What are you working on?
Jasiri Australia is the world’s first pay it forward self-defence and leadership organisation. As Jasiri Aus, we’re working to create a world where all girls, women, and LGBTQIA members of our community have the confidence to live fearlessly.
We have three programs
1. Our pay it forward self-defence classes, where for every spot purchased in a class a spot is paid forward to a survivor of gender-based violence through our partnership with Beryl Women’s Shelter
2. Our Trailblazer program, which is a leadership and development program for Culturally and Linguistically Diverse women aged under 25 here in the ACT, and
3. Our Girls Takeover Parliament program, which focuses on bridging the opportunity gap by creating the space for young women to enter politics by enabling them to “take over” the office of an elected official for the day.

Why is innovation important to you?
Innovation allows us to continuously engage in problem solving but in new and varied ways. It’s fair to assume that, if a problem continues to persist, we haven’t found the right solution, so what better way to do that than innovating?! Innovation is a crucial way to create the world that we want to live in.

What drives you to make a difference?
To put it simply, I’m not happy with the status quo. I’m not happy with a world where women are still fighting for equality across all areas, and I love working with the community to be part of that change.

Do you have any advice for getting more women into the innovation ecosystem?
Surround yourself with cheerleaders! It’s okay not to have all the answers straight away, but make sure you’re surrounded with people who will help you develop your idea and who will encourage you to be your best. Don’t settle for anything less!