On the Circularity of Giving and Investing in Women for Global Change

I grew up in Colombo, Sri Lanka, in a community where, despite limited resources, there was a strong sense of connection and support. People looked out for one another, ensuring that no one fell through the cracks, especially families like mine, where both parents worked. Perhaps that’s what sustains you when you are resource-poor—security comes from the strength of the people around you.

Sri Lanka, influenced by Buddhist culture, carries strong messages about giving. From an early age, I was taught about the circularity of giving and receiving: if you wish to receive and live a better life, giving is a fundamental part of that exchange. One of my earliest memories is taking a plate of food to offer to the monks at the temple, a deeply rooted Sri Lankan tradition. I also have fond memories of community-run food stalls, where volunteers prepared free meals using donations collected from within our own neighborhood on culturally significant days.

Giving wasn’t seen as charity—it was the circulation of resources. We were taught that you don’t need to have a lot in order to give, and there was no shame in receiving because, at some point, everyone gives, and everyone receives. There was no hierarchy—no one was superior for giving or inferior for receiving. It was simply a continuous, shared cycle.

I see the power of investing in women and how it can uplift families, communities, and entire nations. To put it boldly—any meaningful social change begins with investing in a woman. This has been true for me as well.

My younger sister and I grew up in a time when we had access to opportunities that had not been available to our mother. We received free education, and our local school, while modest, provided a solid foundation for our learning. As a young adult, I was awarded a scholarship by the Australian government to study at Monash University—a life-changing opportunity that opened doors to an entirely new world. It also uplifted my entire family because, in our community, one person’s success positively impacted everyone.

We grew up in government housing, with both of our parents working in a nearby factory. In our community, there was a strong commitment to sending girls to school, supported by decades of campaigning to ensure free education for all. I grew up seeing both men and women working and earning equally, where opportunities were not limited to boys, and education was widely recognised as the key pathway out of poverty. This progressive policy gave us the chance to pursue our education, ultimately bringing me to Australia. My sister, who studied medicine, is now an epidemiologist at the World Health Organization in Geneva.

What motivates me to give goes far beyond financial resources. I am deeply committed to breaking down systemic barriers because I believe that when women have access to education, the autonomy to make choices about their bodies, and the ability to earn an independent income, these three pillars create the foundation for uplifting entire communities.

I come from a professional background in gender and child protection. Throughout my career, I’ve had the privilege of working across Asia and witnessing firsthand the transformative power of investing in women.

In Laos, I have seen the profound impact of something as simple as a birthing room in communities where none previously existed—where women were forced to risk their own lives and their babies’ lives simply because those resources weren’t there.

In Bangladesh, I have seen the power of shifting mindsets and challenging social norms around child marriage, where girls are married off to older men and taken away from their families.

In Cambodia, I have seen how investing in safe spaces for women to escape violence—and in women’s leadership—can change not just individual lives but entire families, communities, and societies.

This is what drives me.

Everyone is always seeking funding, but for me, giving has always been about more than financial resources. I ask myself: How can I bring more attention to this issue? So, I give my time, my voice, my presence, and my experience to causes that deserve greater visibility.

We all have a finite amount of time on this planet, and what you do with your life is how you spend that time. For me, it’s about lifting the people around me—whether by opening a door, creating opportunities, or sharing resources.

I believe in the power of connectedness—that for you to live well, others must also have the chance to live well. None of us exist in isolation; a communal sense of well-being is what truly elevates individuals. I feel that connectedness in every space I’m part of—whether in my workplace, among friends, or in the communities we work with. What we do matters to them, what they do matters to us, and at the end of the day, how we share power and resources is what truly makes a difference.

I'll start with a little anecdote. Whenever I feel overwhelmed by the scale of an issue we’re trying to tackle, I remind myself of the story about a boy throwing starfish back into the ocean.

An old man approaches and tells him, “There are hundreds of starfish stranded on the shore. You’ll never be able to make a difference.” The boy picks up one, tosses it back into the sea, and replies, “Well, it mattered to that one.”

What we do matters—to every individual impacted by our support. We need to act where we can and trust that giving and receiving are intrinsically connected. Giving takes many forms, and if each of us commits to doing the right thing, the power of one becomes the power of millions. That’s how real change happens.

Women have always been powerful givers—of time, care, leadership, and money. Feminist movements and women’s rights organisations have been built and sustained by women who chose to give, even when they had little. If you look at the origins of women’s rights organisations and feminist movements, they have always been driven by women recognising the power of giving—whether it’s access to education, leadership, bodily autonomy, or financial independence. Meaningful change happens when women give generously and intentionally over time, whether through feminist movements or by supporting organisations committed to this work.

Today, women’s giving in Australia has enormous potential. More women have the resources, networks, and influence to shape the future of philanthropy—and to do so in ways that are values-aligned, strategic, and impact-driven.

Right now, political leadership is failing women in many parts of the world. The global backlash on gender equality is real and critical resources are being lost. Women's rights organisations are on the front lines, working with urgency to hold the line on gender equality gains we’ve achieved together. Now is the time for Australia to stand strong on our commitment to gender equality. Collectively, we need to ensure women’s rights organisations have the funds they need—not just to survive, but to keep driving lasting change. My ambition is to stand united in this moment and support these organisations to thrive.