EQUAL VOICE TO HONOUR FORMER AUSTRALIAN PM JULIA GILLARD AS GLOBAL CHAMPION

Broadbent Institute and Equal Voice to celebrate Australia’s first female Prime Minister

OTTAWA—Equal Voice and the Broadbent Institute are hosting a special event tonight to celebrate Australia’s first female Prime Minister Julia Gillard this weekend. Equal Voice, a national organization dedicated to the election of women in Canada, will name Ms. Gillard a Global Champion for Women in Politics. Ms. Gillard is in Ottawa as the keynote speaker at the Broadbent Institute’s inaugural Progress Summit.

“We are so pleased to have the opportunity to honour Ms. Gillard for her remarkable leadership.  She is only one of only very few women to ever lead a G20 country and we are delighted to seize this opportunity to celebrate her,” notes Raylene Lang-Dion, National Chair of Equal Voice. 

Ms. Gillard served as the 27th Prime Minister of Australia, and the Australian Labor Party leader, from 2010 to 2013 by forming a coalition government. She was the first woman to hold either position. During her tenure, she did not shy away from calling out sexist behaviour from other politicians in the legislature.  In 2013, she lost the party leadership to Kevin Rudd.

“Ms. Gillard is a role model for women in politics and public life,” said Kathleen Monk, Senior Advisor at the Broadbent Institute. “A capable leader whose government ushered in many progressive social and environmental policies, such as paid parental leave, Australia’s first national program for people with disabilities and carbon pricing.”

A small number of tickets remain available for tonight’s event. They can be purchased on site on location at the Delta Hotel, Penthouse suite located at 101 Lyon Street North. Tickets are $50. All proceeds after costs will go to advancing women in politics.

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For more information, please contact:

Nancy Peckford, Equal Voice (613) 292-7941
Denise Siele, Equal Voice (613) 276-3274
Kathleen Monk, Broadbent Institute (613) 296-2073