Women in business
The Freehills Women in Business networking forum was established in 1994 by Sydney partner Stephanie Pursley after she attended the Women's Trade Forum in Singapore.
Since then, Freehills' network has grown to over 1000 women in business, who represent industries as diverse as banking, telecommunications, retail, publishing, government, law and the judiciary.
Women in Business aims to foster networks among women at all stages in their professional careers, by providing:
For the first time, Freehills has also recently appointed two external non-partner members to the national board. One of the board's members, Dr Helen Nugent, has a background in a professional and financial services environment. She is Director of Strategy at Westpac, Chair of Swiss Re Australia Ltd, a director of Macquarie Bank and UNiTAB, non-executive director of South Australian Economic Development Board, and has recently joined the board of Origin Energy Ltd. Freehills is delighted to welcome such a high profile woman and looks forward to her contribution in further strengthening Freehills' position in the market place.
We have been a sponsor of Australian Women Lawyers (AWL) since its launch in 1997, providing funding, furniture and office equipment and secretarial support. AWL's focus is on women as members of the legal profession as well as women as consumers of legal services. The firm has also been a sponsor of Victorian Women Lawyers. We assist with the publication of the AWL and WA Women Lawyers newsletters.
Freehills is proud of its continued involvement in women lawyers' groups around Australia and encourages its solicitors to actively participate in women lawyers' committees and events.
In Victoria, for example, Freehills hosts luncheons in the Melbourne office through its Women's Executive Lunch Series and supports Women in Business events, such as the Australian Financial Review Women of Influence luncheons, Telstra Businesswoman of the Year, Victorian Women's Trust and Women in Philanthropy. The firm has also done pro bono work for organisations supporting women such as the Victorian Women's Trust and the Women's Information and Referral Exchange Inc.
Since then, Freehills' network has grown to over 1000 women in business, who represent industries as diverse as banking, telecommunications, retail, publishing, government, law and the judiciary.
Women in Business aims to foster networks among women at all stages in their professional careers, by providing:
- opportunities for senior business women from diverse organisations and industries to meet one another and exchange views and experiences
- a comfortable environment for women who are up-and-coming in their field to meet senior women in business
- opportunities for Freehills women partners and solicitors to meet women clients of the firm.
For the first time, Freehills has also recently appointed two external non-partner members to the national board. One of the board's members, Dr Helen Nugent, has a background in a professional and financial services environment. She is Director of Strategy at Westpac, Chair of Swiss Re Australia Ltd, a director of Macquarie Bank and UNiTAB, non-executive director of South Australian Economic Development Board, and has recently joined the board of Origin Energy Ltd. Freehills is delighted to welcome such a high profile woman and looks forward to her contribution in further strengthening Freehills' position in the market place.
Freehills: Inspiring other womens' forums
Freehills was probably the first major Australian law firm to establish a Women in Business networking forum. The firm's vision has since inspired the formation of similar groups throughout the legal and other industries across Australia such as the International Women's Insolvency and Reconstruction Confederation and the Urban Development Institute of Australia (UDIA) Women in Development Committee.We have been a sponsor of Australian Women Lawyers (AWL) since its launch in 1997, providing funding, furniture and office equipment and secretarial support. AWL's focus is on women as members of the legal profession as well as women as consumers of legal services. The firm has also been a sponsor of Victorian Women Lawyers. We assist with the publication of the AWL and WA Women Lawyers newsletters.
Freehills is proud of its continued involvement in women lawyers' groups around Australia and encourages its solicitors to actively participate in women lawyers' committees and events.
In Victoria, for example, Freehills hosts luncheons in the Melbourne office through its Women's Executive Lunch Series and supports Women in Business events, such as the Australian Financial Review Women of Influence luncheons, Telstra Businesswoman of the Year, Victorian Women's Trust and Women in Philanthropy. The firm has also done pro bono work for organisations supporting women such as the Victorian Women's Trust and the Women's Information and Referral Exchange Inc.