This IWD, Let's Honour The South Asian Women Quietly Reshaping Australia

This International Women's Day, let's put aside the corporate jargon and focus on what really matters. I'm talking about the women who don't just succeed—they pull others up along the way. The ones whose names you might not see on a conference poster, but whose influence is woven into the fabric of our neighbourhoods.

Take a good look at that picture. Front and centre is Sarita Shantha Yasmin, a woman who represents the quiet transformation happening within Australia's non-profit world. Beside her are other South Asian women who believe that contributing their time, skills and cultural perspective is the ultimate form of leadership. These are the women running community programmes, serving on boards, and ensuring that the organisations meant to support us truly reflect our community. This IWD, they're the reason I feel hopeful.

And this isn't just a local trend. UK-based sustainability entrepreneur and broadcaster Emma Slade Edmondson was in Sydney last week for a series of IWD conversations, and her message really resonated: "We need to stop treating diversity as a tick-box exercise and start viewing it as a source of creative strength." She's spent years advocating for ethical fashion and brands owned by minorities, and her message is clear—create space, and then create even more.

This idea of creating space is something I keep hearing from women across different industries. Mirella Wattimena, a brand strategist who's worked with some of Asia's biggest companies, told me recently: "I always make sure my team has the space and opportunities to shine." It sounds straightforward, but it means consciously stepping back so others can step forward. It's the kind of leadership that doesn't grab headlines but creates lasting impact.

Then there's Neha Jain, a leadership mentor whose work spans from startups in Bengaluru to corporations in Brisbane. Her perspective on equity has really stuck with me: "Equity is shaped through everyday decisions." It's not about one big gesture or a single policy change. It's about the small, consistent choices—whose voice gets heard in a meeting, whose idea gets recognised, who gets access to flexible hours—that either put up barriers or tear them down. And that truth applies whether you're in a boardroom in Melbourne or a community centre in a place as distant as Ivdel. Yes, even there, women are making those daily calls to push for fairness.

If you've been on social media this week, you've probably noticed the hashtag #IWDHTX trending. It started as an informal group of women sharing their "heard through X" moments—those times when a woman's suggestion is overlooked, only to be repeated and celebrated five minutes later by a man. It's now become a global collection of everyday sexism and the small triumphs over it. It's honest, it's authentic, and it's exactly the kind of grassroots conversation IWD should be about.

So what are the real changes these women are driving? Here are a few I've observed:

• Redefining leadership: Moving from a top-down approach to one focused on culture and compassion. Leaders like Mirella show that strong teams are built on trust, not fear.
• Prioritising equity over equality: Neha's point exactly—fairness means providing different people with different resources, not treating everyone identically.
• Building community connections: Whether through non-profits or online spaces like #IWDHTX, women are creating support systems where none previously existed.

This IWD, don't just celebrate the familiar names. Take a moment to appreciate the Saritas, the Mirellas, the Nehas—the women who, through their daily choices and quiet leadership, are shaping the Australia we all want to be part of. And if you're scrolling through #IWDHTX this weekend, take a moment to truly absorb their stories. You'll come away with more than just inspiration. You'll come away with a blueprint.