International Women’s Day 2025

Lisa Lister Reed is the 2025 International Women’s Day Woman of the Year.

The International Women’s Day Committee, in partnership with the Women’s Resource Centre (WRC), hosted its annual International Women’s Day event on March 7th, 2025, at Pier 6 under the theme "Accelerate Action." This empowering gathering brought together leaders, advocates, and change-makers committed to advancing gender equity and creating a brighter future for women and girls in Bermuda.

The event was hosted by Patrina 'Powergirl' Paynter and began with a networking continental breakfast. The programme featured three dynamic speakers—Donna Raynor, Kirsten Beasley, and Sherrie-Lynn Lilley—who delivered TEDx-style talks, each highlighting a critical aspect of action-driven leadership.

Donna Raynor spoke on the importance of resilience and perseverance in breaking barriers, drawing from her experiences in athletics and corporate leadership. Kirsten Beasley challenged the notion that emotion is a weakness in leadership, instead emphasising how emotional intelligence fuels problem-solving, decision-making, and meaningful action. Sherrie-Lynn Lilley explored the complexities of intersectionality in leadership, highlighting how race, gender, and disability can shape experiences and advocating for a more inclusive and equitable path forward for women.

Their insights laid the foundation for a panel discussion, moderated by Sloane Johnson, which delved into personal and professional interpretations of accelerating action. The panellists shared defining moments when they moved from waiting for permission to taking decisive action, discussed the challenges of navigating leadership as women—particularly in overcoming biases and imposter syndrome—and explored strategies for ensuring women not only take a seat at the table but confidently own their space in leadership roles.

A key highlight of this year’s celebration was the introduction of the Teen of the Year Award, recognising an outstanding young woman leading with purpose and resilience. Shia Bean, a CedarBridge Academy student, was named the inaugural recipient, celebrated for her leadership, dedication to community service, and artistic expression. As a youth leader, prefect, dance choreographer, and entrepreneur, Shia exemplifies the power of young women to inspire change and uplift those around them.

Shia Bean, 2025 Teen of the Year.

The finale of the event was the announcement of the 2025 Woman of the Year Award to Lisa Lister Reed. A trailblazer in finance, government consulting, and human rights, Lisa has spent decades advocating for policy reforms, disability rights, and community mentorship. Her commitment to inclusion and social justice has strengthened Bermuda’s human rights framework and created opportunities for underrepresented communities. The award was presented by Tammy Richardson-Augustus, the 2024 Woman of the Year, in a heartfelt moment of recognition.

In her closing remarks, Juanae Crockwell, Executive Director of the WRC, emphasised the importance of collective action in accelerating progress for women and girls. She highlighted the WRC’s 2024 achievements, including providing counselling support to 87 women, hosting 20 community education and wellness workshops, offering subsidised childbirth education, introducing a youth programme and establishing a hardship fund. Ms. Crockwell highlighted the WRC's continued advocacy work, pushing for policy changes to support domestic abuse survivors and protect women’s bodily autonomy.

“The theme 'Accelerate Action' is a call to each of us to step up, speak out, and support initiatives that create lasting change,” said Ms. Crockwell. “Change does not happen in the abstract. It happens when we each decide to act. So as we leave here today, let us commit to more than just reflection. Let us commit to action.”

Sponsored by EY, Butterfield, Bacardi, KPMG, Fidelity International, WTW, Appleby, and Arch, all funds raised from this event will support the WRC’s advocacy efforts, ensuring that its mission to champion gender equity and provide vital services continues to make a lasting impact.