Reflections on the RISE Program: Building Pathways, Confidence and Allyship
Since June 2024 Navitas has participated in the Diversity Council of Australia’s RISE Project – an evidence-based initiative designed to uncover and address systemic barriers faced by Culturally and Racially Marginalised (CARM) women in the workplace.
RISE is more than a program; it’s a movement. It helps organisations reflect on structures and practices while investing deeply in participants’ growth. Through workshops, coaching, and leadership development, RISE empowers women in middle management to build networks, strengthen soft skills, and create personalised career development plans.
Nine Australia-based Navitas employees identifying as CARM women have completed the program.
A representative group of participants shared their experiences with our leadership team in February this year, sparking honest conversations and highlighting opportunities for change. This led to the creation of a working group to develop an Action Plan aimed at breaking down barriers and fostering inclusion.
In November 2025 two working group members and RISE participants, Linda Anwia and Vikki Wang, presented key learnings and a draft Action Plan to Australian members of the Executive Leadership Team—a milestone moment that amplified the voices and leadership potential of CARM women across Navitas.
The action plan is informed by five key learnings arising from our participation in the RISE program:
- Safe spaces drive honest conversations – forums for CARM women colleagues foster learning and trust.
- Capability-building for managers is essential – anti-racism and inclusive leadership training must be ongoing.
- Mentoring and sponsorship matter – they open doors that hard work alone cannot.
- Language shapes impact – inclusive, solutions-focused language creates safe spaces.
- Community creates strength – collective effort builds networks that last beyond programs.
We are committed to learning from the RISE participants, embedding changes and measuring progress over the next year to ensure meaningful, sustainable impact.
Personal reflections
Linda Anwia
“When I joined RISE, I saw an opportunity to grow – and to lead change. For the first time, a program valued the strengths that come from navigating life as a refugee woman: adaptability, persistence, and leadership that challenges expectations.
Sharing my story with the Executive Leadership Team was a defining moment. I spoke openly about the assumptions placed on refugee women and how I’ve turned barriers into stepping stones.
Leading focus groups to create Navitas’ Action Plan felt powerful. We built a community rooted in awareness, space, and confidence. RISE gave me more than tools—it gave me a platform to speak truth to power.”