Lawyer named as Change Our Game ambassador
Molina Asthana, a Melbourne-based lawyer, advocate, and board director, has been named as an ambassador for the Victorian state government’s Change Our Game initiative.
The Andrews Labor government has appointed eight Change Our Game ambassadors who will be tasked with shining a light on issues including accessibility of sport for women with a disability, to more opportunities for First Nations and culturally diverse women in sport, and beyond.
The announcement coincided, the state government pointed out, with the release of the Change Our Game State of Play Survey Report, which showed that while there are increasingly positive attitudes towards women and girls in sport and their right to equal opportunities and access, more change is needed to shift underlying attitudes and behaviours.
Molina Asthana (pictured), who is a principal at Swarup Asthana Lawyers and Business Advisors, was named as one of the eight ambassadors.
Ms Asthana is also a council member at the Law Institute of Victoria, national president of the Asian Australian Lawyers Association, chair of Gymnastics Victoria, and board director at Good Shepherd (Australia and New Zealand), AMES Australia, and Table Tennis Victoria.
She has also previously served as a principal solicitor at the Victorian Government Solicitor’s Office and as an associate at BigLaw firm MinterEllison.
The other ambassadors named are Carol Cooke AM PLY, Elle Steele PLY, Gabby Seymour, Jacara Egan, Melissa Hale, Rana Hussain, and Rita Nehme.
Victorian Minister for Community Sport Ros Spence said: “These eight ambassadors will be vital in advocating for equal opportunities for all women and girls.
“Gender equality in the sports movement continues to accelerate, and I look forward to seeing what we can achieve together.”
Speaking about her appointment, Ms Asthana said: “I am very excited to be appointed a Change Our Game ambassador, and I look forward to using this platform to champion for greater diversity in sport.
“Sport has great benefits for women, especially from diverse backgrounds; it provides confidence, strength of mind and body and can help to create a sense of belonging and community.”
The Office for Women in Sport and Recreation was the “first of its kind in Australia and delivers nation-leading” policy, advocacy, research, and education in pursuit of gender equality, the Victorian government said in a statement.

Jerome Doraisamy
Jerome Doraisamy is the managing editor of Lawyers Weekly and HR Leader. He is also the author of The Wellness Doctrines book series, an admitted solicitor in New South Wales, and a board director of the Minds Count Foundation.
You can email Jerome at: