Headmaster Mr Michael Blake welcomed Arabella Gibson, CEO of Gidget Foundation Australia, as our guest speaker at our International Women’s Day Assembly, held on 13 March 2025.
Gidget Foundation is a national not-for-profit organisation that supports the mental health of expectant, new and potential parents, along with their families.
Ms Gibson has a wealth of experience, having worked extensively in media and executive leadership across both small businesses and publicly listed companies in Australia and the UK. She is a CEO, Board Director, Advisory Group Member, Business Award winner and, above all, a mother to teenage children.
In the following speech, Ms Gibson shares why she is so passionate about supporting women, reflects on her career and leadership journey, and offers insights drawn from both her professional path and personal experience.
”As the next generation of young men, you have the opportunity to help break down barriers, whether they be social, economic or cultural, which may hold women and girls back.”
ARABELLA GIBSON, CEO, GIDGET FOUNDATION AUSTRALIA
Speech:
“Thank you, Mr Blake. Good morning, everyone! Thank you for inviting me here today. It’s an honour to be part of this assembly as we mark International Women’s Day. The United Nations’ theme ‘For all women and girls: Rights. Equality. Empowerment’ is a powerful call for all of us to advocate for the rights of women and girls around the world. It reminds us that every woman and girl, no matter where they come from, deserves to live freely, with equal opportunities and the power to shape their own future. Marching forward for all women and girls, to me, means ensuring that all our voices are heard, our faces are seen, our experiences are validated.
“As the next generation of young men, you have the opportunity to help break down barriers, whether they be social, economic, or cultural, which may hold women and girls back – people like your sisters, your mum, your cousins and your own future children. By supporting their rights, advocating for equality, and empowering them to lead, we help build a world where women and girls can reach their full potential. This is not just an issue for women, but for all of us, because when women and girls thrive, our whole society benefits
“You all have an incredible grounding here at Joeys, with the Marist ethos encouraging you to contribute to a more just and equitable society. So, I have no doubt you’ll be advocates for the advancement of women now and into the future.
“The advancement of women is something I am particularly passionate about. I’m fortunate to have been given several opportunities in my own career and now am able to pay that forward to support women and encourage them to pursue their ambitions and achieve their own goals.
”Some of these ways include: Leading a 97% female team (don’t you feel for the 3%!), with 64% of these employees working part-time so they can manage family commitments.
“I’m also a proud Board Member of Future Women (to help women and gender diverse people find work, support them in advancing their careers and train men to be better allies), and Motherland (a charity that supports and connects rural mothers across the country to reduce isolation and improve their mental health). Two organisations doing wonderful work to enable women to thrive.
“And of course, the support Gidget Foundation Australia provides to expectant, new and potential mums to help them thrive rather than just survive.
“My personal driver is knowing that the work we do now in educating and advocating for the emotional wellbeing of new parents will help to shape the next generation and hopefully make change to reduce mental ill-health amongst the community
“When I was asked to speak about my leadership journey, it made me sit back and reflect. It honestly doesn’t feel like it was that long ago that I was sitting where you are now— listening to guest speakers and wondering what the future held for me. After finishing school, I went on to study at the University of Technology and graduated with a Masters in Communication Management. While that degree gave me a great foundation, I quickly realised it wasn’t enough on its own to push my career forward. What truly made a difference was attitude, resilience, problem-solving skills, and, above all, hard work. There’s no shortcut to success—it’s the effort you put in that counts.
“My early career included being the General Manager of Australia’s best PR firm at that time, Head of Marketing & Sales for RM Williams (which I can see is a popular brand at Joeys…nice boots Mr Blake!!), and then onto Director of Communications for Australian media company Nine Entertainment Co as well as Channel 9 and ARE Media.
“I then headed overseas to the UK, and had an amazing time, and became the General Manager of iSUBSCRiBE, an online magazine subscription business, based in London. While I was in the UK, we started our family and I was lucky enough after significant IVF intervention to fall pregnant with twins and when they arrived, this was by far the most demanding job I had ever had!
“When we returned to Australia and my children started school, I knew I wanted to re-enter the workforce. As much as I had loved my career up until that point, I realised it wasn’t suitable for raising a young family. Then, by chance, I heard that Gidget Foundation Australia was looking for a CEO, so I applied, went through an independent selection process, and here I am. I had the privilege of knowing Gidget and her family, so from day one, this role felt like much more than a job to me. While I didn’t have experience in the not-for-profit sector, I knew many of my skills were transferable. I also believe that with the right intent and the right people by your side, there’s nothing you can’t achieve.
“Surround yourself with good people who not only have complementary skills to you, but who will challenge your thinking and work with you to achieve more than you could have ever dreamed of. We are stronger together.”
ARABELLA GIBSON, CEO, GIDGET FOUNDATION AUSTRALIA
“I’m proud to stand here today as the CEO of Gidget Foundation Australia, continuing the legacy of our beautiful Gidget. I lead the most incredible and dedicated team, supported by our Chair (and also a Joeys Mum), Simone Short and our wider Board. We are focused on supporting the mental health of expectant, new and potential mums and dads. When I began at the Foundation eight years ago, we had just opened our second Gidget House and now we have 34 clinics around the country with more to come plus our telehealth service to support people in regional and rural areas (I know a number of you hail from the regions, and we’re committed to ensuring mums and dads in these areas can receive the same service as those in the city). We have facilitated 96,000 appointments since inception and most importantly have shone a bright light on the importance of perinatal mental health. While these stats are incredible, the reality is there are still families that need support, and waitlists that our team manages daily. We’ve come so far but have a long way to go, which is why support from Joeys and your community, is critical to enable us to help even more families when they need us most.
“So, as I reflect on my journey, my current role as CEO and my career to date, I thought I’d share some things I’ve learnt. If there’s something in here that resonates with you, and you can take and use in your life, then please do.
- Education and skills are important in any career, though nothing will replace a good attitude and a growth mindset. It’s key.
- While the world is all about efficiencies (as am I) there is no escaping hard work, especially in the early part of your career. Give it your all.
- Surround yourself with good people who not only have complementary skills to you, but who will challenge your thinking and work with you to achieve more than you could have ever dreamed of. We are stronger together.
- As a leader, you won’t have all the answers. It’s about being humble enough to put your hand up and ask the question or be open to deferring to someone else who knows more than you in that area. Seeking help isn’t a weakness, but a strength.
- Leadership is earned through actions, not titles. While being the CEO will open doors, the way you conduct yourself will be the thing that earns you the respect of your team and those you interact with.
- Being a leader often means speaking up, even when your stance or decision might be unpopular. If you are guided by values (both yours and the organisations), it’s a good north star. It’s about being comfortable with not always being the most popular person in the room for the greater good of the organisation.
- Finally, don’t get disheartened by hearing ‘no’. It is a chance to rethink your approach/offer and try again. It’s a temporary setback and part of the journey to ‘yes’. Don’t give up!
“It’s been a privilege to have the opportunity to talk to you all, a group of incredible young men, as we mark International Women’s Day. In essence, it isn’t about prioritising one gender over another, instead it’s about encouraging and advocating for each other, recognising what can be achieved when we all work together.
“In closing, I’d like to challenge you to think about how you can play a part in making the world a more equitable place. This doesn’t start when you begin working, it starts today, as remember, leadership isn’t about a title, it’s about actions.
“Thank you for your time and ongoing support that Joeys provides to Gidget Foundation Australia and continue to strive to be active citizens who contribute to building a better world through service and leadership. Thank you for having me.”
International Women’s Day Assembly – 13 March 2025
