This page lists events we have run in the past five years.
Return to the Current and Upcoming Events page
2024 Events
9 December: Re-framing the menstrual cycle and menopause: how to reclaim the power and joy of your female experience
An interactive workshop led by Melanie Laird (both a certified Menstrual Cycle and Perimenopause coach and a Research Fellow in reproductive biology at the University of Otago) in which she shared practical tools and resources to help women confidently navigate their current menstrual/menopausal challenges by living cyclically, no matter what phase of life they’re in, and reclaim the joy, mana and power of their cyclic experience.
21 November: Annual General Meeting (AGM)
Thank you to all those who came to our Annual General Meeting AGM (in-person and virtually). Once the formalities were over, Professor Emerita Helen Nicholson shared insights from her leadership journey.
17 October: A conversation with Professor Emerita Dawn Elder (UOW)
Dawn graduated from Otago Medical School in 1980 and undertook postgraduate training in the UK, Australia and New Zealand. In 1995 Dawn was appointed Senior Lecturer in Paediatrics at the then Wellington School of Medicine (a joint clinical academic appointment) following completion of advanced training in neonatal medicine in Perth, Western Australia. She worked as a neonatal medicine specialist at Wellington Hospital until 2004 transferring then to retrain in paediatric sleep medicine and also worked clinically in the area of child protection. Dawn was Professor and HoD of the Dept of Paediatrics & Child Health, UOW from 2013 until her retirement in 2022. She then provided locum cover for another year until July 2023. She currently chairs the Organising Committee for the Otago Medical School’s 150th celebration in 2025.
Watch the recording (32 minutes)
15 October: Lunchtime casual catch-up
An informal BYO lunch at the University Staff Club providing an opportunity to meet the committee and meet/catch up with other women staff from around the Dunedin campus.
16 September: Suffrage Lecture – Mana Wāhine Mana Motuhake
Presented by Metiria Stanton Turei – social activist, lawyer, and former co-leader of the Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand.
The Mana Wāhine Inquiry was initiated by the Waitangi Tribunal in 2018 , nearly 25 years after the first statement of claim was filed by the past presidents of Te Ropu Wahine Māori Toko i Te Ora, the Māori Women's Welfare League. The Tuapapa foundational hearings have been completed and we await a number of research reports and the resumption of hearings. The evidence follows four themes, Atua Whaea, Relationality and Balance, Wāhine Mana and Rangatiratanga and Domains of Wāhine Authority. Wāhine Māori have waited decades for this Tribunal opportunity to speak to the colonising experience of wāhine and to correct the patriarchal assumptions that have undermined mana wāhine for nearly two centuries. The Inquiry is at its early stages just as the Waitangi Tribunal faces its most voracious political threats.
6 August: A conversation with Professor Emerita Nicola Peart
Professor Emerita Nicola Peart joined the University of Otago Law Faculty in 1987 and has taught Property Law, Wills and Trusts and Advanced Family Property Law over her academic career. She was one of the expert advisors to the Law Commission on three of its recent projects - Trust Law, Relationship Property Law, and Succession Law. She has been an active supporter of Staff Women’s Caucus and women’s equity at the University.
Nicola retired in 2020, and continues to do some teaching in Property Law and remains active in research. In the 2024 King’s Birthday Honours, she was appointed an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit, for services to the law.
Watch the recording (44 minutes)
11 July: A conversation with Associate Professor Diane Kenwright
Associate Professor Diane Kenwright (HoD Pathology and Molecular Medicine (UOW), and co-Chair of the Science, Research and Scholarship Curriculum Domain group) shared her life and career journey to date with insights into her leadership and interpersonal style - especially in times of change. Her open mind, positive attitude, enthusiasm and warmth are evident in this interview with Kathryn Tsikanovski (one of our two SWC Committee members based in Wellington).
Watch the recording (37 minutes)
22 May: Lunchtime casual catch-up
An informal BYO lunch providing an opportunity to meet the committee and meet/catch up with other women staff from around the Dunedin campus.
14 May: The underestimated power of doing stuff for free
Sze-En Watts (Manager, Social Impact Studio) shared her personal journey to a career in volunteering. Working across students, staff, community organisations, funders, and local government, Sze-En brings people and resources together to realise the power of doing stuff for free and the positive impact it has on the University, the Ōtepoti community, the environment and our individual and collective wellbeing!
Watch the recording (30 minutes)
24 April: Medieval women: surprisingly human
Women in medieval literature might be assumed to be figures of silence, obedience, good breeding and manners. The women in Geoffrey Chaucer’s poetry, however, show a great deal more complexity and humanity than is popularly ascribed to medieval women including characteristics of: anger, humour, intelligence, slyness, rashness, prudence and physical strength, among other things.
Professor Simone Marshall (Head, School of Arts) examined a selection of Chaucer’s women to show the wide range of humanity exhibited in their personalities, and why Chaucer appears to show such an interest in women.
Watch the recording (41 minutes)
11 April: Celebrating women in tertiary education
In conjunction with the Tertiary Education Union ( TEU ) we welcomed the TEU ’s Te Pou Whirinaki / National Women’s Officer, Bronwyn Larkins, to Ōtepoti Dunedin. Bronwyn introduced herself and shared aspects of the TEU Women’s Officer role, a few short-term goals, and updates on the Pay Equity campaign.
Bronwyn was supported by President Tāngata Māori of the TEU : Hūhana Wātene, and the Vice-President of the TEU ’s National Women’s Committee: Siân Halcrow (University of Otago) and Jodi Hawe (Otago Polytechnic|Te Pūkenga).
8 March: International Women's Day (IWD)
We again partnered with Graduate Women Otago to celebrate IWD with breakfast at Ombrellos Cafe and Bar and excellent guest speaker Trish Oakley, a member of University Council and an executive at Forsyth Barr.
2023 Events
25 September: Suffrage Lecture – He Aha i Pera Ai? Māori Prisoner Voting Rights
Presented by Awatea Mita, an emerging scholar with research interests in settler colonialism, Māori justice and mātauranga Māori. Awatea’s research explores the increase of criminal justice claims before the Waitangi Tribunal. She is a justice advocate speaking out for equitable outcomes in criminal justice, applying her lived experience expertise.
8 March: International Women's Day (IWD)
We again partnered with Graduate Women Otago to celebrate IWD with breakfast at Ombrellos Cafe and Bar and excellent guest speaker Caroline Hepburn-Doole, the first female Head of Knox College.
23 February: Hocken summer exhibition - Joe L'Estrange - curator’s tour
This much-acclaimed exhibition brought together over 40 works by Ōtepoti-based artist Joe L'Estrange for her first major show at a public art gallery. Works were sourced from private collections across the country, as well as the Hocken's L'Estrange collection that has grown with gifts from several generous benefactors.
2022 Events
8 March: International Women's Day (IWD)
Due to COVID‑19, Staff Women's Caucus did not hold a local event to celebrate IWD. Instead, members were encouraged to join the IWD Parliamentary breakfast livestream event hosted by The Zonta Club of Wellington and UN Women Aotearoa New Zealand.
The keynote speakers were:
- Her Excellency, The Rt Hon Dame Cindy Kiro (GNZM, QSO), Governor-General of New Zealand
- Hon Jan Tinetti, Minister of Internal Affairs, and Minister for Women
- Sophie Handford, Kapiti Coast District Councillor, and climate change activist
- Ranjna Patel (ONZM, QSM), Founder of Tamaki Health and Gandhi Nivas
6 July: From Palestine to Otago
Beginning in Palestine, Rasha Abu Safieh Alfar shared her amazing journey that has led her to Dunedin and the University of Otago. It is a journey full of challenges, resilience and success. It was an inspiration to all who attended.
2021 Events
8 March: International Women's Day (IWD)
A joint celebration with Graduate Women Otago at Ombrellos Kitchen & Bar with guest speaker Professor Nicola Peart reflecting on "My Years at Otago".
10 April: Dunedin Arts Festival "The F-Word"
A group booking for the very excellent performance in which in which Tami Neilson explored the complicated relationship between country music and feminism throughout the nearly 70 years since the first #1 hit for a female country artist.
16 April: Professor Liz Slooten
A seminar marking Liz's retirment from the University and as SWC's co-president (academic). Liz reflected on her time at the University, plans for the future and challenges for sustainable NZ.
21 May: Otago staff equity demographics data (2015-2019)
Dr Trudie Walters (Staff Women's Caucus Co-President (Academic)) reviewed the first five years of University of Otago Staff Equity Demographics Data (2015-2019) to look at what the numbers tell us:
- What has changed/stayed the same?
- Which area(s) of the University are doing well?
- Which area(s) can do better?
SWC will be doing some follow-up work in this area.
16 November: Young Women in Leadership ( YWiL )
YWiL was established for Dunedin high schools by Associate Professor Karen Nairn (University of Otago College of Education) in 2017. The programme provides young women in year 12 with an opportunity to experience leadership and to work with others to bring about change in their school and community. Karen was joined by two of the young women who participated in the programme and one of the mentors.
3 December: End of Year breakfast at Joe's Garage
An informal get together to say Meri Kirihimete and farewell 2021 (what a year … again!). People also gave generously to the request for donations of toiletries for Women's Refuge – thank you!
2020 Events
Due to Covid-19 only three events were held in 2020.
6 March: International Women's Day (IWD)
This was a joint celebration with Graduate Women Otago at Ombrellos Kitchen & Bar.
24 August: Lunch, AGM and working from home
During lunch we held our AGM and then heard from Associate Professor Sara Walton and Dr Diane Ruwhiu the results of a study investigating New Zealanders' attitudes towards working from home. The research was a product of the Work Futures Otago Group (led by Associate Professor Sara Walton with Drs Paula O'Kane and Diane Ruwhiu, from the Otago Business School).
2 December: End of year and farewell to two longstanding members
An informal BYO lunch to farewell/celebrate the end of a very different year and also to mark the retirement of two long standing SWC members – Professors Emeritae Barbara Brookes (History) and Nicola Peart (Law).