For Virginia Haussegger AM, 2018’s ACT Australian of the Year and award-winning journalist, UC is headquarters for a vital campaign to change the world for the next generation of leaders.

Frustrated by the imbalance of power in leadership, Virginia launched the 50/50 by 2030 Foundation at UC’s Institute for Governance and Policy Analysis, with the aim of seeing women equally represented in leadership and key decision-making roles at all levels of government and public administration throughout Australia and across the region.

Having spent three decades working as a journalist and advocate, Virginia is excited by the current surge towards gender equality. ‘At the moment, we’re at a point in history where there’s powerful momentum towards women’s rights.’

She views young people as essential to this movement. ‘As students, you’re key to our work. Gender equality affects us all.’

‘The Foundation is focussing on the future, and the leaders of the future are entering university right now. We want people starting university to be in leadership roles by 2030, creating change.’

‘Young women and men need to share positions of power. For anyone starting uni, the time is ripe for fresh conversations.’