Empowering women of the world

IT'S SAFE to say that Christina Monneron is a woman of the world.

Since arriving in Coffs Harbour in 2011, Christina has used her experiences to bring about positive social change in the region.

Widely known for teaching popular Cuban salsa and Latin dance classes, Christina is also a pioneer of WOW - a community organisation for women to come together and uphold values of how they wish to be in the world.

For these reasons, Christina was honoured with the 2015 International Women's Day Coffs Harbour Woman of the Year award, which she accepted last week after being in New Zealand during the official March 4 award ceremony.

The title is a fitting honour for the 47-year-old whose strong community involvement also includes working with young people and alongside the Gumbaynggirr people.

"I teach dance and ways of connecting to one another... a lot of my work is about empowering women of all ages to come together in unity in different cultural settings," she said.

"The beautiful WOW (Women of the World) organisation feels like the fulfilment of what my work really means."

Born in Mauritius, Christina moved to Australia with her parents when she was six years old. She later studied science and pharmaceutical research - a field that took her across the world to work in Sweden.

During her five years living in Sweden, Christina unexpectedly discovered her "true calling" of Cuban music.

"It was taking Europe by storm at that time.

"There was a bit of a salsa wave of Afro Cuban music in the town I was living in - everything about it drew me in.

Christina then relocated to Cuba, where she lived for 10 months.

"Cuba turned my life around," she said.

"People live in the moment, and despite the crazy politics, people really see one another - dance and rhythm is part of life."

Over the decades, Christina said she had seen improvements in social equality for women but that there was still work to be done.

"There is still unevenness in equal jobs and equal pay and that's an ongoing battle.

"I think it's important to be persistent - at the end of the day I believe in collaboration and unity, not dominance.

"The more we can work together in collaborative ventures the better the world becomes.

"If we can make a small difference in our communities, we do ripple out into the bigger picture."

Christina said she was humbled by the Woman of the Year award and thanked the BWN, BPW and Zonta, Pip Gordon for nominating her, and her mentor Aunty Bea Ballangarry.

She said her best advice to young women was to always stay true yourself.

"If you're living that passion and integrity within yourself, doors just open up.

"Whatever it takes to get that confidence, keep doing it because that gives you self- confidence."