International Women's Day: Celebrating Western Australian Trailblazers

On March 8th, we celebrate International Women's Day, a day dedicated to honouring the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women. As we work toward building a diverse, inclusive, and equal world where differences are valued and celebrated, we shine a spotlight on a few remarkable women from Western Australia.

Dale Tilbrook | Dale Tilbrook Experiences

Dale Tilbrook is a Wardandi Bibbulmun woman from the South West of Western Australia. She co-owns Maalinup Gallery with her brother Lyall, offering authentic Aboriginal art, gifts, and souvenirs, alongside founding Dale Tilbrook Experiences. This business provides a unique opportunity to learn about and cook authentic bush tucker, while also immersing guests in the cultural tradition of storytelling through art.

Dale’s passion for her work and her position as a female role model for future generations shines through in every conversation. She says, “the best part of being an Indigenous woman in this type of business is the role model that I can present to other women who might be thinking of taking this on.” 

When asked about the most rewarding aspect of her role, Dale shared, “every day brings new opportunities and new possibilities. I never stop learning, I’m always finding out something different, sharing knowledge or finding out more.”

Trudy Cook | General Manager of Karrinyup Shopping Centre

Trudy Cook, General Manager of Karrinyup Shopping Centre for the GPT Group, is a true powerhouse. Her favourite word is “unstoppable,” and she finds inspiration in the endless possibilities the unknown brings.

Trudy believes, “every single day is about being unstoppable. Get up and face it. Don’t just rely on motivation because motivation can only take you a certain part of the way. But I think if you get up and just face every part of the day and be consistent, that’s where it’s going to get you through and it’s going to actually beat your motivation.”

When reflecting on her greatest achievement, Trudy said, “I’m most proud of myself because I don’t rely on anyone, I rely on myself. I’m a single mother, I work in a very high powered role. I’ve travelled the world. I’m scared of really nothing. I believe that it’s up to you to turn up and get the job done and I’ve delivered that and there’s more yet to do and I can’t wait to see what the future holds.”

Kate Gibson | Founder of the Hike Collective

Kate Gibson is the founder and owner of The Hike Collective, a business she built from the ground up. The Hike Collective offers guided hiking experiences across Western Australia, providing opportunities to connect with nature and improve mental health through exploration.

When asked what she’s most proud of, Kate replied, “being able to balance the lifestyle that works for me and valuing my family life. But I think for me professionally, it’s building something from nothing that has impacted thousands of lives.”

Kate also shared a mantra that keeps her grounded: “nothing lasts forever. The good things are not going to last forever so I’m constantly in a place of gratitude when I’m in a good place. And nothing lasts forever so if I’m finding something really challenging it’s not going to be there forever.”

Emma Farrelly | Director of Wine at the State Buildings and COMO The Treasury

Emma Farrelly is the Director of Wine at the State Buildings and COMO The Treasury, where she creates world-class experiences for guests and curates distinctive wine lists and events for some of our state’s most awarded restaurants. Emma’s energy and passion for her work shine in every aspect of her role.

Her love for her family, especially her two sons and her inspiring Grandma, fuels her motivation. Emma reflected, “I often think about my Grandma as she was one of those people who never complained, worked really hard, even when things were tough. She always looked at the positive side of everything she did.” She then continued on saying, “I’m most proud of my boys. I’m very lucky that I get to have a career that I love and juggle being a mum at the same time. It’s not easy. I’m very lucky that I can do that.”

Sonja Mitchell | Chief Executive Officer of Destination Perth

Sonja Mitchell is Destination Perth’s very own Chief Executive Officer. Destination Perth is an all-female powerhouse team who is lead and inspired by Sonja every single day.

Sonja shared her philosophy: “You have no control over what actually happens to you, but your attitude can control how you behave. I think I’ve used that right throughout my journey and especially when I’m working with other people and mentoring other people. You can choose how you wake up in the morning. You can choose to think, right let’s grab this day and make it a good one.” 

Sonja also emphasised the importance of support from both women and men: “It’s really good for women to support women. But also, for men to support women. Right through my journey, my strongest mentors have been men.”

These five trailblazing women are making lasting contributions to Western Australia and inspiring future generations to come.