Mayor Vonda Malone and Dr Sandra Phillips In Conversation

In 2016 Vonda created history by being elected the first indigenous female Mayor of the of the Torres Shire Council, a mainstream council encompassing the Thursday Island area of the Torres Strait in Northern Australia. In 2019 Sandra was the newly elected Chair of the First Nations Australia Writers’ Network. 

We welcomed Mayor Vonda Malone and Dr Sandra Phillips, to the WOW festival... 

Vonda: Celebrating women’s achievements and analysing barriers to reflect on whether we are making any further progress globally. Being in London will send a strong message on women’s rights as it's where the suffragette movement stemmed from in the early 20th century.

Sandra: I expect the power of story and others bearing witness will be the same. I think the energy of London will amplify the urgency and significance – although the urgency and significance of striving for gender equality is a daily preoccupation for many in many parts of the world.

Vonda: Experience life. Don’t be afraid to take risk and don’t accept mediocrity.

Vonda: Work with boys and young men to support and respect women, and further training in lateral violence.

Sandra: My Great Great Grandmother: what do you want of your grandchildren?

Vonda: It would be directed to Emmeline Pankhurst. I'd ask: 'Have we done enough to progress and elevate women's rights and what should we do differently to further assist the cause for gender equity globally?'

Sandra: That every way men are privileged is noted - then we collectively design and pursue change.

Vonda: A greater number of Australian women, both non-indigenous and indigenous, elected in the Federal Elections in 2020 and represented in Government, as well as in local governments nationally.