Stepping up to the global plate

talks to a woman whose increasing role in public affairs is a natural flow on from her council duties. ‘‘This advocacy has all been a natural progression from my being a councillor’’

For Hellen Swales, advocacy in all its forms is the common thread in an increasingly busy public life.

On April 23, the long-time Silverstream, Upper Hutt resident will take on the national presidency of the New Zealand Business and Professional Womens’ Organisation (BPW).

‘‘In a way, you just get tired of looking through the window when the only way to get change is to go through the door.’’

Swales recently returned from New York where she addressed the Commission for the Status of Women, a third time in the role as a member of the BPW International Standing Committee to the United Nations’ where she presented a speech.

This called for the economic empowerment for women and girls in the changing world of work as an agreed conclusion for the treaty countries back home.

‘‘We were working with the New Zealand Government to ensure the language that was inserted into this document was going to benefit all women and girls. That’s what the BPW do, advocate for these rights.’’

A city councillor since 2010, Swales is also on the national board of Woman in Politics in New Zealand, a local and central government organisation.

‘‘For me, this advocacy has all been a natural progression from my being a councillor.

‘‘So the journey started from that. Being on the council made me a better speaker, firstly, and it gave me a wider perspective on issues.

‘‘But also a lot of what I do in these other areas makes me a better councillor too,’’ she said.

Swales was mindful the 11 person Upper Hutt City Council had only three women, less than when she was first elected.

‘‘It’s important to support woman in leadership roles and of course it’s good to have more woman around the table,’’ she said.

She estimates she spends 25 hours a week on each of the