For ALL Women and Girls: Rights. Equality. Empowerment.

7 March 2025 Reading Time: 6 minutes

by Sia Papageorgiou:

There’s a Greek proverb my mother often says: “Dip your tongue in your brain before you speak.” It’s a reminder that words carry weight, and once spoken, they can’t be undone. As a culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) woman in the communication profession, I’ve carried this wisdom with me, knowing that the stories we tell – and how we tell them – shape the world around us.

My mother is my hero. She has been through war, poverty, hunger, and loss. She was an orphan, a survivor, and eventually, a migrant who left Greece behind for Australia, crossing oceans in search of a better life. She arrived by boat, the journey taking a month, carrying nothing but resilience and hope. And though she didn’t build a career in communication, she mastered the art of it – her words were careful, intentional, wise. She would always say: “Show me who your friends are, and I’ll tell you who you are.” It was her way of teaching me that the company we keep reflects the values we uphold.

On International Women’s Day, as we celebrate all women and girls – our rights, our equality, our empowerment – I think about the women who have shaped me and the ones who continue to inspire me. Women who, like my mother, have crossed borders, navigated new worlds, and redefined what it means to belong.

Women like Ana Asanovic, who left Serbia for Australia and carved out a space for herself in the communication profession despite the challenges of being a migrant. Now an advocate for migrant women, a mentor, speaker, and author, she champions inclusion and belonging with an unwavering determination.

 

Women like Marianne Sison, who has dedicated her career to challenging the lack of diversity in public relations and communication, pushing for meaningful change. She calls on the profession to move beyond tokenism, urging leaders to see cultural diversity as an asset rather than an afterthought.

Women like Ann-Marie Blake, who has become a force in the fight for true equity and inclusion, using her voice to push for systemic change and greater representation.

Their stories are deeply personal yet universal. They echo the struggles and triumphs of women everywhere, reminding us that the path to empowerment is paved with persistence, courage, and an unwavering belief in our worth.

Breaking barriers and redefining belonging

For many women, particularly those from culturally diverse backgrounds, the journey into the communication profession has been one of resilience. Ana Asanovic knows this firsthand. When she arrived in Australia alone, she quickly realised that being labelled an ‘international student’ came with assumptions – that she was starting from scratch, despite a decade of broad European experience across languages and digital content and campaigns. “Some people told me I would never find work in Melbourne because I wasn’t connected,” she recalls. But she proved them wrong, securing roles based on her talent, expertise and persistence. Now, she uses her experience to mentor other migrant professionals, ensuring they don’t have to fight the same battles alone.

Ana also highlights the unspoken barriers migrant professionals face – from visa challenges, sponsorship requirements and mental health impacts due to constant uncertainty, loneliness and lack of a strong support network, to the perception that only Australian work experience matters. “I knew I had the skills and the experience, but I had to work twice as hard to be seen as equal. International experience is valuable and hiring people who speak multiple languages and are culturally aware and sensitive is essential if organisations see themselves as being inclusive, global and progressive.”

She recalls the emotional toll of constantly proving herself. “The feeling of being an outsider never fully fades. Just last week, I was buying flowers at a market, and a woman casually mentioned that my accent was ‘funny’ and that she couldn’t tell where I was from. I know she meant no harm, but these questions always serve as a reminder – I’m still seen as not being ‘one of us.’

Ana refuses to let those perceptions define her. “I react strongly to injustice and prejudice. That’s why I actively help, advocate and write about my lived experience, as well as amplify experiences of migrant women in my circles, hoping to challenge the narrative and perceptions. I want to make a positive impact, not just on migrant women, but also on Australians who may not understand what true inclusivity looks like.”

Representation that inspires change

For Marianne Sison, representation is about dismantling systemic barriers. “There is still a very long way to go in multicultural Australia,” she says. While awareness of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) has increased, the reality is that many recruitment processes still fail to prioritise cultural and language diversity. She envisions an industry where leaders acknowledge their cultural backgrounds and actively champion a more inclusive profession.

However, real progress requires intentional action. Marianne believes three key changes must happen: first, industry leaders must see cultural diversity as integral to business, not an afterthought. Second, more leaders from CALD backgrounds need to step forward and own their heritage, inspiring the next generation. Finally, universities must play a greater role in shaping a diverse profession by recruiting CALD students, equipping them with intercultural communication skills, and fostering inclusive pathways through internships.

She vividly recalls a moment when she first noticed how ‘white’ the PR industry was. “I glanced across the room at a PR event and realised I was the only non-white, Asian person there. It was jarring.” But it wasn’t until years later, when a former student from Malaysia told her, “If Marianne can do it, then I can do it too,” that she fully grasped the power of representation.

For Marianne, that moment reinforced why visibility matters – not as a token effort, but as a means of breaking down barriers for future leaders. “We need to see diversity through an intersectional lens, considering gender, ethnicity, socio-economic background, disability, geography, education, and more, to fully understand the communities we serve.” Without this, DEI efforts risk becoming superficial, overlooking the complex realities diverse professionals navigate daily.

She urges industry leaders to practice ‘cultural curiosity’ – to go beyond surface-level awareness, actively seek insights from diverse colleagues, and take meaningful action to ensure all voices are heard and valued. “Australia needs to capitalise on its cultural diversity not only to create innovative solutions but to build social cohesion.”

Fighting for true equity

Ann-Marie Blake’s experience underscores why representation – especially in senior roles – remains so critical.

For Ann-Marie, representation is deeply personal. She remembers attending an industry event where a young communication professional ran up to her, astonished to see a Black woman in a senior role. That moment reinforced why visibility matters. “Being recognised in industry lists and receiving accolades is lovely, but the most meaningful recognition comes from knowing I’ve made a difference to individuals.”

Ann-Marie points to the profession’s slow progress. “Reading PR Census year after year and not seeing evidence of progress is frustrating. DEI covers a lot of areas, but ultimately, as a profession, we are not representative of the communities we serve. Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic practitioners continue to tell of racism, microaggressions, and not being given opportunities for fair progression. People living with disabilities and invisible conditions are still facing discrimination and stigma. There is still much work to be done.”

She insists DEI must move beyond performance to real action. “Too many organisations prioritise short-term actions like diverse hiring campaigns and awareness days rather than tackling deeper structural issues like pay equity.”

Ann-Marie envisions a future where organisations move beyond treating diversity as a checkbox and instead embed equity into every aspect of their operations. “When diversity efforts are performative rather than purposeful, they can fuel resentment from those who see them as exclusionary rather than transformative.”

Driving meaningful change

The work of building a truly inclusive profession isn’t done. But these women, and countless others, are proving that change is possible when we refuse to stay silent. Their journeys show that communication shapes reality, determining whose voices are heard, whose perspectives matter, and who influences the narrative.

As we celebrate all women and girls, action matters. We must push for policies that ensure true inclusion, challenge outdated biases, and amplify the voices of those too often overlooked.

And as my mother would remind me, “A society grows great when old people plant trees in whose shade they shall never sit.” True progress is about paving the way for those who come next, ensuring that the future is brighter, fairer, and filled with opportunity.

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Sia Papageorgiou is Co-Founder of the Centre for Strategic Communication Excellence and is a #WeLeadComms honoree.

 

Written by: Editor