#BalanceforBetter outcomes as part of International Women’s Day

Published on 07 March 2019

Join Mildura Rural City Council in striving to build a more gender-balanced community by celebrating International Women’s Day tomorrow.

This global event is a chance to reflect on the progress already made towards gender equality, as well as highlight the importance and success of our female leaders.

The theme for 2019 International Women’s Day is #BalanceforBetter in reference to the growing expectation of gender balance and the benefits it brings.

One of two female Mildura Councillors and a successful businesswoman and community leader, Cr Min Poole said she was proud of the progress already made by many organisations, including Mildura Rural City Council.

“Council has made great strides to close the gender divide,” Cr Poole said.

“We’ve been a strong voice for White Ribbon as Sunraysia’s first accredited workplace, more than half of our organisation’s workforce are women and we now have a Councillor portfolio that specifically addresses gender equality.

“While this is great progress, there’s always more to be done. I hope the work our organisation has been able to achieve inspires other workplaces and groups to examine their own gender balance.”

A very powerful way to inspire others in the community to strive for a better gender balance is through the successes and achievements of others.

Cr Poole’s leadership journey started at a very young age, joining youth leadership groups as a child.

This followed through to her years as a parent, where she was naturally drawn to leadership positions on kindergarten and school committees.

She then went on to build a successful career in the highly competitive banking and real estate industries.

Cr Poole managed several retail banking branches before moving on to the real estate sector, self-educating herself to become a fully licenced real estate agent ahead of obtaining her auctioneer’s licence.

At the same time she built up two successful direct marketing businesses, one of which grew to the point where she was managing 80 consultants.

While successful in business, Cr Poole remains a firm believer in using leadership positions to improve the lives of others.

Despite balancing her time between being a parent, Mildura Councillor, successful real estate agent and business owner, Cr Poole has been an active member of the Rotary Club of Mildura Deakin and has been President for the past year.

“At Rotary, we’re really focusing on our youth as future leaders of our community, and when I speak to some of our young people it’s so encouraging to see the hope, the drive and the energy to succeed, and that can only be fostered by a supportive community, irrespective of gender,” Cr Poole said.

Find out more about International Women’s Day and #BalanceforBetter by visiting www.internationalwomensday.com

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