Natasha Stott Despoja

Ms. Natasha Stott Despoja AM was appointed Australia’s Ambassador for Women and Girls on 16 December 2013. She is also the founding chairperson of Our Watch (the Foundation to Prevent Violence Against Women and their Children). As Ambassador for Women and Girls, Ms. Stott Despoja travelled extensively throughout the Indo-Pacific region to promote women’s leadership, economic empowerment and an end to violence against women and girls. She has represented Australia at international meetings such as the UN Commission on the Status of Women; the APEC Women and the Economy Forum; the UN Security Council Open Debate on Women Peace and Security; the Global Summit on Ending Sexual Violence in Conflict; the G(irls) 20 Summit; and the ASEAN Commission on the Promotion and Protection of the Rights of Women and Children. In recognition of her service to the Australian Parliament, to education and as a role model for women, in 2011, Ms. Stott Despoja was made a Member of the Order of Australia. She is a member of the World Bank Advisory Group on gender.