With International Women’s Day upon us, it’s a time to reflect on the achievements, resilience, and impact of women around the world. From breaking barriers to driving change, women continue to shape our communities, workplaces, and industries. While progress has been made, the journey toward true equality is ongoing. This week at Tandem, we asked our team to reflect and answer three different questions:

• Why is International Women's Day important to you personally and professionally?
• What businesses or charities do you believe genuinely support the International Women's Day mission?
• Can you share an example of a woman or movement that has inspired you, particularly in the HR space?

Our team had some incredible insights to share. Here’s what they had to say:

Why is International Women's Day important to you personally and professionally?

Matt Saitta: IWD is a matter of recognition, equity, and progress. Personally, it’s a reminder of the resilience and contributions of women across all walks of life.

Professionally, in recruitment of HR, it highlights the ongoing need for fair hiring practices, equal opportunities, and genuine inclusivity in workplaces. It’s not just about celebrating achievements but also addressing barriers that still exist.

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Melanie Barrett: I’m grateful to come from a long line of strong, skilled women and bold women who had access to education, progressive workplaces, and the freedom to pursue a career beyond traditional gender roles. But my own good fortune does not lessen the need for advocacy. Progress for women is neither simple nor guaranteed, and equality remains out of reach for many.

It would be perverse to set International Women’s Day aside as just another event or another DEI moment in time. True progress demands that we continue to stand up for what we believe is right—not just today, but every day.

 As Gloria Steinem put it, “The story of women’s struggle for equality belongs to no single feminist nor to any one organization but to the collective efforts of all who care about human rights.” The responsibility to create lasting change is shared by us all.

The next generation gives me hope—I see in my children and their friends a world that is evolving, but one that still needs to be actively shaped to ensure true equity for all.

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Carly Quin: International Women’s Day matters because it highlights the progress made toward gender equality but also reminds us there is a way to go! I always reflect on the opportunities I want my daughter to have throughout her life and love talking about inspirational women that have overcome barriers – for all of us.

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Matt Parrish: Personally: As a father of a teenage daughter, International Women's Day holds a deep personal significance. It’s a reminder of the world that you want to help create for your daughter and all women: one that is fair, equal, and full of opportunities. It is a great time to reflect on the positive influence that women have had on my life and to think about how I, as a father and role model, can continue to support my daughter in reaching her full potential.

Professionally: In my role as a Senior People & Culture Leader and business owner, I’m responsible for creating workplaces where all individuals can thrive. International Women's Day underscores the importance of diversity, equality, and inclusion in the workplace. It's a time to celebrate the achievements of women in leadership, and it's also a call to action to ensure that organisational practices are actively removing barriers that impede women’s progress in business and leadership roles.

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Rachel Gilzean: Given the Gender pay gap – I feel it is still quite important to recognise women’s experience in the workplace is different to men. It is important to recognise all the professional women who are or have paved the way to improve equality in the workplace.

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Georgia Hazell: Personally, as a mother of two, I want my children to grow up in a world where gender equality isn’t just an aspiration but a reality. I want my daughter to have the same opportunities as my son, without bias or limitations placed on her potential.

Professionally, working in HR recruitment in Australia, I see firsthand the barriers women still face in the workplace. This year’s theme, March Forward, is a powerful call to keep pushing for progress. It’s not enough to acknowledge inequality—we need to take active steps to break down barriers, create opportunities, and support women at all stages of their careers.

For me, IWD is not just about celebrating achievements—it’s about moving forward with purpose, challenging biases, and ensuring that change doesn’t stall but continues to gain momentum.

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Ben McCormack: IWD presents us with the opportunity to reflect on the progress made with gender equality across all facets of life, but also continue to highlight and focus on the additional work that is needed to close the gap on all fronts.

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Emma Ford: Personally, As a mother to a young daughter, I want her to grow up in a world where she feels empowered, valued, and has every equal opportunity to succeed, no matter her gender. It's a day to celebrate the progress we've made and to inspire future generations of women to break barriers.

Professionally, I see the challenges women still face in the workplace—whether it's pay gaps, lack of representation in leadership, or in the never ending challenge of balancing career, future aspirations and family. International Women's Day is a reminder to continue advocating for equality, supporting female talent, and creating workplaces where women can thrive.

What businesses or charities do you believe genuinely support the International Women's Day mission?



Nicole Strickland: One charity that I feel truly resonates with the mission of International Women's Day is Dress for Success. I admire how this organisation goes beyond just providing professional attire; it’s about empowering women with the confidence and tools they need to succeed in the workforce. They offer mentorship, career development, and interview coaching, which makes such a difference in helping women gain economic independence and find their place in the workforce. Dress for Success is all about lifting women up, helping them feel seen, confident, and capable. It’s a cause that aligns perfectly with the spirit of International Women’s Day, and I believe their work has a real, lasting impact on the lives of women worldwide.

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Eryn Button: The Women’s Resilience Centre is doing brilliant work, founded by Simone Allan - The Women’s Resilience Centre is a national service dedicated to helping women heal and move forward from domestic abuse, trauma, grief and deep loss through powerful and holistic long term recovery support. Programs are offered to help work and career, finances, parenting, relationships, mental health, joy and community, and resilience, reflecting our core values of safety first, caring to the core, respect, hope, inclusion, and empowerment.

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Ellie Stock: Scope, a not-for-profit disability service provider, secured 12 days of reproductive leave as part of their enterprise agreement. This initiative supports staff dealing with reproductive health issues. Medibank has been recognised for its inclusive paid parental leave policies, offering flexible, gender-neutral, label-free policies and return-to-work support for their employees. Organisations that are leading the way are those implementing policies like menopause leave, enhanced parental leave, pregnancy loss leave, domestic violence support, and flexible working arrangements.

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Yvette Crawley: International Women’s Day is a time to celebrate progress, but more importantly, it’s a reminder that real change comes from ongoing action. This year’s theme, "Accelerate Action," is all about moving beyond words and making a real, lasting impact.

There are so many incredible organisations doing just that, but three that really stand out to me are:

Fitted for Work – Helping women enter the workforce by providing career coaching, mentoring, and professional workwear.

Good Shepherd Australia New Zealand – Supporting women with financial security, crisis support, and long-term advocacy to drive real change.

Share the Dignity – Tackling period poverty by ensuring women in crisis have access to essential hygiene products.

These charities aren’t just talking about change—they’re making it happen every day.

Can you share an example of a woman or movement that has inspired you, particularly in the HR space?

Mark McOnie: My mum worked in HR, then called personnel. My dad worked away and so it was mum who managed the house, worked full time and cared for my brother and I. She taught us so much from an early age, particularly around being responsible for tasks and pulling our weight around the house and garden. It can't of been easy. She taught me to cook, clean and help our neighbours. She was a driven professional and the balance of life and work would have been hard, but she travelled to work every day, gained extra qualifications at night school, kept fit and was there for us every night without fail. Despite the best efforts of disruptive teenage boys, she became an influential leader who had an enormously positive influence on the people that she worked with. Since retirement, she has continued to immerse herself in family, a lifelong love of learning, her volunteer work at the Foodbank and has the biggest heart for her community. She still goes to Pilates 4 times a week. We talk and she gives me advice every day. I think of and celebrate the inspiration that is my mum every International Women's Day!

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Michael Murrie: In my role at Tandem Partners I find this really hard to answer. Honestly, in my line of work I meet so many women every day whether they are clients, candidates, and working colleagues. If I think especially about new candidates that I meet, the inspiration is the story…both professionally and / or family, life challenges. I am highly fortunate to hear the story of women’s lives and how did they get this point. Their backgrounds are all so unique and brings so many great stories but also their life journey.

 I especially love hearing about those women who arrive here from overseas, sometimes with very little English, and/ or no support and begin their life here. What are the drivers and what are the motivators? All so different. Inspiration is seeing them go on a journey and try to find happiness with family, then work, in that order. The resilience and motivation is incredible because even in this lucky country the cards are somewhat stacked against them.

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Rachel Gilzean: Over the past 5 years, I have seen a huge difference in what companies now offer in their parental leave policy. We have seen this across the HR market at both the macro and micro level; From global policies in multinational firms through to smaller organisations here in the Sydney and Melbourne market, led by many of the exceptional (and often female) HR leaders within our own network. We know these policies significantly improve outcomes for females in particular when it comes to their career and return to work.

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Matt Parrish: Not a HR leader a such but growing up as a keen tennis player, I always found Billy Jean King an inspiring leader. She is an advocate for gender equality and has long been a pioneer for equality and social justice. She was the first person to campaign for equal prize money way back in the early 1970’s and as the defending champion, was brave enough to threaten not to play in the 1973 US Open if the tournament didn’t offer equal prize money for men and women, which it did. She is obviously famous for her activism related to tennis and her infamous win in ‘the battle of the sexes’ against Bobby Riggs in 1973 but her influence extended beyond tennis in to other sporting codes and in to the world of business.