NATIONAL CONGRESS OF WOMEN 
Day  Two — Weaving ​
How can we work together across difference to restore climate balance?
Thursday 28 April 2022, 10 am — 5 pm, ONLINE 

After the fire  After all the death 
Sorrows black lace binds the grieving lovers 
Then swell the green songs: lovers' lays and lullabies  
Weaving women singing up renewal.  
From 'The Web' by Glenda Cloughley(2004); dedicated to Dorothy Cameron

For more about 'weaving women', see this short video of Kirsten Anker reading from Lysistrata —  the ancient Greek comedy from c400 BCE by Aristophanes  about one woman's rebellion against male power. 

Program  
Times are in AEST (Canberra, Sydney, Melbourne). Please check your own time zone
NOTE This program is close to final but some details and the order/flow of the presentations and conversations are still being worked out [2 April] 

Details of contributors and artistic presentations  

10.00 am GATHERING 
Artistic opening — 'Ubuntu' by Johanna McBride, sung by A Chorus of Women with visual production by Sally Blake  
Introduction — Dr Janet Salisbury, Founder, Women's Climate Congress
Welcome to Country — Dr Matilda House (Ngambri-Ngunnawal Elder, ACT) 
Opening  presentation — 'The two stories of the world' 
by Dr Glenda Cloughley, Jungian psychoanalyst, composer, founding member of A Chorus of Women and WCC

Across the day — Photos from the Everyday Climate Crisis Visual Petition
#everydayclimatecrisis 
This project was initiated by Hilary Wardhaugh (Founder, Women Photographers Australia) to collect 1000 photos from women and nonbinary people that express the impact of climate change. The 'petition' (1000 A4 photos) will be presented to federal parliamentarians in June 2022.     

10.20 am  WEAVING WOMEN —  OPPORTUNITIES TO REDEFINE POWER 
In the morning session we will explore where power resides and how women’s leadership can weave new styles of governance to bring change.  

Short presentations
Exploring worldviews and experiences of how to work together to redefine and shift power 
Moderated by Associate Professor Sara C Motta (Newcastle Business School, Politics and International Relations; Convenor, Women in the New Economy Hub, New Economy Network Australia)
  • Dr Janet Salisbury (science communicator, business woman, Founder of WCC)
    Women’s Climate Congress — Vision and introduction to the Women's Charter for Change 
  • Laurann Yen and Alex Marsden (public policy and governance analysts)
    Proposal for a 'Women's Caucus for Climate Change' in the Australian Parliament
  • Kirsten Anker (lawyer and mediation practitioner, founding member of WCC)
    'Neighbourly conversations' — a WCC initiative for conversations across parties 
  • Cristina Talacko (President, Coalition for Conservation) 
    News from the centre right 
  • Karen Cain (former CEO La Trobe Valley Authority)
    Transition from fossil fuels - how to make it work
Q&A with participants 

11.30 am  BREAK 

11.45 am Keynote presentation
Weaving wisdoms across the divide - the role of a transformative process in bringing us together!
  • Rhian Williams (independent dispute systems design practitioner)
Conversational response 
With Rhian and other speakers from above
Q&A and/or breakout session with all participants  

1.00 pm LUNCH BREAK

​1.45 pm  Artistic presentation — Weaving connections between humans and nature 
In this video presentation by Dr Sally Blake (visual artist), Sally discusses her visual arts practice which spans textiles, drawing and sculpture. Her work explores people’s relationship to, and place within the natural world. Visualisation of the natural laws and patterning that hold people in relationship with Earth, as well as the consequences of these unravelling is her focus. 

2.00 pm  WEAVING UP RENEWAL — CARING FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS AND THE EARTH 
Workshop 
In the afternoon, Caresse Cranwell and Deborah Collins from Wicked Elephants Co-op will facilitate an exploration of how care for the Earth and Future Generations is inspiring women to step up and engage. Together we will explore our own response/s to the Earth’s call for action.
With guests:
Dr Michelle Maloney (Co-founder Australian Earth Laws Alliance, and New Economy Network of Australia)
Emma-Kate Rose (Operations Director, The Next Economy; co-founder, Food Connect)
Flora Vano (leads ActionAid Vanuatu and the Women I Tok Tok Tugetha initiative which has mobilised 5000 women in the response to climate change) 
"Collectively as women we can create the world how we want it to be…[and] we ask you to stand firm with us, with the women of the Pacific.” (Flora Vano, referring to the Pacific leaders and women’s rights advocates at this year’s UN Commission on the Status of Women,  New York, March 2022)

Q&A and/or breakout session with all participants  

4.00 pm BREAK 

4.15 pm TAKING ACTION 
Women's Charter for Change 
Discussion with all participants 
What have we learnt today to add to the charter? 

Wind up and next steps (including with 
Natalie Isaacs (Founder, I Million Women) will preview her new book 'Right Here Right Now' and launch registrations for
National Congress of Women in person event, 11-12 September 2022, Canberra.  

5.00 pm Artistic close 
You're the Voice 
An anthem from women for climate action and hope,  
1 Million Women #1MTHEVOICE 
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