• Charles Sturt lecturer and alumna to speak at March Forward in Wagga Wagga on International Women’s Day

A Charles Sturt University alumna and lecturer will be among the powerful female voices to speak at this weekend’s March Forward event in Wagga Wagga for International Women’s Day.

Professor in Veterinary Parasitology in the Charles Sturt School of Agricultural, Environmental and Veterinary Sciences in Wagga Wagga Shokoofeh Shamsi (pictured, left) and Charles Sturt alumna Mrs Harriet Brennan (pictured, right) will be speaking at the all-day event on Saturday 8 March.

March Forward will commence with an event hosted at the University’s Riverina Playhouse, which will feature inspiring women from the fields of academia, sport, music and art, health, business and motherhood sharing their stories.

Professor Shamsi said if we want real change, we must stop celebrating women for ‘surviving’ male dominated fields and start changing the structures that make survival necessary.

“As academics and alumni, we are living proof that women belong in every space, whether it’s in a research lab, on a farm, in a leadership role or leading the next generation of scientists,” she said.

“The problem is visibility. It’s hard to become what you rarely see.

“If society, and particularly young women, don’t see female professors, female scientists, female veterinarians, female fisheries experts, they might believe that these fields aren’t meant for them. We need to change that.”

Professor Shamsi’s talk is titled ‘From Iran to the Riverina: A Female Scientist’s Journey’ and will reflect on her life as a woman in science, the struggles she faced in Iran, the challenges that still exist in Australia and the similarities between the two countries.

She said women in male-dominated fields, such as veterinary science, aquaculture and agriculture, usually experience higher rates of gender inequality, especially in rural areas.

“This is why Charles Sturt – and the broader academic and professional community – must ensure that women's voices are heard, their contributions are recognised, and their presence is actively supported in events like International Women’s Day,” she said.

“Stories need to be shared, because if they aren’t, the challenges women face can be overlooked or ignored.

“Mentorship shouldn’t just focus on younger women — while they need to see that their ambitions are valid and achievable, we also need to mentor and educate everyone else to create a truly inclusive environment.”

The theme for this year’s International Women’s Day, which is held on Saturday 8 March, is ‘Accelerate Action’ and both Charles Sturt women are leading the way in their chosen fields to ensure equality for women.

Mrs Brennan graduated from Charles Sturt in Wagga Wagga with a Bachelor of Teaching (Secondary) after previously completing a Bachelor of Animal Science, also with Charles Sturt. While studying teaching at Charles Sturt, she was a member of the University’s Elite Athlete and Performer Program while she played hooker for the Brumbies Super W Rugby Union Team.

She has previously spoken about the importance of equality for women in sport and will this weekend speak about her experiences of playing at an elite level, the importance of sports leaders and how women have transformed sports cultures and stereotypes.

March Forward will be held from 9am to 9pm, starting at the Charles Sturt Riverina Playhouse before participants march to the Riverside Stage for a free dinner, sustainable fashion parade and concert.

Tickets can be purchased online via Humanitix.