Rachael Robertson, one of Australia's most popular and in-demand speakers, will highlight the 2020 IWD Illawarra luncheon.
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The author and former Antarctic expedition leader was the youngest and just the second female expedition leader to Davis Station.
Robertson will be the guest speaker at next year's luncheon on March 6 at the WIN Entertainment Centre.
The announcement made on Wednesday coincided with the International Women's Day Illawarra Committee distributing more than $40,000 raised through its 2019 luncheon.
Earlier this year it presented $20,000 to the Illawarra Women's Health Centre to assist its Preventing Violence - Supporting Mothers program, as well as $14,000 awarded as scholarships at the event.
On Wednesday the committee presented three other charities with funds.
Dress for Success Sydney Illawarra Branch received $5000 while The Salvation Army's Carinya Cottage and Sister's Cancer Support Group each received $2500.
"People think of a IWD luncheon as just one event on one day of the year but the impacts of the money that they raise reverberates across the entire year and beyond," Dress for Success director Nicki Bowman said.
Thit Tieu from Sister's Cancer Support Group added International Women's day should be celebrated every day.
The support group is for women from culturally diverse backgrounds who are or have been affected by cancer or are supporting friends or relatives with cancer.
In a culturally safe environment, over cups of tea, women touched by cancer can share their personal journey and thoughts with other women who have been through a similar experience.
The Salvation Army's Karen Walker thanked the IWD Illawarra committee.
"The money we receive from International Women's Day is vital in running our service within the Illawarra and it helps us to be able to change lives of women and children," she said.
IWD Illawarra Committee co-founder and chair Vicki Tiegs said the region's continuing support for the charity luncheon ensured it would remain one of the largest IWD events in the country.
"This event has grown each year since we started in 2006 and it is only through the unflagging encouragement and assistance of everyone within the community that we are able to assist women of all ages and backgrounds in achieving their best lives," she said.
"The money we raise contributes to so many worthy projects within the Illawarra while building on the global movement to ensure equality for all."