Affinity Education Group Celebrates International Women’s Day #BreakTheBias
This year’s theme for International Women’s Day ‘Break the Bias’, provided Affinity Education with the opportunity to celebrate the women who are shining stars in our community, and the role they play in the lives of women in our future.
To mark this important occasion, a virtual event, hosted by Linda Carroll, Chief People Officer, Affinity Education Group was held.
The virtual event attracted more than 150 women (and men) from our Affinity Education Group community. Here, Affinity Education explored the roles and opportunities early childhood educators have to create bias-free opportunities for the women of the future, with a special focus on the role of STEM education to make both available and encourage young girls to develop a lifelong love of learning.
Keynote speakers included:
- Elizabeth Death, CEO at ELACCA
- Dr Tess Boyle, STEM Educator and author of Affinity’s soon to be released Big Thinkers Early Education STEM Curriculum
- Cathy Montesin, CEO at Affinity Education.
Elizabeth Death, CEO at ELACCA discussed how educators have an important opportunity to raise awareness.
“Never underestimate the role educator’s play in women’s equality and breaking down bias within the community,” Ms Death said.
Dr Lesley Jones, Head of Pedagogy and Practice at Affinity Education interviewed Dr Tess Boyle who has a wealth of teaching and academic background with a focus on STEM education. Dr Boyle shared facts about women and girls in STEM and the importance of introducing children, particularly young girls to this.
She shared her career highlights about being a teacher and educator, including the joy her role brings in seeing children’s faces light up as they make new discoveries. She also discussed the importance of encouraging children to explore STEM as part of their everyday life, harnessing their natural curiosity and demystifying STEM as a powerful way to change perceptions and breakdown biases for future career and work choices.
Cathy Monstein, CFO at Affinity Education spoke of her experiences as both an inspirational leader and Mum of three daughters, and the role her own Mum played in setting her up early for future success. She also gave nod to her accounting teacher who inspired her chosen career path to enter into the business world.
“It’s important to raise people’s consciousness to be more aware of natural biases,” Cathy said. “In doing so, the more we bring to the fore in the future, the more opportunity we have to change people’s thinking and behaviour.”
Affinity also celebrated and recognised 16 of Affinity’s amazing and inspiration women educators, Centre Managers and Operations Team across Australia.
Special recognition was given to Charlene Dean from Papilio Early Learning Blackburn, Samantha Ellis from Kids Academy Regentville, Tala Pothecary from Milestones Early Learning Tingalpa and Kerri Kyte Affinity Operations Manager, Western Australia and Northern Territory.
