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International Women's Day Speakers

Saxton represents Keynote Speakers, MCs and panellists for International Women’s Day events across Australia, matched to the 2027 theme and your audience.

How Much Longer? Choosing a Speaker for International Women’s Day 2027

‘How Much Longer?’ is the official UN Women theme for International Women’s Day 2027, held on 8 March. It asks governments, employers and communities how long inequality will be tolerated while progress stalls. The right Speaker turns that question into a conversation your audience can act on.

Jamila Rizvi

Julia Gillard

Chanel Contos

Michelle Payne

Simone Clarke

Sarah Walsh

Catherine Fox

Shirley Chowdhary

Mundanara Bayles

Georgie Gardner

Bec Daniher

Layne Beachley

Naomi Simson

Renee Wootton Tomlin

Taylor Dee Hawkins

Kate Jenkins

Elizabeth Wright

Nadine Champion

Anna Meares

Julie Hirsch

Noemie Fox

Maree McCabe

Faustina 'Fuzzy' Agolley

Antoinette Lattouf

Book International Women’s Day Speakers for IWD 2027

A Speaker sets the tone for your International Women’s Day event. The right one takes a confronting national question and gives your audience something to do with it. Saxton represents Keynote Speakers, MCs and panellists who speak to gender equality with authority, from lived experience to hard evidence, and who leave a room clearer on what changes next.

The 2027 theme lands at a pointed moment. UN Women’s Gender Snapshot 2026 found not a single global gender equality target on track to be met by 2030, with three years left on the clock. In Australia, women still do the larger share of unpaid work, 31 hours a week against 22 for men, and the gender pay gap sits at 21.1 per cent on a total remuneration basis, enough that women effectively worked 48 days into the new financial year before catching up. Australia reached the top ten of the World Economic Forum’s global gender equality ranking this year, which shows the dial can move. ‘How Much Longer?’ asks why it is not moving faster.

These Speakers suit corporate breakfasts, conferences, leadership forums and community events. Our Female Speakers cover leadership, equity, workplace inclusion and economic participation. Our Politics & Advocacy Speakers bring the policy and systems view, and our Indigenous Speakers speak to the compounding barriers First Nations women carry. For panels and in-conversation sessions, an experienced MC keeps the discussion sharp and the takeaways concrete.

Saxton has matched Talent to Australian International Women’s Day events for decades, and we brief every Speaker on your audience, theme interpretation and the outcome you want in the room. We handle availability, logistics and pre-event coordination so you can focus on the message. Read our reflections series, What She Knows Now, What She Needed Then, then tell us what your 2027 event needs to achieve, and we will shortlist Speakers who can deliver it.

Enquire About IWD 2027 Speakers

Frequently Asked Questions About International Women’s Day Speakers

What is the International Women’s Day 2027 theme?

‘How Much Longer?’ is the official UN Women theme for International Women’s Day 2027, marked on 8 March. It is a question put to governments, employers and communities about how long gender inequality will be tolerated, released alongside data showing global progress has stalled. For events, it reframes the day from acknowledgement to accountability, and invites audiences to commit to specific action.

What kinds of organisations book International Women’s Day Speakers?

Corporate employers, professional services firms, government departments, universities, industry associations and community groups all book International Women’s Day Speakers. Formats range from staff breakfasts and conference keynotes to leadership forums and panel discussions. The common thread is an audience ready to move past statements of support toward measurable change in their own workplace.

What does an International Women’s Day keynote deliver for an audience?

A strong International Women’s Day keynote gives an audience a clear, shared understanding of where inequality persists and what they can influence. It lifts engagement, supports a diversity and inclusion strategy, and sends people back to their teams with practical next steps rather than good intentions. The best sessions are remembered in decisions made weeks later, not just applause on the day.

Can International Women’s Day Speakers present virtually or in a hybrid format?

Yes. Most Saxton International Women’s Day Speakers present in person, virtually, or in a hybrid format that reaches distributed teams at once. Virtual sessions suit national organisations marking the day across multiple offices on 8 March, when demand for in-person Talent is at its peak. We confirm each Speaker’s delivery options when we shortlist.

How much does an International Women’s Day Speaker cost, and how do I book?

International Women’s Day Speaker fees vary with the Speaker’s profile, format and the length of the engagement. Share your brief with Saxton and we will recommend Talent to suit your theme, audience and budget, then manage availability, contracting and pre-event coordination. March books out early, so securing your preferred Speaker well ahead of 8 March is wise.

Why book an International Women’s Day Speaker through Saxton?

Saxton has matched Speakers to Australian International Women’s Day events since well before the day became a fixture in the corporate calendar. We know which Talent handles a serious subject with credibility and which can read a particular room. You get curated recommendations, honest guidance on fit, and full logistical support, rather than a name from a list.

How do we approach a confronting theme like ‘How Much Longer?’ at a corporate event?

Treat it as a call to action, not a reprimand. The strongest International Women’s Day sessions name the problem honestly, then give the audience agency: what this organisation can change, measure and report on. A skilled Speaker or MC holds that balance, acknowledging how far there is to go while leaving the room motivated to close the gap. Brief your Speaker on your culture and what you are willing to commit to.

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