Readings
NEWS- 10 emerging leaders in society- The Australian
13/04/2009
In the first of 10 categories in our search for 100 young leaders, we showcase those who are investing their talents in governance, community and human rights.
Randa Abdel-Fattah, 29 LITIGATION LAWYER AND WRITER
"I'm the kind of person who always needs a project," says Randa Abdel-Fattah, who has her hands full with motherhood (she has two children under four), writing and the law – not to mention her active role in recent years in the interfaith community. The Sydney-based multi-tasker shot to fame in 2006 when she won an Australian Book Industry Award for her first novel, Does My Head Look Big in This?, about an Australian Muslim girl’s decision to wear the hijab. Born in Sydney, Abdel-Fattah grew up in Melbourne, attending a Catholic primary school before King Khalid Islamic College (now the Australian International Academy), then Melbourne University for an arts/law degree. She is soon to return to litigation work part-time and is writing her fourth book, "a legal comedy/thriller narrated by a male teen protagonist”. She also speaks at schools and writers' festivals. "I struggle to stay awake, juggling motherhood, writing and the law. But it’s willingly self-imposed so I can’t complain," she laughs.
Tim Wilson, 29 THINK TANK DIRECTOR
Don't be surprised if you see more of Tim Wilson soon. The director of the Intellectual Property and Free Trade Unit at the Institute of Public Affairs says he’d "love to host a TV show on media and current affairs” following appearances on the ABC's Q&A and Melbourne’s Joy 94.9 radio. "(On Q&A) I was predictable by arguing for nuclear power … But I then proposed models to resolve the debate about traditional versus gay marriage. I know people weren't expecting it." Born and raised in Melbourne, where he gained a Masters of Diplomacy and Trade at the Monash Graduate School of Business and a BA (Policy Studies) at Monash University, Wilson's first job was a paper round. Now, he has climate change in his sights: "Last year I wrote the first major paper in the world tracking policy developments on low-carbon technology, intellectual property and trade policy. I'm also passionate about free trade and advocating for policy that helps lift people out of poverty. One person can do something about it - hard work is the only barrier."
Hannah Bleby, 34 OVERSEAS AID POLICY OFFICER
Hannah Bleby is a "big picture" person. Born in Stirling, SA, her global focus is reflected in her education choices: a Masters in International Studies (intersection of culture and conflict) from the University of SA, a BA (English, German, music) from Flinders University, and periods of study in Germany and the US. As part of her job in AusAID's Policy Coordination Unit, Bleby works on formulating Australia's aid program and assisting countries to develop in a sustainable way. "I'd like to go on overseas postings with AusAID," she says of her future with the department, "working on how what we do in Canberra translates to the people and governments of other countries, and how that affects Australia's place in the world." Bleby says she finds her work challenging and inspirational: "Overseas development by definition involves just about every facet of life. Regularly meeting people who are doing astounding things and contributing in incredibly dedicated ways to really hard issues keeps me hopeful."
Hugh Evans, 26 HUMANITARIAN CAMPAIGNER
At the age of 14, while in the Philippines as an ambassador for World Vision, Hugh Evans found his calling. "I was taken to a slum that was literally a community built around a rubbish dump. Children ran after garbage trucks to get fresh rubbish, food and scrap metal. I was placed in the care of a family with a boy my own age named Sonney Boy. After cooking a meal on the ground, we simply cleared the pans away and seven of us lay down on a concrete slab half the size of my bedroom. With the stench of garbage and cockroaches crawling around us, I didn’t sleep a wink. My life was changed forever." Evans is founder of youth aid group the Oaktree Foundation, director of the Global Poverty Project, 2004 Young Australian of the Year and co-chair of the Youth 2020 Summit. Reading a Masters of International Relations at Cambridge, he holds a science/law degree (Monash, first class honours). Evans counts "speaking about the Global Poverty Project at Westminster Abbey to the Queen and PM Gordon Brown for the 2009 Commonwealth celebrations" as a highlight.
Ondine Sherman, 34 ANIMAL PROTECTION ADVOCATE
When Ondine Sherman founded Voiceless, a non profit animal protection think-tank, with her father Brian in 2004, she turned a lifelong dream into a reality. "Contributing to fighting injustice and protecting the voiceless is hugely rewarding," says the South African-born Sydneysider. Sherman, who has a BA (Communications) from the University of Technology, Sydney, and an MA (Environmental Studies) from Macquarie University, has always been interested in social justice: her first job was doorknocking for Greenpeace ("I learnt that there are many caring people in our country”) and her focus is “to change the way society treats animals as disposable commodities". Voiceless co-opts "enlightened and influential" people – among them actors Hugo Weaving and Abbie Cornish, and writer J.M. Coetzee – to promote its cause and aims to make animal protection the next great social movement. Sherman says she is motivated by "the millions of animals that suffer away from the public eye; I feel a great responsibility to be their voice".
Alister Jordan, 29 CHIEF OF STAFF, OFFICE OF THE PRIME MINISTER
"Not that exciting" is Alister Jordan’s opinion of his answers to our questions.
"I just try to do a good job." With a commitment that rivals that of his boss, "24/7 Kevin", Jordan has climbed the political ladder with astounding speed, while remaining "a good bloke", according to colleagues. Born in Southport, Queensland, Jordan and his four younger brothers were raised by their mother not far from where the PM grew up. Jordan attended state high school on the Sunshine Coast and spent several years working part-time on a local farm to earn some cash. He gained a BA in Political Science (honours) from the University of Queensland and a Masters in Public Policy from Deakin University. Rudd hired Jordan as his press secretary early in 2002, not long after his appointment to the front bench, and thus began a key working partnership. Jordan says the highlight of his career was when his boss won the 2007 election but, true to his work ethic, he had "two beers and then I went to bed - I had a 6am start the next day".
Alissa Phillips, 24 PROGRAM DESIGNER FOR DISABLED YOUTH
"We, as a society, could be challenging ourselves to offer more innovative disability services in the community," says Brisbane music therapist Alissa Phillips. She’s not just all talk: in late 2007, Phillips created SPACE, a non-profit centre offering young people with disabilities and their families a meeting place and central location for services such as physiotherapy, music and speech therapy. Phillips' passion for her vocation was sparked at Kenmore State School by a friend, David, who has Down Syndrome: "He cemented my beliefs that we can empower people with disabilities through education, advocacy and innovative practices." With a Bachelor of Creative Industries from Queensland University of Technology and a Masters in Music Therapy from the University of Queensland, Phillips has used her training to work with the disabled.
As a side project, she is soon to launch Youth Endeavour (Dream It. Do It. Grow It.), a school program aimed at teaching students skills in social responsibility and sustaining their passions.
Brendon Grylls, 35 LEADER OF THE NATIONALS, WESTERN AUSTRALIA
No matter where his career takes him, Brendon Grylls is a country boy to the core. "The farm in Corrigin is still where our hearts are," he says, referring to the family seat in WA’s wheatbelt. His parents "scrimped and saved" to send him to Wesley College in Perth; there, he enjoyed the novelty of "playing on turf wickets with proper coaches" instead of the dirt ovals of home. After a year studying law ("I didn’t enjoy it"), Grylls returned home at 20, starting a successful business called Windmill Flour. His first foray into politics was as a councillor on the Corrigin Shire Council. Then, in 2001, he won a state by-election to become the Member for Merredin. Married with a young son, Grylls has been the Nationals leader in WA since 2005, turning the party into a force to be reckoned with. He refused to be deputy premier under Liberal leader Colin Barnett, demanding independence, and is arguably the most powerful politician in the state. Grylls has big things in store for WA's rural population: "We want to do our best to make (country people's) lives easier."
Hannah McGlade, 39 HUMAN RIGHTS LAWYER
"My father taught me the philosophy of 'one day at a time'," says Hannah McGlade, a Perth-based Noongar woman and an advocate on child sexual assault in indigenous communities. "I honour the way that my life will take me precisely wherever I am meant to be." McGlade's work has included public speaking, writing, race discrimination test cases, and meeting with other indigenous people across the world. Her achievements - the first Aboriginal woman to graduate from a WA law school; the first Aboriginal person in WA to obtain a Masters degree in Law – are more remarkable for the fact that she was made homeless at 15 and forced to leave school and work as a waitress. "I told myself that my education would not be over and I'd make my way back." McGlade is driven by a strong sense of justice: “We are lucky to live in a democratic country that respects freedom of speech. I feel strongly for children and young people because I know what it is to experience abuse, and to have no human rights at all."
Owen Wareham, 23 UN YOUTH ADVOCATE
Owen Wareham has a favourite quote that sums up his philosophy: "The moral test of government is how that government treats those who are in the dawn of life, the children; those who are in the twilight of life, the elderly; and those who are in the shadows of life, the sick, the needy and the handicapped" (Hubert H. Humphrey). The Sydney-born Brisbanite has clocked up time as convener of this year's United Nations Youth Association National Youth Conference, been involved in the government program Youthspeak, acted as an adviser for last month’s Brisbane Ideas Festival, and taken on the role of campaign manager for Queensland Labor MP Phil Weightman. His highlight, however, was "being asked to represent young people in the governance stream of the 2020 summit, and advocate on behalf of those young people for a better democracy”. With a BA (Political Science and International Relations), Wareham’s goal is to "keep working to make government better for young people and the community".
