On 7 November 2025, Her Excellency Ms. Minoli Perera, Australian Ambassador to Zimbabwe, officially opened a Women in Leadership Network (WILN) Workshop in Harare. In her remarks, Ambassador Perera commended the women for their initiative and highlighted the publication of the Australian Government’s International Gender Equality Strategy earlier this year.
The event also marked the launch of the WILN Zimbabwe Chapter, held at the Australian Embassy Clubhouse in Harare. It brought together 23 Australia Awards and privately funded alumni, alongside staff from Australia Awards Africa and the Australian Embassy.
Organised by the Australian Embassy in collaboration with Australia Awards Africa, the half-day workshop featured a capacity-building program with speakers including Nancy Biwott, GEDSI Manager at Australia Awards Africa, and Dr. Stella Punungwe, a mental health expert and alumna.
Jenny Laughton, Team Leader for Australia Awards Africa, provided an overview of WILN, its Council, and its purpose. She noted that WILN was established in 2013 and officially launched by former Liberian President Dr. Ellen Johnson Sirleaf. Jenny expressed gratitude to chapter initiators Felida Nkhoma and Nothando Nduna, acknowledging Felida’s engagement with the WILN Council and her commitment to the WILN.
Workshop discussions explored themes such as Giving Back: Alumni impact on workplaces, society, and communities; Inspiring Alumni Change-Maker Stories and Women Mentorships: The Alumni Advantage. Highlights included insights from Alice Liswaniso, Chairperson of the Zambia Alumni Association, who shared experiences from the WILN Zambia Chapter, and Dr. Punungwe’s session on Mental Health and Resilience: Thriving Amid Pressure and Transitions. Each session concluded with reflective questions for participants to consider in the coming weeks.
The Women in Leadership Network provides a platform for active female Australia Awards alumni to connect, share ideas, and address critical issues in advancing gender equality.
The morning event concluded with a networking lunch hosted by the Australian Embassy.
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