A Women in Leadership Workshop in Mauritius motivates alumnae to be change agents in their societies

On Monday 18 March 2024, Australia’s High Commissioner to Mauritius, HE Ms Kate Chamley and the Mauritian Minister of Industrial Development, SMEs and Cooperatives, the Hon. Naveena Ramyad officially launched the “Leading for Change Regional Women in Leadership Workshop” at Curtin Mauritius’ Campus in Moka, Mauritius.

The two-day workshop brought together 15 professional Australia Awards alumnae from across Mauritius, Rodrigues, Madagascar, Seychelles, and Comoros to develop their leadership skills and enhance their ability to drive inclusive change in their professional and communal environments. The Australian High Commission in Mauritius (in collaboration with Australia Awards Africa) partnered with the Charles Telfair Leadership Academy at Curtin Mauritius to facilitate the workshop.

Speaking at the workshop, Ms Chamley said: “Supporting leadership training for women is not just a matter of fairness and equality, but a smart business decision that can lead to better outcomes for individuals, organisations and society. The Australian Government has a steadfast and ongoing commitment to be at the forefront of efforts to promote gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls with partners overseas.

High Commissioner Chamley said it is not just about honing leadership skills but also about fostering a community of support, mentorship, and collaboration and recognising the unique strengths and perspectives that women bring to the table and harnessing this to drive positive change and innovation.

In her address, the Minister, who is also an Australian alumna, said the world is full of opportunities for women willing to pursue actively continuous learning and professional development despite financial and personal barriers. She called on women to invest in themselves, build up their confidence and focus on their authenticity and exceptional woman identity. Minister Ramyad shared how her exposure to opportunities provided through study had contributed to shape her views on women leadership and their crucial position as agents of change. She thanked the Government of Australia for offering such educational chances to women that served not only to empower them but also to broaden their horizons.

Dr Myriam Blin (Head of the Charles Telfair Centre and Head of the Faculty of Accounting, Finance and Law at Curtin Mauritius) and Ms Varsha Naran (a coach and leadership facilitator) facilitated the highly interactive workshop program aimed at the advancement of women in leadership roles.

The capacity building program started with an exploration of the gendered landscape in the region. The attendees also explored topics such as Empowered Leadership: Embracing Your Strengths and Braving Uncomfortable Conversations. An Australia Awards alumna and guest speaker, Margaret Moumou, joined the workshop online to speak about Self-care and Resilience. The first day was concluded with an evening cocktail reception for the workshop participants and other stakeholders at the Voila Bagatelle Hotel in Mokka. On the second day, participants delved into topics such as Collective Wisdom for Women in Leadership, Understanding Strategies to Address Gender Inequalities and Empowerment in Action.

Over the course of two days, the workshop amplified the alumnae’s voices, sharpened their skills, and guided them to seize the opportunities that await them. Through collaborative discussions and working on networking opportunities, the participants established connections to support one another.

This initiative also enabled participants to understand the extent of gender inequalities in the Western Indian Ocean Region; grasp how gender norms and roles impact women and men’s experiences at home and at work; and evaluate how unconscious biases influence behaviours and actions in the public and private spheres. The alumnae are motivated to explore setting up or reviving Women in Leadership Network (WILN) groups in their respective countries and consider forming a Western Indian Ocean Chapter of the WILN.