International Women’s Day Breakfast 2026

Join Women’s Health Loddon Mallee for our annual International Women’s Day Breakfast, where expert speakers will explore how gender equality and climate resilience go hand in hand.

Hear from Dr Margaret Moreton (Gender and Disaster Australia), Dr Bronwyn Lay (Disaster Legal Help Victoria), and Dr Nicole Johnson & Dr Karen Anderson (Women’s Health Loddon Mallee) as they share practical ways to balance the scales on gender and climate justice.

Enjoy a shared breakfast, coffee, inspiring speakers, and meaningful conversations.

8am-10am
Thursday 5th March
47 Myers St, Bendigo
Registration: International Women’s Day Breakfast 2026

Balance the scales.

This year’s theme from UN Women Australia is Balance the Scales – a call to action to transform justice systems, amplify marginalised voices, and make equality the rule, not the exception.

Gender and climate justice.

As climate-related disasters like bushfires, floods, and droughts become more frequent and severe, gender-responsive policies are more critical than ever.

Climate change impacts aren’t equal. Women, girls, and gender-diverse people often face greater health and safety risks, heavier care burdens, and reduced access to resources during and after emergencies. Embedding this understanding in disaster planning and response is essential for equity, effectiveness, and community resilience.

Join our IWD speakers as they explore practical ways to build equality and resilience to balance the scales on gender and climate change.

About the Speakers:

Dr Bronwyn Lay:

Dr. Bronwyn Lay is the Program Manager of Disaster Legal Help Victoria. Over a twenty‑year career spanning law, community services and justice advocacy, she has worked at the intersection of social and ecological justice, focusing on how communities experience and respond to climate driven disasters.

Dr Margaret Moreton:

Dr Margaret Moreton is the Chief Executive Officer of Gender and Disaster Australia (GADAus), the lead national organisation working at the intersection of gender and disasters.  GADAus undertakes research into gendered aspects of disasters, and partners with others to develop research to expand the available evidence base.  GADAus offers evidence-based education, training and resources to address the harmful impacts of gendered expectations in disaster.

Margaret’s career spans 40 years. Her previous roles include social policy and advisory positions and program management roles in government, working in philanthropy, working with non-government organisations, and delivering private consultancy services. Her roles have included a focus on enhancing Indigenous outcomes, community development, early childhood, mental health and autism, families, research and leading community engagement at the Office for Women (federally).  Prior to working with GADAus, her most recent role was as Executive Director of the Australian Institute for Disaster Resilience (AIDR).

Margaret is a passionate advocate for inclusive and collaborative approaches to building community resilience.  Her commitment is to work in support of all community members, so that diverse groups have a voice in building their own resilience and can survive, contribute, and thrive in their communities and organisations.

About the IWD 2026 theme:

Balance the Scales is a call to action to transform our justice systems, amplify marginalised voices, and ensure equality is the rule, not the exception. Balancing the scales means tackling inequality wherever it exists – at home, in communities, workplaces, systems, and laws. It requires collective action, ongoing commitment, and sustained resourcing.

When women and girls stand equal, families are stronger, workplaces are fairer, communities thrive, and society becomes safer for everyone.

This International Women’s Day let’s work together to Balance the Scales.

For more information about IWD 2026, including how you can get involved, useful resources, campaign materials and other events and activities happening in our region, visit: International Women’s Day – Women’s Health Loddon Mallee