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Heroes

Sam Kerr 

As the striking force on the Matildas (the Australian women’s national soccer team), and now an international rising star at Chelsea F.C. in the Barclays Women’s Super League (the highest league of women’s football in England), Sam Kerr is making headlines for her virtuous sportsmanship, impeccable athleticism and unyielding talent.

Coming from sporting beginnings, Sam grew up in East Fremantle, Perth and was born into a family of athletes: her older brother and father played AFL and her uncle was a champion horse jockey who won the Melbourne Cup in 1966.

 

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Nyadol Nyuon 

Nyadol Nyuon is a lawyer, community advocate, writer, and accomplished public speaker. She was born in a refugee camp in Itang, Ethiopia, and raised in Kakuma Refugee camp, Kenya. In 2005, at the age of eighteen, she moved to Australia as a refugee

She is a vocal advocate for human rights, multiculturalism, the settlement of people with refugee experiences and those seeking asylum. She has worked and volunteered extensively in these areas with a range of organisations.

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Kimberley Kitching

Kimberley Jane Elizabeth Kitching was an Australian politician, lawyer, and trade unionist. A member of the Labor Party, she was a Senator for Victoria from October 2016 until her death in March 2022.

Kitching was a firm advocate of human rights protection and legislation and a proponent of Magnitsky-style legislation in Australia. She had introduced a private member’s bill in August 2021 before the government introduced its own bill in November 2021.

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Nicci Russouw

Nicci Rossouw is a resident of Ferntree Gully in Melbourne and is the founder, owner and CEO of Exaptec Robots.

Exaptec specialise in customising Telepresence Robotics – i.e., robots for social and service, with a focus on inclusion for people with disability or illness. 

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Rabia Siddique

Rabia Siddique is a retired British Army officer, criminal and human rights lawyer, and former terrorism and war crimes prosecutor. Whilst working as a lawyer in the British Army she was taken hostage while negotiating the release of British SAS chaps. She later took the brave action of suing the British Government for sexism and racism and became a catalyst for policy change to ensure a fairer workplace for women and cultural minorities in the military.

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Ash Barty

Ash Barty, a proud Ngaragu woman, 2021 Wimbledon Winner and 2020 Young Australian of the Year recipient. Best female tennis player in the world, Ash inspires legions of fans across the world with her approachable, down-to-earth and hard-working nature. A leader by example, Ash is a proud spokesperson and role model for young Indigenous girls and Australians more broadly. It is the month of tennis and we celebrate the achievements and class of Ash Barty.

Julie Inman Grant

As Australia’s eSafety Commissioner, Julie Inman Grant leads a world first – a regulatory government agency committed to keeping its citizens safer online.

Julie plays an important global role as Chair of the Child Dignity Alliance’s Technical Working Group, as part of the role of Commissioner, and as a Board Member of the WePROTECT Global Alliance. 

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Pearl Gibbs

Pearl Mary Gibbs “Gambanyi” was born on 18 July, 1901 to an Aboriginal mother and a non-Aboriginal father in La Perouse, New South Wales. Throughout her adult life Gibbs never faltered in her efforts for Indigenous justice over the decades that followed, a challenge that culminated in 1954 when the New South Wales Aborigines Welfare Board appointed her as its first—and only—female member. 

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Marilyn Monroe

When Ella Fitzgerald couldn’t get booked by clubs and TV because she was considered an ‘unglamorous black jazz musician’, Marilyn Monroe offered to come to a nightclub every night and sit in the front row if they let Ella sing. That’s how you use your privilege for good and honour the sisterhood with kindness and support.

Opal Lee

19th June 1939 saw the end of slavery in the US, Opal Lee was 12 when a mob of white supremacists vandalised and set fire to her family’s home while police stood by watching the violence. Ms Lee channelled her experiences of racism into a life of teaching, activism and campaigning. For decades, Ms Lee worked tirelessly to get Juneteenth recognised as a national holiday in the US. Now aged 94, Ms Lee has finally got her day off with the holiday being granted in 2021

Dr Katalin Karikó

Dr Karikó is a Hungarian-American scientist whose work through 1990’s and 2000’s paved the way for the mRNA COVID-19 vaccine development. It is estimated that without her ground-breaking research, vaccine development would have taken more than 20 years. Along with her research partner Dr Drew Weissman, Kati (as she is known in the USA) holds the patents that are licensed to both BionTech (Pfizer)… 

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Emma Mckeon

Born 24 May 1994, Emma McKeon is an Australian competitive swimmer. McKeon has won eleven Olympic medals making her the most decorated Australian Olympic athlete of all time. Followed only by Leisel Jones and Ian Thorpe who both hold 9 medals. Well done Emma for your commitment to your passion and inspiring us all in Tokyo.

Marjorie Pagani

A Barrister for thirty years before stepping into the philanthropic sector, Marjorie Pagani is the CEO of Angel Flight. A well-revered and much needed charity delivering care flights for those in need across Australia.

We applaud Marjorie this month, not only for her strong leadership across her career as a senior legal professional and advocate for those in need, but also for her quick action…

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Hellen Reddy

I am woman, hear me roar
In numbers too big to ignore
And I know too much to go back an’ pretend
‘Cause I’ve heard it all before
And I’ve been down there on the floor
No one’s ever gonna keep me down again.

Helen Reddy, 1941 – 2020. 

Angela Merkel

We celebrate and congratulate Chancellor Angela Merkel who has retired from party leadership and has handed over to the new German Chancellor.

Chancellor Merkel is a wonderful example of authentic leadership, and Women in Print applauds Ms Merkel for her dedication, leadership, strength, and sincerity, and wishes her well for the next chapter of her life.

Ruth Bader Ginsberg

“When I’m sometimes asked ‘When will there be enough [women on the Supreme Court]?’ and I say ‘When there are nine,’ people are shocked. But there’d been nine men, and nobody’s ever raised a question about that.” – Ruth Bader Ginsberg, Supreme Court Justice, United States Supreme Court, 1933-2020.

 

Olive May Kelso King

(30 June 1885 – 1 November 1958) was a Sydney-born, Australian war hero. During WWI she drove ambulances for the Scottish Women’s Hospitals and Serbian Army.

Olive served supplying her own vehicle (Ella), in Belgium, France, Macedonia, Greece and Serbia. In one battle, the Bulgarian forces were advancing rapidly and her station hospital had to be evacuated in 24 hours…

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Sam Kerr

As the striking force on the Matildas (the Australian women’s national soccer team), and now an international rising star at Chelsea F.C. in the Barclays Women’s Super League (the highest league of women’s football in England), Sam Kerr is making headlines for her virtuous sportsmanship, impeccable athleticism and unyielding talent.

Coming from sporting beginnings, Sam grew up in East Fremantle, Perth and was born into a family of athletes: her older brother and father played AFL and her uncle was a champion horse jockey who won the Melbourne Cup in 1966.

Introduced to footy at a young age, Sam was playing Aussie Rules up until she was about 12, after which her family one day decided playing with the boys was getting a bit too rough, seeing as there was no league for girls while she was growing up. Soccer had always been a sort of ‘back-up’ sport for her, until she made it her sole focus and debuted for the Matildas only three years later at the sprightly young age of 15.

Since then, her aptitude for the sport has seen her score 56 goals in 108 appearances for Australia, and as of 2022, Sam is the all-time leading Australian international scorer, both male and female, and is the all-time leading scorer in the National Women’s Soccer League in the United States.

Not just a phenomenal player but a role model as well, Sam is the first woman to feature on the upcoming global edition of the popular game, EA Sports’ FIFA 23—a historic moment for women, not just in soccer, but in all sports too.

Nicci Russouw

Nicci Rossouw is a resident of Ferntree Gully in Melbourne and is the founder, owner and CEO of Exaptec Robots.

Exaptec specialise in customising Telepresence Robotics – i.e., robots for social and service, with a focus on inclusion for people with disability or illness. The robots are used by children in long-stay hospital admissions to remotely attend school while undergoing treatments that render them bed-ridden, as well as in aged care settings.

A thought leader in the realm of Robotics technology, Nicci is listed as one of the “30 women to know in robotics in 2020” (covering China, Japan, Malaysia, Israel, Australia, Canada, United States, United Kingdom, Switzerland, Norway, Spain, the Netherlands, India and Iran).

Nicci aligns herself with seeing robotics helping people on the most fundamental level and is a powerful female entrepreneurial force in the male dominated STEM industry.

Rabia Siddique

Rabia Siddique is a retired British Army officer, criminal and human rights lawyer, and former terrorism and war crimes prosecutor. Whilst working as a lawyer in the British Army she was taken hostage while negotiating the release of British SAS chaps. She later took the brave action of suing the British Government for sexism and racism and became a catalyst for policy change to ensure a fairer workplace for women and cultural minorities in the military. A recipient of a Queen’s commendation for her work in Iraq, Rabia has received numerous awards for her human rights and community aid work in the Middle East, South Africa, the United Kingdom and Australia. Not only has she had an impressive career, she is also a mother of triplet sons. Rabia lives by the words of Mahatma Gandhi, ‘be the change you wish to see in the world’. She is an inspiration to all.

Julie Inman Grant

As Australia’s eSafety Commissioner, Julie Inman Grant leads a world first – a regulatory government agency committed to keeping its citizens safer online.

Julie plays an important global role as Chair of the Child Dignity Alliance’s Technical Working Group, as part of the role of Commissioner, and as a Board Member of the WePROTECT Global Alliance. Recently designated one of Australia’s most influential women by the Australian Financial Review and a leading Australian in Foreign Affairs by the Sydney Morning Herald. The World Economic Forum and Apolitical designated the Commissioner as one of the world’s most influential leaders revolutionising government.

Women in Print Australia applauds the important work done by the Commissioner in keeping our communities safe online.

Pearl Mary Gibbs

Pearl Mary Gibbs “Gambanyi” was born on 18 July, 1901 to an Aboriginal mother and a non-Aboriginal father in La Perouse, New South Wales. Throughout her adult life Gibbs never faltered in her efforts for Indigenous justice over the decades that followed, a challenge that culminated in 1954 when the New South Wales Aborigines Welfare Board appointed her as its first—and only—female member. She also helped organize the Aboriginal-Australian Fellowship (AAF) in 1956. With Gibbs at the helm, the AAF petitioned for a change in the Australian constitution, which paved the way for the 1967 referendum that granted Indigenous Australians suffrage and citizenship.  Gibb’s is a reminder that individuals can effect great change in society with focus and determination. Gibbs reflects in today’s leaders, showing that compassionate, empathy driven leadership is extremely effective. Australia is in no small part a better place today for having Pearl Gibb’s in our history.

Dr Katalin Karikó

Dr Karikó is a Hungarian-American scientist whose work through 1990’s and 2000’s paved the way for the mRNA COVID-19 vaccine development. It is estimated that without her ground-breaking research, vaccine development would have taken more than 20 years. Along with her research partner Dr Drew Weissman, Kati (as she is known in the USA) holds the patents that are licensed to both BionTech (Pfizer) and Moderna in the development of their vaccines.  The world thanks you for your tireless scientific endeavours Dr Karikó, which in no small measure have already, and will continue to save lives.

Marjorie Pagani

A Barrister for thirty years before stepping into the philanthropic sector, Marjorie Pagani is the CEO of Angel Flight. A well-revered and much needed charity delivering care flights for those in need across Australia.

We applaud Marjorie this month, not only for her strong leadership across her career as a senior legal professional and advocate for those in need, but also for her quick action shown to support a daughter caught in COVID border restrictions unable to see her ailing father. This care-flight and quick response demonstrated the critical leadership we all aspire to – kindness and humanity agendas are what create leaders we are inspired by and we congratulate Marjorie and all the team at Angel Flight.

Olive May Kelso King

(30 June 1885 – 1 November 1958) was a Sydney-born, Australian war hero. During WWI she drove ambulances for the Scottish Women’s Hospitals and Serbian Army.

Olive served supplying her own vehicle (Ella), in Belgium, France, Macedonia, Greece and Serbia. In one battle, the Bulgarian forces were advancing rapidly and her station hospital had to be evacuated in 24 hours, a seemingly impossible task for 30 women. When joining Serbian army as a driver attached to the Headquarters of the Medical Service at Salonika, the Serbs had lost most of their transport and ‘Ella’ was one of only three cars attached to the Medical Headquarters.

On 18 August 1917, the day of the Great Thessaloniki Fire of 1917, Olive May Kelso King transported people and records to safety, driving for twenty four hours at a stretch. For this effort, Olive was awarded the Serbian silver medal for bravery. Despite all the odds and all those who encouraged her to sit the war out Olive May Kelso King showed the inner strength and spirit of a woman with her own mind and her own drive.

Rita Karagiannis

Account Director,
IVE Group Data-Driven Communications

Rita is an Account Director at IVE Group in the Data-Driven Communications business. With twenty years’ experience in mail and data communications Rita has built an expansive career across operations and productions into strategic sales and client service roles. With a Bachelor of Business in Information Systems, Rita offers her team and clients operational and technical expertise into her account management and customer solutions approach. IVE Group is well recognised for building strong female leadership programs and Rita has embraced this enthusiastically with recent graduation of a Leader Factor 4 – Stages of Psychological Leadership program. Rita is a passionate, intelligent and deliverable-centric individual who currently holds the Women in Print – Victorian Patron role.