This article was originally published on HerCanberra and is kindly republished here with permission. It’s part of a terrific series called “How I got here.” You can read more of the series here. In this Q and A, Bea Smith is chatting with Ambassador for Gender Equality, Stephanie Copus Campbell AM.
Who are you and what do you do?
I currently have the privilege to serve as Australia’s Ambassador for Gender Equality. In this role, I am the lead international advocate for gender equality – which means promoting the key principle that every single person should have every single opportunity to meet their full potential, regardless of their gender.
When this happens, everyone is better off. More generally, I have worked on equality and inclusion for my entire career, with over 24 years focused on Papua New Guinea and the Pacific.
Let’s go back to when you were a kid, have you always dreamed of working in this industry?
I spent my childhood in Fairbanks, Alaska. I grew up in a community where there were two to three times more men than women. Alaska also had (and continues to have) the highest prevalence of violence against women and children in the United States, with over 50% of women experiencing violence in their lifetimes.
On a more positive note, I was lucky to engage throughout my childhood with Alaska’s First Nation communities. My dad was a bush pilot and an academic and I traveled with him to small and isolated villages where I learned the importance of culture, deep and respectful listening, and the important role of women in these communities, including grandmothers.
The principles of equality, equity, diversity, and cultural sensitivity were instilled from early on in my life.
Tell us about when you were first starting out, what set a fire in your belly to get here and how did you do it?
From the start of my career, I realised that women and girls often experience disproportional barriers to achieving their full potential. I saw how they make up the majority of those living in extreme poverty, how they experience food insecurity, have lack of access to safe sanitation, and face gender-based violence. But I also saw early on that when women are part of decision-making and have the opportunity to meaningfully contribute – when they can equally participate in all areas, including in the economy, community, academia, government, media, and peace processes – everyone’s life is better.
We need women at the table – their lived experience, diversity of thinking and brain power. The fire in my belly came with the realisation that ensuring equality is both the right thing to do – everyone has the right to meet their full potential – and the smart thing to do – we are all better off when we can harness 100% of the population. I also understood from the start that I could not achieve the outcomes I wanted to in my profession – which was initially focused on international development – if half of the population was excluded.
Recall a time when you wanted to chuck it all in; what did you tell yourself when it got too hard?
Like many women, I have experienced challenges in balancing care duties for my children, household and community and the judgement from others if I was seen to be focused too much on my profession and not my home life.
Trying to balance everything at times was very difficult. I have also experienced, at many different times in my career, sexual harassment, the effects of conscious and unconscious bias, and unsafe environments. Sometimes I felt it would be easier to not work at all. But I am glad I stuck with it – I feel I am a positive role model to my kids who both have fulfilling careers, as well as to other young people, especially young women.
Stephanie has 24 years focused on Papua New Guinea and the Pacific. Picture: Supplied
What was your biggest break?
Early in my career, I was posted to Papua New Guinea with Australia’s development cooperation program (then AusAID). This was a wonderful experience that exposed me to every issue I could imagine including diplomacy, problem-solving, international development, foreign relations, cross cultural communication and leadership.
I am so grateful I had this experience, which then led to other opportunities, including heading up our development cooperation program in Fiji and Tuvalu and later PNG, working in the private sector and serving on a range of boards, not to mention my wonderful current job as Australia’s Ambassador for Gender Equality. I would not be where I am today without PNG.
What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever received?
To never feel bad or apologise for taking care of myself – that self care is essential to be able to support others and to perform well at work.
Early on I would feel guilty taking time for myself, ensuring work-life balance or even taking all my holidays. Now I see it as a responsibility for me and others. I prioritise running, meditation, fresh air and time with my beloved animals as essential self-care activities that keep me happy and well.
I also love the principles of working laid out in the Change Agenda for First Nations Gender Justice – Wiyi Yani U Thangani, which are focused on learning, lateral love, respect and relationality, embracing all identities, deep listening, being self-reflective and aware, taking intergenerational action, shaping and keeping balance and sense-making – engaging while connecting with the world around us.
I try to apply these to all I do and they make a huge difference in my ability to build relationships and achieve positive outcomes. It’s great advice for everyone!
What is it about your industry that you love and what makes you want to pull your hair out?
As an international advocate for gender equality, I am inspired on a daily basis by efforts worldwide, from within UN systems to local community groups in rural areas, from policy and change makers to human rights defenders and activists, to fight for the cause of equality.
I love the values of service, and the amazing opportunities to learn, develop and make a difference to my community and world. And I love meeting young people, who have the passion, vision and innovation to continue to work to achieve gender equality. I am hopeful that our movement will continue to grow and thrive as we pass the baton on to a new generation of young advocates.
However, we are seeing a global pushback and regression against women’s and human rights, which troubles me deeply. We must never take the gains we have made for granted, and we need to acknowledge that progress towards equality and rights is not linear.
I get upset when I see how difficult it can be to change stubborn social norms that lead to gender inequality, and how some of the gains that we saw when I was young have regressed, but this also motivates me to work even harder to work together to achieve gender equality.
Tell us how you ‘stay in the know’, what media do you consume?
I try to consume a wide range of media that offers me different perspectives. I find if I only read what I agree with, I don’t learn or develop. I mainly read the papers, journal articles and listen to radio. I don’t watch much TV. I try to read The Economist which is a comprehensive snapshot of the world and an efficient way to stay on top of global events.
Where do you see yourself in five years?
My passion, when I am not focused on gender equality, is biodiversity and protecting Australia’s amazing wildlife. I am an active volunteer with ACT Wildlife and also volunteer at Clare Holland House in palliative care. I enjoy meditation, yoga, outdoor activities, and long-distance running.
I volunteer for other community organizations and am a director on two not-for-profit boards and a commercial board. In five years I hope to be still focused on all of these activities in a way that brings diversity to my life and enables me to pursue my many interests while sharing my experience in progressing diversity and inclusion.
Stephanie is an active volunteer with ACT Wildlife. Picture: Supplied
Why should people follow in your footsteps?
I believe people should create their own paths with their own footsteps and each journey is unique. But the advice I would offer after a long career is to focus on where individuals can make a difference to their community and the planet. We need now more than ever to work together with love, mutual respect and care if we are to meet the challenges facing humanity, including those presented by climate change and the risks of new conflicts.
I also believe that both productivity and life satisfaction are enhanced when people have the ability to follow their passions – and not just a narrow focus on work. Ensuring a commitment to self-care, which I have tried to do, is also essential. Always put your own oxygen mask on before helping others!
What advice would you give your past self?
Don’t sweat the small stuff or in most cases the larger stuff will pass. It is ok to make mistakes and it’s important to take risks. With every door that closes, another one opens and even the hard events in life are an important opportunity to reflect, learn and grow.
And don’t leave learning to meditate until later in life – it’s a very important skill – taking care of mind and spirit is as important as taking care of body! I wish I had learned it at 20 instead of 50!
- Stephanie Copus Campbell. Picture: Supplied/DFAT
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Bea Smith was HerCanberra's Managing Editor before she heard London calling (and yes, she missed Canberra constantly). When she's not writing about travel she's writing romance novels. You can follow her @beatricealisonsmith.
