Really Interesting Women

Really Interesting Women - Podcast

Ep. 104      Tanya Hosch

Tanya Hosch is the first indigenous person (male or female) appointed to the AFL executive.

She is the General Manager of Inclusion and Social Policy and is responsible for Aboriginal and Torres strait Islander issues, gender equality, sexuality and gender diversity, racism and sexism. It's a full dance card. And her actions in regards the shameful treatment of AFL superstars Nicky Winmar and Adam Goodes are just an example of the sort of headway she's making. 

Her career path has almost inevitably led to this most comprehensive and challenging role. 

She was founding director of the Australian Indigenous Leadership Centre over 20 years ago and also helped create the National Congress of Australia’s First Peoples and the Australian Indigenous Governance Institute amongst many other achievements. She was the joint campaign director of the Recognise movement for constitutional reform.

In 2015 she was named one of Australia’s 50 most powerful women, in 2021 she was named in the top 10 most culturally powerful people in Australia, in 2021 she was also named South Australian of the Year and in November 2022 the Sydney Morning Herald listed her as one of 25 trailblazers: "women reshaping Australia”.

And all this from someone who didn't think they were meant to go to university. 

It's a fascinating, insightful and really enjoyable conversation. 

Head to the link in my bio to the podcast for a listen.

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Podcast Episode 103
Really Interesting Women

Jamila Rizvi

Jamila is the Deputy Managing Director of Future Women which is an organisation that supports professional women to accelerate their careers, works with men to overcome unconscious bias and helps organisations tackle barriers to gender equality. 

She is also a best-selling author for adults and children, a columnist for Sunday Life magazine, which is part of The Age and The Sydney Morning Herald. She is a podcaster – currently a co-host on The Briefing podcast and has been a regular commentator on The Project, Today, The Drum and Q & A. Early in her career she was an adviser to the Rudd and Gillard governments and at 25 became one of the youngest people ever to work as a Chief of Staff to a Federal Minister.

But life hasn't been the plain sailing that a bio written down on paper might suggest. 

At the end of 2017 she was diagnosed with a rare brain tumor. She had 36 rounds of radiation and two brain surgeries. The diagnosis was a complete shock to her and her very young family. And the journey in coming back from that has been extraordinary. 

Have a listen to Jamila's inspiring podcast episode.



Jamila's books are available at all good book stores and online at booktopia.com.au (Untold Resilience is authored by Future Women):
The Motherhood
Not Just Lucky 
Untold Resilience
I'm a Hero Too
Work. Love. Body

The website of Future Women is:
www.futurewomen.com

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Really Interesting Women  

Podcast Episode 102

Ordained as a Presbyterian Minister in 1983, Rev. Dr. Margaret Mayman has been a strong progressive religious voice for justice on matters like marriage equality, abortion, and refugees. She is perhaps best known for her inclusive congregations. 

She openly values the LGBTIQA+ community, supports their relationships, and celebrates their true, authentic selves. Her considered thoughts on Christian perspectives are often sought by politicians and the public. 

We had a really interesting and valuable discussion on her personal experiences as an openly lesbian Minister as well as her thoughts on many current issues including gay conversion therapy, marriage equality, social justice…even the Pope’s recent rejection of sexual orientation as a crime. 

Head to my bio for a link to Margaret’s podcast episode or search ‘Really Interesting Women’ on your favourite podcast platforms. 

Visit instagram @reallyinterestingwomen for further interviews and posts of interesting women in history.

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Really Interesting Women - The Podcast 

Episode 101    Denni Francisco

Denni Francisco is an award winning designer who uses stunning indigenous artists works to create prints for her clothes. And she's about to make Australian Fashion Week history as the first indigenous person to have a solo show. She's a two time winner of the designer of the year at the National Indigenous Fashion Awards and is generally considered a key figure in the Australian fashion industry.

And it all started when, as a very young woman, she came with her mother into the city for the first time from Wiradjuri Country in Central New South Wales...and saw a boutique with a pair of vibrant red flares in the window display.  It was one of several seminal moments that helped create a career. 

During that journey she has created two unique clothing models that have made a big impact on the industry and, frankly, society. 

She recently made a big splash at Milan Fashion Week with a runway show on the deck of a huge luxury cruiser moored off the Italian coast but Denni's always mindful of thinking of others and assisting other first nations people in her industry. And this success culminates in the aforementioned solo show at Australian Fashion Week in mid May 2023. 

It's a fascinating story where culture and community are at the forefront of her decisions. And her designs have beautiful indigenous prints which has, in turn, created an international interest on those artists.


Website: www.ngali.com.au

Aust Fashion Week 15-19 May, Carriageworks, Sydney

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Really Interesting Women - the podcast 

Episode 100         Jane Yuile

This episode was challenging for me and, I suspect, Jane. Although she made me feel very comfortable very quickly. 

Persist with the audio on this episode - I'll explain why. 

Jane Yuile is a successful business executive who has always been up for a challenge.  A jump from a jetty a few years ago was nothing compared to other stuff she did, like skydiving for charity.  But the jetty jump went horribly wrong.

Jane was left a quadriplegic. 

How she copes and deals with this - her mental and physical strength, resilience, determination and empathy for others, is extraordinary. The audio at times lacks clarity. That can't be helped. 

I would encourage you to listen right to the end because I left the recording going accidentally and I reckon it will help you understand why she's so loved and supported and respected. I think we can all take a bit of a lesson from Jane Yuile on how to cope with life's challenges.  

Head to the link in my bio to hear this episode. 

Visit instagram @reallyinterestingwomen for further interviews and posts of interesting women in history.

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Podcast Episode 99 - CHLOE DALTON OAM

Chloe Dalton is one of this country’s very few elite athletes in 3 different sports: played in the WNBL, won a gold medal in Rugby 7s at the Rio Olympics, and in 2019 made the transition to Australian Rules Football where she is currently playing in the AFLW. 

In the middle of all this exceptionalism, she graduated from Sydney University as a physiotherapist where her work has a particular emphasis on neurological physiotherapy, supporting those affected by stroke, Parkinson’s Disease and brain injuries. 

But...to me, just as importantly, and I suspect it’s just as important to Chloe, it’s her incredible, far-reaching work off the field as the founder of the instagram and podcast smash hit, The Female Athlete Project which promotes women’s sport and the exposure of gender inequality. 

And the project has become a bit of an institution. Chloe Dalton was just announced as one of the most influential women in Australian sport. 

website: www.thefemaleathleteproject.com
insta: @thefemaleathleteproject

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Really Interesting Women - Podcast Episode 98

Carla Raynes

Carla has worked in the homelessness field for nearly 2 decades. She’s seen the issue from all angles. And thought....'I’m seeing the same people all the time. There has to be a better way to solve this.'

To that effect, in the middle of 2021, Carla launched a charity with the aim of bringing all her experience to help create those lasting solutions. There was a gap in the current system of treating homelessness and she blazed her own trail by trialling creative approaches to homelessness to make the solution lasting.

A remarkable dedication and it's working and it's all been done with no government support. Imagine what could happen if the government did get behind it. Have a look at their website (below) to get a better idea of what they're doing. 

Carla is the Founder and CEO of Bridge It. 

www.bridgeit.org.au

Visit instagram @reallyinterestingwomen for further interviews and posts of interesting women in history.

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Podcast Episode 97

Professor Sharon Lewin AO FRACP FAHMS

Sharon Lewin is a remarkable woman. 

For a start, she has been heading up two global pandemics. Simultaneously. 

 In 1989 Dr Lewin (as she then was), instead of seeking a medical appointment in some prestigious city hospital, chose to work in a small hospital in Kenya. It was here she became passionate about infectious diseases, specifically HIV. And it would be a path she continues to tread to this day. She’s determined to find the cure. 

 In 2014, she was appointed Director of the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity and her research focuses on why HIV persists, and on developing clinical trials aimed at finding that cure. She’s delivered more than 100 talks internationally and has published 280-plus papers. 

Whilst doing all that her other role in this field is as the President of the International Aids Society. A huge organisation which ‘convenes, educates and advocates for a world in which HIV no longer presents a threat to public health and individual well-being.’ I believe there are about 14,000 members of the IAS.

Oh, she’s also been a leader and spokesperson for the Covid response since about January 2020 when her team were the 1st in the world to isolate, grow and then share the virus with other nations. Her ongoing education of others in this area has been a much wanted voice of reason with a steadying hand on the tiller. 

It was a privilege having a conversation with someone so focussed on helping humanity. It was an informative, down to earth and, at times, very funny chat.

Head to the podcast to have a listen. The link is in my bio.

Visit instagram @reallyinterestingwomen for further interviews and posts of interesting women in history.

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Podcast Episode 96

Jackie French AM

Jackie’s books have sold millions of copies and been published in 36 languages and have won more than 60 literary awards. She’s written well over 200 books and they cover a range of different genres: general fiction, historical fiction, picture books, and nonfiction for adults and for children. 

Quite an achievement when you consider she’s severely dyslexic. 

Her passion and success in the world of Children’s literature has seen her being appointed as the Australian Children’s Laureate in 2014-15, Senior Australian of the Year in 2015 and Member of the Order of Australia (AM) in 2016. 

Her most popular books are the award-winning wombat picture book series illustrated by Bruce Whatley that began in 2002 with Diary of a Wombat. Our wombat related discussion reveals a stunning wombat related fact. Literally unbelievable but witnessed by Jackie herself so it’s got to be true. 

It's a thought provoking discussion which covers a broad range of topics and her thoughts on the wide ranging benefits of reading have got me heading to the library.  

Visit her website to find her books....
www.jackiefrench.com

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Podcast Episode 95  Assoc. Prof. Meru Sheel

The seeds of an astonishing career were sown in India where, as a child, Meru Sheel witnessed first-hand the devastation of diseases such as polio and tuberculosis. 

As an infectious disease epidemiologist, she has been on the ground helping in some of the most unimaginable places. Fiji after a cyclone had flattened large parts of the country and disease inevitably followed, Samoa when an elephantiasis outbreak occurred, Bangladesh when over 700,000 Rohingya refugees in a camp felt the wrath of a diphtheria outbreak.  And then Covid 19. 

She’s a big advocate for women in leadership roles  and in STEMM related areas. 

Associate Professor Meru Sheel is making a difference. Her work, courage, tenacity, in the face of overwhelming odds, is inspiring. 

Have a listen to our conversation in the Really Interesting Women podcast. 

Visit instagram @reallyinterestingwomen for further interviews and posts of interesting women in history.

Follow the link to leave a review....and tell your friends
https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/really-interesting-women/id1526764849