Melbourne, Australia
Hi, I’m Daizy.
I love inspiring people to be the best version of themselves. For the last six years I’ve worked in the entrepreneurship and startup space at the University of Melbourne and Deakin University.
Alongside my co-founder I lead the Australian South Asian Centre — the place for progressive South Asian women who are artists, creatives, founders and professionals.
A little more
My curiosity about the world has taken me to Spain to study, Thailand where I served as an Australian Youth Ambassador for Development in Human Rights assisting refugees and asylum seekers, Tanzania where I volunteered, and India where I meditated in the Himalayas to find some peace.
I’ve served as Program Manager at the Melbourne Accelerator Program and led Deakin University’s startup initiative, SPARK Deakin, reaching over 250,000 students and alumni — funding 51 founders whose 20 startups have generated over $3m in revenue and created 99 jobs. I’ve also served as a Director at a publicly listed community banking company, and volunteer on the board of Multicultural Arts Victoria.
As a creative, my writing is published in Growing Up Indian In Australia (2024), and I’m a producer and comedian in Brown Women Comedy, which has featured at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival, Sydney Comedy Festival and Adelaide Fringe.
Writing
Recent posts
Author Talks: Growing Up Indian in Australia 2025
I'm thrilled to doing a number of free author talks at libraries across Melbourne, for some of these I'll be joined by other Melbourne based contributors to the anthology Growing Up Indian in Australia.
How I Spent My Time on the First Month of My Sabbatical
My goals, progress and reflections of month one.
How I finally stuck to a fitness routine after 10 years of trying.
Ditching appearance goals, focusing on mental health, Pre-booking reformer pilates classes and momentum. No more strict diets; just one goal—regular classes.
Why are we disgusted by second-hand clothes?
More importantly, why aren’t we disgusted by fast fashion? In our Indian community, there's nothing that screams "you're desperate" louder than buying second-hand clothes.
Letter to International Republican Institute ft Freedom Award Video of Afghan Women's Empowerment leader.
Uploaded from full video available at https://www.c-span.org/video/?194399-1/2006-freedom-award
Speaking
Where I’ve spoken
Media
In the press
- ABC NewsMeet the South Asian women challenging Australia’s white male comedy scene with Brown Women Comedy
- ABC NewsFrom racial slurs to code-switching, Growing Up Indian In Australia recounts the painful, yet powerful migrant experience
- Women’s AgendaThere’s too much pressure placed on waking up early
- Indian LinkBrown Women Comedy — It’s Our Time
- Herald SunBoroondara woman Daizy Maan promotes Pink Ladoo campaign to stop gender bias
- SBS PunjabiCelebrating birth of girl child with ‘Pink Laddoo’
- SmartCompanyMeet this year’s participants in the SPARK Deakin accelerator programme