2 March 2021
In anticipation for our upcoming In Conversation with Dr Clara Tuck Meng Soo, the She Leads team sat down with PhD candidate and queer policy specialist Isabel Mudford, who has a breadth of experiences, ranging from work in social research to law reform in the ACT, including now advising the ACT Greens in social inclusion policy. As Chair of the LGBTIQ+ Ministerial Advisory Council, Isabel has advised on the development of the Capital of Equality Strategy and First Action Plan, including the recent prohibition of conversion practices.
Currently undertaking a PhD in critical public health at the ANU, Isabel’s work analyses the evolution and impact of the category of ‘LGBTIQ health’ and its relationship to the HIV/AIDS epidemic, making her well-placed to facilitate our In-Conversation with Dr. Clara Tuck Meng Soo, who has been quietly working on the ground for marginalised people throughout her career.
In our In Conversation on 16 March, Isabel and Dr Soo will cover topics from the role of inclusion in leadership to how ‘ordinary people’ can go forward to create tangible change in society. For Isabel, leadership begins at the intersections of society—for true change to occur, the sum of our parts must be addressed.
To learn a bit more about Isabel and why she does what she does, we sat down and asked her five quick questions:
Kind, funny, pathologically late, feminist, outgoing, colourful, queer, curious, empowered, loving, loved, tired, caffeinated, compassionate, bleeding heart, brunch lover, vegetarian, friendly, cat mum, dog person, creative-ish, political, generous, optimistic.
A moment doesn’t capture it for me. I’ve had a lifetime of loving and being empowered by intelligent, critical and compassionate women interested in making the world and other people’s lives better, safer, and healthier. I am proud to have come out (more literally than some) of that beautiful feminist mess.
I’m very bored by the idea that women’s issues can be seen or treated separately from class, race, ability, or sexuality. We are all the sum of our parts and to treat any of these issues as silos limits our shared power to make change.
To listen to my gut instinct about an issue, and think critically, rather than just doing as I’m told. Gut instinct is built from previous experience, knowledge, sense of self and values. It’s good stuff.
Be brave and don’t shy away from the things you find or difficult/intimidating. Listen.