Ashleigh Streeter-Jones
Pronouns: she/her
Organisation: Raise Our Voice Australia
Country: Australia
Profile
Ashleigh Streeter-Jones is the founder of Raise Our Voice Australia. Ashleigh said she recognises the lack of young female and gender-diverse voices in the Australian political system and is driven to amplify them and provide a platform. She seeks to achieve true diversity in political participation and policymaking. She has won two honours – the Forbes 30 Under 30 award and the Australian Financial Review 100 Women of Influence prize. Ashleigh said that although awards are not what she works for, they give her legitimacy in a sector where youth is often not listened to. She said that as a white, straight woman she feels responsible for using her power and privilege to advance the agency and standing of others. Ashleigh hopes to give young people the tools to raise their voices and particularly amplify those of young women and gender-diverse people. She said she believes this is important in order to confront the shocking statistics of gender inequality in Australian governance. She encourages young people to take up space and voice what they believe in, because at the end of the day, their hope, optimism and vision are what inspire Ashleigh most.
Story
A ‘tired activist.’ That is how Ashleigh Streeter-Jones chose to describe herself when asked which words best reflect her work. Based on her life and the sacrifices required to champion and amplify the voices of others, this captures her self-appointed role in life. Activism and the work it entails are time-consuming and often unpaid, yet a mission to dedicate one’s life to. When Ashleigh helped others realise their potential, she discovered her own as well.
Ashleigh Streeter-Jones did not grow up impoverished, nor did she face the intersectionality of being from a minority or ethnically discriminated group. She said she does not refer to herself as suffering directly at the hands of men, nor does she draw attention to any specific struggles related to pursuing an education or experiencing workplace discrimination. She was raised in an affluent family that emphasised multicultural perspectives and global awareness. Thus, from a young age, she became cognisant of the inequity between her situation and that of many others. She said she saw the need for change in the lives of individuals facing barriers she did not encounter. In her short life, she has pursued activism and begun a career in international development to address inequality. Over time, she shifted her focus toward gender equality and women’s empowerment. This direction aims at ‘breaking the ceiling’ while ‘raising the floor’.
Her actions demonstrate a motivation surpassing and transcending personal benefits and resting instead in her desire for a better world. Yet, gender-based assumptions and sexism are systemic. She said as a woman in the Australian society and as a community member she stands alongside those suffering without a platform. Ashleigh sees a way to use her passion and privilege to drive progress. She said, ‘I have a responsibility to [...] pass that mic and amplify the voices of people who aren’t being heard.’ This is the main focus of her organisation, Raise Our Voice Australia – not speaking on behalf of others. Instead, it aims to foster a future where young women and gender diverse Australians engage and rise to power in politics themselves. The Me Too movement in Australia not only revealed the extent of ongoing prejudice and workplace threats to women, but also showed how women are far less likely to even dream of holding positions in politics.
Ashleigh said she is adamant about overturning the gendered thinking that shapes today’s reality and limits the youth’s potential. To include young individuals in the discussion and to aid them in acting as ‘architects of their own futures’ is key to realising the future Ashleigh works towards. However, she said it is a tiring role she has taken on, where every day there are confrontations with yet unsolved societal problems from the past, present and the future. She said this is why her efforts to create the future she believes the world deserves must continue.
Published in 2025
