International Women's Day 2025
Due to Tropical Cyclone Alfred, some UQ International Women’s Day events have been postponed, cancelled or moved online. Event details have been updated.
From Monday 3 March, UQ will be holding a series of events for International Women's Day focused on the theme of ‘March Forward’ and how we can turn promises into progress.
It is important we pause to celebrate the valuable contributions women and gender-diverse people make every day at UQ, and acknowledge the work being done across the University to improve gender equity, guided by our Gender Equality Action Plan 2023–2025 (PDF, 491 KB).
Keynote address
UQ staff and students
Monday 28 April, 1pm for a 1:30pm to 3:30pm event
Queensland Brain Institute (building 79), Auditorium
The Vice-Chancellor will host an event featuring a keynote address by guest speaker Sara Shams and a panel discussion.
Sara Shams is a healthcare professional and award-winning diversity and inclusion advocate. She is an International Day of People with Disabilities ambassador and was awarded the 2024 Queensland Minister’s Multicultural Award for her outstanding advocacy.
After the keynote address, Sara will be joined on stage by panellists Professor Thelma Parker, Associate Dean (Indigenous Engagement) at the Faculty of Health, Medicine and Behavioural Sciences; UQ Master of Public Health student Vaidehi Pawar; and Research Assistant Brooke Szucs.
Register for keynote address
International Women's Day events at UQ
Upcoming events
Let's talk about the intersection of gender and neurodiversity in the research sector
UQ community and beyond
Tuesday 1 April, 10am to 11:30am
In person: Auditorium, Translational Research Institute, Woolloongabba
Online: via Zoom at https://uqz.zoom.us/j/85072140754
Hear 3 trailblazing UQ researchers – Associate Professor Miriam Moeller, Dr Danielle Burgess, and Dr Sandra Richardson – who research neurodiversity or are neurodivergent. This panel will be chaired by Dr Janin Chandra, equity lead of the Frazer Institute Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) committee. The event is hosted by the EDI committees of the Frazer Institute, Mater Research, UQ Centre for Clinical Research, the School of Biomedical Sciences, and the Translational Research Institute.
Empowering Women: Policy Intentions and Outcomes
Everyone welcome
Wednesday 2 April, 4pm to 5pm
Online via Zoom
Join the Faculty of Business, Economics and Law for the latest instalment of the UQ Economics Thought Leadership Series. This webinar of all-female panellists focuses on the march forward to empower women, critically analysing efforts and policies, and unpacking their outcomes using empirical evidence.
Past or cancelled events
International Women's Day Panel Discussion about women in Myanmar
Everyone welcome
Monday 3 March, 10am to 11am
Sir Llew Edwards Building (14), level 6, Terrace Room
Join UQ's Asia Pacific Centre for the Responsibility to Protect and the School of Political Science and International Studies for a special panel discussion focusing on women in Myanmar.
The panel will also feature representatives from ALTSEAN-Burma, who will launch their new book 'Women's Voices from the Revolution'.
Warriorship, concern for the collective and mentoring the next generation: a vision for academic leadership
Academic leaders from UQ and other universities
Monday 3 March, 12:30pm to 1:30pm
ModWest Building (Building 11A), room 101
Join Professor Tracey Bunda for the inaugural On Leadership seminar, a space for academic leaders to share their leadership journeys and insights. Professor Bunda, a Ngugi/Wakka Wakka woman, is Professor of Indigenous Education at UQ and has held senior leadership roles across multiple universities during her boundary spanning career of 3 decades. Professor Bunda offers her perspectives on leadership, in conversation with Professor Kate O’Brien. Join us for this pre-emptive celebration of International Women's Day, hosted by UQ’s Women at E (Professors) Network.
The HASS Gender Agenda
UQ staff and students
Tuesday 4 March, 12:30pm to 1:30pm
Forgan Smith building (1), West Wing, Room W458
The Faculty of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences is hosting an engaging cross-disciplinary discussion offering insights into gender intersection and impacts across the humanities and social sciences.
This session features illuminating talks by Dr Lisa Walters, Dr Cassandra Byrnes and Dr Kiri Ingram, followed by a Q&A session.
No registration required.
March Forward: Take Your First Steps in Entre- or Intra-preneurship
UQ staff and students
Wednesday 5 March, 12pm to 1pm
Now online, log in via Zoom: https://uqz.zoom.us/j/85307736184
Join us for an interactive ‘March Forward’ workshop designed to help you take your first steps toward starting your own business or side hustle, or apply an entrepreneurial mindset to your work!
Gender equality for academic and professional staff
UQ staff welcome
Friday 7 March 11:30am to 2pm
Sir Llew Edwards Building (14), level 6, Terrace Room
Join a panel discussion with UQ staff and Associate Professor Jacquelyn Humphrey from the Business School to unpack the challenges we as a university face around gender equality for academic and professional staff and how we can work to overcome these.
Women in Imaging with Professor Roslyn Francis
Everyone welcome
Thursday 13 March, 5:30pm to 8pm
AIBN Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology building (75), level 1, Seminar Room
Hear Professor Roslyn Francis speak to the United Nation’s International Women’s Day theme, ‘March Forward’ and how we can turn promises into progress. Professor Francis will share insights into the opportunities and challenges of integrating research with clinical practice and will focus on leadership and change. This event will also feature an open panel discussion and a networking session where you can connect with other guests over canapes and drinks.
Concert: Homegrown - Rebecca Cassidy and Alex Raineri
Event cancelled due to campus closure
Each year, UQ’s School of Music hosts a celebration of women performers and composers. This year, Rebecca Cassidy and Alex Raineri will perform works exclusively by Australian women composers.
Lighting up Forgan Smith
In the week leading up to International Women’s Day, the Forgan Smith building will be lit up in purple – the official colour of the day.
