On Wednesday 8 March, HACCI celebrated International Women’s Day by holding its 9th annual special event, titled ‘Cracking the Code: Innovative Storytelling Towards Equality.’
More than 120 people attended the event in Melbourne held at Le Ciel in Cremorne.
The panel discussion was hosted by journalist-turned-CEO of the Social Studio, Dewi Cooke, featuring three women who have carved their own path in the world of journalism, media, communications, and marketing.
“We were very honoured to feature three extraordinary Greek-Australian women: journalist, author, and political analyst Niki Savva; Marketing Strategist, and leading podcaster Mia Fileman; and journalist, broadcaster, producer, and communications executive Helen Kapalos,” said Fotini Kypraios, HACCI Board Chair.
“I’m still elated by the immense success of the HACCI IWD 2023 event; it was a fantastic night of great insights and connection, and the positive feedback we’ve been inundated with is encouraging and heart warming. I can honestly say that it’s not every day that I attend an event feeling that sort of kinship, and I have to thank our amazing panel for that,” she enthused.
HACCI 2021 Woman of Influence Award winner Niki Savva entered the male-dominated world of political journalism and made her mark; she walks in the upper echelons of power and her books offer insight into the inner workings of politics and the power plays that shape Australia, its economy, its status in the world, its laws, its policies, everything that affects our day-to-day lives.
Helen Kapalos used her fame as a popular newsreader to fight for causes she believed in. In 2015 she was appointed as chair of the Victorian Multicultural Commission; at the same time, she embarked on a different journey, as a documentary filmmaker and advocate for medicinal cannabis. She is currently the most recognisable ambassador for medicinal cannabis in the country, working as a communications executive for plant-based medicine manufacturer Cannatrek.
Expert marketing strategist Mia Fileman is a full-time trainer, mentor, and consultant for women in business. After 20 years in marketing, she set up her own business, Campaign Del Mar, a marketing education platform for marketers and entrepreneurs offering online training and education in multi-channel marketing. She is also the producer and host of a popular industry-focused podcast, ‘Got Marketing?’
In what was an open discussion about their careers and experiences as communicators, the three panellists provided the audience with ideas, insights, and practical tools to influence discussions in many facets of their lives.
“It’s as simple as shifting our attitude when it comes to the context of community,” Helen Kapalos said. “Make the shift from a community of problems to a community of possibilities.”
Nikki Savva had more practical and direct advice for the audience: “If there are people in here who employ women, give them a pay rise,” she said. “If you see men disrespecting women, tell them to stop; and the most important thing is for people to stay engaged; connect to organisations, even if it’s a political party or a community group, donate to organisations that help other women, there are all sorts of practical ways that each of us as individuals can do. We can all make a difference.”
For her part, Mia Fileman focused on aspiring business owners: “If your daughter, your sister, or your wife comes to you saying she wants to start a business, be her support,” she advised. “This is how we can crack the code and get to equality. Please throw support behind them; running a business is risky, but it also gives women incredible opportunities.”
Leading the conversation towards “our personal spheres of influence, what we can all do to move the needle in ways that can have some measure of change, however big or small,” Dewi Cooke closed the event, with a call to action.
“Think about what is the one thing you can do once you walk out of this room to create change in the next 24 hours,” she told the audience. “It can be an email you send to someone, a conversation at the office, a donation, or joining a political party, be active; we are active, not passive participants of the world.”