When you give work to women, whole communities benefit. 



If you love real life stories — you will love my conversation with Anna. I could talk to her all day about her experiences in life. Between herself and her husband Sir Ray Avery they have experienced desperation and inspiration and everything in between in their life’s work. 



Coming from a Greek background, growing up in Australia, Anna has now settled in Auckland with her husband and daughters. But that’s only after extensive travel, living and working throughout the Pacific and SouthEast Asia, including Sri Lanka and Nepal.

From her current Auckland base she runs her gorgeous brand Kasmiri, https:www.kasmiri.co.nz (Nepali word for Cashmere).



During New Zealand’s  first lock down like so many of us, Anna decluttered her wardrobe and found her cashmere scarves and pashminas from her travels in Nepal as far back as 1999. 



Immediately bringing back memories and stories of the women who weaved them, she re-ignited her curiosity about these beautiful garments.



Wondering what had happened to these women in the intervening years,  her mother ’randomly’ found a receipt from Anna’s time there in Nepal and she managed to track down these very women. The shop was not as large as it was previously as commerciality has nearly threatened the handwoven artistry out of business. In Nepal there are not many employment opportunities for women, so she wanted to change that. So, Kasmiri was born. 



In Anna’s perspective - business needs to have the people at the centre! Kasmiri donates profits to help provide education for girls in Nepal. Nepal has a huge trafficking problem so this helps stop the desperation that can start this cycle. As we know when you employ women, the whole family benefits. 



Her business gives women as opportunity to do what they intrinsically do:

- Preserve traditional skills

- Be paid fair wages

- Provide education for their children



In only a year, Kashmiri is having a profound effect supporting women in this community and has plans to keep expanding her business and humanitarian activities. 



As far as what do you do when the proverbial hits the fan? Her advice is to step back, and give yourself time so you can make rational decisions. It might even involve  a good cry. And remember that a moment is just a moment in time - we will get through it.



Anna is a true humanitarian, her experiences in developing countries has given her a very unique perspective on business and life. I can’t wait for you to listen.