In this special Reimagining Belonging podcast episode, released for International Women's Day, host Rana Ebrahimi and guest Sue Vincent explore gender equity, diversity, and inclusion within Rotary and society. They reflect on the evolving role of women in Rotary, acknowledging that women were only officially allowed to join in 1989, and emphasize the need to continue challenging inequity and bias.
Sue shares her personal journey into Rotary, inspired by the Four-Way Test, and her leadership in creating District 9800’s first Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) committee. Together, they discuss the importance of mentoring, allyship, and creating spaces where women can thrive as leaders, linking these efforts to Rotary’s mission of "Service Above Self." Both highlight how lived experiences of past generations, including women being forced out of work upon marriage, have shaped their advocacy for inclusion. They stress that although progress has been made—such as increasing women's participation in Rotary—there’s still work to do, as women only make up about 30% of members in Australia. The episode calls for continued action, empowering girls, and normalizing women’s leadership in all fields, while also promoting accessible ways to share these important conversations across the Rotary community.