Shelina Fernando
Coach City: Melbourne, Australia Course List:
Shelina is a penultimate year student pursuing a Bachelor of Commerce, majoring in Economics & Finance at the University of Melbourne. From a young age, Shelina found solace in public speaking, discovering her passion for expressing ideas freely. Beginning her journey in year 3, she transitioned from performing speeches written by her father to crafting her own, winning contests and realizing the power of her own words.
With a keen interest in mathematics, Shelina she dedicated her time to tutoring further mathematics, providing after-school classes and online support to classmates, establishing herself as a supportive educator. This passion extended to founding a public speaking academy with her father, coaching students in speech creation and delivery.
Beyond academia, Shelina's commitment to community service shines. From leading initiatives to support the visually impaired during high school to volunteering with organizations like CHASE in university, she consistently seeks to make a positive impact.
In addition to her academic and extracurricular pursuits, Shelina has actively participated in university consulting clubs, contributing her problem-solving skills to projects aimed at supporting mental health and informing communities about pregnancy and parenting.
Shelina's achievements in public speaking include representing her state in storytelling competitions, being appointed as the head girl of her school, and notable wins such as second-runner up at the Speaker Global Public Speaking Championship and winning the Toastmasters Division Level Evaluation Contest at just 16.
Furthermore, Shelina served as the podcast director at her university club, Banking on Women, where she highlighted diverse pathways in finance and increasing opportunities for women in the field by engaging in insightful conversations with inspiring individuals in the finance industry.
Her strengths lie in storytelling and crafting compelling speeches, evident in her ability to engage audiences and leave a lasting impression. Through her journey, Shelina emphasizes the transformative power of public speaking, believing that everyone's voice deserves to be heard.