The
depth and breadth of Freda’s
achievements is extraordinary
and covers a huge range of
activities, including working
and supporting multiple national
and international causes,
through to being acknowledged
internationally as an authority
on women’s economic empowerment.
Freda’s humanitarian work
focused on the building of
educational facilities in least
developed countries across
Africa, Asia and South America.
In 2016, she helped secure
funding for the Orthodox Mission
of West Africa that allowed
Father Themis Adamopoulos to
build a Childhood Centre for
orphans of the Holy Orthodox
Archdiocesan District of Sierra
Leone.
On
being notified of the award of
Kastellorizian of the Year
(KOY), Freda said that it is an
amazing honour and she feels
very humbled. She said: “A
life without advocating for
change is a life without meaning
for me, and I will continue to
use my voice to create a
world where leadership is
shared, where difference is
celebrated and where each half
of humanity respects and
embraces each other. There
is growing consciousness from
governments and business alike
that investing in women and
girls has a multiplier effect on
productivity, efficiency and
sustained economic growth.
My career highlights my pursuit
in seeking equality and
opportunities for all – and if
opportunity doesn’t knock, I’ll
build the door!”
Freda
more than meets the three main
criteria for the KOY award –
must be of Kastellorizian
descent; must have demonstrated
excellence in a field of
endeavour and/or made an
outstanding contribution to the
Kastellorizian, Greek and/or
Australian community; and must
be an inspirational role model
for Kastellorizians.
Freda
was born in Melbourne to
Constantine and Marika (nee
Maniatis) Miriklis. Her
father Constantine was born in
Melbourne and her grandparents,
Nikolas and Kerasia (nee
H’Kominou) Miriklis, were born
on Kastellorizo. She
is married to Andrew Christy.
She has three siblings –
Nicholas, Stephen, and Cherrie
(the well-known proprietor of
Flowers Vasette).
Background:
Freda Miriklis serves
on a number of boards and is a
leader of international
consortia creating commercial
partnerships and supporting
world leaders and CEOs to
promote equality and sustainable
economic opportunities at a
global level.
In 2014, Freda
co-founded Commonwealth
Businesswomen’s Network (in
London, UK) - the only
accredited organisation focused
on women’s economic empowerment,
recognised by 53 governments
across five continents; and
serves as Chair. She is Special
Adviser to the TX Foundation - a
private philanthropic foundation
that she helped establish in
2016 bringing transformative
change to vulnerable communities
around the world by funding the
construction of schools.
She also serves on the board of
The Hellenic Initiative (THI)
Australia uniting and empowering
Greek Australians and
Philhellenes to work together
supporting Greece’s economic
recovery and renewal with
far-reaching programs making a
lasting impact on Greek society.
For over a decade
earlier, Freda held various
leadership roles with the
International Federation of
Business and Professional Women
(IFBPW), becoming the youngest
elected President in Helsinki,
Finland,
and one of
only 4 Australian members to
have held this highest office in
BPW globally, since 1930. She
was an architect and driver of
cultural change, policies and
programs to improve the status
of women and a main
representative to the United
Nations forums on human rights
and women’s rights.
In 2014, Freda oversaw
IFBPW’s inaugural Sustainability
Report and presided over the 28th
Congress in Jeju, South Korea.
She
contributed to the first
International Organisation of
Employers (IOE)
Policy Brief
on Women's Economic Empowerment
and invited to
address the ECOSOC Chamber on a
high-level event focused on the
contributions of women, the
young and civil society to the
Post 2015 Development Agenda.
Prior to this, Freda spent two
decades in progressively senior
investment advisory roles in
Australia’s wealth management
sector and a frequent market
commentator.
A recognised authority
on women’s economic empowerment,
Freda was invited to join the UN
Women’s Empowerment Principles
Leadership Group (WEPs LG) in
New York and serves on this
international advisory
committee, since 2010.
Freda designed and implemented
the first Australian private
sector consultation to inform
the UN Secretary General’s High
Level Panel on Women’s Economic
Empowerment in 2017 and led
the Australian corporate
consultation and pilot of
The UN Women's Empowerment
Principles Gap Analysis Tool
(WEPs Tool) that helps companies
identify strengths, gaps, and
opportunities to improve their
performance on gender equality.
Freda’s achievements
were further recognised in 2016
by BPW Australia when she was
bestowed Life Membership and
honoured by the “Freda
Miriklis Women’s Empowerment
Award” that acknowledges an
Australian woman who has
excelled in advancing women’s
empowerment biennially.
Freda
is in great demand as a speaker.
Last year she spoke
at the Hellenic Australian Chamber of
Commerce and Industry (HACCI) at
its annual International Women’s
Day event.
Since
returning to Australia, Freda
consults to various
organisations mainly talking
about the human experience of
leading and championing a new
wave of leadership for the
future of work.
Freda
speaks
on a wide range of topics.
Her
tag line
is “Own the mission”. She
speaks about what fuels the
passion
and greater
purpose in each of us to perform
at our best. Having a sense of
purpose inspires individuals,
teams, companies and countries.
She says it is the imperfections
of the past that teach us to
strive for a better future.
For
the past few decades Freda has
spoken on many international
stages ranging from UN High
Level Meetings in New York and
Geneva, The World Forum in The
Hague, APEC meetings,
Commonwealth related forums
(including CHOGM, Business
Forums, Women’s Forums and
Ministerial meetings) to leading
grass-roots community
consultations in developing
countries.
Photo from Left: Chris Dolkas,
Fotini Kypraios and
Freda Miriklis at the HAACI
event in 2018.