Our Leadership 2022

Dearest friends,

It is with great excitement that I can share with you all some BIG changes at Voices of Influence Australia – I deliberately use the words ‘great excitement’ as I cannot think of a better term to describe the electric energy from our team for our future.

The last 18 months have been an extraordinary sprint. Please indulge me in a paragraph of highlights we have made in our first leg. In partnership with tertiary education bodies across the country we delivered an event series to over 2,000 students mobilising other young people to take part in the human rights fight. We’ve made nine submissions over the last seven months to government, non-government and international NGO’s promoting the representation of young people in the governance of human rights issues.

In line with the CSW theme of ‘Climate Change, Environment and Risk Reduction’, we hosted events targeting how local communities in the Asia-Pacific region can mitigate risk and structure disaster relief programs to account for the unique challenges that women and girls face. We successfully delivered our first campaign for the recent Federal Election which included the ‘How do I not *f**k this up?’ resource. The Voices in Movement blog has published close to 45 pieces in the last year – which wouldn’t have been possible without the support, contributions, and stubborn loyalty of our supporters. Not to mention the countless projects, partnerships and programs currently in the works for the next year.

It may be a surprise to some that Voices of Influence Australia functions on the limited spare time our team has in between the commitments we keep to full-time work, study, family, partners and ourselves. This has never gotten in the way, however, of the hundreds of hours that have been put towards ongoing projects, partnerships, and programs. To our entire team, my love for you is endless – and in the case that you ever foolishly forget, I am never not grateful for your tireless commitment to our work, community and impact. To the Board – my loyal friends – thank you for teaching me more than I ever could have hoped to have gained these last 18 months. Thank you for teaching me how to lead with love, speak out fearlessly, flex the muscle of patience, and trust my capabilities. I have the joy of waking up ecstatic everyday knowing that I get to work with a team I know will not hesitate to celebrate, support and – most importantly – challenge me. Thank you for your endless patience through everything at Voices of Influence Australia.

It’s hard to miss that the entire team at Voices of Influence Australia are young women. Let me tell you, it was never engineered this way. It was not a deliberate decision – let’s call it an accident of nature. I could not be more thankful that this is the case. I know I am not alone when I say that this area of work can often be a lonely place for young women. We are told we are too intense. Too loud. Too outspoken. Too bossy. Too angry. This too was my experience until Voices of Influence Australia existed – a space where women and young people do not have to confine themselves to these labels and can celebrate their tenacity without limits. It will always be my proudest achievement to play a small part in the unstoppable force we have created.

Those who have worked closely with us will have caught wind of a ‘changing of guards’ happening within VOI. So, back to my first point. This ‘big’, ‘exciting’ news. What’s next for Voices of Influence Australia?... A new leadership team.

After eighteen months of non-stop sprints, I will be taking a step down to pursue a new adventure. I am thrilled to be moving to Geneva, Switzerland to pursue my Masters in Transitional Justice, Human Rights and Rule of Law with the Geneva Academy of International Humanitarian Law and Human Rights. Taking a step back does not mean me dusting my hands of VOI – I wouldn’t dream of it, not at this point – it does mean, however, that I will be transitioning to the position of Chairperson and making room for our new leadership team. Voices of Influence Australia is ready for this change, both with the maturity and future vision for our growth and impact. Speaking personally, I could not have more trust in the new leadership of our team. It is a pleasure to introduce our new CEO, CCO and COO.

Chief Executive Officer

Taylah Spirovski

"Young people are a narrative, an ongoing story. Like all human beings, they are the stories we hear and the stories we tell. But importantly, they are the stories we must learn to tell differently. The future is ours to shape and it is with great fulfilment that I am able to make my mark as Chief Executive Officer of Voices of Influence Australia.

I want all young people to have the full and absolute opportunities to develop and

in turn, to develop the world into a better, fairer and safer place, like the transformative agents of change they are. I hope to make significant contributions to this in my role. I promise to lead with a love ethic and be led by love in return. I am humbled to work alongside a talented, fearless and committed team of volunteers, without whom nothing is possible. Change is here!"

Chief Community Officer

jacinta bailey

"As a young girl I knew that Education could change lives. It’s power to provide new ways of seeing and understanding this world is unparalleled. Sadly, as a young woman, I learned how Australia’s education system failed young people, stifling their self expression, creativity and curiosity. Australia’s lack of truth-telling towards First Nations histories and knowledges, alongside it’s refusal to discuss human rights and climate destruction demonstrates that it is stuck in the past. To remedy this disquiet, Voices of Influence is growing, creating space for youth to own their voices and our future.

Around Australia we are witnessing a new era of leadership - a wave of collective action from youth voices who are rising up and demanding change. These brave voices are those young people willing to learn and importantly, unlearn the unethical systems and structures that breed inequity. As the Chief Community Officer it is my deep privilege to listen to and learn from our young community. In this role, I vow to work with an open heart, beginners ears and a curious mind to provide Australia’s young people the the tools and resources they crave in order to THRIVE”.

Chief operations Officer

meg jones

"I am more than thrilled to be taking on the role of Chief Operations Officer of Voices of Influence Australia. Only a short time ago I was unemployed, applying for countless jobs where I was endlessly unsuccessful and felt disheartened about my ability to make change in this world. But VOI gave me the platform I thought I was never to obtain.

Young people are continuously overlooked , underestimated, and excluded from positions of power. But they are a force of passion, determination and creativity, who are positioned to reshape the world if given the right platform. So that's what I, along with the rest of the VOI team, intend to do. Build a platform for young people, that is shaped by their needs, that seeks to elevate their voices and provide them with opportunities that they truly deserve."

The best image I can think to describe Taylah (CEO), Jacinta (CCO), and Meg (COO) is as the three musketeers. The synergy, energy, and harmony they exude never fails to inspire me – not to mention the endless love, support, and guidance they share for each other. It is with full confidence, trust, and inspiration that I pass the baton on to the three of them. I know that it is through their leadership that our organisation will only grow and strengthen.

We thank you for your endless support. Every day I am inspired and empowered by the strength, tenacity and fearlessness of young people in the pursuit of a better world. To other young change makers all over the country, we see you and we hear you.

With all the love in the world,