By Rowey Worner Butcher
On August 10 in conjunction with the New Zealand High Commission, ANU hosted a discussion titled “Mana Wāhine”. The conversation, which focused on the role of women in leadership, had a panel consisting of Former New Zealand Prime Minister, Dame Jacinda Ardern, ANU Chancellor and former deputy leader of the Australian Liberal Party, Julie Bishop, Olympic Swimmer Bronte Campbell, and award winning New Zealand actress Rena Owen.
The panel was held in a sold out Llewellyn Hall and was moderated by Australian journalist Laura Tingle, but featured talks from Minister for Sport, Anika Wells as well as New Zealand High Commissioner to Australia, Dame Annette King.
The evening’s discussion revolved around experiences of the different panellists as leaders within their respective fields, but was framed by the concept of “Mana Wāhine”. “Mana Wāhine” is a Māori term which loosely translates to “women of strength” or “powerful women”.
After a welcome to Country by Aunty Matilda House, the Sydney Māori Kapa Haka group performed a series of songs and dances all based upon the concept of Mana Wāhine.
Significant features included the centering of a female voice before the introduction of the rest of the group, and a Haka directed toward Jacinda Ardern as thanks for implementing a public holiday for Matariki, New Zealand’s first “authentically Māori” public holiday.
Across the diversity of the experiences of the panellists, there was a consistent theme of the importance of representation in order to inspire future generations. This is in part related to the panel being held as a broader conglomerate of discussions hosted at the ANU revolving around women and power, motivated by the traction generated by the current Women’s FIFA World Cup.
On this note, Campbell commented, “The reason I wanted to do it [Olympic Swimming] is because I saw someone else do it. That’s it.”
The role of intersectionality was provoked by actor Rena Owens. “In the 70s as a Maori being an actor wasn’t an option. There were no brown faces,” she stated. “I’m grateful I got to be that person because of my role in Once Were Warriors.”
In her final thanks to Dame Annette King, who is retiring from her role as High Commissioner at the end of the year, Ardern emphasised this point, “Those who walk a path of leadership always follow those who came before us,” she said.
The politicians of the panel also spoke of the standards to which women are held in comparison with their male counterparts.
ANU Chancellor Julie Bishop talked of her early years serving as a member of parliament within the Liberal party. “So many people are willing to set a standard that they couldn’t reach themselves.”
“I realised…I have to live with myself not what others are demanding of me,” she stated.
She also had a few words of advice for the current opposition party: “It’s teamwork that makes a government. When people are acting as individuals rather than part of a team, that’s when you lose government and become the opposition.”
Campbell echoed this statement, reflecting on the similarities of what creates a cohesive team across realms of both sport and politics. Campbell, who was president of the Australian Swimmers Association from 2016-2021 stated, “We are the sum of all our parts.” She reflected that even though Olympic Swimming is an individual sport, a spirit of camaraderie and teamwork is proven to improve the performance of athletes.
Ultimately, through discussions of the panellists’ experiences in sport, politics, creative and professional realms, there came a clear understanding that the limitations faced by one member were more often than not shared by another.
But in the shared barriers found by the panellists there was also an understanding of what allowed those leaders to move forward in their respective fields, best summed up by Owens: “Fearlessness. Fear will stifle you.”
And a final word of advice from Campbell, who is aiming to qualify and compete at the 2024 Paris Olympics: “What could possibly happen if I keep pushing?”
Graphics by Will Novak
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