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International Women's Day 2026

UN Women Australia 2026 International Women’s Day Theme: “Balance the Scales”.

The 2026 theme of “Balance the Scales” highlights the urgent need to ensure fair, inclusive, and accessible justice for every woman and girl.

UN Women Australia CEO Simone Clarke said: “Balance the Scales is a promise for every woman and girl to be safe, heard, and free to shape her own future. In 2026, unjust laws, policies, and ingrained barriers still stand in the way of fair and inclusive communities. This International Women’s Day, we are calling on Australians to join a movement for real action – to transform our justice systems, amplify marginalised voices, and ensure equality is not the exception, but the rule.”

The event will conclude with an address from The Hon. Rose Jackson MLC, Minister for Housing, Homelessness, Youth, Mental Health and Water.

Dr Helen Proudfoot Women in Planning Award

We are excited to announce the upcoming NSW Women in Planning Awards, and we need your help to recognise the incredible women who have made significant impacts in our field! By celebrating the achievements and dedication of women in urban planning, we highlight the vital role they play in shaping our cities and improving our quality of life.

Dr Helen Proudfoot demonstrated a tireless determination to enhance planning policy and practice through a commitment to understanding and celebrating ‘place’ and working across disciplines to develop integrated and place-based plans for Metropolitan Sydney.

The recognition of women’s contributions to planning outcomes, policy and practice through targeted awards is a fundamental step to ensuring we are positively contributing to, and supporting, gender equity and diversity within the planning profession and the Institute.

The Dr Helen Proudfoot Women in Planning Award will be presented to a female planner who has made an outstanding contribution to planning in NSW during the 2025 calendar year. This accolade will provide an opportunity to acknowledge and celebrate the important contribution that women planners make to planning as a profession and to the outcomes of planning work in NSW.  

Keynote Speaker, Tabitha Acret 'Balance the Scales'

Tabitha Acret is a devoted mother turned advocate after the tragic loss of her daughter, Mackenzie Anderson, to domestic violence. Her lived experience has driven her to become a powerful voice for systemic change, ensuring that the justice system truly protects women and children. Tabitha played an instrumental role in reforming minimum sentencing guidelines for intimate partner murders in Australia, a milestone in strengthening accountability for gender-based violence.

In her talk, Tabitha will explore the theme of “Balance the Scales”- a promise that every woman and girl deserves to be safe, heard, and free to shape her own life, with fair and accessible justice for all. She will share her personal journey, the ripple effect of violence on families and communities, and the urgent need to dismantle structural barriers, unjust laws, and ingrained prejudices that block women and girls from justice.

Drawing on the current state of gender-based violence in Australia - where intimate partner homicide remains alarmingly high - Tabitha will outline what must change: survivor-centred justice, stronger laws, prevention-first strategies, and cultural transformation. Her message is a call to action for policymakers, advocates, and every Australian to commit to systemic reform and create a future where safety and justice are not privileges, but rights.

Tabitha and Mackenzie

Tabitha Acret is a devoted mother to Mackenzie Anderson, whose life was tragically taken through domestic violence. Since Mackenzie’s passing, Tabitha has become a passionate advocate for children and victims of domestic and family violence, using her voice to drive change and raise awareness. She is currently studying gender policy, deepening her understanding of the systemic issues that perpetuate gender-based violence. In addition to her academic work, Tabitha serves as a Lived Experience Advisor for the NSW Government, ensuring the perspectives of survivors and affected families are heard in the shaping of policy and support services. Tabitha was instrumental in driving legislative reform in Australia, successfully advocating for changes to minimum sentencing guidelines for intimate partner murders. Her efforts have strengthened accountability within the justice system and ensured that these crimes are treated with the gravity they deserve. Through her advocacy, Tabitha strives to honour Mackenzie’s legacy by working toward a safer, more equitable future for all women and children.

Closing Address, The Hon. Rose Jackson MLC.

Rose Jackson is a Labor Member of the NSW Legislative Council and serves as the Minister for Housing, Homelessness, Youth, Mental Health and Water. Since entering Parliament in 2019, Rose has led major reforms to build a fairer, more compassionate NSW. She’s delivering the biggest reform of public housing in a generation - including the historic $6.6 billion Building Homes for NSW Program. As well as launching the state’s first Office for Youth, cracking down on water theft, mental health system reform and protecting public ownership of essential services. Rose has also held a variety of roles within the labour and union movement including Assistant Secretary of NSW Labor and as an official for United Voice (now United Workers Union.) She is driven by her values: fairness, equity, and opportunity for all. She lives in Rockdale with her family and believes that young women, working parents, and everyday people deserve a seat at the table - and a strong voice in Parliament.

Meet the nominees

Stella Agagiotis MPIA Manager, Strategic Planning, Randwick City Council About Stella Stella has over 30 years of experience in strategic and statutory planning, having worked across both local and state government. Over that time, Stella has developed and implemented a wide range of plans, policies and strategies, including two comprehensive reviews of the Randwick Local Environmental Plan and the Randwick Development Control Plan. Stella motivates and encourages her colleagues to find enjoyment in their work and to approach challenges with curiosity, creativity and purpose.

 

Cinnamon Dunsford Planning & Engagement Specialist, Locale Consulting About Cinnamon Cinnamon is a Registered Planner, mentor and highly experienced community engagement practitioner. She is an alternate member of the Sydney and Regional Planning Panels. Cinnamon's passions are regional NSW and community-led planning initiatives, being able to understand regional and community issues and using her in-depth planning knowledge to bring about positive change.

 

Adiba Islam PIA (Assoc.) Town Planner, Queanbeyan Palerang Regional Council About Adiba Adiba is a graduate urban planner with a background in architecture and a strong focus on data-informed, sustainable urban development. Adiba is a creative thinker and approaches town planning from a foundation of architecture, which she brings to her DA assessments. She shares her interpretation of the architecture in our towns with colleagues and brings passion back to planning using her sketching skills on site visits and assessments.

 

Mel Krzus RPIA Director, GYDE Consulting About Mel Mel is a Director at GYDE Consulting, a leading consultancy in NSW and the ACT offering statutory and strategic planning, communications and engagement, social planning, urban design, and data analytics. Over the past 16 years, Mel has emerged as a dynamic, solutions-oriented planner, who consistently strives to achieve positive and innovative outcomes for government and private Clients.

 

Dr Nicole McNamara Senior Case Manager, Planning Panels, Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure About Nicole Nicole is a skilled strategic and statutory planner, with extensive experience in project management, strategic land use planning including complex and high-profile controversial rezoning proposals, development assessment, pre-lodgement advice, Aboriginal land use planning, policy reform, and academic research. Nicole strives to create more sustainable and equitable futures through planning practice, genuine community engagement, and the generation and sharing of knowledge.

 

Alanna Ryan RPIA Director, SOL Environment and Planning About Alanna Alanna is an environmental and planning professional specialising in navigating the complexities of regulatory approvals throughout the project lifecycle across sectors of the economy. With tertiary qualifications and REAP certification, Alanna offers strategic guidance on approval and compliance risks, ensuring practical implementation of mitigation measures.

 

Lauren Turner RPIA Head of Town Planning & Advisory, MMJ Town Planning About Lauren Lauren is the Head of MMJ Wollongong’s Town Planning Team and Registered Planner + EIA with over 16 years of experience across both private sector and local government. She is a dedicated advocate for the profession, serving on the Property Council’s Illawarra Shoalhaven Chapter and mentoring the next generation through the PIA Mentoring and the Girls in Property program.

 

Alison Weir RPIA Coordinator Strategic Planner, Orange City Council About Alison Alison is an Urban Designer and Strategic Urban Planner at Orange City Council. She is passionate about innovative and inclusive leadership that achieves sustainable and equitable outcomes for the community. Alison’s values and principles are shaped by the understanding that it is the people of cities and regions that shape the culture, life and identity of a place.

 

Trigger Warning

The keynote speaker, Tabitha Acret, will share her daughter’s tragic story and her advocacy work following the intimate partner murder of a family member - a topic that may be distressing to some. This event will include discussion of intimate partner violence and the personal experiences of bereaved families, particularly involving domestic violence and its aftermath. Attendees may hear accounts that are emotionally triggering.

We recognise this is a very sensitive topic and ask all attendees to approach the session with empathy and understanding. Please prioritise your wellbeing and step away or seek support if needed.
 
Support Resources
If you or someone you know is affected by the issues discussed, consider the following confidential support services available across Australia:

1800RESPECT – 24/7 national counselling, information & referral for anyone impacted by domestic, family or sexual violence.
Call: 1800 737 732 | SMS: 0458 737 732

Charity of Choice: Full Stop Australia

Special thanks to our sponsor

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