Beverley Pinder was born in Sri Lanka and later moved to Australia. An alumnus of St Lawrence’s School Wellawatte, Beverley has forged a distinguished career in public relations. As a former Miss Universe Australia 1978 and seasoned PR professional, she excels in strategic communication and relationship building. With a background in Political Communication and Campaign Management, Beverley navigates the media landscape adeptly, shaping public perception and crafting compelling narratives for politicians and organizations.

Renowned for her innovative approach and attention to detail, she is trusted for crisis management, media relations, and stakeholder engagement. As she prepares to launch her book, “Pride without Prejudice – An Inspiring Life,” in Sri Lanka, Beverley shares her remarkable journey from Ceylon to Australia, where she has thrived as a Miss Universe Australia, PR professional, and politician.

Q WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO BECOME A WRITER? I felt there was much to give young people in particular through my autobiography charting the highs and lows of what I believe to be a very fulfilling life. Straddling two cultures is not easy – and there are several lessons for those choosing to settle in another land, particularly when it comes to achieving their desired goals. Ignoring the naysayers and getting on with ‘doing me’ is what has got me through life’s myriad challenges while ensuring that integrity and humility are always at the highest levels of my being.

Q CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT YOUR JOURNEY TO BECOMING A PUBLISHED AUTHOR? At first, I thought I would self-publish – not for vanity but to achieve the end goal of conveying the story so it inspires and motivates others to take up their own challenge. Meeting my editor, Adrian Jackson OAM, during the period of COVID lockdowns in Melbourne was possibly the best thing to have happened to me at that time. He was in need of work and I was in need of someone who could work with words, but who also ‘got’ me. In other words, he was able to add or subtract words without changing my story, or the tone of the way I speak. He retained my authentic self in the text.

Q DESCRIBE YOUR BOOK IN ONE SENTENCE AS IF YOU WERE TELLING A FRIEND. It is an inspirational story about life’s penalties spliced with the rewards that come from hard work and resilience and the many gifts drawn from the richness of friendships, champions, and putting back.

Q HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR WRITING STYLE OR VOICE? True and authentic. Humble and enriching. Imparting messages for lifelong learning.

Q WHERE DO YOU DRAW INSPIRATION FOR YOUR STORIES OR CHARACTERS? My story is one that has benefitted from my interaction with myriad people from captains of industry encouraging me and enabling me to succeed in my professional life; to my spiritual advisers – my brother, Sandy and the late Father Ernie Smith and Father Bob Maguire; to my mother who was as tenacious as they came; and my father who was a delight to interact with when he was not drunk.

Q WHAT ARE YOU CURRENTLY READING? I am currently reading The Love Contract, Steph Vizard, Harper Collins.

Q WHO IS YOUR FAVOURITE AUTHOR AND WHY DO YOU ADMIRE THEM? Viktor Emil Frankel wrote Man’s Search for Meaning. I admire his ability to write about the ‘self’. His premise is that the primary motivational force of an individual is to find meaning in life. Choosing one’s attitude is the last of human freedoms – to choose your own way not try to change the situation. Facing up to the challenges of changing ourselves is perhaps the greatest learning from his form of psychotherapy – Logotherapy. The three paths to Finding Meaning in Life: yBy performing a deed or creating something–taking action. By coming into contact with someone or experiencing something. yBy experiencing unavoidable suffering, and the attitude we take toward it.

Q WHAT FICTIONAL CHARACTER RESEMBLES YOU THE MOST? Abou Ben Adhem – even though he was a man – his intent around people and loving thy neighbour exemplifies life for me.

Q NAME A BOOK YOU HAVE RECENTLY ENJOYED READING. I just finished To Kill a Mockingbird, by Harper Lee, for the 5th time and might read it again later in the year.

Q TELL US ABOUT A BOOK YOU ENJOYED READING AS A CHILD AND THE EFFECT IT HAD ON YOU. Sons and Lovers - perhaps DH Lawrence’s finest achievement, a true masterpiece which is still studied today at High School showing the complexity and raw love of a son for his mother and the entrapment that lies therein. The relationship Paul Morel had with his mother and the suffocating relationships he had with two lovers made me believe that love was elusive particularly when you sit in the midst of a family that is dysfunctional. And you are always striving hard to get the love and affection from a parent. In my case – my mother.

Q WHAT IS YOUR TAKE ON SELF-PUBLISHING? I would like to try this next time just so I can contrast it with my current arrangement. When you are a first-time author, you tend to get put on the back burner and seen to be a bit of a ‘nuisance’ particularly if you are a learned and well-connected human being.

Q CAN YOU SHARE ANY INSIGHTS OR TEASERS ABOUT YOUR UPCOMING PROJECTS OR WORKS IN PROGRESS? None at this stage – but I have already started charting the bones of a book based on “Life as a Battlefield: Turn left, veer to the right? And where does faith come into all of this?”

(Pix courtesy Beverley Pinder)