Natasha Stott Despoja AO

Chair of the Nomination & Remuneration Committee

Natasha Stott Despoja AO is the founding Chair of Our Watch (Australia’s national organisation to Prevent Violence Against Women and their Children). From 2013-2016, she was Australia’s Ambassador for Women and Girls, responsible for the Government’s international work on gender equality. Natasha’s commitment to international development continues; recently serving on the World Bank Gender Advisory Council and a UN High Level Working Group on the Health and Human Rights of Women, Children and Adolescents. As the youngest woman ever to enter the Australian Federal Parliament, at 26, Natasha went on to lead the Australian Democrats, and represent South Australia in the Senate from 1995-2008. Natasha graduated with a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Adelaide in 1991. She is an Honorary Visiting Research Fellow at the University of Adelaide.

Other University related work:

She has served on the University’s Alumni Advisory Committee, is a Distinguished Alumni, for three years, she co-ran a Winter Study course entitled “The Practise of Politics” with Alexander Downer and professor Clem Macintyre.

She has donated the ‘Stott Despoja’ scholarship since 2006, initiated the University’s Parliamentary Alumni network and, in 2019, received an Honorary Doctorate from the University of South Australia. She serves on the ANU Council and is a former member of the SA Rhodes Scholarship selection committee.