Register now to Walk a Day in Her Shoes

06 Jun 2025

Edition 10 2025

L-R: Alicia Jacenko, Octavio Barrientos Arriaga, Thulaisiharan Sivapalan, Mary Liu

Join this empathy-driven walk on 25 June to take real steps toward gender equity.

UNSW students, staff and community members are invited to join the inaugural Walk a Day in Her Shoes at the Kensington campus on Wednesday 25 June to build empathy and understanding for women’s lived experience.

The walk is an initiative of the UNSW Business School in response to this year’s International Women’s Day themes.

From pitch to path: how it all started

Earlier this year, the UNSW Business School called on staff to propose fresh ideas that could carry the momentum of International Women’s Day (IWD) well beyond March.

The challenge? Ensure that the pitch could “accelerate action” and “march forward” toward gender equality, with the audience voting for the most impactful proposal.

One idea stood out for its simplicity, symbolism and power: Walk a Day in Her Shoes.

Pitched by a passionate team of educators, Alicia Jacenko and Mary Liu, the proposal invited people of all genders to walk one kilometre in heels, experiencing firsthand the discomfort and scrutiny many women navigate daily, both literally and metaphorically.

Associate Lecturer Mary Liu and Alicia Jacenko, Education Development Team, presenting their initiative at the 6 March UNSW Business School EDI Internation Women’s Day event.

The audience voted overwhelmingly in support, and now the walk is almost here, brought to life in collaboration with the UNSW Business School EDI team.

The event: what to expect on 25 June

Now it’s your turn to join. On Wednesday 25 June, Walk a Day in Her Shoes will take place at UNSW Kensington as part of Term 2 Inclusivity and Wellbeing Week.

Participants will walk from the Alumni Lawn to the Library Lawn. They’ll encounter QR-coded signs along the route, linking to real stories and statistics about gender bias in work and leadership.

The event closes with a panel of students, staff and guest speakers who’ll reflect on the impact of walking together and in discomfort.

Event schedule:

10–10.30am: Check in and lace up (or strap in) at the Alumni Lawn.
10.30–11.30am: Walk begins along a one-kilometre route ending at the Library Lawn.
11.30–12.00pm: Panel debrief and community reflection.

Why this matters

The walk isn’t about fashion or flair. It’s about fostering empathy and deeper understanding of everyday gendered experiences.

“Sometimes the smallest physical challenge can unlock huge realisations,” says Octavio Barrientos Arriaga, Lecturer, UNSW Business School.

“This isn’t just about awareness. It’s about allyship in action.”

The event directly addresses this year’s IWD themes: Accelerate Action and March Forward. By making the invisible visible, it encourages all of us to consider how we can move toward more inclusive, equitable environments, not only in theory but in practice.

Get involved

You don’t need to walk in heels to take part. The event welcomes support in many forms:

Walkers: Take part in the experience.
Spotters: Guide walkers safely and offer encouragement.
Volunteers: Help with logistics and operations.
Supporters: Show up on the day, clap, cheer and share.
Donors: Drop off clean, pre-loved women’s shoes (sizes 8–13).

Whether you walk a kilometre or simply lend a pair of shoes, your involvement helps shine a light on gender inequity in everyday life.

Take a step. Change your view. Walk with us.

Main image: Allyship in action: colleagues support each other to pitch immersive event. L-R: Alicia Jacenko, Octavio Barrientos Arriaga, Thulaisiharan Sivapalan, Mary Liu