A Power Trip with A Difference

Stephanie Girard talks to Tasmanian winner Heidi Berry from Midway Point.

Women in Banking and Finance CEO, Stephanie Girard recently attended Country to Canberra’s jam-packed event, the Power Trip, at the Rydges hotel in Surry Hills, Sydney.

“I was honoured to attend this event. It’s important we recognise and work together to combat the barriers that young women living in rural communities face. WiBF is proud to support the empowerment of young rural women to reach their leadership potential,” Stephanie said.

The Power Trip is the ultimate prize for winners of Country to Canberra‘s Leadership Competition. These winners were chosen from hundreds of national entries after submitting their ideas about how we can empower women and non-binary people in rural communities.

The Trip connects these rural and remote trailblazers with powerful politicians, CEOs, advocates, and entrepreneurs, aiming to empower them to reach their leadership potential through workshops, networking events, and media exposure.

The inspiring young winners met with incredible political leaders, which included Minister, Kristy McBain MP and Sophie Cotsis MP. CEO, Licia Heath from Women for Election, CEO of Little BIG Foundation, Sarah Matthews and Stephanie Girard, CEO of Women in Banking and Finance. Attendees also enjoyed a keynote address from Josie Clarke, Founder of Ability Agriculture and the ACT/NSW winner of the AgriFutures Rural Women’s Award. AgriFutures Australia was the proud Diamond Sponsor of the Power Trip event.

Winners of the 2022 Country to Canberra Power Trip.

“For the first time since the inaugural program in 2014, C2C is taking the Power Trip to two cities – Sydney and Adelaide. We had a fantastic time in Sydney, and we can’t wait to do it again in Adelaide next week!” said Han Worsley, Canberra to Country, Outgoing CEO.

“The Power Trip compliments our other program, Project Empower, a workshop that has travelled to rural locations in every state and territory this year. It’s the perfect way to finish 2022,” Worsley continued.

Congratulations to the winners:

• Olivia (Liv) Titley
• Chelsea Gorry
• Coralie Sandor
• Deepkiran Kaur
• Charlee Watt
• Bailey Falls
• Kayanne Lewis
• Kellis Dare Lawrie
• Tegan Senar
• Heidi Berry
• Eloise Piper
• Samantha Dendle
• Lil O’Connor
• Sithmi Rajindi Konara Konara Mudiyanselage (Sithmi Konara)

Stephanie Girard talks to Queensland winner Olivia (Liv) Titley, from Charters Towers.

The Power Trip winners have now returned to their homes around rural and remote Australia.

WiBF’s vision to create a tangible, positive impact to improve gender diversity and inclusive leadership practices, aligns with Country to Canberra’s mission to empower young women to reach their leadership potential. We are proud to support their mission and look forward to the opportunity to work together in 2023.