Female Authors - Australia
Sarifa Alonto Younes
Chairperson and International Speaker
Sarifa Aloto Younes is the Global Director of Speakers Tribe women and Best-Selling Author. She was nominated for the Telstra Business Woman of the Year Award and is the winner of the 2018 AusMumpreneur Multicultural Business Excellence Award. Likewise, she is a finalist of the 2019 AusMumpreneur: Women Will Change the World Award. Sarifa Younes is an international speaker with a deeply rooted passion for empowerment through education as a pathway to creating ‘futures with choices’. She works tirelessly to improve the career opportunities for women and young generations. For the past two decades, Sarifa Younes has been invited to conferences and seminars to present to heads of states, academic and business leaders, as well as organizations and media addressing social, environmental, cultural and educational issues.
Kaylene Ledgar
Holistic Life and Communication Coach and Author
Kaylene Ledgar is a Holistic Life and Communication Coach and author. Kaylene works with entrepreneurs and leaders from around the world to overcome their fear of speaking and accelerate their career. Kaylene says “You don’t need to fear speaking; speaking is a learned skill and you can master it.”
In 2003, Kaylene made the life-changing decision to face her fear of speaking. Fear of speaking used to consume her, but now with hundreds of speaking opportunities under her belt, she is a motivational speaker who inspires others through her stories. Kaylene shares tips and tools to speak with confidence in her book “Speaking, It’s NOT Worse Than Death”.
Kaylene believes that when our actions match our values, we find our true path. In 2019, she decided to close the door on her 26 years career in the Australian Public Service to be a full-time coach, author and live her true path.
Kaylene sees a world where fear does not hold us back. A world where we share our stories and lessons to support others. A world where communication brings us together.
Mireille Toulekima
Entrepreneur, Energy Expert, Executive Coach and Mentor, Author, International Speaker and Humanitarian
MIREILLE TOULEKIMA is an Award-Winning Entrepreneur, Global Energy Expert, a Global Executive Coach, Mentor, Author, International Speaker and Humanitarian based in Perth (Australia). A petroleum engineer who gained her experience working for more than 25 years in Africa, Europe, Asia and Australia in a range of technical and leadership roles, she is the Managing Director of the oil and gas consulting company MT Energy Resources Ltd, a Director at East Africa Oil and gas Australia Ltd, a Global Executive mentor at Global Women Economic Project (Global WEP), A mentor for Australia and New Zealand at Lean In Energy, the Leader for women in non-traditional industries at Women Economic Imperative (WEI) and an Ambassador to Female Wave of change for Australasia and Asia Pacific.
She founded the Mireille Toulekima Global Leadership organisation in 2017, an organisation that has for mission to create greatness in each corner of the world, in all kind of dimensions and spread the awakening consciousness that who we are and what we can accomplish has no limits. The organization empowers and helps individuals, entrepreneurs and organizations to take total control of their growth and success. Mireille speaks several languages of which Fluent English and French, conversational Spanish and Malay and basic Portuguese. She is a Global Tech Leader advocating and championing diversity and women advancement in STEM industries. She contributes to several women leadership and technical groups around the world and champion several women’s causes around the world. She has been identified and recognized as one of the most influential woman leader in oil, gas, energy and STEM globally.
YIL FOMWUL-GONSUM
Humanitarian and Media Consultant
Yil Fomwul-Gonsum is a humanitarian worker and media consultant with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Theatre and Film Arts from the University of Jos. Her passion for social change and community development led her to found a non-profit organization called Saphira Global Center which focuses on creating opportunities and working to improve the lives of vulnerable women in her society. One of Yil’s key area of focus has been the provision of relieve materials for widows and working on better lives for rural women in selected communities. She is an outspoken social activist on Good Governance, Girl Child Education and Human Rights. One of her recent projects was collaborating and accessing a grant from the MacArthur Foundation to produce a short film on AntiCorruption. On Human Rights, she was one of the organizers that got mostly women and young people to peacefully protest the killings of her people in some rural areas of Plateau state. Away from social activism, Yil Fomwul-Gonsum is a media consultant who has worked as a Project Coordinator on How I Made My First Million, one of the first major sitcoms produced by Ebonylife TV when they birthed and has recently worked on In Love and Ashes, a TV series set in Northern Nigeria at the height of insurgency attacks. The series was produced by a local Nigerian company in collaboration with an international company from Australia.
Yemu Phiri
Consultant, Educator, Coach and Strategist
Yemu Phiri is a human resources management consultant, educator, life coach, personal and organisational development strategist and author. She is passionate about purposeful living and loves seeing people living with a deep consciousness of who they are and where they are going.
She is the founder of Inflatus Group, a company dedicated to providing exceptional consulting, coaching, educational and transformational services, products and programs to equip individuals and organisations to live on purpose, achieve their goals and vision and leave a lasting legacy. A career in education and human resources reignited Yemu's sense of purpose and calling in life. She is determined to make a significant and lasting difference in people’s lives. Yemu believes that as we develop ourselves, we are able to express our talents and abilities for the enrichment and benefit of others.
She is also the author of Mighty Women of Africa; stories of hope, resilience and potential for young readers. Mighty Women Of Africa is a fictional biography of 10 remarkable and formidable career women of Africa who are on a mission to make a difference in the world. Who said African women can't dream big? The book explores with deep reflection and mesmerizing storytelling the fundamental question of success, women empowerment, passion, potential, determination, ubuntu, positive relationships, human rights and diversity. The book also highlights the importance of visibility and representation when it comes to women and minority groups. The visibility of strong and successful female role models whether fictional or real plays a significant role in inspiring young girls to pursue similar careers, as well as proving that success in any field is achievable. When one looks at the representation of Africa in the context of Western literature, one can see that it leaves a lot to be desired. The books that are inclusive of African content are still mostly characterized by animals, rural, folklore and blanketed narratives of destitution, destruction, disparity and dispute. This lack of diverse and positive representation has serious implications on African diaspora children. The book reveals to readers that Africa has people who are intelligent, capable, dedicated and ambitious. Not only is it important for children with an African heritage to see themselves represented in an uplifting and positive way, but it is also important for children who aren’t from Africa to also see children from Africa represented in this way as well.
Dr. Barbara Bedeschi-Lewando
Business and Policy Advisor
Dr. Barbara Bedeschi-Lewando is a business and policy advisor on climate change, resilience and sustainable development. Barbara, an innovator, is a director of Kiwiconsult and a team by her side promoting the adoption of the United Nations Sustainable development Goals through local, regional and national levels. At Victoria University of Wellington, she conducts research on climate-induced migration and human rights at the frontline of transformations. Barbara advocates for gender equality and women’s rights. She supports Business and Professional Women, United Nations Women, National Council of Women in New Zealand and internationally.
Yogita Ridgley
Specialist, Strategist, Speaker, Author and Blogger
Yogita Ridgley is a successful business women, CEO and Founder of “Traveling with Me, Myself and I”. She wears few different hats, Solo Travel Specialist, Mindset Strategist, an award winning international Speaker, Author and Blogger, with over a decade of solo traveling experience.
Yogita was featured by one of the Australian Magazine as a Female Changer Maker, Finalist of an Innovative business Award - YFactor and she is an Ambassador for Mental Health & Wellbeing and Dyslexia awareness. Yogita's mission is to get every woman to play the role of “ME” without mask or pretense. Her motto is Solo Travel to Self Discovery and her vision is helping women to unleash the power of THE AUTHENTIC SELF.
Dr. Siham El-Kafafi
Consultant, Director, Lecturer and Author
Dr. Siham El-Kafafi has a wide industry and consultancy experience in the medical, manufacturing and service industry besides being an academic for the past 23 years. Her teaching experience plays a leadership role in the creation of high-quality student experience in a wide range of business courses. Siham worked before in the American University in Cairo, the Manukau Institute of Technology, Auckland New Zealand and various Private Educational Training Providers in New Zealand. Siham is running her own business Arrows Research Consultancy Limited, providing consultancy work for both corporate organisations and educational institutions since June 2014.
Dr. Siham holds a PhD from The University of Waikato, New Zealand, a Masters in Adult Literacy and Numeracy Education from Auckland University of Technology, a Masters of Public Administration from the American University in Cairo and Bachelors of Art in English Literature with Honors from Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt.
Dr. Siham has over 100 publications in journal articles, book chapters and conference proceedings besides being on the editorial boards for various national and international journals, on board of examiners and award committees. She is the co-editor of the “Handbook of Research on Indigenous Knowledge and Bi-Culturalism in Global Context, published by IGI Global Publishers in early 2019.
Dr. Siham got awarded the Performance-Based Research Fund (PBRF) in New Zealand twice on April 2013 and May 2007.
