Deakin Business School hosts EntreprenHer program for girls

The event will be held Saturday 1 and 8 December at Deakin's Melbourne Burwood Campus, and live-streamed to sites in Sydney and Perth. The EntreprenHer seminars aim to help girls aged 12 to 18 to develop their self-confidence and workplace knowledge.

Speakers for the program include EntreprenHer director and co-founder Vanessa Cox, co-founder and Australian Marketing Institute fellow Nina Christian, Global Keynote Speaker Lisa McInnes-Smith, and Australian professional table tennis player Melissa Taper, who was the first Australian athlete to qualify for both the Summer Olympics and Summer Paralympics.

EntreprenHer co-founder Nina Christian said the program was designed to keep girls engaged and motivated.

"Most of the girls who participate in the program don't have a business idea when they arrive, they come to the program because they have the desire to be something great," she said.

Deakin Business School women in leadership expert Professor Hannah Piterman said it was vital for girls and young women to have their entrepreneurial independence and business skills nurtured from an early age.

"Australia is well-placed on the world stage, but our nation's productivity, competition and human capital won't ever reach its full potential unless we recognise and embrace the market for female talent," Professor Piterman said.

"We know that Australia is losing momentum when it comes to female leadership, and women continue to be underutilised in our organisations, particularly at senior levels.

"On the World Economic Forum's annual global gender gap index, Australia's overall world ranking has worsened significantly from 23^rd position eight years ago to 35^th position in 2017.

"We need to see more programs such as EntreprenHer that work to harness and develop the potential of girls and young women, to establish a talent pipeline that will increase opportunities for women throughout their careers and ultimately lead to organisational and national success."

What: EntreprenHer "Ignite Your Dreams" 2-day program for girls.
When: 9.30am to 4.30pm Saturday 1 and Saturday 8 December, 2018.
Where: Deakin University Melbourne Burwood Campus, Burwood, Victoria (location details, including program, pick/up drop off locations will be provided to registrants).
Registration: www.igniteyourdreams.com.au