Network honours life member
THE Southern Business Women’s Network inducted its first life member last at its annual general meeting held last Thursday night.
Long term member and past president Gillian Mertens was surprised with the honour during the meeting, which was held at Inverloch’s RACV Resort.
Immediate past president Megan Vuillerman said Gillian had been involved in the SBWN since its beginnings, nearly 20 years ago.
“We started the network because most of us were tradies’ wives who ran the business. There were no networks available for us,” Gillian said.
“That is why it all started.”
The AGM also saw the election of a new executive committee, which included Dana Hughes as president, Chelsea Taylor as vice president, Terry Guilford as secretary, Julie Blackman as treasurer, Gillian Mertens as publicity officer, Deanne Staley as events officer, Margaret Ornsby as webmaster, Lynda Sainsbury as member secretary, and Shelley Beilharz and Elizabeth Gilmore as general members.
Ms Vuillerman stepped down from the position of president, after several years in the role.
“I have loved being president and loved what the network has achieved,” she said.
Incumbent president Dana Hughes said she was grateful for the opportunity to give back to the network.
She said since she became involved with the network in 2013, she has met many different women who have become part of her life.
“It has been an amazing journey so far. We (the new committee) now get the chance to stand on the shoulders of giants,” she said.
Ms Hughes said the SBWN was not the committee or the president, but its members.
“I look forward to working will you and the committee to expand on the network’s legacy,” she said.
The AGM featured guest speaker Kieran Flanagan from The Impossible Institute.
She spoke to the 112 attendees about thinking differently and standing out in the business world.
She said being creative was a discipline, not a talent.
“We are not in danger of much, except being invisible. Leaning in is important, but we also need to stand out,” she said.
“Don’t be defined by other people’s expectations. It is an exhausting way to live.”
New committee: from left, the new committee of the Southern Business Women’s Network elected at the annual general meeting last Thursday night was Julie Blackman (treasurer), Deanne Staley (events), Shelley Beilharz and Elizabeth Gilmore (general members), Gillian Mertens (publicity), Margaret Ornsby (webmaster), Dana Hughes (president) and Lynda Sainsbury (member secretary). Absent were Terry Guilford (secretary) and Chelsea Taylor (vice president).
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Posted by Tayla Kershaw on Aug 22 2017. Filed under Featured. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry
