Bronwen

My name is Bronwen.  I have four kids (3 boys and a girl), a partner and I work full time as an executive in ACT Government – a State/Territory Government that governs the Australian Capital Territory.  I head up the policy and corporate area of the Department of Disability, Housing and Community Services, the human services department for the Territory.

I’m originally a Pom but have now lived in Australia just longer than I did in England, 25 years here and 22 in England.  All my family is back in England which makes it hard as the kids grow up, we do try and get back but we can’t very often of course.
As I get older I realise increasingly that I need to make exercise a part of my everyday life.  So I now force myself to walk up a relatively steep local hill most days and have met a couple of people I also walk with – it happens in no time! If I’m feeling very fit I try and run up parts of it when I’m on my own, dragging the reluctant dog behind me!

My definition of success for 2020 women

I would not be on my pat malone to say properly funded maternity and paternity leave! My partner looked after one of my kids from 3 months old - I was able to keep feeding and everyday he would bring her in, but in order to be flexibility of parenting there needs to be that support for fathers as well as mothers.

The old established practice of how we work needs to change - it so male orientated. For office and on-line workers, and with remote access, they should be able to do it from home most of the time and not expect to have bosses (male) look at the clock as they walk out the door to pick up kids. Lets all remember, its what and when you do, not where you do it

What has helped me overcome adversity

A strong sense that I can accomplish whatever I set my mind to has helped me overcome adversity.  This is built on past success and the confidence that others have had in me. I consider myself very fortunate to have great kids and a supportive partner, but I've had to work very hard at all aspects of my life such as my relationships as well as at work.

I do think that an upbringing for girls in particular that embues them with a sense of striving for what they want to do is important. My eldest son is now at university and he has no idea what he wants to do and I think that's just fine. It takes a while to get to know yourself and understand what you like doing and are comfortable with - kids need support to work that out. Let's face it, we end up working for a long time so it may as well be what we like to do, if we're in a position to be able to have choices.

The important people in my life

Tim, my partner, after 25 years of sharing, talking, working things out together, has given me an understanding that we are equal in what we bring to the partnership.

Sandra, my boss, for the flexibility she has allowed me in my work and the confidence she has had in me to delivery.  She has taught me that if you trust a worker enough you will know they will get the job done .... somehow!

Lastly, my mum, for bringing me up as a strong independent woman. 

Some more about my life

I was born in London, the eldest of two girls but moved around a lot as a child. I love that my children have stability in their upbringing, not having to change locations or schools and that I have next door neighbours I know and can talk to and my kids run around with theirs.

I left school and travelled to Australia. But as all the casual work I did both in England and Australia was boring I decided to go on to university which I did after returning to England after a year.

But I'd met a boy here on my travels and we decided to maintain the relationship which we managed to do over three long years and between countries on either sides of the world. As unemployment was so high in early 1980s England we decided to try for work here when we both finished.

We both ended up initially as public servants, myself working for local/State government and my husband for the federal government. He now works from home as a consultant and juggles the kids much better than myself. Canberra in a way is a big country town and we can get around easily and juggle better than we could in a big city.