International Women's Day

City of Ryde celebrates women’s achievements and supports gender equality as part of International Women’s Day (IWD) in March.

This year’s International Women's Day Forum theme is March Forward - it's time to turn promises into progress, reminding us that progress is not just about reflection but about taking decisive, bold steps to turn our commitments into action.

On Saturday 8 March, City of Ryde hosted a free International Women's Day Forum at North Ryde School of Arts, featuring an impressive line-up of guest speakers and performers.

Simone O’Brien is a domestic violence survivor, speaker, and passionate advocate for women’s safety. As a devoted mother of three, she shares her harrowing experience of surviving a brutal attack by a perpetrator who refused to accept 'no' as an answer. With resilience and strength, Simone uses her story to raise awareness about the warning signs of domestic violence, empowering others to recognise red flags and work toward prevention.

We were also excited to have Cosmia De Vito a finalist of the first Australian Idol joining us to perform at the event. Cosima is a highly accomplished singer-songwriter with over 20 years of experience, she is an ARIA Award winner with platinum-selling songs to her name. She has recorded and performed extensively across the country in both English and Italian, captivating audiences with her talent and artistry.