Really Interesting Women

Ep. 64    Simone Clarke

Simone Clarke is the CEO of UN Women Australia.

She has over 25 years’ experience working in Executive Leadership roles for the United Nations, International NGO's, Community Service Organisations and the private sector in Australia, the USA and Asia Pacific. Fair to say she’s a global not-for-profit and sustainability executive and has a particular focus on empowering women and children and that is emphasised by her role as CEO of UN Women Australia. In fact it seems that all roads thus far travelled by Simone, have been leading to this role.

She has a wealth of experience and advice for young women in particular on empowerment, equality, equal  opportunity and equal participation. She's a hands on leader who walks the walk....although, as I found out, she doesn't dance the TikTok dance that UN Women Australia created and found it going viral.  Don't blame her really - leave that to the younger ones.

To donate to this important organisation, head to their website:
www.unwomen.org.au


#Reallyinterestingwomen #RIW #empowermoves #peace #genderequality #womensrights #humanrights #equalrights #equality #womensempowerment #feminist #feminism #intersectionalfeminism #women #girls #unwomen #unwomenaust #generationequality #genderroles #genderequality #womensrights #humanrights #equalrights #equality # #women #girls #unwomen #unwomenaust #generationequality #womensagenda #futurewomen #profoundwomen #womenofinfluence #womenofimpact #womenintheworld

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Ep. 63 Pauline Nguyen

Pauline Nguyen's story is a remarkable tale and commences from a very early age as one of survival.  She shows an extraordinary resilience as well as forgiveness....in situations where both qualities probably would have evaded a lesser person. 

After escaping Vietnam with her family after the war and living for a year in a refugee camp, Pauline's early years were tough. Her father suffered from PTSD and, as a direct result, she  suffered tremendous physical and emotional abuse until she was a young woman.

Succumbing to the continuing violence, she ran away. She knew the importance of hard work and resilience and resolve....and that would eventually lead her to co-founding, owning and running Red Lantern, the world's most awarded Vietnamese restaurant with her celebrity chef brother, Luke Nguyen. Twenty plus years later - it's still going strong. 

On top of this, Pauline is an award winning author and one of this country's most sought after development coaches and a leading entrepreneur and international key note speaker. 

An extraordinary story really. 

TW: this episode contains references to domestic and family violence.

#Reallyinterestingwomen #RIW #Paulinenguyen #redlantern #redlanterngroup #refugee camp #ptsd #vietnamwar #personaldevelopment #resolve #womensagenda #futurewomen #profoundwomen #womenofinfluence #womenofimpact #womenintheworld #unwomen #extraordinarywomen #womensequality #generationwomen #womensleadership 

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Ep. 62 Jodi Geddes

Jodi Geddes and her co-founder, Kate Pollard had both led very successful careers – but after deciding to start families, they experienced first-hand how isolating and career-slowing becoming a parent could be if an organization was not properly equipped. Realizing that there were millions of other parents and caregivers in the same boat, who were having their career momentum stunted. They knew something needed to be done. And they did it. 

As their idea took root and grew, they were inundated with messages from parents and caregivers who were struggling. The idea was to help keep team members engaged, connected and supported even when they are apart. And the benefits to both employees and employers was enormous. 

As the seemingly limited talent pool of employees becomes more sought after, millenials look for employers that are empathetic, understanding and flexible. It benefits everyone if they are. Circle In may be the answer. 

www.circlein.com

#Reallyinterestingwomen #RIW #jodigeddes #circlein #womensagenda #futurewomen #profoundwomen #womenofinfluence #womenofimpact #womenintheworld #unwomen #extraordinarywomen #womensequality #generationwomen #womensleadership #richardinstagraham

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Ep. 61 Prof. Lisa Jackson Pulver AM PhD

An extraordinary story from an extraordinary woman.

That this story played out at all is remarkable. Having run away from home as a 14 year old with her father, suffering from PTSD, firing shots in her direction with his shotgun, Lisa had to carve out a life in Kings Cross and other areas disguising herself as a boy so as not to be hassled. The kindness of strangers and the ability to understand and follow their wisdom, led to a career in nursing, and then medicine which became too much when she had to look after two young relatives who were being threatened with institutional care unless she took them in. So she took another avenue after again hearing words of wisdom. 

Now....Lisa is a Jewish Aboriginal Australian epidemiologist and researcher in the area of Aboriginal health who has been Deputy Vice Chancellor at the University of Sydney since October 2018.

She's a storyteller, teller of yarns and - I don't think she'd be offended if I described her as... a bloody good talker. I mean that in the nicest way!

We covered a broad range of topics. And believe me, she has a broad range to cover. Just as an example, one of her projects, she co-founded recently, the Shalom Gamarada Scholarship Program, has enabled over 60 indigenous students to receive a residential college scholarship for health related degrees at the University of New South Wales. Today, she and her team have developed a set of residential Gadigal Scholarships in a pilot program designed to provide full time supported residential accommodation at four other universities' colleges. 

Have a listen. Be inspired.

#Reallyinterestingwomen #RIW #Lisajacksonpulver #universityofsydney #ulurustatement #apologyday #indigenous #indigenousx #abcindigenous #indigenouswomen #indigenousrights #indigenouspride #indigenousspirituality #jewishpride #indigenousculture #womensagenda #futurewomen #profoundwomen #womenofinfluence #womenofimpact #womenintheworld #unwomen #extraordinarywomen #womensequality #generationwomen #womensleadership 

@indigenous @indigenousx @abcindigenous @indigenous_gov @richardinstagraham @jahna_ips @lindaburneymp

Trigger Warning: this episode contains references to domestic violence

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Ep. 60 Robynne Murphy
Link to episode…
https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/really-interesting-women/id1526764849?i=1000539205221

Forty years ago, director Robynne Murphy, one of the leaders of Wollongong’s 1980-1994 Jobs for Women Campaign, joined hundreds of migrant/working class women to take  on  Australia’s most powerful  company BHP – and initially they seemed to have won. But when the 1983 steel slump devastated the city’s economy,  the women  were forced  into the courtroom and onto the streets to face a prolonged battle for equality.

Her film, Women of Steel, documents this journey....from an insiders perspective. An extraordinary tale of strength, endurance, and resilience. The case went all the way to the High Court and was the first class action this country had seen. 

It offers inspiration to those who seek justice and equality against seemingly impossible odds today.

#Reallyinterestingwomen #RIW #robynnemurphy  #womenofsteel #steelworkers #sexualdiscrimination #filmmaker #director #BHP #socialjustice #womensmovement #womensagenda #futurewomen #profoundwomen #womenofinfluence #womenofimpact #womenintheworld #unwomen #extraordinarywomen #womensequality #generationwomen #womensleadership 

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Ep. 59   Charlotte Wood AM

Charlotte Wood is one of Australia's best and most successful authors. 

She’s the author of six novels and three books of non fiction. Her last fictional work, The Weekend, was the ABIA Literary Fiction book of the Year 2020 and was shortlisted for numerous other awards. The previous novel, The Natural Way of Things won the 2016 Stella Prize, the Indie Book of the Year and Novel of the Year and was joint winner of the Prime Minister’s Literary Award for Fiction. Her latest book is the newly released non-fiction work, The Luminous Solution. Her features and essays have appeared in the NY Times, The Guardian, Literary Hub and The Sydney Morning Herald. In 2019 she was made a Member of the Order of Australia for significant services to literature.

Our conversation was as fabulous and far ranging as the topics of her books.

www.charlottewood.com.au

link to her new book, The Luminous Solution:
 https://www.allenandunwin.com/browse/books/general-books/biography-autobiography/The-Luminous-Solution-Charlotte-Wood-9781760879235

Her other books can be found on the 'Books' drop down menu here:
https://www.charlottewood.com.au/

#Reallyinterestingwomen #RIW #charlottewood  #thenaturalwayofthings #feministdystopia #theweekend #ageing #theluminoussolution #allenandunwin #femaleauthors #australianauthors #authors #authorsofinstagram #authorsofig #authorslife #feminist #dystopia#womensagenda #futurewomen #profoundwomen #womenofinfluence #womenofimpact #womenintheworld #unwomen #extraordinarywomen #womensequality #generationwomen #womensleadership 

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Ep. 58 Distinguished Professor Genevieve Bell AO FTSE FAHA

This was one of the most interesting conversations I've had. And that's saying something. Genevieve's background is technical and almost overwhelming....but don't do what I did and shake your head and go, 'I'm not going to understand a single word of this,' because we break things down and build them back up again. And it's fascinating.

Distinguished Professor Genevieve Bell, AO FAHA FTSE is the Director of the School of Cybernetics and 3A institute (3Ai) at the Australian National University, and a Vice President and a Senior Fellow in the advance research and development labs at Intel Corporation.

Genevieve holds a PhD in cultural anthropology from Stanford University and is a renowned anthropologist, technologist, and futurist, having spent more than two decades in Silicon Valley helping guide Intel's product development and social science and design research capabilities. She is best known for her work at the intersection of cultural practice and technology development and for being an important voice in the global debates around artificial intelligence and human society.

In 2017, Genevieve returned to Australia and established the 3A Institute at the Australian National University in collaboration with CSIRO's Data61, with the mission of building a new branch of engineering to safely, sustainably and responsibly scale AI-enabled cyber-physical systems. In 2021, she was appointed Director of the new School of Cybernetics at the Australian National University.

So....just to reiterate, amongst other things she BUILT A NEW BRANCH OF ENGINEERING!!!

But we also talk about trivia, cricket, we get a tip on the best sci fi book if you had to read only one, and we spoke of her obsession with lifts. It's an AI thing. 

Have a listen.
====================================
GB refers to the sci fi author Ursula K. Le Guin

#Reallyinterestingwomen #RIW #genevievebell #ANU #intel #siliconvalley #3ainstitute #artificialintelligence #AI #cybernetics #criticalthinking #womensagenda #futurewomen #profoundwomen #womenofinfluence #womenofimpact #womenintheworld #unwomen #extraordinarywomen #womensequality #generationwomen #womensleadership #wlasocial #huffpostwomen #richardinstagraham

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Ep. 57   Christine Bryden AM, PSM, PhD, MBA, BSc(Hons)

In 1995 at the age of 46, Christine Bryden was told by doctors that she had early onset dementia and that she should get her end of life affairs in order. In other words....nuthin' we can do, best get yourself off to a home while you still can. She refused to do that. There was no one....absolutely no one advocating for dementia sufferers at the time. So she decided to do something about it. 26 years, 5 books, countless speeches, meetings and overseas advocacy trips later, she's still going strong. And making a big difference. She's defying medical evidence.

Her advocacy struck a chord in Japan. Dementia was a huge issue in that country and when she spoke about it - no one had ever seen a dementia patient talking in public. Her first televised interview there drew an audience of 10 million people. It started a chain of events that now has Japan as the gold standard in this area. Australia lags a long way behind. We lack empathy and understanding.

Christine is amazing. She wrote me this note after our interview and I show it not for lack of modesty, but for lack of attention even interviewers have on the subject. Given how big the problem is (over 50 million patients worldwide) the lack of response and respect shown is outrageous. 
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hi Richard

 Thank you for a well-informed interview this morning.

 In all my 26 years of public advocacy, you were the best prepared!  You had done much research and asked meaningful and succinct questions.

 Thank you, and I hope that together with Kate’s podcast (Kate Swaffer), it adds to resources that can encourage those being diagnosed now and into the future.

 Christine
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Christine has some tips for talking and dealing with people who have alzheimers and/or dementia and also what to do if you've been recently diagnosed. 

Links to her books are below.
https://christinebryden.com/

#Reallyinterestingwomen #RIW #christinebryden #dementiaadvocate #resilience #determination #alzheimers #dementia #overcomingstigma #hiddenillness #nothingaboutuswithoutus
#richardinstagraham

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Ep. 56  Vika & Linda Bull

Vika and Linda Bull are this country's best singing duo. 

They have sung with the best there is and have had songs written for them by everyone it seems. They have been performing professionally for 35 years. Which is extraordinary in a business which is known for its carnivorous nature (my words not theirs). The secret to their longevity? They reckon it's because they were never interested in being cool. Just singing and harmonising and putting everything they had into it and loving every moment. And that comes across when you hear them. 

They have just released their new album, The Wait. It's amazing. Go and get it. 

It's a great chat. Very honest, open and fun. They're also touring the country later this year. The relevant links are below. 

www.vikaandlindabull.com
https://smarturl.it/VikaLindaTheWait


#Reallyinterestingwomen #RIW #vikaandlinda #thebullsisters #thewait #paulkelly #archieroach 
ig         @vikaandlinda @richardinstagraham

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Ep. 55 - The Governor of Victoria, The Honourable Linda Dessau, AC

On 1 July 2015, the Honourable Linda Dessau AC was sworn in as Victoria’s 29th Governor, the first female in the role. 

She worked as a solicitor and barrister for a number of years before taking her first judicial appointment as a Magistrate in 1986. In 1995 she was appointed a Judge of the Family Court of Australia where she served for 18 years. But it's the Governors work outside the law that was just as fascinating to me. Social issues have always been a the heart of her work and that was heavily influenced by the fact that her father escaped the persecution of the Jews in Poland in 1929 and his gratitude to Australia in taking him in and his insistence that his family always look to give back as a result, is obvious when you listen to the Governor speak. 

She has been engaged in many community organisations including as President of the Melbourne Festival, a Commissioner of the Australian Football League, a Trustee of the National Gallery of Victoria and was a founding Chair of the Essendon Football Club Women's Network. And yes, for those who've heard me mention it previously, we did have a few words on her choice of AFLW team to support. We'll sort that out later I think. 

Very down to earth, authentic and, what I found really heartening, was her response to my question about whether, given the lofty heights she's attained, she had ever had to overcome doubts in her own ability to achieve something. Her answer should be studied by everyone who's ever felt a level of anxiety or doubt - and, according to the Governor, that would include herself and every world leader she's ever met. And that's a lot of world leaders. 

Always curious. Always learning. Always listening. A pretty good role model I reckon.  I learnt a lot - I mean, it's not important or even worthy of bringing to everyone's attention....but who knew there was an 'r' in the middle of 'Governor'? Be curious. 


#Reallyinterestingwomen #RIW #GovernorofVictoria #vicgovernor #earlypathtaken #workhard #community #apolitical #curiousmind #gwsgiants #essendonbombers #preferGWSthough
@richardinstagraham @vicgovernor 
www.governor.vic.gov.au

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