Staff Snapshot – Judi Martin

30 January 2017

At YWCA Canberra, we’re really proud of the vibrancy and diversity of our staff team. We’ll be bringing you regular staff snapshots so you can meet our team and find out a bit more about the people behind our programs and services. Today, meet Judi Martin, who has recently joined our nationally recognised Training Unit. Find out about Judi’s experience, her plans for the She Leads Diploma of Leadership and Management, and her upcoming overseas adventures!

Who are you? Tell us about yourself!

Like most people, I feel like I wear a lot of different hats in my life. I am the wife of incredible man who has the patience of a saint, and the mother of two amazing children who have just left the nest. I am passionate about education and providing the opportunity to learn. I love to travel, but love to come home just as much!

I started my professional life as a librarian, then an IT project manager. I decided to leave the Public Service and teach at CIT in library studies and IT. After completing my Masters, I lectured at Charles Sturt University in adult education. I feel like I’ve had a wonderfully varied career so far!

You’ve recently joined the YWCA Canberra Training Unit – what has your impression been so far?

My impression has been that the Training Unit is friendly, supportive, professional, and committed to facilitating great learning experiences. It’s a great place to work!

You’re now the trainer behind the She Leads Diploma of Leadership and Management. What have you got planned for the Diploma in 2017?

I’m keen to provide program participants with even more mentoring opportunities, with both graduates of the Diploma and strong women leaders from the community. I’m on the lookout for inspiring women to feature on panels and to facilitate different modules.

What do you think the strengths of the Diploma are?

I’ve only been at the Y for a short time, but already I can see so many strengths! The networking opportunities, the incredible personal and professional growth that the participants experience, and the increase in personal awareness are all things that stand out to me. Another thing is the increased confidence that the participants have in their strengths and abilities, which is so important for them to have!

You’re also about to head overseas to teach – where are you going and what will you be doing?

I am going to Kenya with three pharmacists and two other teachers, through Global School Partners. The pharmacists are teaching basic first aid and have donations of bandages and first aid books. The group of teachers are spending some time with the children in each of the schools, and we’ll be spending one day with the teachers from each of the 17 schools as well.  Global School Partners currently has 17 Partner Schools in Kenya, each partnered with an Australian Donor School.

Who are you inspired by?

My father has been one of the biggest inspirations in my life. His father died when he was six, and he never got the chance for an education, as he had to help out on the family dairy farm. He was determined that his children would all be educated and go to university – continual education was his passion, and he was always reading and learning and sharing his ideas to anyone who would listen.

To find out more about the She Leads Diploma of Leadership and Management, or any of the courses available through the YWCA Canberra Training Unit, head to ywca-canberra.org.au/education-training, or call 6175 9900.

Tags: She Leads Diploma of Leadership and Management, staff snapshot, Women's leadership, YWCA Canberra team