Her Voice: Greek Women And Their Friends

Varvara Athanasiou-Ioannou, is the Founder and Chair of the Food for Thought: an inclusive Greek Australian Women’s Network.

She is a multi award winning educator who has left her imprint indelibly marked in many sectors. For the last 21 years, she has devoted her life to the promotion of women’s issues. Her latest achievement is the publication of an oral history book, 'Her Voice, Greek Women and Their Friends', about the personal and professional lives of 42 women living in Australia.

This  ground-breaking  collection of stories features relatable role models, whose strength and resilience will inspire anyone who reads it. It is aimed to be read by everyone, men and women. 

'Life for many of these women has not been easy; starting over in a new country, or born here to migrant parents, with heightened expectations, experiencing bullying, racism, sexism,  disengaged partners, domestic violence and mental health issues just to name a few. At points, some lost their way – and their voice. I was inspired to help them find it.'

The women featured in the book, from all walks of life, are academics, educators, entrepreneurs, writers, municipal counsellors, journalists, lawyers, scientists, politicians  and more. Selected with a diversity lens in mind, the women featured present an intersectionality of age, class, marital status, sexuality, faith, disability and race, representing different professional and business backgrounds. Everyone will know someone in the book and relate to many of the stories and  issues raised. It is a conversation starter.

M.C.:  Charlotte England

Photo Credit: Permission by Varvara Athanasiou-Ioannou