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 travelling to Europe working for the establishment of BPW International. 

'The first BPW Club was in Melbourne. The year was 1925. This was the year before the population of this country reached six million. It was the year the Solar Observatory was established in Canberra, the Sydney Harbour Bridge was begun, and De Pinedo flew Rome to Australia and return. The Governor-General was Baron Stonehaven and the Prime Minister was Stanley Bruce.' *

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 44 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 USA and then relocated to the UK. 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) go to the website www.bpwi.org

BPW Australia is affiliated with BPWI and as such our members attend International Conferences held triennially around the world. The next BPWI Congress is being held in Mexico in 2008, and all BPW members are entitled to attend.

There have been three Australian International Presidents:

Patience Thoms: 1968-1971, Beryl Nasher: 1974-1977, Patricia Harrison: 1999-2002

BPW Australia is governed by the BPW Australia 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 Executive are identified under Executive Board. States may also have governing bodies dealing with State/Territory issues and legislation and are managed by a Division Executive.

If you would like 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