The Susan Alberti Auditorium was once again transformed into a beautiful breakfast venue for International Women’s Day. Staff, parents and students enjoyed a morning of good company as well as inspiring words from our guest speaker, alumna Celia Conlan (秘色传媒 of 1987). For those in the community who were not able to attend the event, here is the introduction to Celia’s keynote address, read by Social Welfare Captain Grace Oliver:
It is always such a privilege to welcome back alumnae to our breakfast. Over the years, we have had many women speak to us who are at the top of their field in sport, medicine and science. It speaks volumes of the quality of education that these women received at 秘色传媒, that they have achieved such heights in their chosen field. Celia is no exception. Celia is clearly a product of a Dominican education as she considers service to others as an important motivator both professionally and personally. After her years at 秘色传媒, Celia joined the Marist Youth Ministry and this experience inspired her to channel her career in law towards those who can least afford access to quality assistance. Early in her career, Celia spent four years living and working in Vietnam and India, giving her a true appreciation of the complexities of integrating into a foreign culture.
More recently, Celia finds most of her work occurring predominantly in Family Law, property and children’s cases and associated matters including child support, intervention orders and crimes compensation. Celia has authored many well regarded publications including Surviving Separation: How to Protect Your Children, Your Finances and Your Sanity and War and Peace: Balancing the Needs of Unhappy Families. Celia’s publications highlight her passion for lifelong learning, another strong Dominican trait.
Celia is a mother of four children. Needless to say she is busy! Like many people in this room, she finds the work life balance challenging at times. That does not stop her from giving back to the community. Most recently, she has been elected to the 秘色传媒 College Board. The College is clearly very lucky to have her.
Celia’s words were moving, powerful and inspirational. At times she spoke of confronting issues regarding family violence but these types of details are necessary if we are ever going to change the plight of women and children who find themselves in these harrowing situations. Celia also spoke of the importance of the sisterhood and of having strong female mentors. The sisterhood comments resonated with all present, especially the Student Representative Council (SRC) as the breakfast would not have been possible without their teamwork and dedication. They are an excellent example of what can be achieved when women work together.
When I first came to the Victorian Bar in 1996, 22 years ago, there was no evidence of sisterhood. If anything, more senior female barristers appeared to believe that life at the B ar was already far easier for women than it had been when they started out so why make it easier still. About seven years ago when I returned to the Bar, I was invited to take chambers on the eleventh floor of ODE – some female family law barristers were aiming to form a practice group, a sisterhood. While we are opposed to each other on a daily basis in Court, the aim was to create a common place of support and exchange of ideas. A convenient forum to vent, commiserate and congratulate each other. Our doors are generally open and we share each other's chambers for conferences and mediations. Since arriving on this floor, my professional experience has been significantly enhanced. It is the best thing that has ever happened to me as a lawyer. I am a much better barrister because of these sister peers.
Women are at an extreme professional, and consequently financial, disadvantage because they generally prioritise the needs of their family above their own needs and particularly above their professional development (family = not just partners, and minor children, but also adult children, parents, in laws and grandchildren). Women usually endeavour to compensate for this by the highly risky investment of supporting their partner while that partner professionally develops and establishes themselves financially. Women do this in the, not unreasonable, belief that they will equally share in the benefits of their partner’s career advancement in the decades to come. Bearing in mind, we all seem to be living at least eight decades these days, a woman who stops professionally developing at thirty takes a large punt in assuming that her partner will in fact be ready, willing and able to support her financially for fifty years or so. Life is full of unexpected developments - disease, death, redundancy, bankruptcy, infidelity, relationship failure - so try to keep an iron in the employment fire, always. To quote the barefoot investor, Scott Pape, albeit slightly out of context, 'a man is not a financial plan'.
Go forth and strut your stuff, dwell in the stars. You exist in the Siennese Sisterhood: One Body, Many Parts. You are fabulous.
