From singers to car mechanics, this feature is celebrating International Women’s Day by talking to some of Canberra’s women achievers.

Opera singer’s deeply transformative journey

“My journey into music was unexpected but deeply transformative,” says opera singer Angela Jadric.

Finding joy out of singing during the 2020 lockdowns, Angela realised that her musical hobby could become so much more than a side project.

“Perseverance is key,” she says.

“Progress comes in small steps and challenges are part of the journey.”

Balancing her new musical commitments alongside her managerial task at Maximus Projects, the construction company she and her husband own, Angela says her goal has always been to focus on being fully present in each role.

“Business ownership has strengthened my discipline, problem-solving and organisational skills, all of which enhance my artistry,” she says.

“Music, in turn, fuels my creativity and personal fulfillment.”

Angela says intentional time management and flexibility helps balance. Alongside her work and passion, Angela says she makes sure to prioritise self-care.

“I think it’s important to recognise that my best performances come when I am mentally, emotionally and physically fulfilled,” she says.

Angela says she has been incredibly lucky to have been supported by a slew of talented women, including Canberra composer Elaine Johnson and accomplished soprano Erika Simons.

“Their artistry, knowledge and generosity have left a lasting impact on me and their commitment to their craft and willingness to uplift and support others embodies the kind of leadership I aspire to emulate,” she says.

Angela is busy preparing for her upcoming concert on March 22, tickets can be purchased at.

An Autumn Dream. 4.30pm, March 22, Wesley Music Centre, 20 National Circuit Forrest, tickets from wesleymusiccanberra.org

Natasha helps women fix their money relationship

Women With Cents was started in 2016 by money coach Natasha Janssens, initially, she says, as a financial education platform.

“After years of running workshops and online courses for women, I published my first book ‘Wonder Woman’s Guide to Money’ in 2019,” she says.

“I quickly realised that women needed more than just financial education. They needed support with navigating financial anxiety, indecision, and the pressures of societal expectations.”

Natasha says research has found that personal finances are the leading cause of stress in Australia, and that women in particular have a lack of confidence when making financial decisions.

“There are so many factors that affect a woman’s relationship with money. Childhood trauma, social conditioning, gender pay gap, these all play a part.

“I grew up in war-torn Yugoslavia, and came to Australia by myself at 18. I know all too well the impact that childhood trauma can have on our financial decisions as adults.

“Arguments over money are also the leading predictor in divorce and relationship breakdown.

“Couples often respond to financial stress in very different ways, making it harder to communicate effectively.

“People don’t talk about their financial challenges because they fear judgement and we often carry a lot of shame – regardless of our income.

“So, now I work with women and couples to support them to transform their relationship with money and get on the same page.”

Women With Cents. Visit womenwithcents.com.au

Women challenging gender bias in law

Parker Coles Curtis directors’ Debra Parker, Jacquelyn Curtis and Catherine Coles opened up their own firm with the desire to create a more compassionate and holistic family law offering.

“We had a mutual vision to empower our clients with tailored solutions,” says Debra, a family law and dispute resolution specialist.

“I’ve faced the challenge of gender bias and workplace inflexibility as a mother… it’s important to continue challenging accepted norms to allow women a more prominent role in the workforce at all levels.”

Catherine, a family law specialist, says they have a dedicated team at Parker Coles Curtis.

“Our staff-led wellbeing committee is a great example of the ethos of care we adopt with our clients and within the firm,” she says.

Inspired by powerful women, two of their conferencing spaces have been named after Mary Gaudron and Elizabeth Evatt.

“Our offices have been purposely designed for our clients to feel calm and comfortable at a time when they might be feeling very overwhelmed or stressed,” she says.

Jacquelyn Curtis, a family law specialist, says all three women run busy family lives outside of the office.

“We’re active in the legal community, serving on Law Society committees, mentoring early career lawyers and undertaking pro bono work – the juggle is real!” she says.

“Working collaboratively as a team across the firm ensures our service delivery standards are maintained.

“It’s this attitude that enriches the firm and we relate authentically to the delicate balancing act our clients are performing in their lives, too.”

Parker Coles Curtis, AMP building, Level 9/1 Hobart Place. Call 5114 2660 or visit parkercolescurtis.com.au

Dale steps confidently on to the dance floor

Dancing is a great way to increase movement, and the best part is that it doesn’t even feel like exercising, says Dale Harris, owner of Dale’s Ballroom Dancing.

It is also a great way to get out and be social, she says, which makes it a great hobby for older Canberrans.

Dale is an expert in many styles of dance, including tango, foxtrot, quickstep, Viennese waltz, cha cha, samba, jive, rumba and paso doble, and has more than 25 years’ experience teaching dance.

The seven-week dance course for adults is open again, and Dale encourages anyone to come and learn, regardless of age or experience.

“We have people of all ages coming in for the classes,” she says, with adult classes on Wednesdays, starting at 7pm.

She says classes cover Latin, New Vogue and standard dances.

They also offer private classes by appointment, which Dale says are a great option for those who may be a little timid about dancing in front of others.

“We can accommodate choreographing a dance for your own routine, to the music you have chosen,” she says.

Dale’s Ballroom Dancing, 6/38 Reed Street North, Greenway. Call 0407 066110 or visit dalesballroomdancing.com

Raffy’s always fighting to break the glass ceiling

The visionary behind Sage Advice and Zest, Raffy Sgroi coaches leadership and does business consulting with a focus on helping organisations create inclusive and sustainable workplaces.

“It’s the core of my work,” she says.

Advocating for a workplace culture that embraces equity and diversity as core values, empowering employees to thrive and succeed without facing systemic barriers, Raffy says she is here to smash stereotypes.

“The glass ceiling isn’t made of glass,” she says.

“It’s built from invisible barriers, unconscious biases and outdated systems.

“The good news is, like any barrier, it can be broken.”

Driven by the belief that inclusion isn’t just about meeting quotas or creating policies, Raffy says making a meaningful change starts at working on an organisation’s culture from the ground up.

Her commitment to breaking such stereotypes has seen her and the team at Car Mechanical Services – of which she is co-founder and CEO – receive various awards, including the 2023 Australian Women’s Business Champion Award, 2023 Australian Small Business Champion Award Automotive Champion, 2021-2022 ACT Most Outstanding Canberra Automotive services and 2023 ACT Business of Year.

Dedicating her career to transforming the car industry, Raffy’s My Career Portfolio program has seen 40 per cent of female trainees take the helm of car-related careers.

Sage Advice. Visit sageadvice.au or contact admin@sageadvice.au

Resilient woman takes a holistic approach to care

Going through a serious illness as a teenager, Arthritis ACT CEO Rebecca Davey was told all of the things that she’d never be able to do again.

“I took all of those ‘you’ll never be able to’ and turned them into ‘I’m going to beat this’,” she says.

“I would never call myself successful, but I’d call myself determined and I’m open to learning something new every single day!”

Rebecca says she wanted health services to be delivered in a holistic, caring framework.

“Too often in health we see ‘silos’ where only one part of you is of interest,” she says.

“In all areas of health, we are ‘all parts’ of us… I’m talking about the spiritual me, the emotional me and the sleep deprived me!

“As a woman and someone who lives with inflammatory arthritis, I wanted to ensure that others could get the holistic care that is needed to allow them to shine.”

Rebecca says caring is at the heart of their philosophy.

“We actively employ staff members with lived experience of our conditions and/or challenges that have led to discrimination,” she says.

“We do this because we know that these people are the best to care for others when they were, in fact, cared for by us as a team.”

Rebecca says her position hasn’t come without its challenges but she is proud to be where she is.

“I’m not saying I get it right every day, but hopefully the success we’ve had in building a practical, meaningful service makes people think twice when making assumptions.”

Arthritis ACT, Pain Support & ME/CFS ACT, 170 Haydon Drive, Bruce. Call 1800 011041 or visit arthritisact.org.au

Mothers take helm in boutique family law firm

Eight years ago, law partners Lucy Stramandinoli and Anna Neilan decided to open a family law firm that offered a boutique approach in providing law advice to clients.

“We have more than 40 years of combined experience working exclusively in family law and we wanted to provide individualised services to our clients,” says Anna.

“In family law, you need specialised skills and we wanted to make sure that our clients were supported by their lawyer.”

Lucy says they know from being mothers and directors of a busy law firm that it is hard to juggle a work/life balance, but says these challenges have inspired her to continue pursuing a leadership role in law.

Lucy says “finding her tribe” has created a great environment to work in.

According to Anna, everyone supports each other in the office.

“If someone has a heavier workload, the rest of the office assists,” she says.

Lucy says this environment has made for a productive, happy and meaningful place to work.

“We had strong role models and it is important to show our staff as they develop from being young lawyers to more senior lawyers,” she says.

Conscious of the difficult nature of accessing justice for some, Anna says they work with and volunteer for organisations that provide legal support for vulnerable people.

Neilan Stramandinoli Family Law, Suite 1, Ground Floor/5 Farrell Place, Canberra. Call 6152 0493 or visit nsfamilylaw.com.au

Gail & Bethany build confident clients making strong decisions

Gail Freeman, principal and lead chartered accountant of Gail Freeman & Co, says she has spent decades helping individuals and businesses in Canberra navigate their finances.

“We’ve always been passionate about helping people understand their finances and how to build wealth for the future,” she says.

“I find that when clients feel informed and empowered, they’re more confident in making strong decisions for their future financial security.”

Chartered accountant Bethany Freeman-Chandler says Gail Freeman & Co utilises technologically advanced processes to move with the times.

“It is essential that businesses have the right software to streamline their accounting processes,” she says.

“I always ensure our clients have the tools and systems in place to make managing their finances as effective as possible.”

According to Gail, planning for the future is essential.

“It’s not just about solving the problems of today but building a strong financial foundation for each individual’s future,” she says.

Gail’s extensive knowledge of Australian tax law allows her to provide strategies to clients that are not only compliant, but are financially beneficial for individual needs.

Gail Freeman & Co, 9/71 Leichhardt Street, Kingston. Call 6295 2844 or visit gailfreeman.com.au