On Friday, March 7, the Canterbury Bankstown Chamber of Commerce hosted over 200 people from across New South Wales to celebrate the ambition and achievements of women that extend beyond its southwestern Sydney border, indicating a growing interest from industry in the area’s younger talent, diversity, and drive for entrepreneurship.

Wally Mehana, CEO of the Chamber, explained “we (the Chamber) are the gateway for the West and work closely with the South-West,” Wally said. “Our Chamber believe in the value of relationships and a sense of community, not just postcodes”.

The Chamber invests in and pushes women to grow their networks, drive greater aspirations, and fuel industry investment. In addition to its annual Women in Leadership networking event, the Chamber invests in three flagship programs: the Chamber’s Women’s Committee, the BRAVE project, and the BRAVE Return to Work program. These programs help women overcome common barriers to career progression and business startup success, and funding.

The event hosted a panel of industry leaders and experts from the land and property, military, aviation, technology, and legal sectors, including Mona Chiha, Founder and CEO of JurisTechne; Sally Dale, NSW Valuer General; Brigadier Jodie Lording from the Australian Army and Defence Strategist and Policy Expert; Lauren Milner, Female Football Operations Manager and NRLW Team Manager at the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs; and Elizabeth Paparo, Marketing Manager at Beijer Ref Group Australia, Beijer Ref Academy Manager, and Kirby Apprentice Fund Manager.

The panel was moderated by Tracy Alexakis, CEO and Patient-Fronting Pharmacist at the Minnet Group.

Accelerate action” served as the central focus, urging guests to do more than just talk about supporting the next generation of aspiring businesswomen. Some of these young women from the next generation were present at the event, including attendees from Condell Park High School, who were participating in their first networking event.

Mona Chiha, Founder and CEO of JurisTechne, shared her personal experiences of discrimination in the workplace and the challenges of securing venture capital as a female business owner. She commented that her initiative, vision, and ability to learn from the ‘no’s’ in her business journey have shaped her approach, helping her overcome barriers and invest in her company to secure a higher valuation.

Sally Dale, NSW Valuer-General, and the state’s first female to hold the position, offered valuable advice on pushing boundaries in both career and business through strategy and long-term vision. She shared, “I was the only woman in the property valuation course at Western Sydney University, in a class of about 100 students.”

She also emphasised the importance of investing in property and homeownership. Dale highlighted that over 34,000 women and children are currently waiting for homes on the social housing list and despite the “negativity” in the property market, urged all Australians to consider the goal of owning a property.

The event included a special announcement from Aladdin Kheir of the UAE-based property developer, the Arada Group, which revealed it will continue investing in urban developments in Canterbury-Bankstown, including diverse housing solutions. The Group also plans to build a new crisis and temporary accommodation for around 100 women and children experiencing domestic violence or financial abuse.

Also, plans for a new Centre of Excellence for aspiring men and women rugby league players were announced by John Khoury, Deputy Chair of the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs Board. He shared that the centre would be “the first of its kind” in Sydney, designed to “support the next generation of local and up-and-coming talent”. Born and raised in Greenacre, in Sydney’s South-West, John has contributed to the direction of the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs Boards since 2018.

The event was held at the boutique William Inglis Hotel in Warwick Farm, a suburb in Sydney’s South West known for its racing history and rich thoroughbred industry. It was supported by local and international-based sponsors, including the ARADA Group, Liverpool City Council, U-Go Mobility, Optus Business Centre, Care Wide Australia, Katalyst Construction, El-Khair Florist, Collappor8, Serenade Candles and Frank & Co.