More than 300 local women packed into a downtown hotel room to brainstorm how to increase engagement in City Hall.

One of the main focuses of the 2015 Women’s Symposium was to discuss how to attract more women to become prominent members in civic life.

“You don't change that kind of systemic thought in a decade or in a generation,” said Jacqueline Foord, chair of the Women’s Advocacy Voice of Edmonton (WAVE). “It’s way slower than I would like it to be, but we have to keep pushing because if you don't, nothing changes.”

Mayor Don Iveson presented the keynote address and admits more need to be done.

“We’ve seen statistics in Edmonton that are troubling on everything from wage parody to violence against women,” said Iveson.

On Edmonton’s City Council, only one representative is female. Councillor Bev Esslinger is now part of a push to encourage more women to join politics.

“I think a lot of times we get very busy in our lives and we volunteer in many other capacities and sometimes it's just saying, 'have you thought about it?' And encouraging them,” said Esslinger.

After more than 30 years working for the city, acting city manager Linda Cochrane said female leadership can make a difference.

“I think women have a caring side, a nurturing side and a very intelligent side that is different but complimentary to men. Together we bring a mosaic that resonates with people,” said Cochrane.

With files from Breanna Karstens-Smith