Past winners [PSC]
2025
Another successful competition was held in 2025 with some amazing students demonstrating their skills in being a voice for women. Heats were held at the following campuses:
- Notre Dame – Tuesday 6 May, 6:00pm The Meeting Place, 245 South Terrace, Fremantle
(Winner – Adaeze Nwoko. Topic: The Impact of Social Media on Women’s Self-Image and Identity) - TAFE Geraldton – Thursday 8 May, 10:00am J Block, Central Regional TAFE
(Winner – Lucy Osborn. Topic: Practically Empowering Women: Inspiring Financial Literacy in the Next Generation) - TAFE Metro – Thursday 8 May, 4:00pm Library, North Metropolitan TAFE
(Winner – Deying Pu. Topic: 2025 IWD campaign Theme: Accelerate Change) - ECU Joondalup – Thursday 8 May, 5:30pm Moot Court, Joondalup Library Building
(Winner – Saskia Harman. Topic: The Impact of Social Media on Women’s Self-Image and Identity) - Murdoch University – Tuesday 13 May, 5:00pm Building 360.3.002, Innovation Hub
(Winner – Simran Virk. Topic: The Impact of Social Media on Women’s Self-Image and Identity) - UWA – Wednesday 14 May, 5.30pm EZONENTH:[113], Industry Hub
(Winner – Siya Kothari. Topic: The Impact of Social Media on Women’s Self-Image and Identity) - Curtin University – Wednesday 14 May, 6.00pm Building 210, Room 104
(Winner – Alexandra Nelson. Topic: The Impact of Social Media on Women’s Self-Image and Identity)
The Grand Final was well attended and held again at Notre Dame University. We had three judges at the Grand Final:
- Hannah Fitzhardinge – Mayor of Fremantle
- Catherine Ferrari – Chair of Government House Foundation
- Karess Dias – Solicitor and Soroptimist
Congratulations to our 2025 winner Siya Kothari from UWA.
2024
Following the success of the 2023 competition, the 2024 competition again included a heat for TAFE students which attracted a lot of interest. Heats were held at the following campuses:
- Murdoch – Tuesday 23 April, 5:00pm Innovation Hub, Boola Katitjin (330.3.002)
(Winner – Aimee Telford. Topic: Pretty in Pink? Is Barbie(2023) truly a “feminist film”?) - UWA – Monday 26 April, 5:30pm EZONECENT: [206] Giumelli Learning Studio
(Winner – Nicola Archibald. Topic: Practically Empowering Women: Inspiring Financial Literacy in the Next Generation) - ECU – Thursday 2 May, 5:30pm Moot Court, Joondalup Library Building
(Winner – Chloe McMillan. Topic: Dismantling the Patriarchy One Doll at a Time) - Notre Dame – Wednesday 15 May, 6:00pm Notre Dame University, Santa Maria Lecture Theatre ND1/102
(Winner – Nishtha Vashisth. Topic: Feminist Barbie) - TAFE – Thursday 16 May, 4:00pm North Metropolitan TAFE Library (Northbridge)
(Winner – Huali Feng. Topic: Empowering women to rely on themselves and build the wealth to control their lives)
The Grand Final was well attended and held again at Notre Dame University. We had four judges at the Grand Final:
- Dr Justine Leavy – Associate Professor in Health Promotion in the School of Population Health at Curtin University.
- Hannah Fitzhardinge – Mayor of Fremantle
- Professor Leanne Monterosso – Emeritus Professor, University of Notre Dame
- Karess Dias – Solicitor and Soroptimist
Congratulations to our 2024 winner Nishtha Vashisth from Notre Dame University.
2023
Our 2023 SIWA Public Speaking Competition was extended to all tertiary institutions and an additional heat was held at TAFE. It was again very successful, and an enthusiastic audience attended the Grand Final on 21 May 2023 at Notre Dame University to hear 6 amazing young women speak passionately about current issues affecting women and girls. Our finalists were Alexis Pallister (ECU), Fitrah Ningsih (UWA), Anastasia Koo (Murdoch), Isheanesu Potsekayi (Curtin), Kiara Gormlie (Notre Dame) and Emma Hall (TAFE). Congratulations to Kiara Gormlie who took out the $500 first prize with her speech titled “For Our Next Leaders”. Our MC was 2022 winner Kathryn Ross who did an excellent job, and it was great to have her involvement. A big thank you to our judges Hon Justice Janine Pritchard, Karen Goddard and Carolyn Byatt for donating their time and providing such valuable feedback to the speakers and the audience.
Kiara Gormlie, Fitrah Ningsih, Anastasia Koo, Carolyn Byatt, Kathryn Ross.
2022
Another successful competition and a very enthusiastic audience attended the Grand Final of the SIWA Public Speaking Competition on 22 May 2022 at Notre Dame University to hear 5 amazing young women speak passionately about current issues affecting women and girls. Our finalists were Amira Nunn (UWA), Fadak Ameer (ECU), Kathryn Ross (Curtin), Joani van der Linde (Murdoch) and Niamh Rooney (Notre Dame). Congratulations to Kat Ross who took out the $500 first prize with her speech titled “Balancing the Equation of Women in Science”. Our MC was 2021 winner Petrice Pesick who did an exceptional job and it was great to have her involvement. A big thank you to our judges Rachael King, Karen Goddard, Jo Wilkie and Maria Tsovleas for donating their time and providing such valuable feedback to the speakers and the audience.
L-R: Karen Goddard, Joani van der Linde, Maria Tsovleas, Kat Ross, Amira Nunn, Niamh Rooney,
Jo Wilkie, Fadak Ameer, Rachael King
A post-competition networking event was held as an opportunity for students to network with their peers and to meet and hear from women at various stages of their careers or in leadership roles who spoke about their experiences and shared some of their career advice.
2021
Over 70 people attended the Grand Final of the SIWA Public Speaking Competition on 8 May 2021 at Notre Dame University to hear 5 amazing young women speak passionately about current issues affecting women and girls. Our finalists were Maram Adem (Murdoch), Ella Stephenson (UWA), Petrice Pesick (Notre Dame), Orla Latawski (Curtin) and Nirmala Arunaselam (ECU). Congratulations to Petrice who took out the $500 first prize with her speech titled “I Know a Woman”. Our MC was 2019 winner Rebekah Craggs who did an exceptional job and it was great to have her involvement. A big thank you to our judges Hon. Justice Janine Pritchard, Suzanne Lawrence and Rosemary Cant for donating their time and providing such valuable feedback to the speakers and the audience.
L-R: Suzanne Lawrence, Rosemary Cant, Maram Adem, Ella Stephenson, Nirmala Arunaselam, Petrice Pesick, Orla Latawski, Janine Pritchard, Rebekah Craggs
2019
L-R: Kaye Hill President SI South Perth; Finalist Winner Rebekah-Anne Craggs Curtin University, and Liz Butson AM President SIWA
MC SI Fremantle President Karess Dias
L-R: Rosaline Miller (President SI Townsville); Margaret Lobo SI Perth; Vida Corbett Past President SI South Perth; Public Speaking Finalists: Chelsea McNeill Murdoch; Natasha Tonga UWA, and Rebekah-Anne Craggs Curtin University; Petrice Pesick Notre Dame; Chantelle Lynch ECU; Karess Dias (President SI Fremantle)
2018
After the Regional meeting the Public Speaking competition showcased some exceptional young people. The winner was Chelsie Fruhwirth who will be attending The Conference of Clubs in Melbourne.
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