Around 130 women gathered on the Sunshine Coast today at the Inspire and Inform: The Premier's Women on Boards event.
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk urged the women in the room to get on board and be a part of influencing and shaping Queensland's future.
"Having just celebrated Queensland Women's Week and International Women's Day, I want women across the Sunshine Coast region to continue to be inspired by the message that they can do anything they put their mind to," the Premier said.
"I believe in gender equality and I believe in leading by example. That's why my cabinet is 50 per cent women," the Premier said.
"We've also set a target to have 50 per cent of women on Queensland Government boards by 2020.
"This is clearly working because in three and half years we've seen a 16 per cent increase to 47 per cent in Government board positions now held by women.
"We've still got a little way to go and that's why we're here today."
The Premier said her government was committed to a Queensland where equality in the boardrooms in all industries and in all regions becomes the norm.
"That's why I want to see as many women as possible from across the Sunshine Coast stepping up to make a difference," she said.
"We've seen some great outcomes on the Sunshine Coast with women representing four out of six Queensland Government appointees to the Council of the University of the Sunshine Coast, and seven out of ten appointees to the North Coast Regional Disability Advisory Council.
"I want to see this continue so I'm calling on the board-ready women of the Sunshine Coast to seize this opportunity to help shape our great State because your time is here and now."
Minister for Women Di Farmer said it was wonderful to see so many women at today's event.
"The Women on Boards initiative is a key activity of the Palaszczuk Government's Queensland Women's Strategy which promotes the rights, interests and wellbeing of women and girls," Minister Farmer said.
"This isn't just about gender equality but getting more women on boards is about getting better economic outcomes too.
"For example, it's been established that gender parity in our boardrooms will enhance performance, leading to $87 million every year in productivity gains, without additional workers or extra hours."
The previous Women on Boards events have been held in Brisbane and Toowoomba.
