Collectively we can all #breakthebias: our IWD event is this Friday

International Women’s Day on 8 March is an important date on the Carey calendar as it is across the globe. For many years now, Carey has celebrated International Women’s Day in a number of ways and in particular through the International Women’s Day speaking event. Over the years, we have had many strong and inspirational female alumni come back to Carey to share their personal experiences and stories in relation to gender equality.

It is an honour to host the 2022 IWD speaking event this Friday 11 March. This event showcases our female alumni as visible role models and an inspiration to staff, students and parents as they support Carey’s co-education values by encouraging everyone to become advocates of gender equality. This year, we welcome Libby Chow (1993) back to Carey.

The global International Women's Day 2022 theme for this year is #BreakTheBias. We are looking forward to hearing Libby’s stories around body image; gender equity, representation and pay; and periods, perimenopause and menopause. These are important topics for all of us, men and women, to feel safe and comfortable discussing, and there are many things we can all do to help as we strive to live in a world free of bias, stereotypes, and discrimination. A world that is diverse, equitable, and inclusive. A world where difference is valued and celebrated.

Libby Chow is a storyteller, having worked in media, journalism and video throughout her career. She is now mainly a freelance video producer, photographer and filmmaker: a one-woman video production unit across all stages of the process. Libby does pre-production, planning of logistics, scripting and budget to on location, directing, filming, lighting, sound and photography and post-production.

Most recently she has been ‘Giving Voice to Menopause’ through a documentary film project of the same name that was the fruit of our extended lockdowns. This film was also selected to be part of the Female Voice Rock Festival program in New York in 2021.

For the past 20 years, Libby has worked on small and large media projects such as a series of health resource videos written in collaboration with Indigenous Elders, short documentaries celebrating community climate activists for Darebin City Council, and film clips for Clare Bowditch – Libby even toured nationally with Claire playing French horn, backing vocals, keys and banjo on occasion.

Libby was instrumental in helping develop The Age’s online platform at the beginning of 2000 when the concept of online news delivery was just to repeat the hardcopy paper in a digital form. During her time at The Age, she won a Walkley and a Quill award for her video contribution for best use of the medium.

‘Whether deliberate or unconscious, bias makes it difficult for women to move ahead. Knowing that bias exists isn’t enough, action is needed to level the playing field.

‘Are you in? Will you actively call out gender bias, discrimination and stereotyping each time you see it?

‘Will you help break the bias?’
– International Women’s Day website

Tickets for the event are still available. The event will take place in the Ian Woolf Auditorium in the De Young Centre for Performing Arts from 7.15am to 8.20am. Please register your attendance at here.

Collectively we can all #breakthebias

Katie Hunt
Alumni and Community Manager