Meet the leaders: Natasha Stott Despoja

Natasha Stott Despoja AO is a royal commissioner, an expert UN committee member and an Australian National University (ANU) professor. She’s also a former politician and diplomat. Here, she shares what she would change if she were elected Prime Minister. 

What are you most proud of in your career?
While I am proud to have been the youngest woman to enter federal parliament, it is my legislative and policy work that has given me the most satisfaction (including co-authoring the first same-sex marriage legislation and Australia’s first paid parental legislation). 

What advice would you give to anyone juggling work and other life commitments?
I know that work-life balance is elusive and we all do the best we can. My main message is that we don’t judge each other.

What keeps you awake at night?
Everything! My work in domestic, family and sexual violence — along with some of the most egregious discriminations against women and girls around the world — they can be haunting.

But I also mull over ways of solving these seemingly intractable issues. 

Was there ever a time when you felt stuck in your career and if so how did you work through it?
As a young woman, I spent a few years as a legislative adviser. I loved the work including the policy, research and speech writing and I learned a lot. The parliamentary work environment though was not always healthy or equal. 

I decided I wanted to have more time in Adelaide and also pursue my love of radio (I spent time as a volunteer radio producer), so I made the decision to quit. My boss couldn’t believe I would give up such an amazing job, especially for someone relatively young, so I worried I’d made a mistake.

As it turned out, I got to work with some nicer people and enjoy some different experiences, including freelance writing, some travel and then, completely unexpectedly was catapulted into the senate as a result of the late Senator John Coulter’s retirement on the grounds of ill health.

Who do you most admire?
When I was in Year 10, I wrote an article for a feminist magazine in South Australia entitled “My Heroines”, all about the women working on the frontline in women’s shelters. To this day, I admire those women, men and non-binary Australians who work every day to keep women and children safe from the scourge that is domestic, family and sexual violence.

What if anything would you like to see change for women in the workplace?
I want cultural change. I’d like to see gender equality genuinely embedded in all workplaces. Zero tolerance for discrimination and people judged on merit, not gender.

What if any are your professional regrets?
I can see now so clearly how as a national leader of a political party I was treated so differently because of my age and gender, as opposed to my expertise and values. I try not to regret my political decisions but I am still disappointed that my leadership became untenable because of people not willing to put the party before themselves. 

Do you make new year’s resolutions and if so what is it?
This year, it will be to be kinder to myself and do everything I can to support my daughter through her final year of school.

If you were elected Prime Minister what is the one thing you would change?
So many things but free education, including ensuring tertiary education is publicly funded and accessible.

What brings you joy?
Music, watching the ballet, reading and my family and friends. 

I have learned especially in the past year that the sisterhood is real. I have never felt so supported by friends, especially women.