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| (L-R):
John McBeth, Rotary Club of Wellington President Kerry Prendergast,
Rotary Club of Kapiti President Roger Sowry, District 9940 Governor
Simon Manning, Louise Nelson, Anna
Guenther and Liz Koh who is Kapiti Coast Chamber of Commerce Chair and Rotary Club of Kapiti Immediate Past President (at the podium)
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Words and photos: Hannah Delaney, PR Communications Manager, Kapiti Coast Chamber of Commerce
International
Women’s Day on March 8 was widely celebrated in New Zealand, but in
case you missed it, pencil Kapiti’s event in your diary for next year.
The “Is it in the Genes?” debate, jointly hosted by
The Kapiti Rotary Club
and The
Kapiti Coast Chamber of Commerce
is likely to be an annual celebration with over 200 attendees at the celebrity event
- not only successfully raising awareness of the issue - but also $1000 for
Kapiti Youth Support!
Guest
speakers included: former Wellington mayor and Rotary Club of
Wellington President Kerry Prendergast; CEO & founder of PledgeMe
Anna Guenther; Royal NZ Air Force Helicopter
Crewman & former Miss Manawatu Louise Nelson; former MP and
politician and Rotary Club of Kapiti President Roger Sowry; Rotary
District 9940 Governor Simon Manning; and sports commentator John
McBeth.
Event
MC Wallace Chapman of Radio New Zealand National, set the debate tone
that ranged from Simon’s discussion on New Zealand Rotary and the need
for greater diversity in an organisation
that has been known for the phrase “male, pale and stale”, to the
difference between male and female thinking with Louise’s demonstration
of her initiative to use a trolley to transport 52kgs of Army equipment -
as opposed to carrying it over her shoulder
like her male counterparts!
Voicing
her corporate experience, Anna ended the debate with impact, in her
brilliant point about climbing the corporate ladder, which was met by a
round of applause
from the audience. “We also need to be supporting women through the ranks and supporting them as they
go up the ladder… and actually,
let dudes climb down that ladder if they want to as well. Heck! Let's change the ladder!”
Stories and tales that all concluded one thing: we have come far in society, but there is still a way to go.
For
those who missed it, make sure you save the date for next year, because
if this year’s event was anything to go by, you won’t want to miss it!
