2023 Harmony Week: Meet Adrienna

Adrienna Clarke joined Juniper as an Accounts Payable Officer in August 2022.

During Harmony Week, Adrienna shares what it means to celebrate her culture and the importance of creating a sense of belonging in the workplace.

Adrienna Clarke is proud to celebrate her Anglo-Indian heritage any day of the year, but sharing her culture with colleagues during Harmony Week is just as special.

“I think Harmony Week is really important because it makes us understand each other better,” she said.

Harmony Week not only celebrates Australia’s rich cultural diversity but also carries the inclusive message that ‘Everyone Belongs’.

“To me, ‘belonging’ means acceptance,” Adrienna said. “Since joining Juniper, the team have been extremely welcoming, and I feel like it is my second home. I have also shared stories from back home with my colleagues because I feel like I can open up to them about my culture and experiences.”

A strong work ethic and respect for older people are two values from her culture that influence how Adrienna carries herself in the workplace.

“In my culture, we work very hard and we have a lot of respect for the elderly, and this is something I bring with me to work everyday,” she said.

A love of cooking and coming together to share a meal is often how Adrienna and her family celebrate their culture.

“We cook a lot of Indian food at home like butter chicken, paneer (cottage cheese), dal (lentils), biryani and samosas,” she said.

Asked what dish she would share with her colleagues, Adrienna said Biryani was the perfect meal to share with others.

“Biryani is made with layers of rice, potato, chicken, gravy and the layers are repeated again,” she said.

“The aroma is mouth-watering.”