The event will bring together the women of the not-for-profit sector from professional and industry associations, member benefit organisations, community groups, advocacy groups, charities and foundations to celebrate International Women’s Day.

Delicious food, sourced from local and regional producers and farmers, will be served with wines from a variety of boutique Victorian vineyards.

The lunch will be opened by Senator Ursula Stephens, Parliamentary Secretary for Social Inclusion and the Voluntary Sector. Later, Clare Martin, CEO of ACOSS, will explain her decision to join the not-for-profit sector and how she managed the transition from political life.

Throughout the afternoon, guests will have the opportunity to move around the room and catch up with old friends, make some new ones, and bid on the quality silent auction items.

All profits from the event will be donated to the International Women’s Development Agency (IWDA), an Australian not-for-profit that has been creating positive change for women and their communities in the Asia Pacific region for over 20 years.

In announcing their sponsorship of the event, the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre’s (MCEC) Director of Sales Anne Jamieson said the MCEC is proud to be supporting women from the not-for-profit sector. “As a sponsor of the Third Sector Women’s Networking Lunch we’re delighted to be able to welcome such an important event to the Melbourne Convention Centre.”