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This week, Spence Club members gathered in the warm and welcoming surrounds of the Gallery Bar on Waymouth Street for a sold-out evening of connection, courageous and conversation.
Held during South Australia’s History Month, the event was a powerful celebration of women who are shaping history in real time while honouring the pioneering legacy of Catherine Helen Spence.
The evening’s panel featured three remarkable women: Chelsey Potter, Kimberly Goh and Marissa Schulze, whose stories deeply resonated with spence members. Through honest and deeply personal conversations, each speaker shared what it means to advocate for yourself and others, to step forward when it would be easier to stay silent, and forge new paths without a clear roadmap.
Chelsey Potter spoke candidly about courage, resilience and using your voice to create systemic change. Her reflections on speaking out against sexual harassment in Australian political workplaces highlighted not only the personal cost of advocacy, but also the extraordinary impact that brave individuals can have in creating safer futures for others.
Kimberly Goh shared her inspiring journey from arriving in Australia as an international student to founding the Migrant Women Professional Network, which has now connected more than 1,000 women from over 50 countries. Her story was a powerful reminder that belonging is something we actively build for ourselves and for others.
Marissa Schulze brought insight, humour and practical wisdom as she reflected on her learnings from each step in her career until becoming one of Australia’s most respected voices in mortgage and finance. Her story reinforced the importance of backing yourself early, thinking long term and refusing to be underestimated.
For this event, in addition to donating the event profits to Catherine House, our event attendees also contributed to Dress for Success South Australia by generously a gently used professional clothing, extending the evening’s impact well beyond the room itself.
Our speaker Chelsey Potter announced she would be donating a very special piece of clothing, the blouse she wore during the 2022 parliamentary acknowledgement and apology following the release of the Set the Standard report.
Explaining the significance of the donation, Chelsey shared:
“I’ll be donating the blouse I wore during the Morrison/Albanese public acknowledgement following the release of Set the Standard. I love the blouse but she’s no longer my vibe and deserves more than languishing in the back of my wardrobe — I thought this was the perfect opportunity to give her a new home!”
The gesture perfectly captured the spirit of the evening: women supporting women, stories carrying power, and meaningful change often beginning with acts of courage both large and small.
Thank you to all members and non-members who attended, donated, shared conversations and contributed to such a memorable night. And thank you to our speakers for their honesty, leadership and willingness to light the way for others. We left the evening energised, emboldened and reminded that advocacy, ambition and community are powerful forces for change.
