Tomorrow Woman and Tomorrow Man acknowledge that our offices are on the traditional lands of the Wurundjeri People of the Kulin Nations.
Acknowledgement of Country
Tomorrow Woman acknowledge that our offices are on the traditional lands of the Wurundjeri People of the Kulin Nations. We pay respect to elders past, present and future, and all First Nations people.
Representation is powerful because it shapes what young people believe is possible for themselves. When girls see women leading, making decisions, and challenging stereotypes, they start to imagine themselves in those spaces too. Discover the importance of women’s voices in politics, the barriers still faced, and how schools and communities can play a role in inspiring the next generation of leaders.
September 19, 2025
Even now, women are dramatically underrepresented in leadership and decision-making roles. But why does that matter? And more importantly, what happens when we change that?
Visible female leadership isn’t just symbolic. It’s a catalyst for generational change.
When girls see women in charge, making decisions, challenging norms, driving policy, they begin to picture themselves in those spaces too. That shift in mindset is powerful. And it doesn’t just shape personal ambition. It reshapes culture.
Representation isn’t about optics. It changes outcomes.
When women hold political power, the issues that affect their lives, childcare, education, safety, healthcare, gender-based violence, get more attention. Diverse leadership brings broader perspectives, richer debate and more equitable policies. But the path to power remains harder for women. Especially those who don’t fit the traditional mould of leadership.
Global research confirms just how far we still have to go. According to UN Women, women make up only 26.5% of national parliamentarians and just 23% of Cabinet ministers worldwide. Only six countries have gender-equal cabinets. These aren’t just numbers; they reflect the systemic barriers women face in accessing power. When women are underrepresented, the decisions that shape our lives are made without half the population at the table.
Former Australian MP Kate Ellis explored this in her groundbreaking book Sex, Lies and Question Time. Through honest interviews and hard truths, she exposes how entrenched barriers, like gendered media scrutiny and the need to constantly prove competence, make politics a tougher road for women. Visibility empowers, but it also attracts criticism. Especially in spaces not designed for you.
Think about Julia Gillard. Australia’s first female Prime Minister. Her rise inspired a generation. But the backlash she endured sent a chilling message. Yes, women can lead. But the cost of being first is high.
Still, the tide is turning. In 2025, Australia saw a record number of women elected to Parliament. Labour’s long-standing gender quotas helped achieve near-equal representation. The result? More women in the room. More voices shaping the national conversation.
The Liberal Party is further behind, with only around a third of Coalition MPs being women. But there’s been a shift. Sussan Ley became the first female federal leader of the Liberal Party, 80 years after its founding. She’s signalled a readiness to change, acknowledging the need for more women in winnable seats - a moment of history, and a potential turning point.
Representation matters. Not just for Parliament, but for every young person watching and wondering, “Could that be me?”
Leadership beliefs don’t begin at the ballot box. They begin early. In childhood, in the classroom, in the stories we tell and the ones we don’t.
By the time girls reach high school, many already believe leadership isn’t for them. They’ve been told to be nice, not assertive. To fit in, not stand out. To stay quiet, not take up space.
This is where schools have power.
At Tomorrow Woman, we partner with educators across the country to reshape that narrative. Our education programs are designed to help students unpack gender stereotypes, develop emotional intelligence and build the courage to lead in their own way. Through workshops grounded in self-awareness and respectful relationships, we create space for students to explore who they are and who they want to be.
Our facilitators don’t lecture. They listen. They hold space. And they challenge students to find their own voice, not the version they think they’re supposed to have.
Too often, we treat confidence like it’s something you either have or you don’t. But that’s not true. Confidence can be learned. It grows when young people are given the tools, encouragement and permission to show up fully.
That’s what our workshops offer.
We help students challenge limiting beliefs and rewrite the stories they’ve internalised about gender and power. We explore the impact of internalised misogyny. We talk about boundaries, respect and leadership, not as titles, but as ways of showing up in the world.
When a young person finds their voice, they don’t just change their own future. They shift the energy of every room they walk into.
Change doesn’t need to wait. You can start where you are.
Introduce students to diverse role models in leadership. Use real-world events to spark conversations about power and politics. Challenge gendered assumptions when you hear them, whether it’s the language in your classroom or the dynamics at home.
Invite students to lead. Create space for discussion. Encourage curiosity.
And if you’re ready to go deeper, bring Tomorrow Woman into your school or community. Our workshops for educators and parents offer practical tools to support the young people in your life, not just academically, but emotionally.
Leadership doesn’t belong to one gender. It belongs to everyone. And we can all play a part in making that a reality.
We don’t just need more women in leadership. We need new definitions of what leadership looks like.
Representation must include race, culture, ability, sexuality and gender diversity. Otherwise, we’re just recreating the same narrow systems with different faces.
At Tomorrow Woman, we’re committed to inclusive, intersectional work that reflects the full spectrum of human experience. Because true equity means building systems that centre everyone, not just those already at the table.
Sussan Ley’s leadership. The rise in women elected to Parliament. Kate Ellis’s call for systemic change. These aren’t isolated events. They’re signs of momentum.
But they won’t mean much if they don’t reach young people.
Let’s ensure that what they see today tells them something powerful about tomorrow. That they are not too young, too quiet, too different to lead. That the world needs their voice, not when they’re older, or more qualified, or more “ready.” But now.
Want to create change where you are?
Because a more equitable future starts with conversations we’re willing to have today.
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The gender pay gap doesn’t begin in the workplace, it begins in the classroom. By the time girls reach Year 9, many already believe they’re worth less, not because of ability but because of the subtle messages they’ve absorbed about leadership, ambition and value. From who gets called on in class to which careers are encouraged, schools play a bigger role than we realise. If you’re an educator, you hold the power to shift these patterns and plant the seeds of real equality.
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Women Lead Differently and That’s Exactly What We Need
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How to Teach Respectful Relationships Without the Awkward Silence
Teaching Respectful Relationships can feel daunting, but it doesn’t have to be. This guide will give you the tools, strategies, and support to move beyond awkward silences and into meaningful, transformative conversations that really connect with your students.
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Tomorrow Woman is a social enterprise in partnership with Tomorrow Man and Tomorrow Architects. Our offices are located in Sydney and Melbourne – and we travel everywhere across Australia.
Acknowledgement of Country
We respectfully acknowledge the first custodians of the land on which we live and work, the Wurrundjeri People of the Kulin Nation. We pay respects to Elders past, present and emerging and to all First Nations People. Sovereignty was never ceded and treaties were never signed.
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