Bahgat, Nour Eldin, ambassador Wabenhorst, his wife, Kandil, Hafez and El-Zahabi.
The Australian Embassy in Cairo hosted an Iftar to mark International Women’s Day, which coincided with Egyptian Women’s Day on 16 March—the anniversary of the first women’s demonstration against British colonialism in 1919.
Under the Australian theme “March Forward for All Women and Girls,” this year also marks the 30th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, adopted at the Fourth World Conference on Women in 1995. This landmark framework remains the most progressive and widely endorsed blueprint for advancing women’s and girls’ rights globally.
In his opening remarks, Axel Wabenhorst, the Australian Ambassador to Egypt, underscored the importance of continued progress in gender equality, noting that 2.4 billion women globally lack equal economic opportunities and that one in three women experiences physical or sexual violence in her lifetime.
The ambassador also acknowledged the devastating effects of recent conflicts and humanitarian crises on women and girls, including in Gaza and Sudan.
Ambassador Wabenhorst emphasised the significance of the event’s timing, which coincided with several key milestones: Egyptian Women’s Day, the 30th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, and Australia’s new International Gender Equality Strategy.
“Launched last month, the strategy outlines how Australia is driving gender equality through action to protect and advance women’s rights. It focuses on ending gender-based violence, pursuing gender-responsive peace and security efforts, delivering gender-equitable climate action and humanitarian assistance, and promoting women’s economic equality,” he added.
Reflecting on the event, Ambassador Wabenhorst stated, “When women march forward, the whole world makes progress.”
Following the Iftar, a panel discussion featured accomplished Egyptian women from diverse fields such as business, finance, science, development and sport. Soraya Bahgat, a social entrepreneur and advocate for women and girls in Egypt, moderated the discussion.
The panellists included:
- Ghada Kandil, Egypt’s Representative at Bank of New York Mellon and one of Forbes’ 100 Most Powerful Businesswomen in the Middle East for 2025.
- Sham El-Zahabi, a scientist and founder of a pioneering regional dermatology centre, and the daughter of renowned Syrian singer Asala.
- Nada Hafez, an Egyptian national champion in fencing who competed in the Olympics in 2016, 2022, and 2024—while seven months pregnant.
- Maha Nour Eldin, a food and beverage professional, entrepreneur and consultant with over 20 years of experience, who also advocates for the full participation of blind women and girls in society.
- Sara Aziz, the founder and CEO of Safe Egypt, dedicated to child protection and empowerment since 2012.
During the discussion, speakers shared insights from their journeys and everyday challenges, exploring the meaning of “marching forward” for gender equality. The conversation highlighted the importance of empowering the next generation—particularly young women and adolescent girls—as catalysts for lasting change.
All panellists were honoured and received certificates of recognition from Ambassador Wabenhorst.
The evening was enriched by a violin performance from Mervat Shagar, a member of the Al Nour Wal Amal Orchestra—an ensemble of blind female musicians renowned for their exceptional talent and contributions to the arts. Shagar has previously performed in Australia.
The Australian Embassy in Cairo is committed to fostering environments where every woman and girl can reach her full potential.
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