With International Women’s Day 2023 highlighting the theme of embracing equity, SALIFE takes some lessons from South Australian women who are not only succeeding in their fields, but are also working to create environments where others can thrive.

As told to Ben Kelly

Juliet Haslam

A former Hockeyroo, Juliet Haslam’s sporting resume is headlined by two Olympic gold medals, more than 200 games for Australia and a place in Australian hockey’s Women’s Team of the Century. Juliet was appointed as Port Adelaide Football Club’s Head of AFLW in 2021.

What advice do you give the next generation of aspiring leaders?
Teamwork is so important. While being a leader requires you to lead, it also requires you to actively listen, knowing that everyone has something unique to offer. Create an environment that encourages feedback; people need to feel they are in a psychologically safe space where they can be vulnerable and make mistakes. Always look at ways to improve yourself and your team, find new and creative solutions, be flexible and adapt to change. Finally, stay true to your own values … trust yourself and be authentically you.

What advice would you give to your younger self?
Make sure you spend quality time with the people you love. The last time I saw my dear friend (and Olympic equestrian gold medallist) Gillian Rolton before she passed away, she said to me: “Don’t just go along for the ride, choose to make a difference”. That has stuck with me ever since.

Can you describe a moment pivotal to who you are?
I’ve always been driven, passionate and committed to sport and my career, but when I became a mum, it was a whole new world. I had no idea how much you could love something so tiny and precious … my sons changed my life.

How do you stay grounded?
Bike riding or hiking with family, friends or my dog clears my head. All my best ideas come from being out on the trails where I have a sense of calm and mental space.

What is something most people may not know about you?
I’m right-handed at everything, but I handball a footy left-handed. It’s probably from all the time spent with my dad (former Port Adelaide Magpies player Ross Haslam) in my youth playing footy in the backyard; he was a left-hander. I also have a slight obsession with Cheezels.

 

Annette Tripodi

Arts Projects Australia’s Annette Tripodi has worked behind-the-scenes on WOMADelaide for more than 20 years and is now the festival’s associate director. She’s engaged with thousands of diverse artists, managers and agents from across the world and has been integral to each year curating an exciting and world-class event.

What advice do you give the next generation of aspiring leaders?
My rules in life are to always put yourself in the other person’s shoes, be true to yourself, be kind and seek out small everyday things that give you joy.

Is this the same advice you would give to your younger self?
I would tell my younger self to not be afraid to speak up if something doesn’t feel right.

Can you describe a moment that is pivotal to who you are?
We lived in the Netherlands when I was very small (due to my dad’s work for the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade). When my parents told me we were moving to Greece for three years, I was initially resentful, but going to international schools in Thessaloniki and Athens changed my outlook on everything and gave me experiences of the wider world that I never could have dreamed of. I look back and marvel at how lucky I was and know the transformational effect it had on me. But at the age of around 10, it felt terrifying.

How do you stay grounded?
Aside from pilates, cycling and the beach, my husband Nelson and I are fans of exploring Adelaide as though we are visitors. That’s how you find the gold, kooky stuff.

Something most people don’t know about you?
I have a very daggy sense of humour.

 

This article first appeared in the March 2023 issue of SALIFE magazine.