On September 18 Sydney Women’s Fund hosted its 10th annual Saluting Sydney Women lunch, a flagship event dedicated to celebrating and supporting women. This year, we had the honour of recognising Chancellor Professor Jennifer Westacott AO as our trailblazer.
Chancellor Professor Westacott is an Australian business leader renowned for her significant contributions to public policy and corporate governance.
Her current role as Chancellor of Western Sydney University underscores her commitment to education and her recognition of its pivotal role in driving social mobility and economic prosperity in Australia.
Throughout her career, she has demonstrated a commitment to excellence, integrity and collaboration. Her leadership has been instrumental in shaping Australia’s economic landscape and fostering a more prosperous future for the nation.
In her speech, Chancellor Professor Westacott shared candidly about her childhood challenges and the unwavering determination she had from an early age to create more opportunities for others and address the inherent unfairness she observed in society.
“I grew up with an unshakeable conviction that I wanted to do something positive about what I perceived as the great unfairness.” – Chancellor Professor Jennifer Westacott AO
Her words served as a reminder of the impact of collaboration and how collective action can drive lasting, positive change for women and their communities.
Record-breaking fundraising
Beyond the more than $230,000 raised on the day, we are thrilled to report a further $1M has been pledged. Joanna and Justin Ryan, inspired by the work of Sydney Women’s Fund and Jennifer’s outstanding speech, have committed to match to Georgina Byron AM and Rosalind Strong AM’s $1M gifts.
These funds will support a wide range of initiatives — from educational programs and employment pathways to vital support systems that ensure women in Sydney are empowered to thrive and build better futures for their families.
This brings the total raised to over $1.23 million and highlights the far-reaching impact of the event.
Thank you to our supporters
We are deeply grateful to every guest, donor, and table host who made this year’s Saluting Sydney Women event a resounding success. Your support enables us to continue our work, ensuring women have the resources, opportunities and community they need to succeed.
At the event, Chancellor Professor Westacott reminded us all that real change is possible when we work together.
“I was fortunate to be surrounded by people who were the circuit breakers in my life. They shared the same values and vision as me—reinforcing my sense of self and my purpose and mission.”
To see photos from the event please click here and to read Chancellor Professor Westacott’s inspiring full speech please click here.
Thank you for standing with us in this important mission to create a more equitable future and increase opportunity for women and families all across the Greater Sydney area.
If you missed your chance to donate, it’s not too late. You can still contribute to the Sydney Women’s Fund here. If you would like to donate from your Private Ancillary Fund (PAF) or would like to know more about Sydney Women’s Fund, please contact Lisa Grinham.
