Australian High Commissioner, HE Ms. Minoli Perera, launches a Women in Leadership Network Chapter in Malawi

On 5 March 2024, Her Excellency the High Commissioner to Malawi, Ms. Minoli Perera, initiated the Women in Leadership Network – Malawi Country Chapter during her maiden official visit to the country, where she holds non-residential accreditation. The event, which took place in Malawi’s capital, Lilongwe, was accompanied by a capacity-building workshop for 22 Malawian alumnae. The event was organised by the Australian High Commission in Harare in collaboration with Australia Awards Africa.

The Women in Leadership Network aims to provide a platform for active female Australia Awards alumni to convene, share ideas, and address critical issues in promoting gender equality. The workshop, attended by a diverse group of women, focused on topics such as the impact of gender on leadership dynamics, communication skills enhancement, personal branding, and the importance of male advocates for gender parity.

The following day, Ms. Perera, along with esteemed alumna, Ms. Mercy Dube, participated in a local radio broadcast on Zodiak Online to illuminate Australia’s cooperation and initiatives in Malawi. They highlighted the evolved significance of Australia Day, now commemorated in acknowledgment of all Australians including the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, the indigenous inhabitants of Australia. Furthermore, they discussed the pivotal role of Australia Awards in supporting Malawi’s development, leveraging Australia’s world-class expertise and education credentials. Ms. Dube, a prominent member of the Malawi Australia Alumni Association, shared her enriching experience as a beneficiary of the Australia Awards, underscoring her contributions to Malawi’s urban development sector post-studies.

The festivities continued with an Australia Day Reception in Lilongwe on the evening of the 6th, graced by ambassadors, high commissioners, and government officials from various nations, including South Africa, the UK, Japan, China, and Malawi, among others. The reception coincided with Malawi’s celebration of its 60th year of independence, symbolising the enduring friendship and ongoing collaborative efforts between Australia and Malawi, particularly in areas of mutual interest such as mining.

These initiatives not only celebrated the accomplishments of Australia Awards alumni but also highlighted the enduring partnership between Australia and Malawi, laying the groundwork for sustained collaboration in advancing socio-economic development and gender equality in the region.