ACBC Vic | International Women’s Day Forum and High Tea 2024

14 Dec 2023

Join us on March 7 2024 in celebrating the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women both in Australia and around the world at one of Melbourne’s largest International Women’s Day events.

ACBC Victoria warmly invites you to celebrate International Women’s Day 2024 with a special High Tea at The Langham in Melbourne with the ACBC community and an esteemed panel of speakers.

We are excited to return in 2024 to celebrate the spirit and success of all women and reflect on progress made towards Invest in women: Accelerate progress.

Hear from our panel of speakers including Director of Marketing in Tema Moda, Caterina Nesci; Founder of Australia China Arts Foundation, Yashian Schauble; and Owner & Winemaker of Octtave and Susuro Wines, Nikki Palun. They will discuss their journeys to follow their passions and how they have succeeded as leading entrepreneurs in the fields of the arts, fashion and winemaking.

You will have the opportunity to participate in an interactive conversation with the speakers, moderated by ACBC Victoria CEO Virginia Birrell, and enjoy afternoon high tea while networking and celebrating the successes of each other and women across the globe.

Tickets are selling fast so secure your spot below!

Event Details:

Date: Thursday 7 March 2024
Venue: Alto Room at the Langham Melbourne — 1 Southgate Ave, Southbank VIC 3006
Time: 1:30pm for 2:00pm – 5:00pm

Individual Tickets: $155 for ACBC Members and $185 for General Admission excluding GST & Booking fees

Members Corporate Table of 8: $1,230 excluding GST & Booking fees

Non-Members Corporate Table of 8: $1,470 excluding GST & Booking fees

Not an ACBC Member? Sign up here

Event Partner:

Celina is the founding Managing Director of two related educational organisations in Melbourne, GBCA (vocational) and EIA (higher education). Under her leadership, GBCA and EIA have become vibrant and growing private education providers. She is also the winner of 2023 Asian-Australian Leadership Awards (Education, Science, and Medicine category) and 2023 Australia-China Economic Trade & Investment Expo Awards (Young Talent).

Celina has also been actively contributing to a range of public, academic, and not-for-profit sectors in her leadership roles, which include Member of International Education Advisory Council, Government of Victoria and Associate of Centre for Contemporary Chinese Studies, The University of Melbourne. Celina received the prestigious RMIT University Doctoral Research Excellence Prize in 2014, and is also a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and a graduate of the Australia-China Association of Scientists and Entrepreneurs (ACASE).

Prize Sponsors:

Event Speakers

Caterina Nesci

Tema Moda is an Australian-owned online slow fashion brand, committed to ethical practices and high-quality craftsmanship. With over 20 years of strategic marketing experience, Caterina has a passion and a commitment for building successful brands that resonate with consumers and create positive social and environmental impact. Hear about Caterina’s career from her senior role at an $18 billion of assets management company to Director of Marketing at Tema Moda and her involvement in advocating women leadership across different programs and activities.

Yashian Schauble

ACAF is a not-for-profit public organisation dedicated to supporting artists and building active links in the field of contemporary art between Australia, China and the Asia-Pacific region. ACAF programs enable exhibitions, scholarships, seminars, internships, educational support, special events and art exchanges. The overriding aim is to equip artists with first-hand experience of the hosting country, and to encourage reciprocity within the region. Yashian is a passionate art collector. She understands the impact of arts as part of cultural diplomacy and importance of support to arts community and is a sought-after speaker.

Nikki Palun

Nikki grew up in a family of backyard winemakers. She had a career in music first, then entered the wine industry as export manager at De Bortoli and went on to study winemaking at Charles Sturt University. In 2014, she started the Octtava and Susuro wine labels. Nikki is a graduate of the Australian wine industry’s Future Leaders Program, has served as a Wine Victoria board member, and has been involved in the Victorian Government wine ministerial advisory committee. Her approach to business during COVID and while wine export restrictions to China were in place show her resilience and ability to overcome obstacles.

Virginia Birrell

Virginia joined the Australia China Business Council Victoria (ACBC) as CEO in August 2014. She works in close liaison with Austrade, DFAT, Federal and State Governments, the China Chamber of Commerce in Australia, Chinese Government representatives and with the over 3,000 member organisations connected with the council around Australia. Her primary responsibilities are to optimise the performance and strategic growth of the ACBC and to ensure member companies in city, metropolitan and regional areas are provided with knowledge, advice and strategic networking activities to grow their business opportunities in and with China. She also works to assist Chinese companies who wish to do business in Victoria and ACBC’s nation-wide state Branches.