I’d be lying if I said this wasn’t a little heart-wrenching to write. This will be my last Women’s Agenda post as today is my last day as editor of this brilliant site.
It’s been a little over two years since I came aboard and it’s been a privilege, an honour and a blast. How many jobs can you say that about? And, how many jobs can you that about and actually mean it? Very few and I count myself wildly lucky to have had one.
Editing Women’s Agenda has led me to meet more talented and inspiring women than I could ever have imagined. It’s entailed working with more talented and inspiring women than I could ever have imagined. It’s entailed more ‘pinch-myself-that-this-is-my-job’ days than I count.
There have been the obvious highlights. I will never forget speaking at this year’s Women’s Agenda NAB Leadership Awards, in front of a crowd including Australia’s first female Prime Minister, Hall of Fame inductees Helen Conway and Wendy McCarthy, a slew of extraordinary finalists and almost 400 other men and women invested in celebrating and facilitating female success.
Similarly having the opportunity to get to know all of the WALA finalists in 2014 and 2015 blew me away. The Position of Strength events we’ve hosted with Twitter made me feel crazily proud and optimistic about Women’s Agenda’s influence and community.
Sharing a room and conversations with Natasha Stott-Despoja, Julie Bishop, Helena Morrissey, Elizabeth Broderick, Wendy McCarthy, Elizabeth Proust, Alison Watkins, Anna Bligh, Helen Conway, Tanya Plibersek, Helen Coonan, Patricia Cross, David Morrison…. the list goes on.
But among the more obvious highlights, there have also been countless ‘ordinary’ work days where I have felt a rush of gratitude for being able to devote my working life to advancing gender equality in whatever way Women’s Agenda can. Personally and professionally I have derived an inordinate amount of satisfaction doing that.
The obvious question, given all of this, is why would I leave? Why indeed! It wasn’t an easy decision but the truth is, it turns out, I’ve learned an awful lot while I have been here. From the various women who write for us and the multitude of women whom I’ve met and interviewed in this role; by osmosis their collective career advice, their anecdotes, their stories and their wisdom has seeped in.
Because despite an initial reluctance to even contemplate change, I challenged myself. When it comes to work, it seems, I’ve learned that taking risks, not being averse to new challenges, expanding your skillset, being willing to change gears and adapt are attributes that hold you in good stead.
And that is why I’m ready to embrace a new challenge. My commitment to women and gender equality will remain potent: of that you can be certain. Once you see gender inequality, it’s impossible to unsee so until I no longer see it I will continue to challenge it.
As will Women’s Agenda in its resolute and inimitable way. As difficult as it was to fathom a new role, one person made it very simple. No two editors will ever be the same, but I am delighted to be handing the reins to Jane Gilmore, a woman befitting the challenge and the privilege of the role.
In the short time we’ve worked together I have learned Jane is as sharp as she is committed. She’d only been working with us a week when we had the conversation: she’d realised there was no half-hearted way to be involved with this community. It was all or nothing and Jane wanted all. We’re lucky to have her and I am excited to watch as the next chapter of Women’s Agenda comes to life.
I am hugely indebted to two women for not just bringing me into the Women’s Agenda fold, but for providing unwavering encouragement, support and friendship along the way. Angela Priestley and Marina Go are not just my work colleagues, they are terrific friends.
I have told the story of Marina approaching me via Twitter many times, but it never gets old, at least not in my head! A private message received while in the wilderness of maternity leave really was the break of a lifetime.
That break meant I had the daunting task of covering for our founding editor and current publisher Angela Priestley while she was on maternity leave. They were huge shoes to fill but I had every bit of her support.
Our overlapping working lives were, from the start, a great testament to what flexibility, job sharing and collaboration can achieve. It’s been terrific fun working together, not just sharing our ‘work’ but also our lives juggling small children whilst trying to stave off gender inequality.
I am, without even a hint of false modesty, seriously proud of what we’ve achieved. And I am certain the best is yet to come.
I am also exceptionally grateful to Private Media, the independent media company that brings you Women’s Agenda. The company, chaired by Eric Beecher and lead by Jason Kibsgaard is filled with talented, hardworking gems whom I have loved working with.
My final thanks goes to you, our wonderful, intelligent, passionate, wise readers. You make this community what it is. Your commitment and encouragement is always noted and appreciated. Thank you so much for having me. It really has been a blast.