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Ep.33 Tonia Bastyan | Textile Waste Crisis & Australia Tops Offenders List

Ep.33 Tonia Bastyan | Textile Waste Crisis & Australia Tops Offenders List

Textile waste is a global issue and Australia is now #1 per capita for textiles consumption, surpassing even the US. What does this mean for the environment and the future of fashion?

In today’s episode of the Power Of Women podcast, Di sits down with Tonia Bastyan, a fashion industry veteran and pioneer in sustainable design. Tonia’s impressive career has seen her serve as the Creative Director and Founder of fashion brands in both Australia and the UK. Now, she’s pivoted her focus to tackle one of the industry’s biggest challenges: textile waste.

Join us as we discuss how Tonia’s innovative work on the front-end design framework will ensure garments can be repurposed. We discuss pioneering technology and practical solutions for reducing waste and creating a more sustainable fashion industry. Tune in for a conversation that could change the way you think about the clothes you wear!

Tonia Bastyan

Ep.32 Shirley Wardle | How To Navigate Your Way From Burnout To Balance

Ep.32 Shirley Wardle | How To Navigate Your Way From Burnout To Balance

We’re diving into something so many of us have faced at some point in our lives: Burnout. It can creep in and take a serious toll on our health and well-being as well as impact those around us. In this episode of the Power Of Women podcast, I engage in a candid discussion with Shirley Wardle, an Australian-born, UK-based female executive who has navigated a remarkable career across multiple industries—including telecommunications, media & broadcast, and cybersecurity. Despite her impressive achievements, the relentless pace and high-stakes demands of corporate life took their toll, leading her to the brink of burnout. Shirley opens up about her journey through the corporate ranks, the warning signs she ignored, and the turning point that forced her to reset. The turning point is still raw & still elicits an emotional reaction when talking about it. After stepping away from her executive role, she discovered a new path to balance and well-being. Shirley has just launched a rejuvenating Pilates oasis in the heart of Kent, UK—a project that symbolises her commitment to both physical and mental health.

Tune in to hear how Shirley transformed burnout into a fresh start, what she learned about maintaining well-being in high-pressure environments, and how she’s using her experience to help others find balance in their own lives.

Shirley Wardle

Ep.31 Cassandra Heilbronn | Trailblazing Millennial Expat  – Lawyer to Saudi CEO

Ep.31 Cassandra Heilbronn | Trailblazing Millennial Expat – Lawyer to Saudi CEO

Possibly the youngest Family Office CEO in the world … & female. On this episode of the Power Of Women podcast, Cassandra Heilbronn joins Di from Saudi Arabia to share how she went from Bundaberg in Queensland to an expat woman in Riyadh, and smashed the glass-ceiling. Quite the journey when compared to moving to Brisbane with only $400 in her bank account to start her Law Degree. Her first board appointment was at 31, she has been the recipient of a number of awards & accolades including the Top 20 under 40 in 2017 in Australia, and from a distinguished career as a lawyer in Australia and Saudi Arabia, was appointed the CEO of a private family office in 2021 at 36 years of age. Today, she overseas global operations, investments and the strategic direction for the Family. Despite her incredible career trajectory, Cassandra is a dynamic leader who balances ambition with humility. Listen in to how she achieved it.

Cassandra Heilbronn

Ep.30 Nikki Atkinson | Married In Wool: Australia’s sustainable luxury fibre

Ep.30 Nikki Atkinson | Married In Wool: Australia’s sustainable luxury fibre

Merino wool wedding dresses. Fashion Designer, Nikki Atkinson is marrying design and sustainability in her luxury bridal wear. This week on the Power Of Women podcast, Di sits down with fashion designer, Nikki Atkinson, who is on the path to taking her Australian Merino wool wedding dresses to the global bridal market. A country girl at heart and living regionally on a merino sheep grazing property in South Australia’s Flinders Ranges, Nikki is championing our golden fleece as not only a luxury alternative for bridal couture, but also as a sustainable alternative. Merino wool is a renewable and biodegradable material. Listen to Nikki’s journey as a business woman, a farmer’s wife, weekend sporting coach and mum. There is a reason women are great at multi-tasking. They have to!

Nikki Atkinson

Ep.29 Gill Moakes | Radical Authenticity: How to be the best version of you

Ep.29 Gill Moakes | Radical Authenticity: How to be the best version of you

I don’t think anyone could be more radically authentic than Gill Moakes. On this episode of the Power Of Women podcast, Di gets into the weeds with the award winning business coach, writer, speaker and the host of the Heads Together podcast. Having both made a commitment to no more sugar, they explore the importance of prioritising ourselves, the concept of rewilding and the benefits of cutting away what no longer serves us. Gill works with freedom-seeking, risk-taking women to help them grow phenomenal businesses. She believes that when you’re brave enough to do things your way and you’re outstanding at what you do, you deserve a life of infinite possibilities. They also shine a light on the privilege it is, to love what you do. That’s empowering.

Gill Moakes