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34 | GRAVITAS MAGAZINE GravitasMag.com BUSINESS Gail Kelly Former CEO Westpac Bank Saudi Arabian Suffragettes POLITICS FASHION Lisa Sun CEO of Project Gravitas WOMEN IN THE NEWS - INTERNATIONAL Women continue to break down barriers and pave the way for the next generation of female leaders, from the arts community to philanthropy to the corporate boardroom. Here is a look at six women making international headlines for their ground breaking efforts. . We're always on the lookout for more women with GR AVITAS, who just like our magazine, possess just as much strength of character and chutzpah. Yale graduate Lisa Sun created Project Gravitas, a clothing company that designs professional work outfits with built-in shape wear. e passionate fashionista worked her way through the global luxury, fashion and beauty brands at the world's leading management consulting firm before launching Project Gravitas in 2013. Sun, who is a former size 22 and size 8 and now a proud size 12, believes that corporate dresswear should be fashionable and comfortable for any women of any size and body shape. To learn more about these women visit our website at GravitasMag.com for interviews, videos and links. In a historic move, for the first time women will be able to vote in elections and run for political office in Saudi Arabia in December. Four years after the rules were approved by former Saudia president King Abdullah, the monumental shift shows the broader views of women's rights in the Arabic nation. According to local media, at least 70 women are running as candidates with another 870 registering as campaign managers. However, human rights groups like Amnesty International says the decision to participate in the electoral process does not go far enough. In Saudi Arabia, women are still forced to adhere to the country's strict dress code and are not permitted to drive or obtain a passport without a male guardian to sign off on the document. As the first female CEO of an Australian bank, Gail was considered one of the most powerful women in finance. Westpac Bank, Australia's oldest and second largest bank with $651.4 in assets and more than 36,000 employees. When she was named CEO in 2002, Kelly made headlines by setting a goal of having women fill 40% of the company's top managerial positions. Not quite satisfied after achieving that goal two years early, she announced a new gender equality plan to place half of the bank managers as women to coincide with Westpac's 200th anniversary in 2017. Named among the Most Powerful Women in the World by Forbes magazine, she is using her status as a successful businesswoman to elevate awareness on several social causes. She currently serves as an ambassador for Care Australia, a relief organization that focuses on women in emerging market economics.

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