Anu Wettasinghe is the Diversity, Inclusion and Wellbeing Manager at QBE Insurance Australia Pacific. Anu is passionate about fostering a thriving workplace culture, where people are valued for their contribution, feel a sense of belonging and are treated with fairness and respect. Families come in all shapes and sizes, facing their own unique set of circumstances including those who sadly experience pregnancy loss, which is why Anu believes that workplace support and being part of the Pink Elephants Workplace Program Advisory Group is so important.
Niti Nadarajah
Founder, Coach, DEI Consultant, Facilitator & Speaker | Coaching by Niti
Niti is an award-winning coach, freelance general counsel, DEI consultant and keynote speaker and facilitator, with a passion for authentic and inclusive leadership. She advocates for a range of issues including gender and racial equity, and through her business, Coaching by Niti, helps to empower women who are feeling stuck in their careers to get unstuck by connecting them to their inner compass.
She was recognised as a LinkedIn Top Voice (Gender Equity) in 2022 and was awarded Coach of the Year (Silver) and Emerging Leader of the Year (Gold) at the Women Changing the World Awards 2023 and Future Women Mentor of the Year at the Future Women Summit 2023. She is also a certified Master NLP practitioner, Executive Coach with Grace Papers, DEI practitioner on the NASA Astrophysics IDEA practitioner database, legal adviser to, consultant and mentor with, The Creative Co-operative, an angel investor at Nobody Studios, a founding member and DEI Ambassador at Human Leaders, a Mentor at Future Women, a Peer Support Companion at The Pink Elephants Support Network, a Community Partner for White Ribbon (Australia) and mum to two.
"Having suffered two pregnancy losses while working full-time, I know all too well the heavy impact that my silence at work had on my health – physically, mentally and emotionally. I believe that we need to equip people managers and leaders with the tools to be able to hold space for the grief and pain of their employees when they experience the trauma associated with pregnancy loss and infertility. And that, by encouraging more open dialogue about that trauma within workplaces, we can start to dismantle the cone of silence and make the unspoken, SPOKEN."
Anita Thompson
Head of Business Operations | LOD Lawyers
Anita is a HR, Operations and Marketing & Communications professional with over 20 years’ experience in the professional services industry, having worked in both Sydney and London. Her HR experience spans all aspects of the function, from talent management and career development through to engagement and building a strong corporate culture. In her current role with LOD (Lawyers on Demand) she works with stakeholders across Australia, Asia and the Middle East, and is accountable for the HR, Marketing and Business Operations functions.
Anita also created and hosts the ‘Heartache to Hope’ podcast, where she interviews ordinary women who have become extraordinary through their fertility and pregnancy loss journeys. Her purpose is to ensure other women don’t feel alone during what is an incredibly isolating and complex part of life for so many.
"My fertility journey was long and complicated and after suffering a number of miscarriages while working full time, I am passionate about helping other women navigate the emotional roller coaster. Pregnancy loss is heartbreaking, complicated and relentless and there is so much more that organisations can do to support their women and men through this time. I believe that organisations have barely scratched the surface to shed a light on this, give it a voice and remove the stigma and I want to do what I can to help."
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Joanna Romeril
Head of Talent Management - People & Culture | Allianz Australia
"Having lost two babies and then having ongoing fertility treatment I know how overwhelming the grief and sadness can be. I came across The Pink Elephants Support network when I attended a local fundraising event. I was compelled to play a part in supporting other women by making them feel heard, supported and never alone, especially as this was not something I had when I went through my journey. I have been a Peer Support Companion for over a year and feel privileged to have the opportunity to do more by leveraging my professional work People & Culture, particularly DIB, Wellbeing and People Experience."
Jess Mayers
Senior Relationship Manager | ACON / Pride in Diversity
Jess (she/her) joined Pride in Diversity from The Star Sydney, where she developed a number of skills across a range of roles, including people management, stakeholder engagement, project management and strategy and planning.
In her work with Pride in Diversity, Jess acts as a trusted advisor in matters ranging from policy review, communication, strategy and planning. She works with senior executives, HR professionals and employee led networks to further inclusion in the workforce, and effect organisational change.
Growing up in a regional area with no LGBTQ representation and frequent casual homophobia, Jess knows what it’s like to feel you’re the odd one out and the pressure to stay hidden. She is passionate about helping her members to create workplaces where others can feel confident to be the visible role models they wish they’d had.
Outside of work Jess and her wife are proud but tired parents to two passionate, energetic, and spirited young people. Jess loves parenthood but dreams longingly of the days she could spend a weekend reading a book or saving the world in Assassins Creed.
She hopes that by the time her kids are entering the workforce, organisations like PID will be a thing of the past.