Canberra International Women’s Day

Join us at the Ovolo Nisha (Mosaic Lounge) for a powerful and inspiring International Women’s Day celebration. This is the first event of its kind in Canberra to showcase an all South Asian women speaker line-up in honour of International Women’s Day.

This landmark afternoon brings together South Asian women from across Canberra and beyond to connect, celebrate, and be seen. Guests will enjoy delicious food prepared by the Ovolo Nishi exceptional onsite restaurant, creating the perfect setting for meaningful conversations and community building.

Hear from trailblazing South Asian women across industries who will share their stories, insights, and experiences of leadership, resilience, and impact. From entrepreneurs and professionals to creatives and change-makers, this event reflects the depth, diversity, and brilliance of our community.

What you will walk away with

• A curated gift bag featuring products from Australian South Asian owned businesses.

• A glass of sparkling or juice on arrival and food throughout the night

• Meaningful connections with South Asian women across industries

• Insight and inspiration from trailblazing speakers and leaders (soon to be announced)

• A deeper sense of representation, confidence, and belonging

• New professional and personal connections to support your journey

• A memorable International Women’s Day experience rooted in community and celebration

This is more than an event. It is a moment to honour women, amplify voices, and build lasting connections.

More about our speakers: Monisha Sami (StoryCloud)

Founder of StoryCloud, an Australian edtech company creating accessible, equitable digital learning for early learning centres, especially in regional and lower-SEIFA communities. With a background in criminology, science and law, Monisha brings a prevention-focused approach to systems change, and is also building Storyland to support children’s curiosity and social-emotional learning.

Ayesha Inoon (Author)

Sri Lankan-Australian writer based in Canberra, exploring identity, belonging and women’s resilience. Her debut novel Untethered won the 2022 ASA/HQ Commercial Fiction Prize and was Highly Commended in the 2024 ACT Book of the Year and ACT Literary Awards. Her next novel The Sisters of Serendib is due June 2026.

Sunita Kotnala (Women’s Shed Founder)

Founder of the ACT’s first and only Women’s Shed, creating space for women to build practical trade skills through community learning and social enterprise. A Master of Social Work and long-term skilled migrant, Sunita also launched Australia’s first Mobile Women’s Shed in 2023, bringing tools, confidence and hands-on learning to more women. Vithyaa Thavapalan (Forensic Origin & Cause | SAFA | Brown Boss Babes) A multi award-winning entrepreneur and community leader, Vithyaa recently received a global award recognising her impact for the South Asian community. She is the Owner and Principal of Forensic Origin and Cause Investigations, Founder of The Events House, and Founder/President of South Asian Foundation Australia (SAFA), the organisation behind the nationally recognised program Brown Boss Babes. Over eight years, her work has grown into in-person programs across Australia’s east coast, including the world-first South Asian Women Business Awards, plus initiatives like Brown Brotherhood and Rising Ranis. She also volunteers on UTS’s Young Alumni Committee.