ABOUT ORISHA COLLECTIVE
ABOUT ORISHA COLLECTIVE
The experience behind Orisha.
The experience behind Orisha.
The experience behind Orisha.
Orisha Collective is new. The experience behind it isn’t.
Orisha Collective is new. The experience behind it isn’t.
Orisha Collective is built on years of experience across education, communication, government, public health, international development and leadership development.
That experience spans different sectors, cultures and professional environments — from Australian universities and public-sector organisations to leadership development across the Pacific.
There is no single way to lead.
Culture matters.
Context matters.
People matter.
Culture matters.
Context matters.
People matter.
Effective leadership development starts by understanding all three.
Effective leadership development starts by understanding all three.
MEET NIDIA
MEET NIDIA
Nidia Raya Martinez
Nidia Raya Martinez
Communications Coach & Founder
Communications Coach & Founder
Nidia Raya Martinez is a communications specialist, educator and consultant whose career has brought together communication, education, leadership development, health and international development.
She has taught at leading Australian universities, including the University of New South Wales and the University of Sydney, as well as RMIT Online and CEA CAPA.
Nidia has also contributed to large-scale online learning transformation projects for Queen Mary University of London and the University of New England through the Curio Group, extending her experience beyond teaching into learning design and digital education.
Her work as an educator has been recognised through multiple teaching and outstanding practice awards, including recognition from RMIT Online, the University of Sydney and CEA CAPA.
Nidia Raya Martinez is a communications specialist, educator and consultant whose career has brought together communication, education, leadership development, health and international development.
She has taught at leading Australian universities, including the University of New South Wales and the University of Sydney, as well as RMIT Online and CEA CAPA.
Nidia has also contributed to large-scale online learning transformation projects for Queen Mary University of London and the University of New England through the Curio Group, extending her experience beyond teaching into learning design and digital education.
Her work as an educator has been recognised through multiple teaching and outstanding practice awards, including recognition from RMIT Online, the University of Sydney and CEA CAPA.
Teaching recognitionMultiple awards for teaching, facilitation and outstanding practice
- Outstanding Practice AwardRMIT Online
- Outstanding Practice AwardRMIT Online
- Teaching Philosophy AwardRMIT Online
- Best Tutor, Master of Global Health (student nominated)University of Sydney
- ‘Super’ Star Facilitator AwardRMIT Online
- Star Facilitator AwardRMIT Online
- Teaching Award for ExcellenceCAPA The Global Education Network
Professional consultancy experience
Professional consultancy experience
Nidia's professional consultancy experience spans senior roles and professional engagements with the Australian Aid Program, Asian Development Bank, Australian Indigenous Psychologists Association, Australian Multicultural Health Collaborative, Curio Group, International Women’s Development Agency, NSW Multicultural Communication Service, NSW Department of Health and The Royal Australian & New Zealand College of Psychiatrists.
Nidia's professional consultancy experience spans senior roles and professional engagements with the Australian Aid Program, Asian Development Bank, Australian Indigenous Psychologists Association, Australian Multicultural Health Collaborative, Curio Group, International Women’s Development Agency, NSW Multicultural Communication Service, NSW Department of Health and The Royal Australian & New Zealand College of Psychiatrists.
Her work ranges from designing and delivering professional development, public speaking, media engagement and leadership programs; developing communication strategies and interventions; and supporting organisations to communicate more effectively with diverse audiences. Nidia’s experience also encompasses program management, monitoring and evaluation, partnership building and cross-cultural engagement.
Nidia has worked with professionals, leaders, organisations and communities across diverse cultural and institutional environments.
Her work ranges from designing and delivering professional development, public speaking, media engagement and leadership programs; developing communication strategies and interventions; and supporting organisations to communicate more effectively with diverse audiences. Nidia’s experience also encompasses program management, monitoring and evaluation, partnership building and cross-cultural engagement.
Nidia has worked with professionals, leaders, organisations and communities across diverse cultural and institutional environments.
Experience across cultures and countries.
IN-COUNTRY EXPERIENCE
IN-COUNTRY EXPERIENCE
Australia
Papua New Guinea
Solomon Islands
Fiji
REMOTE INTERNATIONAL COLLABORATIONS
REMOTE INTERNATIONAL COLLABORATIONS
Indonesia
United Kingdom
Our Work in Action
Our Work in Action
The following are selected examples from Nidia’s professional experience prior to the establishment of Orisha Collective. They illustrate the experience and thinking that inform Orisha Collective’s work today.
The following are selected examples from Nidia’s professional experience prior to the establishment of Orisha Collective. They illustrate the experience and thinking that inform Orisha Collective’s work today.
Women’s Leadership
Solomon Islands
Women’s Leadership
Solomon Islands
Building confidence, voice and leadership presence
Building confidence, voice and leadership presence
As part of the Solomon Islands Ministry of Health Women’s Leadership Initiative funded by the Solomon Islands Australia Health Partnership, Nidia designed and delivered Public Speaking and Media Engagement training, supporting women to strengthen their communication, public speaking and leadership presence.
The impact of this work has been captured in local media through the experiences of women participating in the program.
As part of the Solomon Islands Ministry of Health Women’s Leadership Initiative funded by the Solomon Islands Australia Health Partnership, Nidia designed and delivered Public Speaking and Media Engagement training, supporting women to strengthen their communication, public speaking and leadership presence.
The impact of this work has been captured in local media through the experiences of women participating in the program.
Finding Her Voice: Merilyn Vana’s Journey Through Women’s Leadership Training
Finding Her Voice: Merilyn Vana’s Journey Through Women’s Leadership Training
The story explores how leadership and public speaking training helped one participant reconsider confidence, communication and the way she connects with others as a leader.
The story explores how leadership and public speaking training helped one participant reconsider confidence, communication and the way she connects with others as a leader.
Advocacy & Standards Development
Australia
Advocacy & Standards Development
Australia
Using communication to advocate and influence
Using communication to advocate and influence
In her role as Senior Program Manager in multicultural health, Nidia’s work encompassed advocacy, communication, community engagement and standards development.
This included contributing to the Australian Standards for Health Practitioners Pain Management Education as a member of its Governance Advisory Group, led by the Faculty of Pain Medicine, Australian and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists.
Her contribution also extended to a video exploring advocacy and the role communication can play in raising awareness, influencing change and ensuring multicultural perspectives are heard.
This experience reflects an important principle behind Orisha Collective’s work: effective leadership isn’t only about having expertise — it’s also about being able to communicate that expertise and advocate for change.
In her role as Senior Program Manager in multicultural health, Nidia’s work encompassed advocacy, communication, community engagement and standards development.
This included contributing to the Australian Standards for Health Practitioners Pain Management Education as a member of its Governance Advisory Group, led by the Faculty of Pain Medicine, Australian and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists.
Her contribution also extended to a video exploring advocacy and the role communication can play in raising awareness, influencing change and ensuring multicultural perspectives are heard.
This experience reflects an important principle behind Orisha Collective’s work: effective leadership isn’t only about having expertise — it’s also about being able to communicate that expertise and advocate for change.
SBS Australia Explained
Australia
SBS Australia Explained
Australia
Contributing to public health conversations
Contributing to public health conversations
Nidia has contributed to national public health conversations through the media.
She was interviewed for an SBS Australia Explained podcast exploring cervical screening and the importance of ensuring health information and services reach Australia’s diverse communities. This podcast was also made available in several community languages.
Her media experience informs Orisha Collective’s work in public speaking, advocacy, stakeholder communication and preparing people to communicate confidently in public settings.
Nidia has contributed to national public health conversations through the media.
She was interviewed for an SBS Australia Explained podcast exploring cervical screening and the importance of ensuring health information and services reach Australia’s diverse communities. This podcast was also made available in several community languages.
Her media experience informs Orisha Collective’s work in public speaking, advocacy, stakeholder communication and preparing people to communicate confidently in public settings.
Technology, Communication & Public Speaking — 2015
Technology, Communication & Public Speaking — 2015
Starting conversations about emerging technology
Starting conversations about emerging technology
In 2015, in her role at the NSW Multicultural Health Communication Service, Nidia brought together public speaking, facilitation and emerging technology, introducing the concept of machine learning to the New South Wales translation and interpreting sector well before artificial intelligence entered mainstream professional conversation.
The presentation demonstrates Nidia’s experience as an MC and public speaker, as well as a longstanding interest in how emerging technologies influence communication, professional practice and the way we work.
That intersection between people, communication and technology continues to inform Orisha Collective’s thinking today.
In 2015, in her role at the NSW Multicultural Health Communication Service, Nidia brought together public speaking, facilitation and emerging technology, introducing the concept of machine learning to the New South Wales translation and interpreting sector well before artificial intelligence entered mainstream professional conversation.
The presentation demonstrates Nidia’s experience as an MC and public speaker, as well as a longstanding interest in how emerging technologies influence communication, professional practice and the way we work.
That intersection between people, communication and technology continues to inform Orisha Collective’s thinking today.
Experience that informs our approach
Experience that informs our approach
These examples span different environments, but they are connected by a common principle: communication shapes what becomes possible.
Whether the challenge involves leadership, partnership, advocacy or community engagement, people need to be able to make their ideas understood and bring others into the conversation.
These examples span different environments, but they are connected by a common principle: communication shapes what becomes possible.
Whether the challenge involves leadership, partnership, advocacy or community engagement, people need to be able to make their ideas understood and bring others into the conversation.
What we believe
What we believe
Leadership is contextual.
Leadership is contextual.
Effective leadership looks different across cultures, organisations and environments. Development should begin by understanding where leadership is actually taking place.
Effective leadership looks different across cultures, organisations and environments. Development should begin by understanding where leadership is actually taking place.
Communication is part of leadership.
Communication is part of leadership.
Expertise matters, but ideas only create impact when people can communicate them, listen to others and build understanding.
Expertise matters, but ideas only create impact when people can communicate them, listen to others and build understanding.
Learning should create practice, not just insight.
Learning should create practice, not just insight.
Professional development should give people opportunities to try, reflect, receive feedback and apply what they learn to real situations.
Professional development should give people opportunities to try, reflect, receive feedback and apply what they learn to real situations.
Difference is something to work with, not around.
Difference is something to work with, not around.
Different perspectives, experiences and ways of communicating can strengthen organisations when people have the skills and conditions to engage with them constructively.
Different perspectives, experiences and ways of communicating can strengthen organisations when people have the skills and conditions to engage with them constructively.
Capability should expand opportunity.
Capability should expand opportunity.
Leadership development should help more people participate, contribute and influence — including people whose perspectives have traditionally had less access to decision-making.
Leadership development should help more people participate, contribute and influence — including people whose perspectives have traditionally had less access to decision-making.
Why Orisha Collective?
Why Orisha Collective?
Talented people exist in every organisation and community, but having valuable ideas and experience does not always mean having the opportunity, confidence or tools to influence what happens next.
Talented people exist in every organisation and community, but having valuable ideas and experience does not always mean having the opportunity, confidence or tools to influence what happens next.
Orisha Collective helps close that gap by strengthening the communication and leadership capabilities that allow more people to contribute, participate and lead.
Orisha Collective helps close that gap by strengthening the communication and leadership capabilities that allow more people to contribute, participate and lead.
More voices.
More perspectives.
More possibilities.
THE NAME ORISHA
Orisha
Orisha
The name Orisha has deep spiritual and cultural roots in Yoruba religion and across the African diaspora, including Cuba, a place of personal significance to Nidia. Nidia’s connection to this spiritual tradition was the inspiration for the name Orisha Collective.
Chosen with respect for those origins, the name carries a deeper personal meaning for Nidia — reflecting a sense of guidance, purpose and calling that has shaped the creation of Orisha Collective and the work it seeks to do.
The name Orisha has deep spiritual and cultural roots in Yoruba religion and across the African diaspora, including Cuba, a place of personal significance to Nidia. Nidia’s connection to this spiritual tradition was the inspiration for the name Orisha Collective.
Chosen with respect for those origins, the name carries a deeper personal meaning for Nidia — reflecting a sense of guidance, purpose and calling that has shaped the creation of Orisha Collective and the work it seeks to do.
What are you working on?
Whether you’re developing your own leadership, investing in your people or exploring a new initiative, we’d like to hear what you’re working on.
We acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of the many lands on which we live and work. We pay respect to Elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. We recognise their continuing connection to culture, community and Country.
Orisha Collective embraces diversity and is committed to creating respectful, inclusive spaces for people of all identities, genders, sexualities, cultures, abilities and backgrounds.