UNITE GLOBAL MINDS, ADVANCED GENDER EQUITY FOR INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS IN VICTORIA

FUTURE FORTE CONFERENCE 2023

HIGHLIGHTS FROM OUR PROGRAM 🌟

The one-day conference featured high-profile speakers including journalist and author Mimi Kwa, Professor Asha Rao, innovator Julie Hirsch, Afghan Women’s Soccer Captain Fatima Yousufi, North Melbourne Football Club President Dr Sonja Hood, U.S. Consul General in Melbourne Kathleen Lively and so many more - who were / became advocates for international students in Australia.

The diversity of representation - in terms of cultures, fields of expertise and lived experiences - resonated with our international student audience and reflected the multicultural community in Victoria. By creating an uplifting and inclusive space, participants came together to find inspiration, sense of belonging, and connections that marked a memorable experience in their student journey in Melbourne.

OUR AUDIENCE IS GLOBAL 🌏

WHAT PARTICIPANTS TOOK AWAY 💙

Participants gained valuable insights and practical strategies on how to manage professional aspirations while maintaining wellbeing. They learnt from industry experts and successful professionals who have navigated similar challenges, providing them with the tools and knowledge to excel in their careers here in Victoria and beyond.
A workshop focused on career development and planning, equipping participants with the skills needed to enhance employability, build a strong professional network, and make informed career decisions.
Participants had the opportunity to engage with community leaders and learn about community leadership initiatives. They gained insights on how to contribute to your communities and become catalysts for positive change.
The TED talk style session offered a platform for international students to share stories, experiences, and perspectives. Participants gained inspiration and a sense of belonging, knowing that their experiences were acknowledged and discussed.
Ample networking opportunities, allowing participants to connect with industry professionals, potential mentors, and fellow international students. Building these relationships can lead to internships, job opportunities, and lifelong connections!

OUTCOMES WE DELIVERED

SPEAKERS HIGHLIGHTS 👩🏻

Opening Addresses

Deputy Secretary, Industry, Trade and Investment, CEO Invest Victoria & Global Victoria
Danni has held leadership roles in the Victorian Government shaping its current priorities and initiatives to achieve sustained economic growth by supporting Victorian companies to export to the world and securing investment into the State from both multinationals and high growth startups.
Danni has deep government experience with a focus on industry development, particularly across innovation and technology, design and defence.
Danni takes pride in leading a team of high performing people committed to delivering on complex projects that shape our State and add value and colour to our lives.

Dr Belle Lim is the founder and executive director of Future Forte, the primary equity and inclusion initiative for international students in Victoria. She is currently an analyst at Deloitte Access Economics and a fellow at Schmidt Future's International Strategy Forum.
Belle previously served as the National President '20/21 at the Council of International Students Australia. She has a PhD in cancer genetics conferred by Monash University and was named the Victorian International Student of the Year in 2019.

Sally Capp was re-elected Lord Mayor of Melbourne in October 2020 – having previously been elected in May 2018 – and is the first woman to be directly elected as Lord Mayor.
Sally’s top priorities are setting the pace and driving a prosperous city economy, helping rough sleepers get more support and a pathway into secure housing, and ensuring Melbourne remains a global leader in environmental sustainability. She is committed to seeing Melbourne reclaim the title of the world’s most liveable city.
Sally is the current Chair of the Council of Capital Cities Lord Mayors, and also a member of the Federal Government’s Urban Policy Forum. In 2023, she was appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia in the King’s Birthday Honours for distinguished service to the people of Melbourne, to local government, to business, and to the community through various organisations. She was also named the McKinnon Emerging Political Leader of the Year in 2019.
Sally was the first woman to hold the post of Agent-General for Victoria in the UK, Europe and Israel. She has also served as the CEO for the Committee for Melbourne and Victorian Executive Director of the Property Council of Australia. A passionate Collingwood Football Club supporter, Sally made history in 2004 as the club’s first female board member.
Sally began her career as a solicitor, after completing Law (Hons) and Commerce degrees at the University of Melbourne. She has held senior roles at both KPMG and ANZ, and co-founded a small business, which she took to the ASX.
She is involved in a number of charities, currently sitting on the board of the Olivia Newton- John Cancer Research Institute, the Mary Jane Lewis Scholarship Foundation and the Melbourne University Faculty of Business and Economics.

Will Alderton is CQUniversity Australia’s Associate Vice-President of the Victoria Region and is responsible for the management of the vibrant, city centre campus in Melbourne. Will is committed to working with the state government and international education sector to ensure the campus’ large international student population is well supported, as well as regional partners to promote the University’s diverse offering of distance education.
Will holds a Master of Business Administration, a Master of Applied Linguistics (TESOL), and a Bachelor of Engineering (Hons) majoring in Computer Systems Engineering, ensuring he has the experience and understanding to support the large number of postgraduate international students studying Business and STEM related courses at CQUniversity in Melbourne.
Will is always open to discussions with industry and community leaders about how the University can respond to education, training and research opportunities, particularly in regional Victoria. He can also facilitate discussions to organise work placement opportunities for our students.

Keynote Speech

Mimi Kwa shares extraordinary personal experiences across cultures, continents, gender and generations that resonate at the heart of evolving workplaces, and personal relationships. You will be mesmerised by the compelling tales, straight from her memoir, House of Kwa, and stories of twenty years in the television spotlight, meeting some of the most inspiring and influential people on the planet. Mimi is a charming, fascinating and unique Keynote speaker who enthrals, inspires and educates audiences with illuminating wisdom, and provides critical take-homes for personal and professional transformation. Mimi has a deeply insightful approach to positive mental health, resilience, and how we thrive and achieve success — Her talks are filled with ‘aha' moments and you will walk away with new epiphanies and a sense of awe.

Spotlighting Diverse Women Journeys

This session aims to provide valuable insights and practical strategies on striking the right balance between personal aspirations and professional goals, exploring the key elements that lead to a gratifying and purpose-driven life. You will learn from industry experts and successful professionals who have navigated similar challenges.

Professor Asha Rao is Professor of Mathematics in the School of Science at RMIT University. She was Associate Dean (Feb 2017 – Feb 2023) of Mathematical Sciences, School of Science at RMIT University, and Director (Interim) (August – December 2020) of the Australian Mathematical Sciences Institute (AMSI). Prof Rao was inducted into the 2021 Victorian Honour Roll of Women in the Trail Blazer category.
She is passionate about mathematics, cyber security, and gender issues that stymie the progress of women and girls in STEM careers. As the Founding Chair of Women in Mathematics, Prof Rao put in place several initiatives to improve gender equity with the Mathematical Sciences in Australia. As Associate Dean, Asha brought the RMIT Mathematical Sciences discipline to gender neutrality, a difficult task in a male-dominated discipline. She champions mathematics and STEM industries, inspiring others to follow her path.

Asami Koike (she/her) is a first generation immigrant from Japan and is the founder of Shapes and Sounds which is a social enterprise that works to destigmatise mental health in Asian communities.
By training, Asami is a registered music therapist and certified yoga teacher and has dedicated over 17 years' working in mental health, trauma and wellbeing. Driven by a need to see more Asian Australians thriving (not just surviving) in their careers, families and relationships, Asami takes pride in being a leader in discussions about culturally-responsive mental health and wellbeing.

Javiera is nearing the completion of a PhD in Conservation Biology at Monash University. She was recently selected as a finalist for the Victorian International Education Awards (Research). With teaching and research roles at Monash, University of Melbourne, and Deakin University, she's committed to finding efficient solutions to the biodiversity crisis.
Her strong commitment to gender equity, diversity, and inclusion led her to take on the role of Program Manager at Future Forte in 2023. She was a STEM Sister ambassador in 2022, and previously served as the HDR representative (EDI) for the School of Biological Sciences. Passionate about nature, sustainability and community engagement, Javiera strives to make a lasting impact while combining her interests with purpose.

Julie Hirsch is an award-winning social entrepreneur and innovator, recognised as Telstra’s Victorian Business Woman of the Year and named on the Forbes 30 under 30 list.
As the Co-Founder of Eloments Vitamin Teas, the world’s first all-natural vitamin tea, Julie created an overnight success years in the making by securing shelf space in 1500 stores within a year of launch and becoming part of the only 2.7% of equity capital that went to female founders in 2019.
A recognised emerging leader in entrepreneurship, Julie is also an Entrepreneur-in-Residence with AGL Energy’s Emerging Business division.

Sruthi Srikanthan is a partner at Deloitte Access Economics. She is a Health Economist by training and her work sees her consider topics across sectors such as aged care, disability, primary care and health technology. Sruthi is passionate about the equity of access to care and feels privileged to have a voice in supporting the development of evidence-based policy which enables this. Sruthi leads the Deloitte Gender Economics Practice. In the last year, the Gender Economics practice published a major piece of thought leadership considering the impact that gender norms have on economy-wide outcomes. Sruthi loves open discourse about what successful leadership looks like for women – how we should measure it, recognise it and reward it.

Career Development Workshop

This interactive workshop will provide practical tools to build your confidence through self-awareness, storytelling and cultivating meaningful connections. This will ensure that international students are able to leverage their unique skillset and cultural identity effectively, enabling them to set career goals that lead to thriving success.

Manami Ray is a Director at MindTribes working with clients to advance equity and inclusion. She brings 20+ years of her people, business and innovation experience to creating sustainable systems that include all voices.
Her professional background ranges from international consulting firms and financial services to not-for-profit and start-ups.
Manami has a Masters in Design Strategy and Innovation where she used the learning to successfully transform her career from Mercer to a career in social impact and startups before joining MindTribes.
She has designed and delivered hundreds of workshops bringing together social impact start-ups with big business, universities and the government agencies. Notable achievements is a Young Women’s Leadership and Financial Literacy Program for the City of Monash and Casey Council; a Refugee Entrepreneurship Project; and delivering a new product via partnering with an international pharmaceutical firm, working with people living with a disability. She has also been a long-term Mentor Volunteer with Fitted for Work working with vulnerable women.

Fireside Chat with a Change-maker

This special fireside chat session features the remarkable Fatima Yousufi, a 21-year-old soccer player and passionate advocate for women's rights.

Kathleen Lively is a career American diplomat currently serving as U.S. Consul General in Melbourne, Australia. Ms. Lively was the Minister Counselor for Management Affairs at the U.S. Embassy in Nairobi, Kenya from 2019 - 2021. Prior to that, she served three years as the Dean of the Foreign Service Institute’s School of Applied Information Technology. Ms. Lively has also represented the United States in Romania, The United Kingdom, Japan, Poland and Afghanistan.
In Washington, she worked for the Undersecretary for Management and in the Bureau of Information Resource Management. She started her thirty plus years of government service as a Presidential Management Intern at the National Institutes of Health and the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence.
Ms. Lively is a Washington D.C. native. She holds Bachelor and Master of Arts degrees in Public Policy from the University of Chicago as well as a Master of Science degree in Resourcing National Security from the National Defense University’s Industrial College of the Armed Forces in Washington D.C. She is the recipient of a Presidential Rank Award as well as numerous State Department Superior and Meritorious Honor awards. She enjoys her family, sports, music, animals, teaching English as a second language, chocolate, and the outdoors. She is married with two adult sons.

Fatima Yousufi is a trailblazer and a true inspiration. As a 21-year-old soccer player, she has not only honed her skills on the field as a member of Afghanistan's women's national soccer team since 2017, but she has also used her platform to advocate for women's rights. Her commitment to advancing opportunities for women in her home country is evident in her role on the women's youth and grassroots panel at the Afghanistan Football Federation since 2020.
However, it is Fatima's resilience and courage that truly sets her apart. After fleeing the Taliban in Afghanistan, she found refuge in Australia where she was warmly welcomed by Melbourne Victory. Her journey is a testament to the human spirit and its ability to overcome seemingly insurmountable obstacles. Fatima's incredible story has been recognized by the New York Times, CNN, Forbes and the UNHCR, to name a few, further cementing her status as a role model and an inspiration to people everywhere.
Fatima Yousufi is a shining example of what can be achieved through hard work, perseverance, and a deep commitment to one's values and beliefs. Her life story is a reminder that no matter the obstacles, it is possible to rise above and make a positive impact in the world.

Community Leadership and Inclusion

This session will explore the transformative potential of cohesive community leadership and the pivotal role of inclusivity within our multicultural and diverse societies. Our panellists will share their invaluable insights and real-world experiences on how to contribute to their communities and become catalysts for positive change, providing actionable steps to cultivate a sense of belonging, respect, and empowerment within your own community initiatives.

Dr. Sonja Hood is the CEO of Community Hubs Australia, a national network of 100 sites working with more than 9,000 families from diverse backgrounds each year; and is President of the North Melbourne Football Club.
She has a Master’s Degree from Penn State University and a PhD from the University of Melbourne, and more than 30 years’ experience in policy analysis and program delivery.

Karin Traeger is a dynamic force, combining her passion for environmental activism with a love for adventure. As the Founder of The Plastic Runner, she leads the charge against plastic pollution through plogging events. The initiative has delivered over 35 events, activating 500+ volunteers and collecting about 1500kgs of litter from parks and trails. With over a decade of outdoor experience, Karin has tackled challenging ultrarunning courses, including running the length of the Yarra/Birrarung River while raising awareness of river issues. Formerly the CEO of the Yarra Riverkeeper Association, Karin now supports organisations like Clean Up Australia and For Wild Places through her consulting firm, La Loyka. Through her contagious energy and inspiring actions, Karin encourages others to embrace adventure while positively impacting the planet.

Jayde de Bondt is co-Chair of the Victorian Ministerial LGBTIQ+ Taskforce, Senior Consultant - Diversity and Inclusion at Federation University, and an Inclusion Change-Maker in high-performance sport. As an accomplished Community Development and Inclusion Specialist, Jayde has demonstrated experience in developing and delivering large-scale inclusion plans and initiatives, which improve community cohesion, connection and belonging.

Mary Nega is the CEO of Global Voices, an independent, youth-led, not-for-profit organisation which aims to equip young people with opportunities to engage with the critical issues that will determine our shared futures, by enabling them to undertake a policy fellowship and attend an international summit including at the UN, OECD, G20, WHO, and WB.
Mary was president of the African student body at the university of Melbourne, Vice-President of the African Australian Legal Network, Treasurer of the Afro Australian Student Organisation and a 4-year member of the Multicultural Youth Network, tasked with providing advice to Victorian Government and on issues facing multicultural youth.
Mary completed a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Melbourne and a JD from the University of Melbourne. She has been admitted to practice law in the Supreme Court of Victoria and the High Court of Australia, worked as a judge's associate, interned at the Victorian Law Reform Commission and undertook a traineeship with a leading social justice law firm.

Kennie Kurniawan (She/her), Community Lead at StartSpace, nurtures a vibrant community of
1,000+ diverse Victoria-based founders. Her personal journey as a serial entrepreneur equips her to understand and guide founders through challenges.
Kennie’s passion lies in aiding diverse founders to launch impactful solutions for their communities.
In her former role as the Future Founders Program Manager, she led the Study Melbourne Future Founders Program, uniting international student founders in Australia. This initiative fostered a diverse community of budding entrepreneurs, propelling them to think globally and create change.
From her roots as an Indonesian international student to proudly embracing her identity as a first-generation Australian, Kennie’s 15 years career spans roles in market research, brand management, and launching her travel venture. Her affinity for startup environments flourished as Head of Marketing at CoHive and nurturing
startups at the 11thSpace business incubator before joining StartSpace.

Regil is from the Philippines and is pursuing an MBA in Women in Leadership in Melbourne. She currently works as a Community Lead at The Hive coworking space and volunteers at Future Forte as the Empower Volunteering Program Lead.
Regil's passion for community engagement is rooted in her experiences within the coworking industry, events production and community development.

FF Spotlight on International Students

This TED talk-style session offers a platform to share stories, experiences, and perspectives. Students will gain inspiration and a sense of belonging, knowing that their concerns are being acknowledged and discussed.

Lara has eight years of experience in education for sustainable development in formal and non-formal settings, working with the Philippine Department of Education, Asian Development Bank, and The Asia Foundation among others to mainstream meaningful youth engagement for climate action and democracy. She graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Secondary Education major in Social Sciences cum laude at the Philippine Normal University in 2015. Currently, she’s taking a Master of Environment and Sustainability at Monash University with an Australia Awards Scholarship. She is exploring the integration of sustainable lifestyle in financial literacy and climate-aware career counseling. She loves RuPaul’s Drag Race, freediving, and BTS.

Daisy is the founder and book author of Multilingual Connectors, Daisy mentors non-native (English) speakers to maximise their unique advantages to build meaningful connections across cultures. From being an unconfident and isolated Chinese international student to teaching at a top-ranked university and receiving the Leaders in Communities Award and Top 100 Women Award, Daisy resets the benchmark for professional migrants and community leaders. Committed to re-educating a multicultural society that self-mastery goes above language mastery and all else, Daisy runs the No Language Barriers podcast. She has spoken at leading industry bodies and NPOs: TEDx Unimelb, AIESEC, VicWISE, Sydney Build Expo, Australian Institute of Building, The Construction Coach, Trinity College and The Chartered Institute of Building. Bringing her vast leadership experience at volunteering ventures, she's recently appointed as a National People-to-People Officer at the Australia-China Youth Association to promote social-integration and cross-border partnership in the Australia-China space.

Aiden, an international student from Malaysia, embarked on his journey to Melbourne in 2019. Over the course of two and a half years, he pursued high school education in Melbourne and is currently enrolled in Fashion Design at RMIT.
Motivated by his personal journey of self-discovery and redemption, he decided to take on the role of an FF Spotlight speaker. Aiden’s aim is to raise awareness about the importance of embracing individuals for who they are and sharing his own experiences in the process.

Milky Datta is a cybersecurity specialist employed at the Department of Education and Training in Victoria. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Networking with a specialization in cybersecurity from Melbourne Institute of Technology. While at university, she served as a student mentor and earned the prestigious Academic Achievement Scholarship from MIT. Milky has recently accomplished her ACS Professional Year Program through Performance Education.

Van Dao is a passionate advocate for students' mental health and wellbeing. Currently pursuing a Master of Professional Psychology, Van holds the position of International Student Director within Bond University's Faculty of Society and Design. Demonstrating a strong commitment to making a positive impact, Van volunteers as a crisis supporter at Lifeline and Griefline, mentors high school students, and has obtained registration as a provisional psychologist. Now serving as a research assistant at Gold Coast University Hospital, Van consistently contributes to the field, striving to attain a deeper comprehension of human behaviours and mental health disorders.

Amanda Abeysinghe is a Sri Lankan Lawyer and a current international student at CQUniversity Melbourne. She practiced civil law in Sri Lanka before moving to Australia one year ago. Amanda is currently pursuing her Master of Business Management degree majoring in Human Resources at CQU, having completed her Bachelors in Business Management in Sri Lanka. She is employed as the Campus Assistant at CQUniversity Melbourne which is a role focused on enhancing the overall student experience, increasing student engagement, and managing the university social media and digital platforms. Amanda is a 2023 Study Melbourne Ambassador, the Victoria region representative for the CQU Student Council and is also a volunteer at Future Forte.

Closing Addresses

Varsha Devi Balakrishnan is a vocal advocate for international students in Australia and has previously held roles with the Council for International Students Australia (CISA), Study Melbourne and Monash University. Varsha brings extensive experience and expertise to her roles as Head of Student Insight and Strategy at The Lygon Group and Strategic Director at Future Forte. Her purpose and her passion are to bring the student voice to the forefront of the sector to inform, influence and action an international education-focused agenda. Varsha is the innovator behind TLG’s #TheSocialSource, an AI-supported dynamic insights platform that has revolutionized how the sector monitors international student sentiment. This platform informs Federal and State governments, peak industry bodies, institutions, and key stakeholders and has gained significant global media attention, influencing the public discourse on key issues affecting international students.

Cheng Sun is the director of Guidian Australia, and the organisation aims to help international students develop professional skills and increase employability through workshops, projects and potential internship opportunities. She has led the delivery of three Future Female Conferences since 2019 and is organising the Future Forte Conference this year. She has been president of the student association to advocate for student rights and welfare, in multiple professional organisations' student committees to promote students' personal and professional development, and organised workshops, mentoring programs and conferences to empower students and multicultural women.
She is on the way to obtaining a PhD in Pharmaceutical Sciences and worked as a teaching assistant at Monash University.

Director Major Partnerships, Victoria University.
Natalie heads up the team at Victoria University, developing and nurturing partnerships that align to VU’s strategy and student engagement.
An accomplished partnership manager she has worked across State Government, Local Government, Major events and even in the AFL landscape.
Natalie has been supporting the Future Forte Team since 2020, providing advice and mentoring as the event and team grows.

Special Message

Mr Graeme Innes AM was officially sworn in as the CQUniversity Chancellor on 6 December 2022. Graeme, best known for his nine-year tenure as a commissioner at the Australia Human Rights Commission, is a renowned lawyer, author and company director, and a national champion for accessibility and social disadvantage. He was Australia's Disability Discrimination Commissioner from 2005 to 2014, and also Race and Human Rights Commissioner for periods during that time. He is a lifelong advocate, leading public inquiries on same sex: same entitlements, work on making buildings and public transport accessible for people with disabilities, and inspections of Australia's Immigration Detention Centres. Having been born blind and being the first in his family to go to university, Graeme has a uniquely aligned passion to CQUniversity’s mission to address disadvantage through accessibility to higher education.