Women leading the way

Foodbank WA’s inspiring voices

This International Women’s Day, we celebrate the incredible women shaping how we feed change. From the CEO’s desk to the heart of operations, these leaders are making a real difference in the fight against hunger. We asked them what advice they’d give their younger selves. These are their answers:

Kate O’Hara, Chief Executive Officer:

“Make time to reflect …. Literally put in a few hours each week to reflect on what has happened in the last week and what you should celebrate, will learn from, will keep doing and will try to do next week.”

Fran Ferreira, Chief Operating Officer:

“Dear Fran,

Don’t look for perfection but for excellence.  When pursuing perfection, you will be zooming your vision towards a flawless state where everything must be right.  Zooming means you become so focused that you lose perspective.  When pursuing excellence, you will be accepting flaws and work on incremental changes to achieve greatness.  Don’t worry too much.  You got it girl!  Kindness, courage and fairness will never be out of fashion.

Oh!  That song about sunscreen … it is absolutely true!  Even so if you continue to plan to live in Australia!

Love you,

F”

Jenny Tartaglia, Senior Manager Nutrition and Education:

“Dream big and aim high. You have the ability to do whatever you set your mind to. Challenge yourself and don’t be afraid to step out of your comfort zone, the result will be more rewarding than you can ever imagine”.

Moira Aynsley, Senior Manager – Brand:

“Trust in your abilities. There will be times where people will make you feel not good enough. But there will also be times, many more times, where people will lift you up and make you believe in yourself. Hold on to these times and let go of the negative thoughts. 

 Invest in your learning and developing a growth mindset. Don’t expect people to identify opportunities for you – look for training and mentoring that can help you to continually develop. Say yes to opportunities that come along. “

Rene Wang, Financial Controller:

“Always keep your purpose at the forefront of your mind. Define what truly matters to you and let it guide your decisions, actions and priorities. Stay true to your values and vision, even when faced with challenges or temptations to stray from your path. Remember that obstacles are opportunities for growth and resilience and every setback is a chance to reaffirm your commitment to your purpose. Surround yourself with supportive people who share your values and aspirations and seek out mentors who can offer guidance and inspiration along the way. Stay focused, stay resilient and never lose sight of the impact you can make by living a purpose-driven life.”