This International Women’s Day, we would like to welcome our 2024 Her Circle Ambassadors: advocate and activist Ashleigh Streeter-Jones, author and award-winning fashion magazine editor Justine Cullen, and environmental and social impact leader Natalie Kyriacou OAM, to shine a light on the ‘multiplier effect’ and support women affected by poverty and crises — at a time more important than ever.
Ashleigh Streeter-Jones
Investing in women not only empowers individuals but is key to poverty alleviation and fostering global peace.
Described by Forbes Magazine as a “youthful visionary”, Ashleigh Streeter-Jones has worked in youth, gender and political advocacy and campaigns for more than 10 years. In 2024, Ashleigh was a Victorian Young Australian of the Year finalist, and in 2018, was the youngest ever Australian Capital Territory Woman of the Year, and was recognised on the Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia list. In 2019, she was listed as one of the Australian Financial Review 100 Women of Influence, and in 2023, was selected as one of two young Australians to attend Davos at the World Economic Forum.
A passionate changemaker, Ashleigh’s work focuses on closing societal gaps — particularly those faced by women and marginalised youth. She is an international thought leader on the participation of young people in politics and the public sector, and has spoken on gender equality, youth leadership and civic engagement alongside former Prime Minister Julia Gillard, and for organisations such as the World Economic Forum, World YMCA, and Global Institute of Women’s Leadership.
In 2020, Ashleigh founded 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. ROVA has graduated more than 100 people from its training and collated more than 1,000 speeches through the Raise Our Voice in Parliament program. Ashleigh is also a member of the APolitical Foundation’s New Voices Council, and has attended the Commission on the Status of Women at the United Nations. She is the Pacific Community Champion for the Global Shapers community, and is part of the UN Women Asia Pacific 30 for 2030 group.
Ashleigh holds a BA(Hons) in International Relations and Politics from Monash University, and a Masters in Diplomacy from the Australian National University.
“As a longstanding advocate for gender equality and recognising the power of women as catalysts for change, I’m thrilled to serve as a Her Circle ambassador.”
Natalie Kyriacou OAM
In every thriving society, in every safeguarded community, you will undoubtedly find the footprints of the women who made it happen.
Natalie Kyriacou OAM is a recognised environmental and social impact leader, renowned for her advocacy and expertise in sustainability at both a grassroots and corporate level.
Natalie was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia and the Forbes 30 Under 30 honour for her services to wildlife and environmental conservation and education in 2018. She was the United Nations Environment Programme’s ‘Young Champion of the Earth’ Finalist for her innovation in wildlife and environmental conservation, and in 2022, was recognised as one of The Australian’s ‘Top Innovators’ for environmental impact and ‘Top Green Voices’ on LinkedIn.
Highly regarded for her authentic leadership in the environmental and social impact spaces, her passion and expertise lie in exploring the intersection of nature, climate and social equity issues and how these issues are navigated across commercial, political, and community landscapes.
She is a Board Committee member at CARE Australia, the Founder and Chair of wildlife and environmental organisation, My Green World, a Board Director at Foundation for National Parks and Wildlife, an Australian Delegate to the W20 (the official engagement group of the G20), and a UNESCO Green Citizens Pathfinder.
“The great leaders and community-builders are right in front of us, the world just chose not to see them. It’s time to shine a light on women’s role in overcoming poverty, conflict, and disaster.”
Justine Cullen
Women and girls are the most powerful force for change when it comes to ending poverty.
Justine Cullen has spent her life writing for and about women. A reformed beauty editor and award-winning magazine editor, she has formerly held the roles of Editor-in-Chief of the much beloved SHOP Til You Drop and ELLE Australia magazines. Under Justine’s direction, ELLE Australia became known for its publishing innovation, championing of women, diversity of talent, and groundbreaking, globally celebrated cover executions.
After a stint in agency life, where she created campaigns and content for iconic brands such as David Jones and Priceline, Justine became a founding partner of True North, an independent publishing business. There she holds the dual roles of Chief Content Officer and Editor-in-Chief of its first consumer publication, InStyle.
In 2021, her first book – Semi-Gloss: Magazines, Motherhood and Misadventures in Having it All was published by Allen & Unwin.
“CARE Australia recognises that women and girls are the most powerful force for change when it comes to ending poverty, and the Her Circle campaign harnesses that positive ripple effect and enables all of us (and our circles) to get involved and help make an impact.
As someone who has experienced first hand the transformation that can occur when a girl is given an opportunity she wouldn’t have otherwise had, I’m proud to be an ambassador for CARE Australia Her Circle.”
