International Women's Day Breakfast 2025

Join us for our annual International Women’s Day Breakfast at the beautiful Park Proxi Hotel!

This year’s theme, For ALL Women and Girls, celebrates the diverse experiences of women worldwide.

Enjoy a delicious hot breakfast while listening to inspiring local keynote speakers, Sarah Mangelsdorf and Sarah Steele. Our MC for the event will be Council's own Shelley Jones, Director or Corporate Strategy and Resourcing.

MC- Shelley Jones

Shelley is a seasoned local government leader with nearly two decades of experience driving change in rural and regional councils. As Director of Corporate Strategy and Resourcing at Wingecarribee Shire Council, she brings a passion for organisational strategy, a proven track record in transformation, and a deep commitment to community-focused leadership.

An executive leader in two amalgamated councils, Shelley is also a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. She has successfully navigated complex mergers, led teams through crises, and built strong connections between staff, leadership, and the broader community. Her ability to drive strategic change while fostering collaboration makes her a respected leader in the sector.

Keynote Speaker Biographies

Sarah Mangelsdorf 

Sarah is the General Manager of Pop In, a local non-profit organisation supporting families impacted by domestic violence, family and sexual abuse. Sarah is involved with The Youth Impact Foundation, building a local wellbeing collective, sharing the science of wellbeing to all schools in this regional and rural district, with the goal to empower community members to be active participants in addressing their own community’s needs.

Sarah’s 25-year career has involved teaching in multiple locations and sectors in Australia, the USA and the UK. She was an education consultant in India, founded Interpersonal Communications in Malaysia, worked for the International Organisation for Migration in Sri Lanka, and as school counsellor in Singapore and the Southern Highlands.

Sarah is actively engaged in community services and not-for-profit programs, driven by her deep values of connection, compassion, and courage. She loves living in the Southern Highlands with her family and relishes her daily walks up The Gib.

Sarah Steele

Sarah is a Registered Nurse with a background in Emergency Nursing. Currently on secondment as a Nurse Unit Manager, her substantive role is in Nursing Education for Justice Health, who provide health care to people who have come in contact with the criminal justice system.

In addition to her professional roles, Sarah is a dedicated mother of four and a volunteer breastfeeding counsellor with the Australian Breastfeeding Association. She also serves as a coach, manager, and Chair of the Women and Girls in Sport Committee, as well as Vice President of the Bundanoon Rebels Football Club. Sarah’s dedication to uplifting girls through sport lead to securing funding via the Growing Football Fund supported by the Commonwealth Bank, to supply a Bundanoon Rebels women’s uniform for the first time.

Sarah has recently been credentialed as a Certified Health Informatician (CHIA), a Graduate of the Australian College of Nursing and is an inaugural Bullwinkel Scholar, a prestigious program focused on providing exceptional skilled health care for all Australians. 

Youth Q&A

Giving young women a voice is so important so we're excited to host a powerful youth Q&A as part of this year's event. They'll be sharing their thoughts on what actions are necessary to create real, lasting equality here in our region, and we can't wait to hear what they have to say. 

Musical Performance

We also welcome back Moss Vale High School's choir for another beautiful performance for guests. 

Dress for Success

We invite all guests to bring one item of professional clothing to donate to the charity Dress For Success, helping women achieve economic independence through employment opportunities Have a read of their donations guide then choose an item to donate at the breakfast.  Alternatively, you can donate directly to the charity when you book your ticket.  

When

Location

Park Proxi Gibraltar Bowral, 7 Boronia Street, Bowral, 2576, View Map