On Wednesday, 4 June 2025, the Cairns Convention Centre hosted the Diversify & Employ Global Talent Symposium — a vibrant event bringing together industry leaders, employers, education providers, and government representatives. Organised by Study Cairns, the symposium featured a stellar lineup of guest speakers and facilitators, all dedicated to empowering international students with insights, career pathways, and meaningful connections.

Among the keynote speakers was Vlasta Eriksson, CEO of Signature Staff, who captivated nearly 100 international students with her powerful session, “Turning Challenges into Opportunities – The Power of Resilience.” Sharing her personal journey, Vlasta took the audience back to 1985 when, at the age of 15, she and her family fled Czechoslovakia for a new life in Australia. Without knowing the language and starting from scratch, her story resonated with many in the room. “If you were with me in July 1985,” Vlasta recalled with a smile, “you’d be standing in an Italian restaurant, hearing a young blonde girl say, ‘Welcome to Fasta Pasta, this is Vlasta speaking!’” That teenager, with perseverance and purpose, would later go on to establish Signature Staff, helping over 20,000 people find meaningful employment.

Vlasta also shared three key principles — the “three S’s” — for students to carry into their education, careers, and lives:

• Spirit: The inner resilience and courage to keep going, especially when it’s hard.
• Strength: Gained through adapting and pushing forward no matter the obstacles.
• Self: Prioritising self-care to become the best version of yourself and positively impact others.

Suha McCartney, Executive Officer of Study Cairns, praised the session:
“Your session was truly exceptional, and the positive feedback I’ve personally received has been fantastic — students were highly engaged and thoroughly enjoyed your insights. Your authenticity and practical advice resonated deeply with them and left a lasting impression.”

The event also featured inspiring sessions from other remarkable speakers:

• Lesley Buckman – Stand Out, Step Forward
• Shweta Goyal – Chaos to Clarity: Unlocking Emotional Intelligence

In the Industry and Education Focus stream, presentations included:

• MP Bree James
• Educational institutions such as CQU, JCU, TAFE QLD, Union Institute of Language, and CCEB
• Industry representatives from Cairns Convention Centre, Advance Cairns, Accor, ARC Disability Services, and JCU
• George Veneris, sharing insights into the Australian migration system

This symposium was a valuable opportunity to exchange ideas, inspire future professionals, and explore work and migration pathways in Australia. Signature Staff is proud to have been part of such a dynamic and meaningful event, continuing its mission to connect talent with opportunity and support the next generation of global professionals.