Celebrating International Women’s Day – 12 Women Who Accelerated Action!

From civil rights to computing, scientific breakthroughs and cultural change, this International Women’s Day, we’re celebrating the fearless female history makers, rule breakers and risk-takers that have reshaped society as we know it.

This International Women’s Day, we’re celebrating the fearless female history makers, rule breakers, and risk-takers who have accelerated action across civil rights, computing, scientific breakthroughs, and cultural change, reshaping society as we know it.

Throughout history, countless women have defied societal norms, broken barriers, and made indelible contributions that have shaped the world we live in today. From groundbreaking technological advancements to record-breaking achievements in music and sports, women have continually driven progress and innovation.

The theme for International Women’s Day 2025, ‘Accelerate Action’, aims to inspire people globally and build momentum towards change that improves gender equality worldwide sooner. In honour of International Women’s Day on March 8, we’re celebrating real women who have accelerated action in their fields. They’re the trailblazers, history makers, rule breakers, and risk takers who have paved the way for future generations and redefined how we work and live today.

1. Ada Lovelace – accelerating the future of computing
Starting off strong with a woman whose forward-thinking and unconventional presence in the 19th-century male-dominated fields of science and mathematics is Ada Lovelace. Ada made a significant contribution to computer technology as we know it today. Often lauded as the world’s first computer programmer, Ada understood that Charles Babbage’s Analytical Engine could do more than just calculations. Her visionary notes included what was essentially an algorithm for computing Bernoulli numbers using Babbage’s machine – an early concept for computer programming. These groundbreaking ideas single-handedly informed the design of the first electronic computer by Alan Turing, shaping the foundation of modern computer science.

2. Marie Curie – a remarkable science trailblazer
Breaking plenty of barriers as a woman in science, Marie Curie was not only the first woman to win a Nobel Prize but was also the first person in history to win two Nobel Prizes and the only person to have ever won a Nobel Prize in two different sciences – physics and chemistry. She’s widely regarded (alongside her husband Pierre) for her theory of radioactivity – a term she coined, as well as her discovery of polonium and radium and groundbreaking research showing atoms could emit energy. Curie’s work laid the foundation for nuclear physics, leading to advancements in medicine, including radiation therapy and the development of X-ray technology.

3. Rosa Parks – accelerating the civil rights movements
A true rule breaker and risk taker, Rosa Parks was a brave African American woman whose actions changed the course of history and played a crucial role in America’s Civil Rights Movement. It all began in 1955 in Montgomery, Alabama, when she refused to give up her seat on the bus to a white passenger – as the law at the time dictated. Her defiance against racial discrimination led to the Montgomery Bus Boycott – a pivotal moment and powerful symbol of resistance that accelerated nationwide action against segregation. Her courage and activism changed lives and the course of history.

4. Elizabeth (Lizzie) Magie – shaping game nights for decades
A name you might not be familiar with but the creator of a game you definitely know. In 1904, Lizzie Magie created and patented a game called ‘The Landlord’s Game’, later known as Monopoly. As a critique of capitalism and its injustices, her game was meant to highlight the adverse effects of land monopolies. Ironically, the game was stolen by Charles Darrow, who sold it to Parker Brothers in 1935, leaving Magie without any recognition. Despite this, Elizabeth’s innovative game hugely influenced board game culture and became a household staple, with an estimated 275 million games sold worldwide.

5. Cathy Freeman – accelerating unity across communities
Etched into the memories of many Australians, Cathy Freeman’s gold medal win in the 400m at the 2000 Sydney Olympics was a historic moment for Australia. As the first Aboriginal Australian to achieve this, her victory and celebratory lap – with both the Aboriginal and Australian flags draped on her back – symbolised unity and Indigenous pride and became a unifying moment for Australia. Cathy’s impact extends well beyond athletics, as she advocates for Indigenous education and women in sports to this day.

6. Margaret Thatcher – transforming politics
Dubbed the “Iron Lady” for her uncompromising leadership style, Margaret Thatcher made history as the UK’s first female Prime Minister, serving from 1979 to 1990. While controversial throughout her time as Prime Minister, her conservative policies reduced state intervention and promoted free-market capitalism, which reshaped and strengthened Britain’s economy. Under her rule, she transformed London into a global financial hub and left a lasting impact on politics worldwide.

7. Malala Yousafzai – Accelerating Human Rights
In 2012, Malala Yousafzai’s act of bravery in advocating for girls’ education led to her being shot in the head by the Taliban in Pakistan. She was flown to the UK for medical treatment, and during her recovery, she used her voice and experience to spread word of the chronic mistreatment of women by the Taliban. She founded the Malala Fund around the ethos of every girl’s right to quality education, and in 2014, became the youngest Nobel Peace Prize laureate for her efforts. Her activism continues to drive action, empowering and changing the lives of women and girls worldwide through education and gender equality.

8. Gerty Cori and Dorothy Crowfoot Hodgkin – medical marvelsDuring a male-dominated era, these two medical pioneers accelerated action and shaped diabetes healthcare as we know it today. Gerty Cori, born in 1896, was the first woman to win a Nobel Prize in chemistry for her work on glucose metabolism – which became key in diabetes treatment. Twenty years later, Dorothy Crawford Hodgkin won the 1964 Nobel Prize in chemistry for mapping the structure of vital biomolecules like penicillin and insulin, both foundational to medical progress and heavily relied on today.

9. Amelia Earhart – soaring high and accelerating aviation
A pioneering aviator and one of the most famous pilots in history, Amelia Earheart defied gender norms, famously becoming the first woman to fly solo across the Atlantic in 1932. She broke numerous other records, moving many other women to pursue careers in aviation and other male-dominated fields. Sadly, disappearing without a trace in 1937 – during an attempt to become the first woman to fly around the world – her legacy very much lives on, inspiring generations of aviators and adventurers.

10. Beyonce – breaking barriers, boundaries and recordsThe most awarded female artist in Grammy history, the first woman to headline an all-stadium tour, and one of the highest-grossing live acts in history, Queen Bey has influenced culture and the music landscape as we know it. Her latest album, Cowboy Carter, recently made her the first-ever black woman to win the Best Country Album at the Grammys. Queen Bey continues redefining music while also giving back to important causes through the BeyGOOD Foundation – an organisation launched by Beyonce in 2013 to support underserved, marginalised and under-resourced programs in the USA and beyond.

11. Serena Williams – accelerating action on the court

With 23 Grand Slam singles titles, Serena Williams is arguably one of sport’s history’s greatest and most recognised women. Her dominance on the court is rivalled only by her advocacy for gender and racial equity, which has launched her as a cultural icon, a symbol of empowerment and a global ambassador. Her commitment to social justice and philanthropy has been the focus of her post-tennis career, with the establishment of The Yetunde Price Resource Center and her support of causes that empower women and young girls to access the same opportunities she had growing up.

12.Local women of influence – shaping futures 

From history makers like Edith Cowan, the first woman elected to an Australian parliament, to today’s leaders in business, politics, and social activism, it’s important also to celebrate our very own women of influence, past and present, who have shaped our local communities and continue to inspire progress. Their resilience, lasting impact and vision pave the way for future generations, amplifying women’s voices worldwide.

Vision and determination lead to positive, lasting change
Between scientific discoveries, creating iconic board games, and reshaping economies and industries, women have continuously driven progress with unrivalled vision and unwavering determination. They’ve built a more liberated, open-minded, and progressive world, accelerating action along the way. We celebrate these remarkable women and those within our First National Real Estate network whose efforts – both seen and unseen – create positive, lasting change. Happy International Women’s Day from all of us at First National Real Estate.

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