Inspiring Change: The 2025 International Women's Day Breakfast at the Adelaide Convention Centre
On Friday, March 7th, 2025, the Adelaide Convention Centre hosted the city's annual International Women's Day Breakfast.
This event is the largest of its kind in Australia and Adelaide's largest women’s annual event. The event brought together a diverse crowd of individuals passionate about celebrating women's achievements and advocating for gender equality. International Women's Day, celebrated annually on March 8th, is a global day acknowledging the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women. It also serves as a call to action for accelerating gender parity. International Women's Day is a testament to the power of community, the strength of women, and the importance of continuing the fight for gender equality.
SA Power Networks has been a gold sponsor and a dedicated partner of the breakfast for the past eight years. Our continued commitment to the event demonstrates a strong belief in the importance of advancing gender equality.
Chief People Officer and Inclusion and Diversity Executive Sponsor Sam Bradley said International Women’s Day is a time to celebrate how far we’ve come but also acknowledge how much further we need to go.
“Events like this matter because they remind us that gender equality isn’t a given, it’s something we have to keep working towards. This breakfast brings people together who care about gender equality and who want to drive change. But what really matters is what happens after we leave the room. Progress comes from action, and that’s what we’ll keep focusing on.”
This year's breakfast was particularly special, featuring a compelling keynote speech by Rachel Perkins, a renowned Indigenous filmmaker, director, and activist. Perkins' words resonated deeply with the audience as she shared her personal experiences and insights on her family, segregation and love to drive social change and empower women.
Senator the Hon Penny Wong, a long-time supporter of the event, served as the host for the 23rd year, guiding the morning's program with her characteristic warmth and wit. She emphasised the importance of continuing the conversation about gender equality and the need for collective action to create a more inclusive and equitable society for all women.
“It is a pleasure and privilege to join the International Women’s Day Breakfast. The morning creates an opportunity for us to remember how much progress has been made in Australia (and how fortunate we are at SAPN), but so too reflect on how we can all play our part in continuing to drive equality,” said Desinta Jeffries, SA Power Networks Head of Program Delivery and I & D Committee Chair.
Rachel Perkins was the highlight of the day – a motivational presentation that paid homage to key roles which her mother continues to play in all aspects of her life. The International Women's Day Breakfast is not just a celebration; it's a call to action. The funds raised from the event support UN Women Australia, an organisation dedicated to advancing gender equality and empowering women and girls around the world. This year's breakfast "March Forward" theme commemorates 30 years since the United Nations Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action for achieving gender equality. “March Forward” resonated throughout the morning, encouraging attendees to actively participate in building a more inclusive society and was a resounding success, raising vital funds to support UN Women's vital work.