Professional Development

Leaders & Speakers Gallery

BPW Pilbara encourages both personal and professional development by providing motivational and educational seminars & workshops on issues relating to women and work.

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• Leadership dinner and workshop ~ September 2003, Catlyne Hos.
  • Lead by Organisational Psychologist Catlyne Hos, members and guests explored the Gentle art of leadership. See the original invite.

• International Health Experiences ~ August 2003, Dr Crystal Cree

  • Crystal Cree is a GP who has practiced in Karratha for the past 6 years. Crystal provided a broad overview of her experiences and personal insights that she developed as a result of her opportunity to practice in Kenya: an experience which she is grateful to revisit for our benefit. Crystal's Kenyan experience has resulted in her becoming involved in international health policy formulation.

• Cultural Awareness ~ Camis Smith

  • Camis provided an insight into the cultural history of the Pilbara, particularly the
    Roebourne region with its sad history of displacement of local Aboriginal groups.
    Moving to the present, he outlined strategies to help both white and indigenous
    cultures deal with some of the more serious issues such as racism, employment
    opportunities and Aboriginal heritage. A very enlightening discussion, with Camis
    answering lots of questions

• Karratha Youth Theatre ~ October 2002, Robyn Barrett-Levy

  • Our October 2002 meeting enjoyed an inspirational talk by Robyn Barrett-Levy, the driving force behind the nationally recognised Karratha Youth Theatre.  She spoke with great passion about her involvement and belief in Karratha's young artists, and the personal rewards she receives from her many hours of hard work and dedication. More information on the KYT can be found here.

• Travels to Antarctica ~ 17th April 2002, Kathryn Heaton

  • Kathryn shared her secondment to Antarctica with us, read all about it here.

• Diversity in the Workplace ~ 20^th March 2002. Lisa Hamilton.

  • Lisa delivered an engaging dialogue on Diversity in the workplace, addressing issues such as Discrimination, Indirect discrimination, Reasonableness and Vicarious liability. She then ran thru a summary of Anti-discrimination legislation. Read the summary here.

• JP's, what do they do? ~ 15^th August 2001, a panel of Jan Park, Fatima Rebola-Gibson and Bev Moxham, 3 female JPs in Karratha, and 2 of them BPW Pilbara members.

  • Jan, Fatima and Bev formed a panel, and after introducing themselves, fielded questions from a very interested audience. Go here for a précis.

• Networking nationally from the Northwest ~ 25^th July 2001,  Margaret Bertling, Karratha.
  • Margaret, author of 3 best selling books and TV-Radio personality, shared her winning ways with women in BPW Pilbara. 

• Resume & CV's ~ 18^th June 2001 ~ Amanda Crook, Drake International, Karratha.
  • Amanda presented a very comprehensive and practical session on the preparation of a Resume for Employment application. Use the valuable information.

• Wills & Trusts ~ 23^rd April 2001 ~ Catherine Rosair, General Practitioner of Law, Chilvers Rosair, Solicitors & Settlement Agent, A member of the North West legal group - Karratha, Broome and Port Hedland.
  • Notes from the very informative and entertaining presentation by Catherine.
  • Catherine's tri-fold pamphlet on Estate Planning.
  • Catherine can be emailed on chilvers@starwon.com.au 

• Mentoring & Networking for Success! ~ 28^th April 2001 ~ Robyn Henderson and Michele Kilminster

  • What a FANTASTIC day this was, go here to view Robyn's website. To view the original invitation, click here.

  • Book Review ~ Masters of Networking by Kathy BarrettLennard

• "International Night theme, challenges of working abroad" ~ 19th March 2001 ~ Dr Crystal Cree.

  • Dr Crystal Cree, a Karratha-based general practitioner, spoke about her experiences during a three month posting as an Australian Volunteer Abroad to Mikinduri, a small rural area in Kenya.

    The area in which Dr Cree worked covered 20 square kilometres. Extreme poverty was a fact of life, and death was an everyday occurrence. Subsistence farms of 0.5 to 2 acres in size barely supported families. There was no electricity, unreliable and irregular telephone service, very poor roads, and, for a doctor, a very limited range of drugs. STDs, AIDS and Malaria were rife. Dr Cree showed slides during her talk, which helped the audience to appreciate the living and working conditions she experienced.

    Dr Cree went to Mikinduri not in a team of health care workers, but as a lone medical practitioner, with nursing support provided locally. She was the first doctor to stay there for any length of time. During her three months in Kenya Dr Cree became more and more aware of the power structures that existed in the community and how those influenced, and in many cases, hindered, the efficient delivery of health care. By the end of her stay, she had clear ideas of how visiting medical professionals could contribute more effectively to tackling the huge health problems which exist in this part of the world.

    As a result of her experiences in Kenya, Dr Cree believes she gained a renewed appreciation of the Australian system and our society, and a greater awareness of the world. From a doctor's point of view, Dr Cree gained an appreciation of the resilience of the human body.

    Thank you Dr Cree for sharing your experiences in Kenya with BPW Pilbara.

    editors note, the practice of circumcision was a normal part of life for girls in Kenya, and they would often approach the clinic for a tetanus shot, knowing their initiation was imminent. This practice of Female Genital Mutilation has been a BPW Australia topic of interest, and we urge club members to protest to WA MP's about lack of laws specifically targeting the illegality of this practice in WA.

• "Coping with life-threatening illness" ~ 19^th February 2001 ~ Arran Payne and Amanda Samanek.

  • Local Karratha woman, Arran Payne spoke candidly about her experience of being diagnosed with breast cancer. Arran didn't drink, didn't eat red meat, she was fit and happy, and 38. When she discovered a lump in her breast she didn't think much of it. Only at the insistence of the husband and mother did she seek medical attention. The result - a lumpectomy, followed by the removal of one breast. Arran's messages: take it seriously, don't think it couldn't happen to you; follow through on all the recommended medical tests; if diagnosed, have someone close to you accompany you to your medical consultations - you will be on such an emotional roller-coaster, you will need someone else to ask all the "technical" questions; if you need any surgery, find the best specialist surgeon you can. Arran impressed her BPW audience with her honesty and her positive "live life to the full" attitude. Thank you Arran for sharing your experience with us, none of us will forget your story.

    Arran was joined by Amanda Samanek, who has previously worked for the Cancer Foundation of WA. One in eleven women will suffer breast cancer, a frightening statistic. She emphasised that it is vital that women regularly check their breasts, seek medical advice immediately they feel anything unusual, be prepared to ask questions of the doctor. Each of us is responsible for our body, no one else, so be prepared to ask questions, request more information, and undergo tests as recommended. The Cancer Foundation has an office in Karratha, located at the Warrambie Centre, telephone 9144 1111. Your expertise and time was much appreciated Amanda, thank you.

• "What can you do for Women in the Pilbara" January 2001 ~ Fred Riebeling Member for Burrup, Robin Vandenberg, Liberal Candidate, Dr Carmen Lawrence, Greg Smith.

• "Setting Goals & Achieving Them – A Practical Example" ~ 18^th Dec 2000 ~ Fatima Rebola-Gibson, Owner of Karratha Florist and winner of GWN Business Person of the Year Award

  • Fatima Rebola-Gibson, owner of the successful local business Karratha Florist, spoke candidly about her relatively recent conversion to setting goals. Fatima and her husband Andy have owned Karratha Florist for seven years, and it has been within the last two years that they have consciously set goals and worked towards their achievement. Their strategies are obviously working, with Fatima winning the GWN Business Person of the Year Award at the Small Business Awards organised by the Karratha and Districts' Chamber of Commerce and Industry held in November 2000. Congratulations Fatima! 

• "Goal Setting, a Personal Odyssey" ~ 18^th Dec 2000 ~ Judie Pettitt, Organisation Consultant.

  • When I started as a teacher, I set programs, and planned.  This was I thought to please The Principal, I didn't realise that I required it.  I got by for many years with out setting goals.  I was passionate about social issues yet irresponsible in other areas.

    When I came to Australia, I found I couldn't get  a job as married or bank loan as I was a female.  This was a bit of a shock!  Here I was in the 70's with a child, and my life was turned around.  I started requiring some more formal direction. 

    At that time I also had a relationship problem, and found that I needed to ask questions and do something about it.  Then it dawned on me, I had responsibility for my own life, I was mistress of my own destiny.  Up to then as per my star sign Pisces I very much used to just go with flow.

     So before setting any goals ask the question:

    What values do you hold?  This is in your life, your family etc, business is only one aspect.

     Four  approaches helped me then and continue to work for me today:

     1.      Thomas Gordon

    ·         Who owns the problems you see in your life?

    ·         Also what skills do you own?

    ·         What is acceptable behaviour?

    This has helped me manage both upwards and downwards in my professional life, e.g. with an aggressive manager, non performing staff uncooperative workers.

    It is also useful in my personal life to reassess ‘un-supportive’ or ‘negligent’ partners or children.  I learnt to relax some of my constricting behaviours or values.

    However if I still can't solve a problem and  surface techniques are not enough, then one needs to go deeper. 

    2.      Ira Progroff

    Intensive journal writing approach.  There are eleven different techniques, requiring one to delve deeply and to understand.  It uses mind mapping, complex dialog with self.  It is called stream of consciousness writing.  You write what ever is in your head until you die.  Amazing what you get out.  Until I cleared things such as anger, frustration and shame, there is no way I could have set a decent goal.  This technique helped me to more rationally approach a situation.  You don’t have to be angry at someone to do this, you can use if you are just starting a new relationship.  I have used the technique with high school students.  One can then assume the other person's voice.

     So this prepared the ground so that you can set goals, goals that are your own and not other peoples goals.

     Technicians, engineers, and accountants can use talking to work when they have a problem.  You keep writing and before you know you have answered the problem.  This also works for continuous improvement, how can we get smarter etc.  This is like brainstorming, but it digs deeper.

     3.      Shirley Conran's Superwoman

    So I had sorted everything out - but I was not invincible!  This became obvious when I burst into tears at an inappropriate time.  This book really helped and as they say “when the student ready master appears.

     4.      Time Manager International (TMI)

    The final technique for tonight is the pragmatic TMI, a 5 day course which I attended in the mid 80's.  Ask yourself “If had all resources and time what would I do?”  Quite often I find that I am doing them already.

    This techniques says to write down your key areas and driving statements.

    Mine, not in hierarchical order, are

    Business, finance, clients, community, health, family, wiser 

    I have found when I focus on destination only, I often didn't get there or got there and said so what?  You must enjoy the travel! 

    You must dig deep, decide values, to set goals.  But remember goal setting is a technique only.

• "Women in Decision Making."  ~ 14-15 October 2000 ~ Joan Kirner, former Premier of Victoria and co-author of Women's Power Handbook. A collaborative effort with SIKD.

  • A series of forums examining the skills required for good decision making generally, at a community level and at the workplace. More detail, click here.

• "Understanding Resilience"  ~ May 2000 ~ Mindy Horsman

• Mindy is the Clinical Coordinator at Kinway. She spoke on resilience, and understanding resilience thinking. "It is a great self-care tool and an excellent tool for mentoring".   Mindy used examples of her own life experiences to promote the need for us to find and develop our own resilience and do the same for others.  
  Mindy can be contacted on phone: 9321 5801, e-mail kinway@iinet.net.au, attention Mindy Horsman,  for anyone who wants to have a word with her.

• "Tapping into Cultural Opportunities"  ~ May 2000  ~  Dr Ann-Marie Smith 

• Ann-Marie is the Community Cultural Officer with the Shire of Roebourne.  She shared with us an enlightening presentation on the new Shire of Roebourne cultural program and explained the importance of cultural identity and cross-cultural interaction.
  Anne-Marie can be contacted on phone: (08)9186 8570 or email: "sor@roebourne.wa.gov.au" 

• "Achieving Balance & Vitality in the Busy Life of the Working Woman" ~ Inaugural meeting ~ Gretchen Lumsden RN, Dip Educ, A.P.S   

• Gretchen is a health consultant and national speaker with over 15 years experience in Health Education, having conducted Women's Health, Men's Health and Skin Cancer Campaigns for key organisations..  Gretchen enthused us with the power and authority women have in any community. She emphasized the need for us to make time to care for ourselves given the strength we use in anchoring family, business and community relationships.