Nominated by
BPW Australia
Nomination form signed by Marilyn Forsythe on 20
April 2008
Nominee Information
Postal Address: PO Box 2042 Fitzroy Victoria 3065
Australia
Telephone: +61 3 9242 4039, Fax: +61 3 9655 8428
E-mail: freda.miriklis@bpw-international.org
Occupation: Investment Adviser / Master
Stockbroker
Active in Occupation
BPW Office Held:
Club:
-
BPW Mid City: Secretary,
Project 5-O SleepSafe Committee 2007; Coordinator for
Project 5-0 Tsunami Fund Appeal 2005, Young Achievers
Chair 1996-98; VP Communication 1997;
-
BPW Victoria: Executive
Board Member and Convenor Young BPW Victoria Program 1997-99
Federation:
BPW International:
Related Experience/Qualifications:
Convenor Round Table Summit on Women’s Economic Development
– 1st Chinese Delegation from the All China Women’s
Federation; 1999 Finalist, Telstra Victorian Business Women’s
Awards – Aust. Industry Private Sector Award; Awarded
Australian Young BPW 1998-2000; Short-listed 1999 Developing
Tomorrow’s Leaders Forum, part of The Queen’s
Trust for Young Australians; Guest Presenter at Female Leadership
Conference for LATUR, Argentina – Professional Business
Women in a Globalised World, 2000; Diploma of Teaching Hatha
Yoga at Gita International – University of Light;
Work related qualifications:
Designated Trading Representative, licensed with
the ASX (Australian Stock Exchange); Investment Adviser, Tolhurst
Group Ltd; Master Stockbroking Member of SDIA (Securities
Derivatives Industry Association); Senior Associate of FinSIA.
Supporting
Statement
I have grown from the soul of our organisation
and my life experience has been strengthened by the international
interaction and involvement of BPW members over the years.
I first became involved at the international
level in 1999 when I represented my country as their National
Young BPW in Vancouver, Canada and I presented to Congress
the views of what it means to be a Young BPW. This first taste
of Congress gave me the passion to keep working for our common
cause.
Having attended all International Congresses
from then on, I took up the post of Executive Secretary when
I was asked to do so. I can honestly say that my experience
has been enriched by the very members who have believed in
me and who have always made themselves available, allowing
me to grow in a way that I never thought possible. I am very
grateful for the confidence that they have shown in me and
it is for this very reason again that I make myself available,
willing to serve another term.
The issue now is not for a lack of good ideas
– we have plenty of those – the issue is capacity
– or lack thereof, and the fact that we need to ensure
that the right systems and procedures are in place to offer
support and commitment to those very Expert Members that give
of their time and energy so willingly time-and-time again.
Without them, there is no future for BPW – we need to
ensure that our systems do not fail them. For BPW to realise
its full potential it needs to run smoothly and show the required
leadership for all clubs and federations around the world
– for we need to set the example from the top down –
otherwise there will be no common purpose.
Serving BPW International during the previous
term has given me first hand knowledge and understanding and
I believe that I also have the ability to play a part in the
next phase of our growth as some of the biggest challenges
now await us.
Our organisation is undergoing a fundamental
shift and we need to ensure for the good of the organization
that the framework is the right one for the 21st century.
Our history gives me the confidence to know what decisions
need to be made. It tells me that we can emerge as the leading
women’s organisation when we have in place the right
systems, the right tools and processes to increase our capacity
for efficiency.
To ensure that BPW is the leading choice
for women – we need to address not only the immediate
reforms; we also need to create a 21st century framework that
supports members true to the cause, pursuing opportunities
for all women. |
