1. My inspiration for being a connector – Victoria’s first women Premier, Hon. Joan Kirner, AM, and one of my first bosses
BEING A CONNECTOR – Hutch Hussein, BSL

2. SOMEONE ALWAYS KNOWS SOMEONE!

3. ACHIEVEMENTS – Professional & Personal
Political Campaigns
Professional & Personal connections
Personal Match-making
Policy Reform - Abortion Law Reform Case Study
ACHIEVEMENTS – Professional & Personal

4. CASE STUDY - Abortion Law Reform

5. KEY ADVOCACY PRINCIPLES United voice & common middle ground
1. One crucial first principle is to present as united a voice as possible to Government on your key demands.
2. Ensure you have a wide a base as possible for support as you can across interests, across agencies and across organisations.

6. United voice & common middle ground
EXAMPLE : Executive Director of Women’s Health Victoria, Marilyn Beaumont, today announced that a growing number of organisations are throwing their support behind Model C, one of 3 models outlined in the Victorian Law Reform Commission Report into the decriminalisation of abortion.
“These highly regarded organisations have carefully considered each model
and come to the unanimous conclusion that Model C is the only model to
support the freedom and autonomy of women for the duration of their
pregnancy,” said Ms Beaumont.
Signatories to the statement below include Women’s Health Services from
across Victoria, VCOSS, The Royal Women’s Hospital, Liberty Victoria, Robert
Richter QC and the Health Services Commissioner, Beth Wilson.

7. Network across the state/country depending on whether it is a state/federal issue

8. 4. Settle on 5/10 key points and every organisation includes these amongst their other specialist issues.
EXAMPLE: Abortion Law Reform – Women’s Health Victoria, Pro-Choice Victoria, EMILY’s List and various other women’s organisations sent a consistent message about people lobbying their MPs and the Government about the eventual bill featuring 3 main components
We support the decriminalisation of abortion in Victoria in a way that is consistent with the
Government’s Terms of Reference for the Victorian Law Reform Commission. This will:
• modernise and clarify the law,
• reflect current community standards and
• not alter current clinical practice.
5. Strength in unity of a common voice across organisations - which demonstrably represented women of all social classes and demographic backgrounds, convinced the Govt that they had to listen to what the people wanted.

9. DECRIMINALISATION OF ABORTION
The
DECRIMINALISATION OF ABORTION
represented the sector identifying the existing social need that the Govt. was refusing to acknowledge
……….
Eventually leading us to the point of
<-THIS HEADLINE

10. ENCOURAGING OTHERS TO BE GOOD CONNECTORS
Ask for HELP - Don’t be afraid to tap into your networks OR your friend’s/ colleagues networks
Mentoring around how to network/ build alliances
Role model, using my role to bring others together to expand
their networks and provide
opportunities for networking
ENCOURAGING OTHERS TO BE GOOD CONNECTORS

11. TIPS FOR BEING A GOOD CONNECTOR
Ask for people’s business card and maintain your address book and transfer it from job to job – ICT help!
Connect up with new acquaintances on LinkedIn – QR code
If you don’t know, ask colleague/friend, tap into the hivemind of your friendship networks – via Facebook, Twitter, org/ sector , Linked In
Think back – school/uni, mother’s groups, first/subsequent jobs, groups who’ve been involved in
Remember, Melbourne is 1 degree of separation!
TIPS FOR BEING A GOOD CONNECTOR

12. YOU CAN STILL GET GOOD AT IT!
WHEN A KID GROWS UP, HE HAS TO BE SOMETHING.
BUT A TIGER GROWS UP AND STAYS A TIGER.
WHY IS THAT?
NO ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT
OF ALL THE LUCK, MY PARENTS HAD TO BE HUMANS.
DON’T TAKE IT TOO HARD. HUMANS PROVIDE SOME VERY IMPORTANT PROTEIN.
HE CAN’T JUST STAY THE WAY
HE IS.
YOU CAN STILL GET GOOD AT IT!

13. Senior Manager, Diversity Unit Brotherhood of St Laurence
Hutch Hussein
Senior Manager, Diversity Unit
Brotherhood of St Laurence
Find me on LinkedIn and or
Cross-Cultural Training
ASK PEOPLE FOR THEIR DETAILS & PLUG!