29 Aug 2016
NewsDiverse perspectives on offer at National Multicultural Women’s Conference
Dr Faruqi will join a line up of speakers facilitating a lively and productive dialogue about the unique lived experiences of women from Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) backgrounds at the National Multicultural Women’s Conference 2016 – Influencing Change: Vision and Impact (NMWC), which is a joint initiative between SSI and the Federation of Ethnic Communities’ Councils of Australia (FECCA).
“Conferences like this are so important to give a platform to women from a multicultural background who are so often invisible in the mainstream debate and media,” Dr Faruqi said. “I am looking forward to the opportunity to meet and connect with multicultural women from around the country.”
From November 3 to 4, the NMWC will create a space for sharing knowledge and celebrating the outstanding contributions women from diverse backgrounds make to Australian society.
“This conference will be a great opportunity to network and share ideas. We will hear diverse perspectives but with a common thread of multicultural women’s experiences,” Dr Faruqi said.
Dr Faruqi, who holds a range of portfolios for the Greens NSW, including Environment, Transport, Status of Women and Multiculturalism, will join a panel discussion on changing expectations around race, identity and belonging at the NMWC.
A civil and environmental engineer by trade, Dr Faruqi migrated from Pakistan to Australia in 1992 with her young family and has since focused her work on developing real solutions to social and environmental challenges.
Since entering politics in 2013, the Greens NSW MP has advocated for important issues affecting women of all backgrounds, including just last month introducing a historic bill to NSW Parliament that, if passed, will decriminalise abortion in the state and enact safe access zone to prevent harassment and intimidation of women accessing health clinics.
Other speakers joining Dr Faruqi at the NMWC include Workplace Gender Equality Agency Director Libby Lyons, Australia’s Sex Discrimination Commissioner Kate Jenkins, Australian Multicultural Council Chair Dr Sev Ozdowski, and the Royal Australian Navy’s Captain Mona Shindy.
For more information or to register for the event, which will take place at the Parkroyal Parramatta, follow the blue link below. Earlybird registrations close August 31.
