A lack of women in public and private leadership roles is discouraging young girls from seeking out similar roles for themselves, a YWCA study has found.
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More than 110 young women from 15 schools throughout the Canberra region will be encouraged to step up into leadership roles on Tuesday, as the YWCA launches its first 'She Leads' conference for girls in years 11 and 12.
The conference, held at the University of Canberra, will be hosted by ACT Young Woman of the Year Zoya Patel and boasts a line-up of accomplished women, from cricket players and media entrepreneurs to the former director of a Fortune 500 company.
Ms Patel said there was such a broad range of speakers, as the YWCA has a similarly broad definition of leadership.
"We talk about leadership in terms of leading in the community and also in more traditional senses – we don't put restrictions on what leadership can look like, and I think that's really valuable," she said.
"It opens up access to leadership for young women."
Most of the guest speakers are either accomplished young women, or those who have made great strides in their field at a young age.
This was important to YWCA director Frances Crimmins, who hopes to stress that women don't need to wait until they're older to focus on leadership.
"It was important for us to show that you don't have to wait until you finish school, you don't have to wait until you finish university and you don't have to wait until you tick all the boxes," Ms Crimmins said.
"If you have a passion, understand your own values and have a goal, you just need to step out and do it."
A recent survey conducted by 'She Speaks', another YWCA initiative, found 71 per cent of women aged 15-30 had leadership aspirations and most women found there were not enough female leaders in public life.
Ms Crimmins also laments the current lack of visible female leaders.
"Sadly, today we are not in the same position where you could see our first female prime minister, governor general and chief minister for the ACT," she said.
For young women who are unable to attend the conference, Ms Crimmins has a word of advice.
"I think if you understand your values and what's important to you, let that guide and develop the things that you want to do in life," she said.
"I think it's important for everybody to surround themselves with people who will give them that push – sometimes we all need a bit of encouragement, and not to be afraid to step up."
