All star line up shines at Marie Claire Australia Power Talks

An evening filled with laughs and learnings with Celeste Barber, Chloe Hayden, Camilla Franks, Megan Davis and Anna Lahey

Marie Claire Australia hosted a remarkable, sold-out Power Talks event at Machine Hall in Sydney, starring five powerhouse women talking about their inspirational journeys and the concept of power.

Headlining the evening were queen of comedy Celeste Barber, Australian acting phenomenon and advocate Chloé Hayden, leading professor and “Yes” vote campaigner Professor Megan Davis, iconic fashion designer Camilla Franks and entrepreneur Anna Lahey from Vida Glow. It was hosted by Marie Claire’s new Editor, Georgie Abay.

The evening was a unique opportunity for attendees to gain valuable insights on the concept of power from five extraordinary women who have blazed their own trails to success. Each panellist shared stories of triumph, hard-won successes and their most important life lessons. They offered career advice, motivation and all the must know how-to’s in a truly special event that was filled with laughs and learnings.

Celeste Barber told attendees: “For me, being brave means I’m doing something important. I’m fighting a fight. It also means not everyone is going to like it, and I’ve learnt to be resilient. You can raise $51 million for the worst natural disaster this country has ever seen, and people will pick holes in it. You can stand in front of parliament fighting for that money to be used in the way it was intended. You can fight the High Court of this country and beg them to consider people and the situation they are in, and it still won’t be enough.”

Professor Megan Davis, activist and human rights lawyer, said of the upcoming Voice referendum: “A yes vote in the referendum [on 14 October] means we wake up to a better, fairer, a more equal, more inclusive and more expansive idea of what our country can be. The change will be empowering for our community both in terms of the acceptance and love that we feel for all Australians. It will also start to empower us to allow women’s voices to flourish, and it will allow Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander human voices to flourish.”

Chloe Hayden, acclaimed actor, best-selling author and award-winning disability rights activist. said of her personal journey: “My powerlessness was shoved into my face each and every day at school by my teachers, by my peers, by society, by the belief that my difference made me less. It was forced into me. The reality is, I am powerful – not in spite of my difference, but because of it.”

Georgie Abay said: “marie claire is a brand that empowers women. We believe in the power of storytelling to drive change and spark collective action. Nothing makes me feel more empowered than being in a room filled with incredible women. There’s so much we can all learn from women’s resilience, strength and determination.”

Power Talks event was proudly presented by Pandora, and additional sponsors included Kerastase, FRANKIE4, Vida Glow and Stella.