Dr Mimi Tang: “There is a tendency for us to seek perfection before we speak”

Dr Mimi Tang is a Paediatric Allergist Immunologist based in Melbourne. In this interview with University of Melbourne Vice-Chancellor’s Fellow Ali Moore in the lead-up to the Asian-Australian Leadership Summit, she explains that throughout her school years she was very quiet.

“There were lots of things going on in my head - it wasn’t blankness. But you might have thought there was nothing happening.”

It was only after completing her medical degree and beginning her specialisation that she realised the transition in communication that she had to make in order to progress in her career.

The Asian-Australian Leadership Summit (AALS) is aimed at putting cultural diversity firmly on the agenda. The two day national summit will look at why Australia has relatively few Asian Australians in senior leadership positions, and what needs to happen to break through the so-called “bamboo ceiling.”

Hosted at the State Library of Victoria, the AALS will bring together senior industry leaders, early and mid-career professionals, and key partners to create momentum for change, with the ultimate goal of greater representation of Asian-Australians across the country.

The AALS comprises the Summit on Friday 13 September, as well as a NextGen event for young Asian-Australians, and a gala dinner to announce the “40 Under 40: Most Influential Asian-Australians” Awards on Thursday 12 September. The AALS is an initiative of Asialink, PwC and the Australian National University.

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