AFA Inspire Initiative Gathers Momentum

The AFA Inspire program has recognised International Women’s Day with a series of events in mainland capitals for female professionals working within the financial services industry.

Established by the AFA in 2013 to help females find their voice and encourage them to be pro-active in seeking support within the industry, each state has developed its own set of events and initiatives in order to achieve these goals.

Last week, the Inspire events around the country delivered a range of thought-provoking messages and ideas to their respective audiences.

At the Melbourne ‘Bubbles and Troubles’ event, around 30 female financial services sector professionals heard guest speaker, AIA Australia’s Chief Retail Insurance Officer, Pina Sciarrone, deliver a personal address about the challenges she has faced, dating back to her youth, both as a woman and as an emerging senior executive. Highlighting issues and attributes including persistence, boldness, courage and self-belief, Ms Sciarrone encouraged her peers to empower themselves, to trust their intuition in both their business and personal lives, and to remain authentic and true to themselves.

Above all, Ms Sciarrone encouraged her colleagues to say ‘yes’ to life – to set high standards and attack any business or personal goal with passion.

In recognising International Women’s Day, which took place on 8 March, the Melbourne event’s host and AFA Inspire Victoria chair, CRA Australia CEO, Nettie Handley, reminded her peers that, while they should celebrate how fortunate they are, they should at the same time reflect on, and continue to advocate for, women in all countries who find themselves in less fortunate, far more challenging circumstances.

The next AFA Inspire initiative takes place in Sydney on 17 March in the form of a continuing Boardroom Series, where an interactive panel-style discussion will aim to help women working within the financial services sector aspire and achieve.