International Women’s Day (IWD) is a global day celebrating the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women. The day also marks a call to action for accelerating gender parity.

This year’s theme is #ChooseToChallenge. We were proud supporters of the Bendigo Zonta’s IWD Dinner, purchasing a table of 10 and providing the gift for the inspiring speaker Alexandra Gartmann, CEO of the Rural Bank, Chair of the Victorian Agriculture and Climate Change Council, a Trustee of the Helen Macpherson Smith Trust and Director of the Australian Farm Institute.

Each year we support this event by Zonta Bendigo and perform their audit as 100% pro-bono, now totalling to over $20,000 worth of services sine 2013! We are proud to support an important organisation in our community like Zonta Bendigo.

To celebrate IWD this year we asked the women of AFS about what #choosetochallenge means for them. Below you will find a sneak peek into the minds and souls of some of the brilliant women of AFS, who they are and what inspires them.

Kate Mannix

What is your role at AFS?
Chief Executive Officer.

What do you love about working at AFS? Or Tell us about one of your career highlights?
I have had a fortunate career with many opportunities, but I love nothing more than being able to offer someone a role within our organisation. To see them commence a career or new role, learn, grow and be embraced by our team, and embrace our clients is pretty special.

Who are you outside of work?
A mum, to three kids who are growing up way too quick, and making me feel short! A volunteer, I love to help serve our community and give back, from the Bendigo Health Foundation to the local footy club, our communities can run best with volunteers providing their time, resources and energy.

What or where do you take inspiration from?
I love hearing other people’s stories, their career paths, personal journeys, challenges and triumphs. I read and listen to podcasts mainly for growth and development of myself as a person, mum, CEO and woman.

What does Choose to Challenge mean to you?
Say the words that run around in your head, no matter how they come out. Opening your mind to others will inspire change, challenge and continue to improve the world around you.

Ash Turtur

What is your role at AFS?
Client Service Manager – Audit

What do you love about working at AFS?
I love the culture, team environment, and the variety of work I do with and for a variety of different people each day.

Who are you outside of work?
An adventurer and Travelholic – jobs fill your pockets, adventures fill your soul.

What or where do you take inspiration from?
Solo Overseas Travel – there are soo many life lessons learned along the way that all contribute to making me the best possible version of myself.

What does Choose to Challenge mean to you?
To me means choosing to speak even if your voice shakes, choosing to stand up for what you believe in or challenge what you don’t think is right based on your values.  

Jenna Wang

What is your role at AFS?
I am a senior accountant in business service team with AFS

What do you love about working at AFS? Or Tell us about one of your career highlights?
I feel very proud to work with AFS since we have a lovely team, modern new office, flexible work arrangement and balanced work life. AFS cares for employee’s wellbeing and the management level appreciates each team member’s efforts and treat employees as big families.

AFS is professional and protecting clients from hazardous impact from Covid-19. We are proactively sending newsletters to clients within hours after government’s announcement for new support packages to make sure our clients are notified in the first place. We always put clients in first place at AFS. I have to say AFS is the best accounting practice I have worked at.

My career highlight during COVID-19 was that I started getting my own clients!!! Even though my individual effort was little to get new client fees to help AFS to relieve some financial burden, but I see everyone in the team doing the same thing. When everyone’s effort is accumulated it means a lot!!

Who are you outside of work?
I enjoy travelling and enjoy family time with my daughter and hubby. Whenever we have a few days rest we will go out to explore the beauty of natural world. I am a fun lady and love to catch up with friends on the weekend as well. I might behave a bit crazy outside of work since I just love laughing.

What or where do you take inspiration from?
From everyone in AFS. We are a great team and everyone can inspire me to be a better person in life and in work. We are fortunate to have so many females in our team and so many working mums. I am a new working mum with my first daughter nearly 2 years old. I am fortunate enough to get so many help from AFS female leaders who are of great influence and lead me over and make me be a better mum and a better employee.

What does Choose to Challenge mean to you?
It means making impossible become possible. Life is full of surprises and opportunities. Embracing challenge means creating more obstacles to be more resilient to make ourselves realise and accomplish more life goals

Isabel Nichol-Smith

What is your role at AFS?
Client Service Administration Assistant – Audit

What do you love about working at AFS?
Or Tell us about one of your career highlights? I love that I’m working in a supportive environment (I haven’t been here long enough to have a highlight just yet haha).

Who are you outside of work?
I’m a dog mum, I play netball for Elmore and I’m currently planning my wedding.

What or where do you take inspiration from?
I love self-development, so I listen to a lot of podcasts and read books. I’m also an observer so I do a bit of people watching to get inspiration.

What does Choose to Challenge mean to you?
To me it means choosing to step out of your comfort zone.

Laura Flanagan

What is your role at AFS?
I complete audits for public companies and prepare financial statements. My role includes developing and maintaining calculation workpapers for complex accounting standards, providing assistance to all audit staff in the community bank team and train junior members of the team in new accounting standards and refresh existing ones. I assist the internal audit team by completing remote internal audits on various topics when we are not in busy season with community banks. I also provide various consulting services including CFO relief services to clients who have a staffing gap and providing assistance to existing CFO’s on process improvements and development of tools to streamline existing processes.

What do you love about working at AFS?
That we have some amazing female partners to show everyone what women in leadership positions can do!

Who are you outside of work?
I love sports, AFL in winter and cricket in summer. Passionate lifelong Tigers supporter. I am a dance instructor on evenings during the week specialising in Pole Fitness. A bit of a nerd who enjoys watching fantasy movies and playing fantasy video games.

What or where do you take inspiration from?
From all of the amazing women in my life both personally and professionally. I also follow “The Female Lead” on LinkedIn which is an endless source of inspiration from some of the most well-known female leaders of our time.

What does Choose to Challenge mean to you?
Not operating by societies stereotypes, thinking and living outside of the box, breaking the glass ceiling and constantly striving to be the role model the young women of Australia deserve.

Jessica Ritchie

What is your role at AFS?
Partner of External Audit

What do you love about working at AFS? Or Tell us about one of your career highlights?
I love the diversity of the clients we work with and the challenges we are presented with, as well as the strong positive culture and working with an engaged team. One of my career highlights was being on maternity leave and coming in to meet with the CEO Kate, and External Audit Partner Adrian, and bringing my two month old daughter along, with her on my lap while we were discussing my path to partnership. I think that was a really powerful moment, in terms of challenging stereotypes that dictate women can’t be both a mum and a successful leader.

Who are you outside of work?
Outside of work I am a mum to two young daughters who keep me very busy with the things they love including gymnastics, swimming and dancing. On the weekends you would also find us baking some tasty treats, with the current favourite being M&M cookies, or walking our French Bulldog, Honey, to the local park.

What or where do you take inspiration from?
I take inspiration from many different places, whether it be from professional associates who have a passion for what they do, or from reading anything from business to leadership books which can really change your perspective and thinking.

What does Choose to Challenge mean to you?
To me, Choose to Challenge means challenging the status quo and stereotypes in the accounting profession. We need to continue to encourage and support women in leadership and recognise the value that women can offer in these roles.

Kylie Donald

What is your role at AFS?
Practice Manager

What do you love about working at AFS? Or Tell us about one of your career highlights?
It’s such a wonderful environment to work in thanks to the people, culture and newly-designed office.

Who are you outside of work?
Outside work I enjoy spending time with my family, travelling, reading and creating (a mess) in the kitchen.

What or where do you take inspiration from?
I’m a life-long learner, so I’m inspired by new ideas and challenging myself.

What does Choose to Challenge mean to you?
Don’t settle for the status quo. Do what you can to make a difference.

Kim Hosking

What is your role at AFS?
EA to the CEO (I make sure everything behinds the scenes is done).

What do you love about working at AFS? Or Tell us about one of your career highlights?
A career highlight would be being heavily involved in the design and planning of the office renovations at the end of 2019. I also love organising the Client Christmas Party every year.

Who are you outside of work?
A chauffeur, hair stylist (not a good one), dance mum, homework helper and counsellor.

What or where do you take inspiration from?
Working mums who can do it all (and stay organised).

What does Choose to Challenge mean to you?
Playing my role for inclusiveness.

Samantha Oliver

What is your role at AFS?
Senior Accountant in Tax and Business Services

What do you love about working at AFS? Or Tell us about one of your career highlights?
I love working for AFS and feel very proud to be part of the firm. AFS has a fantastic team, we have a new modern office, flexible work arrangements and have a big focus on employees health and wellbeing. AFS always provides many different opportunities including being able to upskill, learn from each other and gain new qualifications. AFS also allows the ability to learn new roles, take on our own clients and taking overall ownership for the firm and our own successes. I love that AFS has an attitude of putting clients first and the networks provided ensure we can also help the broader community. Definitely the best firm and team I have gotten to be a part of.

Who are you outside of work?
Outside of work I spend a lot of time with family and friends and really enjoy travelling, when I can that is. One of my key passions is my contribution to my board role for Lifeline Central Victoria and the Mallee(LLCVM). LLCVM is proud to participate in Lifeline’s 13 11 14 crisis support service. Our goal is a suicide-free Australia and we aim to help build resilient communities through helping address mental health issues, isolation, stress, anxiety and loneliness within our broader community. Being able to develop my skills further while also being able to use my current skills to help the community is an invaluable reward.

What or where do you take inspiration from?
I like to take inspiration from everyone I meet. The inspiration can be about the kind of leader but also the kind of person I want to be. I’ve had so many inspirational people in my life including many of the females at AFS but one of my first inspirations on being a strong female was my mum. Growing up she worked hard every single day to achieve everything she had in life and always showed how any reward will mean so much more than anything ever just handed to you. She also showed the importance of looking out for the people important in your life. No matter how busy she was, she would always make time to support and look out for people around her going through a tough time.

What does Choose to Challenge mean to you?
Choose to challenge means not limiting your potential. Challenge your values and beliefs to be the best possible version of yourself. Challenge yourself to reach and achieve your life goals. Challenge others and society to make them the best possible community. Most importantly, challenge yourself to be happy with who you are.

Tarryn Beacham

What is your role at AFS?
Client Service Manager.

What do you love about working at AFS? Or Tell us about one of your career highlights?
Since coming on board almost 5 months ago I have found everyone to be so welcoming. The new office is a fantastic space and the vibe is so positive. The client first focus is very apparent and something I know everyone takes very seriously whilst also having abit of fun along the way!

Who are you outside of work?
A busy Mum of 2 girls, who are 6 & 8. It’s the simple things in life that I treasure. I love spending time with my girls, whether it be going to see a movie or going camping in our family campervan with the dog in tow.

What or where do you take inspiration from?
I have the most wonderful women in my life. I look up to and take inspiration from my Nana, Mum and 2 Sisters who are all amazing in their own right. This is us pictured above.

What does Choose to Challenge mean to you?
Choose to challenge means choosing to challenge yourself. I’ve been through some difficult times, with all the support in the world available, I still have to choose. Choose to be me and choose to challenge myself. Whether that be getting out of bed in the morning and going for a walk or even challenging myself not to eat all the cheese! (a fight I often loose!)

Melissa Tregenza

What is your role at AFS?
Front reception.

What do you love about working at AFS? Or Tell us about one of your career highlights?
I love working in a supportive environment where we are given the opportunity to grow not only in our career, but on a personal level as well as being part of a company that are so involved in their local community rather than just caring about the bottom dollar

Who are you outside of work?
I’m a single mum, foster carer, animal lover and a keen DIYer and renovator!

What or where do you take inspiration from?
I’m inspired by people who give their time and effort selflessly to help others, without expecting anything in return. Also, workers on the front line, who put the community first every day, to make sure we all get home safely to our families.

What does Choose to Challenge mean to you?
To me it means standing up to attitudes and behaviours that are dismissive or degrading to others.

Anna Bartlett

What is your role at AFS?
Senior Accountant – External Audit.

What do you love about working at AFS? Or Tell us about one of your career highlights?
I really enjoy working at AFS and have found it to be an extremely supportive and fun work environment. They understand the need for all staff, in particular women, to have a greater work life balance and encourage and support us all to work flexibly. This is something I really appreciate, especially during the challenges of 2020 with home schooling!

Who are you outside of work?
I am a wife and mum of two primary school aged children, who are heavily involved in sport. I find most weekends and weeknights are spent taking the kids to/from different sporting activities. I enjoy catching up with friends over good food and wine, and enjoy reading (when I get time). I am also involved in a number of local community groups through secretarial and treasurer roles.

What or where do you take inspiration from?
My mother Maxine. She has always been supportive of me in all the decisions I have made in life (some good and bad) and continues to show me the importance of setting the right example for my children, in particular my daughter Georgia.

What does Choose to Challenge mean to you?
To challenge other women, not just myself, to have the confidence to make different choices. I have found (from past experience) that it takes a lot of courage to make different decisions which can potentially have a huge impact on our lives!

Kate Scarce

What is your role at AFS?
Internal Audit manager. My areas of responsibility include local government, credit unions, waste and resource recovery, statutory authorities.

What do you love about working at AFS? Or Tell us about one of your career highlights?
I am genuinely interested in the industry sectors I am involved in.  I am passionate about transparency in the way in which public money is managed and the way organisations are governed. My work at AFS enables me to contribute to improvements and feel like I make a difference.  Auditors are born to challenge! I love the flexible work arrangements, the technology we use and the care and support for employee wellbeing.

A highlight for me was being appointed a director of ARC Justice, a not for profit human rights organisation providing access to justice for those with the greatest need across regional and rural Victoria.  I value equity, fairness and justice and am extremely proud of the work this organisation does making that possible.  

Who are you outside of work?
An ordinary person like everyone else trying to find my way through this increasingly complex world, making little contributions where I can that might make a difference. I’m a bit of a homebody, love Bendigo, love my neighbourhood and am bit old fashioned. Have knitted and baked bread for many years.  

What or where do you take inspiration from?
The people around me, every day. In one way or another, we are all products of everyone we have ever worked and who have been a part of our lives, all with mixed in with our own uniqueness. I am inspired by those with the courage to challenge.

What does Choose to Challenge mean to you?
It means staying relevant. Being inquisitive. Being informed. Being interested.

Kathy Hutchings

What is your role at AFS?
Corporate Secretarial Services Manager, internal projects, credit control and much more as a result of having been at AFS for approximately 20 years and working in many different areas of the business.

What do you love about working at AFS? Or Tell us about one of your career highlights?
Working with great team members to make things as easy as possible for our clients is very satisfying.

Who are you outside of work?
Outside of work you are likely to find me on the beach or a golf course, curled up with a book or camping.

What or where do you take inspiration from?
Finding an opportunity to make someone else’s day better whether that be improving an internal process or helping a client.

What does Choose to Challenge mean to you?
We learn and grow when we challenge ourselves and “normal” practices.

Allison Wilson

What is your role at AFS?
Accounts Administration.

What do you love about working at AFS? Or Tell us about one of your career highlights?
This is not a career highlight for myself but after working for AFS for 14 years I am very proud to have watched young accountants now become partners at AFS, what a fantastic opportunity.

Who are you outside of work?
I love spending time with my family and friends.

What or where do you take inspiration from?
I take inspiration from everyone we all have an interesting or inspiring story to tell.

What does Choose to Challenge mean to you?
Being able to face challenges and having the ability to deal with them.

Katie Dempster

What is your role at AFS?
Partner, Internal Audit.

What do you love about working at AFS? Or Tell us about one of your career highlights?
Being promoted as one of the first female partners of the firm is a definite career highlight. I love working as part of AFS and our internal audit team, the firm has and continues to support my required flexible working and has rolled out the flexible working policy across the firm, a real step in the right direction to support everyone but particularly women and mothers to enjoy and engage in their careers.

Who are you outside of work?
A mum, raising two girls, red and sparkling wine lover, novice interior designer, true crime enthusiast with a secret (but not that secret) obsession with trash reality viewing.

What or where do you take inspiration from?
Anywhere I can, listening is so important. The daily struggles and triumphs of people who are overcoming disadvantage, illness or other curve balls which life has thrown at them constantly inspires me. Anyone who shows up for a cause which endeavours to improve equality, fairness or justice for others.

What does Choose to Challenge mean to you?
Choosing to have discussions which challenge the thinking of others when it comes to diversity and inclusion, including challenging outdated norms, thinking, actions or inactions which negatively impact others and minority groups, not limited to but specifically including women.

Erin Nankivell

What is your role at AFS?
I’m part of the Internal Audit team.

What do you love about working at AFS? Or Tell us about one of your career highlights?
I love meeting a wide variety of people on Internal Audits and learning about what they do at work. I also love working with our awesome team.

Who are you outside of work?
I’m a fiction writer. Last year I finished a novel which I’m hoping to find a publisher for. It’s a psychological crime thriller about the dark undercurrent in female friendships. I’m now working on a new novel (I don’t like to talk about what I’m currently writing)

What or where do you take inspiration from?
Great books, my friends and family.

Stacey Lakey

What is your role at AFS?
Share Registry Manager.

What do you love about working at AFS? Or Tell us about one of your career highlights?
I love being part of a big company that has such a high customer service standard, but still feels like a small run business with a personal approach.

Who are you outside of work?
I am a wife and mum to two primary school aged kids, parents club rep, Geelong Cats supporter, keen caravanner and enjoy a glass of wine or two!

What or where do you take inspiration from?
At work I love improving processes and efficiencies. If I can make something easier and more fool proof to human error, I’m inspired! At home my family are my inspiration, always embracing our differences and always learning about and adapting to each other’s behaviours.

What does Choose to Challenge mean to you?
Choose to Challenges means to me that I can challenge my own thinking to be better, to change my actions resulting in a change in my behaviour.

From challenge comes change, so let’s all choose to challenge.