Meredith Dwyer

Chair of Fundraising Institute Australia and Director of HomeMade Digital

‘2020 was a challenging year – not only from the impact of the pandemic but also rising consciousness of inequity, systemic racism and harassment and violence towards women. The roll-out of vaccines will alleviate the dangers of COVID-19, but the way we work – and the types of jobs and industries that will return or flourish – will change.

‘The Black Lives Matter movement brought awareness of structural racism to a larger audience, but the hard work of dismantling discrimination still lies ahead. And in recent weeks, the impact of sexual harassment and workplace culture has been pre-eminent.

‘With disruption, however, comes opportunity. Women have multi-tasked and organised their way creatively through the last 12 months to deal with these challenges and take on the hard work of sustained change. It feels as if many of these issues are now at a tipping point, and collectively women’s voices in Queensland and further afield are being heard and making real change.

‘During Queensland Women’s Week I’ll be celebrating not only women as leaders but the impact of our collective actions, voices and power on issues that, if addressed, will build a stronger, fairer and better Queensland.’