The Three-Minute Thesis competition allows PhD students to test their mettle — and gives the wider public a glimpse into the research underway at The Australian National University (ANU) College of Business and Economics (CBE).
This year’s CBE 3MT winner, Subashini Weerakotuwa, presented her research Her True Self Is Behind the Mask, which explores how lesbian employees in Sri Lanka navigate their identities in the workplace amid a legal system that still criminalises same-sex sexual conduct.
In her research, Subashini examines how legal, social and organisational environments influence whether individuals feel safe to be authentic at work.
“Ultimately, my research aims to amplify the voices of lesbian women whose experiences are often overlooked and to contribute to creating more inclusive workplaces,” she says.
“Lesbian women in Sri Lanka continue to fight every day for their dignity, freedom and equal rights.”
Subashini was encouraged to enter 3MT by one of her PhD colleagues and last year’s CBE 3MT winner Ravini Abhayarathne.
“As an international student from a different cultural and linguistic background, I saw 3MT as an opportunity to find my voice and share my research on an international platform,” she says.
“I wanted to use this platform to bring their experiences to a wider audience and help raise awareness of the challenges they face.”
Like her predecessor, Subashini recommends that other HDR students participate in future 3MT competitions.
“It’s an incredible opportunity to learn how to communicate your research clearly, engagingly and meaningfully. It reminded me that research is not only about generating knowledge but also about telling stories that can inspire understanding, create dialogue, and contribute to positive social change.”
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Image credit: Tim Rendall