2025 Canberra Citizen of the Year

Admit it, we’ve all been there – stalking social media and LinkedIn profiles, trying desperately to figure out how the hell someone got their dream job.

It seems impossible and yet there they are, living out your career fantasy (minus the itchy business suit). It might seem hard to believe, but once upon a time, they were also fantasising about their future career, and with some hard work, they made it.

Welcome to How I Got Here, HerCanberra’s series that reveals everything you want to know about the secrets of career success. As the founder and CEO of the Women’s Shed, Sunita Kotnala has been empowering local women since 2020. Recently named the 2025 Citizen of the Year, we sat down with her to find out what inspires her, drives her and how she created the ACT’s first and only women’s shed.

Existential crisis time: Who are you and what do you do?

I am the founder and CEO of the Women’s Shed Canberra Inc. It is ACT’s first and only women’s shed. I am not a tradeswoman, although I know now that I would’ve loved being one had there been an option for me when growing up.  I am a Master of Social Work (MSW) by profession and came to Australia on a skilled migrant visa 25 years ago. The Women’s Shed is the result of my love for ‘kerb-side shopping’ restoring, refurbishing, upcycling combined with my experience, knowledge and skills as a social development professional.

Let’s go back to when you were a kid, have you always dreamed of working in this industry?

Having a career never occurred to me, let alone one in trades, when I was growing up in India, and living in remote colonial houses that came with my father’s job. We moved every three years and most of my afternoons were spent chasing peacocks, playing with scorpions, climbing trees, hiding in bushes, soaking my feet in henna leaves and daydreaming about flying away to faraway lands. What I remember most is getting sad and agitated about the inequality around me. The gross disparities between the haves and the have-nots filled me with a sense of injustice and wanting to change things. The resolve to ending inequality propelled me towards the social work profession. I went on to work in different capacities in community development, domestic violence, child protection, homelessness (particularly youth homelessness), multicultural policing, gender equality, international development and now women in trades.

Tell us about when you were first starting out, what set a fire in your belly to get here and how did you do it?

Having first moved to Canberra at the beginning of 2020 when COVID19 was starting, I initially felt isolated like so many others. I looked for a women’s shed as I had fond memories of the Blacktown Women’s Shed where Supporting and Linking Tradeswomen (SALT) were running ‘Introduction to Power Tools’ courses. Attending that session changed my approach to refurbishing and restoring furniture. It was the precursor to starting the women’s shed when I found no similar space in Canberra.

My resolve to work in social development was ignited by the exploitation of the traditional dhurrie (rug) makers by the middlemen. I wanted to organise a weaver’s cooperative like the Amul (Anand Milk Union Ltd.) India, which transformed the dairy industry nationwide. That did not eventuate as my father was transferred out of the town where the weaver communities existed. It was not possible to commence social change without having social support. I did however, go on to work in social development including UN committee work, contributing to the Sustainable Development Goals Agenda 2030.

Recall a time when you wanted to chuck it all in; what did you tell yourself when it got too hard?

When I am faced with challenges in my work and life, I repeat “Tomorrow is another day Sunita” a few times. It is a take on what Scarlett O’Hara, the heroine of the book Gone With The Wind says whenever she finds herself in a tight bind. I read the book in Year 10 and it has been my mantra ever since. It is amazing that no matter how challenging one day is, the next day can be totally amazing.

What was your biggest break?

I guess moving to Canberra, meeting my partner and starting the Women’s Shed! This is one of the best jobs I have ever had, even though to date I remain in an unpaid position. It is a passion project, and I feel the same joy, worry and sense of achievement that I do looking at my two lovely daughters Gayatri and Yashi. They do me proud, as does the Women’s Shed Canberra. I am so thankful to have wonderful facilitators, contractors, supporters, members and the community that are associated with the women’s shed.

What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever received?

My former colleague and co-founder Robbie McGarvey was fond of saying “It is always a yes till a definite no” when we were starting up and chasing grants. It kept me going and resonates even now when I am waiting to hear back about a decision.

What is it about your industry that you love and what makes you want to pull your hair out?

I find the social work profession in Australia to be far more conservative than in India, including the way social enterprises are defined and supported. There is a heavy reliance in Australia on welfare and grants, whereas I prefer to follow the model of social business and micro-finance pioneered by 2006 Nobel Laureate Mohammed Yunus (current President of Bangladesh) through the Grameen Bank. The field of women in trade and construction is new to me. In Australia, women represent only two per cent of workforce in the construction industry, compared to 13 per cent in Canada! I aim to use my experience in social development towards creating more pathways for empowerment and representation of women in this area.

What are the challenges you face running a charity? 

The Women’s Shed Canberra is a social enterprise, and we want to achieve financial self-sustainability; however before getting to that stage, we need funding to cover initial capital expenditure costs. In addition to that, one of our big challenges is finding more tradeswomen and men to facilitate sessions for the ever-increasing demand. We continue to be Canberra’s most inexpensive skills-based recreation activity and will appreciate financial and in-kind support for FY25 and trades persons to work with us for a couple of hours a week. We are in urgent need of upholsterers and furniture restorers.

Tell us how you ‘stay in the know’, what media do you consume?

I hear SBS evening news regularly, read online editions of newspapers, look at world news and read all online and print media in Canberra, including Her Canberra. Most of my social media activity is related to the Women’s Shed Canberra Facebook page, Instagram and LinkedIn, especially since winning the Canberra Citizen of the Year 2025. I watch House Hunters International on YouTube – love it!

Where do you see yourself in five years?

I see the Women’s Shed Canberra growing into a full and valued participant in Canberra’s circular economy. In five years, I see myself stepping back and being a chair with a good CEO running the show while I pursue other dreams like learning to fly.  Succession planning is critical to ensure the social enterprise can flourish and continue to grow. It is my belief that the women’s sheds as social enterprises have the capacity to create a microenvironment for greater participation of women in trades by providing opportunities for them to try a trade before committing four years towards a course.

Why should people follow in your footsteps?

It is very fulfilling to see communities flourish with a small change or introduction of a new element. I have been blessed with a very interesting life, living across two continents that are very different socially and economically. I wish others to believe in their dreams, hopes and tread the paths unknown with confidence and a sense of adventure. In my case I followed my brothers to Australia without having previously visited the country. Makes life much more fun and rewarding!

What advice would you give your past self?

All your daydreams will become a reality. Don’t ever give up your sense of wonderment and self-belief. There will be more love and joy for every tear you shed or hurt you feel, so revel in the circle of family and friends, and embrace warmly the strangers and well-wishers who join in your journey. Keep dreaming.