ADA celebrates International Women’s Day with an inspiring inaugural event

As a humid, sunny day gave way to a balmy, beautiful night at Sydney’s Cockle Bay Wharf on Saturday 7 March, more than 100 guests gathered for the ADA’s inaugural Women in Dentistry event *, held on the eve of International Women’s Day 2026.

Billed as “an evening celebrating the many roles of women in dentistry, focused on connection, wellbeing and inspiration", the event more than lived up to its promise, emphatically making it clear that the future has already arrived for dentistry as women innovate and redefine what the profession means for the next generation.

The event was opened by ADA CEO, Dr Kate More (PhD) and President, Dr Chris Sanzaro, following a thoughtful Acknowledgement of Country by one of the six presenters, Dr Tachae Douglas-Miller, a proud Ngunnawal woman, in which she reflected that the lands of the Gadigal people were a place of learning and connection long before the landmarks of modern Sydney appeared.

This multiple millennia-old outlook spirit of growing and developing, closely tied to place, infused the night which featured a showcase of inspirational Australian women who are navigating multiple roles, as professionals, leaders, mentors and caregivers, all while shaping their own career pathways.

In addition to the motivatingly positive encouragement of guest speaker, storyteller, and award-winning author Toni Powell, who acted as a genial and engaging MC and panel host, six extraordinarily impressive women talked about how they approach not only their careers, but their lives as a whole.

This whole-of-life approach was welcomed by one of the presenters, special needs specialist, Dr Avanti Karve, who remarked that “It’s the first time that we are here, not in our dental personas but as our whole selves ...” as she made specific reference to the traditional Indian dress she was wearing and that “being Indian is a big part of being who I am”.

The theme of career as part of wider complicated but successful and satisfying lives came through again and again from all six panelists who included, apart from the aforementioned Dr Douglas-Miller and Dr Karve, Associate Professor Leanne Teoh, Dr Meagan Huebl, Dr Selina Leow, and Dr Olivia Rae.

They reflected on how tough it can be to juggle the various aspects of their lives which include private practice ownership, multi-disciplines and high academic achievement, but how rewarding it can be and how they are excited to be making, in the words of Dr Selina Leow, “a real, meaningful difference” in whichever arena they operate.

The message from these six impressive women is that “There are plenty of opportunities to impact and benefit the profession” (Associate Professor Leanne Teoh) and that dentistry is stronger because of the women who work in it and who are increasingly changing the face of their profession for the better.

* A special thank you to sponsors Henry Schein, Inc. and our photographer on the night Lauren Mabbett Photography