PMW 4th Anniversary Speech

For the past four years, Professional Migrant Women (PMW) has worked tirelessly to elevate the voices of migrant women in professional Australia. From humble beginnings, this group of dedicated volunteers have championed and supported fellow migrants making their way in a new country.

For PMW’s fourth anniversary, we are celebrating yet another milestone: certification as a social enterprise! This means that PMW will be able to continue serving its community with more resources and opportunities than ever before. With support from mentors, sponsors and allies along the way, PMW is on track for greater success!

I recently heard that if you are not seated at the table, then you are on the menu!

And it seems that despite our capabilities to occupy a seat at the table, we have remained part of the menu by being underemployed, overlooked, disqualified and underappreciated.

However, I truly believe that migrant women taking their rightful place at the table, alongside every other member of society, will be nothing but beneficial - not only for themselves and their families but also for their communities. 

Empowering women is a powerful equaliser that eases the burden on men and shifts power from the inside out, from intimate relationships to society at large. As women's economic power grows, they can shape more inclusive systems, whether it's within our own households or on a macroeconomic scale. 

Over the course of my work at PMW, I've heard countless stories from incredible individuals who have achieved great things through our community. But lately, we've started thinking beyond just stories. What if we could measure the change that we create? What if we could develop an evidence base that supports our vision so we can reach more women? 

We are now in a position where after four years of hard work, dedication and growth we can start putting some meaningful data together and illustrate the impact this community has had on so many lives.

Through my personal experience and the experiences of the women in our community, we have identified 4 pillars for inclusion for diverse women.

The first one is Awareness of the systems of oppression. It has been said that what you can’t name it, it doesn't exist. The first time I experienced discrimination it felt wrong, but I couldn't describe it. I wasn't sure of what had happened. It was unexpected, unwanted and frankly unbelievable. How could a person that I respected and admired would be saying something that hurts? The truth is that everybody makes mistakes, because we don't know it all. But what is most important is that we all have opportunities to learn. And as Maya Angelou said, Do the best you can until you know better. Then, when you know better, do better.

The second is Connection. And that is a strength of our community. Although the migrant  journey is not easy, it has united us under one common goal - helping each other thrive. Through shared experiences and stories of overcoming obstacles and achieving success, we all share a sense of pride that comes from seeing what can happen when you work hard for something you believe in. 

The third one is Visibility, because seeing women like us, taking on new challenges, conquering new frontiers, daring to be seen and heard encourages other women to do the same. Let’s think for a moment if Albert Einstein had been a woman? We would've missed out on his  immense contributions to the field of physics and his theory of relativity! Now think about how many geniuses we have missed just because they were women! By excluding women we are not reaching our maximum potential as a humanity. So we need to make them count!

And the last one is Representation. Let's remember that women are powerful drivers of economic growth. In our pursuit of a fair and just society, we must guarantee equal representation for women in positions of power at every level. This step is vital for our society to realise its full potential.

When our aim is to create a society where everyone is treated equally, it is crucial that we foster stronger economies that empower women. This journey starts by assisting women in not just being part of the workforce, but also in actively contributing to decision-making processes. To achieve true equality, we need economic systems that prioritise women's needs and give us the opportunity to participate in that decision-making process.

Starting that ripple effect requires work from a variety of stakeholders: communities, religious institutions, private sectors, financial and economic decision-makers, academics and government organisations. Let's work together to break down barriers and empower diverse women to take their rightful place at the table. Whether it's in boardrooms, universities, government organisations or any other setting, each of us can make a difference. 

We know that it's time for a change. Instead of clinging to outdated and exclusive models of leadership, it's crucial that we shift towards genuine and inclusive representation. Our society deserves leaders who truly understand and reflect its diverse composition, rather than just a privileged few. Let's come together and build bridges to champion this much-needed transformation for the betterment of all.

I'd like to finish by expressing my heartfelt gratitude to the incredible group of volunteers who have made this all possible for the past 4 years. I extend my thanks to our mentors, allies, sponsors, and all the attendees of this event. Without your support, the concept of PMW would have remained just words or ideas.

Alone we go fast, together we go further.

Thanks to NAB and JANA Investment Advisers for their sponsorship!