What is a fire investigator? Is the first question I asked when a listener recommended I speak with Vithyaa Thavapalan. I don't know the answer yet, but I know it's a very male dominated industry. Women make up less than 5% of urban firefighters and cultures of toxicity have been exposed.

How do you push against gender and cultural expectations to live a life that has meaning for you is another question that is central to my work, and Vithyaa has spent her life doing just that.

Born in Western Sydney, to Tamil parents who fled Sri Lanka during the war, she had to defy their expectations to forge her career path – a path that often finds her the only women in the room. And that has also led to environments of sexism and discrimination. Wanting to follow her dreams without having to face toxic behaviour every day, Vithyaa founded her own fire investigations company in 2024, the first fire investigation company to be founded by a woman of colour in the world.

She also founded Brown Boss Babes, Australia's first women's empowerment organisation dedicated to uplifting South Asian women, and South Asian Foundation Australia. All of this, while raising a very energetic toddler and being open about the very real transition into motherhood.

Through every challenge and success, Vithyaa has remained committed to breaking barriers, creating opportunities, and inspiring others to forge their own paths.

And in her own words, this is only the beginning.

Enjoy the show!