Natasha Stott Despoja AM
Natasha Stott Despoja AM is the founding Chairperson of Our Watch (the Foundation to Prevent Violence Against Women and their Children).
2013-2016 she was Australia’s Ambassador for Women and Girls in which she promoted women’s economic empowerment, women’s leadership and the reduction of violence against women and girls.
She is a member of the World Bank Gender Advisory Council and is on the UN High Level Working Group on the Health and Human Rights of Women, Children and Adolescents.
She is a former Senator for South Australia (1995-2008) and former Leader of the Australian Democrats.
In 2011, Natasha was made a Member of the Order of Australia for her service to the Australian Parliament, education and as a role model for women.
She is still the youngest woman ever to enter the Australian Federal Parliament, at 26. In 2001, she was made a Global Leader for Tomorrow by the World Economic Forum.
Natasha has held the positions of Australian Democrats’ Leader and Deputy Leader and is the longest-serving Democrat Senator in the party’s history.
Natasha is an Honorary Visiting Research Fellow at The University of Adelaide, a member of the Australian National University Council (2016 -), a member of the Prime Minister’s Referendum Council (2014 -), a columnist for The Adelaide Advertiser, and occasional TV panellist including on Channel 10’s The Project.
She is a former Deputy Chair of beyondblue, a former Burnet Institute Board member and Patron; South Australian Museum Board member (2009-2013), Advertising Standards Board member (2008-2013) and Museum of Australian Democracy member (2010-2013). She is a member of the Australian Privacy Foundation Advisory Board, Carrie Bickmore’s Beanies for Brain Cancer Board and the Global Women's Institute Leadership Council.
She has been Patron or Ambassador for several not-for-profit groups, including The Orangutan Project, secondbite, Ovarian Cancer Australia, and ENUF the HIV/AIDS anti- stigma campaign.
Natasha speaks eloquently and with passion on the way forward for us to prevent violence against women and children and to reduce economic disparity and build a better, fairer, healthier society for all Australians.