The Dunedin Branch of National Council of Women held its sixth annual “Inspiring Young Women Breakfast” recently, at which six women, successful in their chosen careers, spoke to Years 12 and 13 girls from 9 local secondary schools, about their journey to where they are, the obstacles they met and how they overcame them. Sixty-five students came at 6.45am to hear the speakers, who were from a range of occupations and whose journeys were very different.

Panelists (l-r): Megan Gibbons (CEO Otago Polytech); Julia Imo (post-graduate studying bioengineering and founder of Wayfinder); Elisabeth Cunningham (Convenor of Breakfast); Emma Burke (Lawyer); Alison Lambert (Chef); Jay Phillips (Programme Manager of YES -Youth Employment Success); Abbey Brice (Auto Electrician).

This year the speakers were - an auto-electrician who is qualifying to be a mechanic; a lawyer; a post - graduate bio-engineering student who is the founder of Wayfinder; a chef; the CEO of Otago Polytech, and the Programme Manager of YES (Youth Education Success), a branch of Firebrand.

The girls were able to question the speakers and talk to them at the conclusion of the talks, which finished at 8.30am.

To read more articles from The Circular (Nov-Dec 2022) issue 638, click on the tag below.