Alumni Magazine Issue 5

International Women’s Day BETTER THE BALANCE, BETTER THE WORLD - #BALANCEFORBETTER Notre Dame was proud to celebrate #BalanceforBetter , the theme of this year’s International Women’s Day, across the Fremantle and Sydney Campuses on 8 March. All alumni—men and women alike—were treated to a breakfast while they heard from inspiring speakers. The Sydney Campus welcomed Jean Kittson (pictured above), an actor, comedian, Logie and AFI nominee, author and radio commentator, well known for openly discussing women’s issues. In sharing her experiences, Jean argued that gender parity should be about achieving unity between men and women. “I knew no one in the room, which was also echoed by others at my table, and yet we all delighted in meeting each other and sharing the hospitality of the University while celebrating International Women’s Day.” Siobhan Hewitt, Alumna In Fremantle, Dr Debra Sayce, Executive Director of Catholic Education Western Australia and published author and lecturer at Notre Dame, shared insights through her career in education leadership, and as a wife and mother. Award-winning author commences residency with Notre Dame The University is excited to announce Charlotte Wood as our inaugural Copyright Agency Ltd (CAL) Writer-in-Residence. Ms Woods was granted a package of $30,000 to undertake a 12 month residency with Notre Dame Sydney which commenced earlier this year in August. Described as one of Australia’s most original and provocative writers, Charlotte Wood is the author of six novels and two books of non-fiction and was recently named one of the Australian Financial Review’s 100 Women of Influence for 2019. Her new book, 'The Weekend', has been hailed as her ‘greatest novel yet’. In Conversation On 5 December 2019, the Sydney Campus hosted an evening of conversation with Charlotte Wood and fellow author and long-time friend, Tegan Bennett Daylight. Both authors discussed how intellectual camaraderie and collaboration sustains their very different creative lives. Photo: Chris Chen Alumni Magazine – Page 14 U P D A T E S