History
In the 1920s Australian women were quick to recognise the value and potential of the BPW movement which had been established in the United States by our founder Dr Lena Madesin Phillips.
Australian Clubs were being formed at much the same time as Dr Lena Madesin Phillips was traveling to Europe working for the establishment of BPW International. The first BPW Club was in Melbourne. The year was 1925.
On February 8, 1947 six Australian BPW clubs met and passed a resolution that an Australian Federation of Business and Professional Women’s Clubs be formed. We now have 32 BPW Clubs located around Australia in urban and rural areas.
BPW International was formed in 1919 and became an international movement in 1930. It opened its International Headquarters in 1931 in the United States. In July 1946 BPW International met for the first time after World War 2 in Brussels. The event was filled with “deep emotions and poignant memories” as stated by Dr Lena Madesin Phillips. BPW International has Special Category status at the United Nations, which enables us to influence opinion at the highest level in this forum. We have members who regularly attend United Nations meetings, and many Australian members attend the Commission on the Status of Women at the United Nations in New York in February each year. For more information about BPW International (BPWI) visit www.bpwi.org
BPW Australia is affiliated with BPWI and as such our members attend International Congresses Conferences held triennially around the world. The next BPWI Congress is being held in Helskini, Finland in 2011, and all BPW members are entitled to attend. BPW Australia is very proud to be only one of the two countries to have had three Australian International Presidents:
Patience Thoms: 1968-1971
Beryl Nasher: 1974-1977
Patricia Harrison: 1999-2002
BPW Australia is governed by the BPW Australian Executive and Council. The BPW Australia President is the Executive Officer and spokesperson of BPWA and can be contacted at president@bpw.com.au.
Members of the current Executive are listed under About BPW > Executive Board. States may also have governing bodies dealing with State/Territory issues and legislation and are managed by a Division Executive.
We welcome you to find out more about BPW Australia in your State/Territory, click on the State of your interest on the map in the left column.
“The First 25 Years – BPW Australia” – Patience Thoms, 1972