Described by Forbes Magazine as a “youthful visionary”, Ashleigh Streeter-Jones has worked in youth advocacy and campaigns since she was a teenager. She is a passionate change maker and a strong believer in, as Katrina Fanning aptly put it, "lifting the floor". Her work focuses on closing societal gaps, particularly those faced by women and young people from traditionally marginalised backgrounds. Working within the community, Ashleigh provides advice to senior leaders to combat systemic inequality and create a more equal world.
Ashleigh has over 10 years’ experience, having spoken on gender equality, youth leadership and civic engagement alongside US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken and former Prime Minister Julia Gillard, and for organisations including the World Economic Forum, the Global Institute of Women’s Leadership, government departments, and She’s On The Money. She has worked in foreign policy, for the federal Office for Women to improve women’s workforce outcomes, and to reduce gender-based violence. In 2024, Ashleigh was a finalist for the Victorian Young Australian of the Year award, and was named both the youngest ever Australian Capital Territory Woman of the Year and Forbes 30 Under 30 in 2018. In 2019, she was listed as one of the Australian Financial Review 100 Women of Influence, and in 2023, was selected as the only young Australian to attend Davos at the World Economic Forum. In 2024, she was recognised as one of Global Citizen’s Youth Leader Awardees.
In 2020, Ashleigh launched Raise Our Voice Australia (ROVA), a social enterprise mobilising young women and gender diverse people through education, community and campaigns to transform policy and politics. Since 2020, ROVA has graduated over 100 people through its training program, with 71% of training graduates reporting that they have applied for a job in policy or politics; and 71% said it has influenced what they’ll do in the future. ROVA has also collected over 1 000 speeches through the Raise our Voice in Parliament program. 60% of participants said it was their first time engaging with a political representative, 2 in 3 of people who had their speeches read said participation improved their understanding of & perceived ability to influence politics, and 91% of people who had their speeches read said they would promote the program to their friends.
Prior to this, Ashleigh co-founded the Girls Takeover Parliament program. She is recognised as an international thought leader on the importance of young people in the public sector, and has written and presented on the topic to both domestic and global organisations including the World Economic Forum and World YMCA. Ashleigh is also a member of the APolitical Foundation's New Voices Council, and of the UN Women Asia Pacific 30 for 2030 group.
Ashleigh's change-making has had a global impact. She has delivered workshops at the Commission on the Status of Women at the United Nations, and advocated for gender equality internationally, including at the United Nations, the YWCA World Council, and as one of 50 young global leaders to attend the annual meeting of the World Economic Forum in Davos. Ashleigh is currently the Pacific Community Champion for the World Economic Forum Global Shapers supporting young change makers across Australia, New Zealand, Samoa, Papua New Guinea and Tuvalu to make change in their local communities.
In her gender equality work, Ashleigh was a Director of YWCA Canberra from 2018-2021, and was Vice President from 2019-2021. She is the former Chair and co-convenor of the Canberra Women's March, and has had her writing published by organisations including the ABC, Sydney Morning Herald, the IMF, and Women's Agenda. Ashleigh has also provided advice to senior leaders, including of federal Government departments, on how to drive gender equality within their organisations.
Ashleigh holds a BA(Hons) in International Relations/ Politics from Monash University and a Masters in Diplomacy from the Australian National University.
Looking for an inspiring professional speaker for your next corporate event? Ashleigh tackles difficult topics to bring motivation and fresh insights to your organisation.
Through Raise Our Voice Australia and in a personal capacity, Ashleigh is an experienced workshop facilitator with years of experience leading workshops for young Australians in various organisations, including campaigning, leadership, and governance.
Ashleigh brings her knowledge of change making, youth and gender equality to work with senior leaders to diagnose problems and work towards a more diverse and inclusive outcome.
If you’re looking for new perspectives from an internationally recognised advocate and change maker, Ashleigh has experience in writing compelling articles on current topics, and has been published by outlets such as the ABC, Sydney Morning Herald and Women’s Agenda.
learn more
