2024 Women to Watch
This year we showcase over 80 South Australian women to watch throughout the year. From business, to careers, arts to science. This year’s selected women highlight the depth and diversity of the women in our state and also the vast array of opportunities to develop a business or career in South Australia. Find our more about our inaugural Women to Watch initiative here.
Alison established Living Stories, to pursue her passion for telling stories. Her professional experience has given her a deep understanding of communications and the media from many perspectives.
She started her journalistic career as a cadet journalist with the ABC in 1989. She worked in NSW, Victoria and South Australia as a journalist and broadcaster for 12 years, on regional and metropolitan radio. Alison worked as media adviser to Natasha Stott Despoja from November 2000 becoming her chief media adviser when Natasha was elected leader of the Australian Democrats in April 2001. She wrote a book about the experience called “The Natasha Factor: Politics, Media and Betrayal”.
Before establishing Living Stories, she worked with leading Adelaide PR and Marketing Agency communikate et al as PR Manager and Director (2002-2010). Alison believes that some of the most intriguing stories may never be heard because sometimes the right questions aren’t asked. She uses her experience as a journalist to collaborate with the interviewee to tell their story.
// Favourite inspirational quote
“The most basic and powerful way to connect with another person is to listen. Just listen. Perhaps the most important thing we ever give each other is our attention.” Rachel Naomi Remen
// Let’s get to know you
I have always loved stories and storytelling, but when I left school, I had no idea what I wanted to do. I was studying politics and history at Adelaide Uni when I got heavily involved in the student newspaper On Dit. I got bitten by the journalism bug. I switched to study journalism at Uni SA and gained a cadetship with the ABC in Adelaide in radio news.
I loved working as a journalist and over time became a radio broadcaster. This really sharpens your interview skills, interviewing live to air while you have an audience of many thousands listening. I was hosting the ABC Drive program for regional Victoria and Southern NSW when I was offered the opportunity to return to Adelaide to host the drivetime shift on metropolitan ABC.
Fast forward a few years and I was offered the extraordinary opportunity of working as media advisor to Senator Natasha Stott Despoja, who was then the Deputy leader of the Australian Democrats. Six months later she became leader of the party, and I was her chief major advisor. I had a brutal lesson in politics and being on the “other side” of the media. As a media advisor you are permanently on call with some journalists having no hesitation to call at 1am in the morning if they see a story online they want to follow up. This experience influenced me a great deal in my approach to storytelling. After Natasha resigned as leader, I wrote a book to make sense of what happened. Many people asked me afterwards what happened? Natasha was popular and well liked – why did it go so wrong? It was called “The Natasha Factor: Politics, Media and Betrayal” (Lothian Books).
Whilst writing, I also worked at marketing and communications agency, communikate et al, for a number of years learning much about telling stories on behalf of clients. In 2009, I spoke with a man who ran nursing homes. He said he often attended funerals, not that surprising really. But what got my attention, was how often the son or daughter of the person who had died would talk to him about what they’d discovered since their Mum or dad died and how they wished they’d asked more questions.
I immediately had an idea – what if I interviewed people about their lives, filming and collaborating with them to create a story of their life? Including family interviews, photos resulting in a personal documentary that’s a timeless character portrait and importantly a conversation starter.
Living Stories was established in 2010 in the spare bedroom of our home. 14 years later we have offices in Port Adelaide. We take enormous pride in our work. The mission of the business is to connect people through stories. I believe that a well told personal story can help build a bridge between generations and cultures. If people have the opportunity to walk in someone else’s shoes through hearing a personal story it can completely shift perspectives.
Mentoring has always been important to me and something I really enjoy. We offer paid opportunities to film making graduates who are trying to get their foot in the door in an extremely competitive industry. Living Stories has assisted several young editors and camera people to gain valuable experience before they go on to have careers in the film industry.
// What makes you a Woman to Watch for 2024?
My mission is to spread the word of the value of sharing stories and storytelling in general. I’m passionate about the power of the story, it can lead to open, honest and deeper conversations. This is vital at a time where increasingly people are polarised and tend to live in their own echo chambers thanks, in no small part, to social media. I’m a huge believer in respecting differences as well as celebrating what we have in common. I will always be a passionate advocate for increasing understanding and empathy of others through sensitive and respectful storytelling.
// What are you most looking forward to in 2024?
I’m looking forward to working for a larger organisation as well as working on Living Stories. I believe that by taking a step back it will allow me to work on the business to ensure that it continues to work sustainably and successfully. I will be working with advisors, colleagues and my Advisory Board to navigate ways through what is an incredibly tough time to be running a small business making documentary films.
// What would being a 2024 Woman to Watch mean to you?
It would be a huge honour and it would help me to highlight the importance of having these conversations sharing stories that help to connect people. It’s my passion, this is what I love doing, and I think the world would be a much better place if we all took time to do it.
// What would you like to see for the future of South Australian women and girls?
I would like to see equality for women and girls so that they have the same opprtunities that males experience. I would like to see enough resources and systems in place that women can be safe if their partners become abusive. I would like to see more men taking responsibility for the conversation about violence against women.
Equal representation in our political system. I would like to see women being in positions of power without it being a novelty or being remarked upon. I would like to see a woman be Prime Minister without her sex being remarked upon. I would like to see the media treat women with respect and not focus on appearance.
I would like women to be recognised and celebrated for the extraordinary range of skills that they have as mothers, as daughters, as aunts, as mentors, as employers, as employees, and as leaders.
Get in touch with Alison:
LinkedIn: Alison Rogers
Website: www.livingstories.net.au
Check out all of the incredible Women to Watch for 2024 here as their profiles are uploaded throughout the year.
To become an SA Woman Member, check out our Membership Options here.
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