Diana Nguyen: Shining a Light on Inclusion
By Asialink, The University of Melbourne
“If you have a dream, please go and take it and grab it with joy”, says Vietnamese-Australian actor, comedian and writer, Diana Nguyen.
Nguyen was yesterday named the overall winner of the 2021 40 Under 40 Most Influential Asian-Australian Awards, for her creativity and humour in shining a light on inclusion and diversity in contemporary Australia.
Making Australia's Vietnamese community more visible — and celebrating her heritage — has been an ongoing project for Nguyen.
The COVID-19 pandemic has brought on challenges for many multicultural Australian communities, who have been amonghst the hardest hit.
But in a period of particular upheaval for artists and entertainers, Nguyen’s renowned web series — Phi and Me — and podcast platforms including The SnortCast, have had deep national resonance.
“Put your hand up and be seen. Put your hand up to be visible. It is your responsibility to be seen, to share your story, your work. So that we are not hidden,” Nguyen says whilst accepting her award.
Read more on her remarkable story in this profile by ABC Today:
https://www.abc.net.au/everyday/diana-nguyen-message-for-asian-australians-in-the-arts/100424216
The 40 Under 40 Most Influential Asian-Australian Awards — now in their third year — are an initiative of the Asian-Australian Leadership Summit, co-convened by Asialink, Johnson Partners, PwC Australia and the Centre for Asian-Australian Leadership at the Australian National University. The Awards confront the serious under-representation of Asian-Australians in senior leadership positions across Australia’s public institutions and private sector corporations by recognising the extraordinary achievements and accomplishments of Asian-Australians aged 40 years and younger in a variety of fields including the public service, corporate and entrepreneurship, sport, science and medicine, education and the arts, legal and professional services, not-for-profit and community advocacy.
This year, we are pleased to work with the ABC, as the media partner for the Awards, to elevate and share these remarkable leadership stories with the nation and across the region.
Banner image: Diana Nguyen. Credit: Ksenia Belova.