Kate Row and Emily Smith are the two extraordinary Aussie young women who are today pinching themselves with disbelief having been named as winners of The Queen’s Young Leaders Award.
This is an inspirational new initiative established by The Queen Elizabeth Diamond Jubilee Trust to find and mentor the Commonwealth’s most promising young leaders.
Each year until 2018, 60 young people are being selected from the thousands of entries received from all over the Commonwealth and in June, Emily, 23, from Sydney and Kate, 22, from Brisbane, will travel to Buckingham Palace to be presented with their awards by Her Majesty The Queen.
They will then head off for a week-long residential program in London and at Cambridge University along with the 58 other winners from across the Commonwealth and receive bespoke mentoring in persona and online throughout the coming year, care of this inspirational royal initiative.
Kate, who is currently doing her Masters in International Public Health at the University of Queensland and is a Young Ambassador for UNICEF in the field of child rights, is also passionate about enhancing the opportunities for people with disabilities.
Kate Row.
“Everyone deserves to have a full life, no matter what bodies you have,” she tells The Weekly.
Kate heard about the awards from the various international organisations she works with and was blown away when she received the news saying she had won.
“I am incredibly overwhelmed,” she says. “It’s very humbling and will be a great opportunity to soak up as much as I can from this experience and fast track the opportunities for children in Australia.”
Emily Smith (far right) supporting the ‘Free To Be Me’ campaign.
Emily is a community and Girl Guide leader, working on projects around gender-based violence, body image, self–esteem and disabilities. She was chosen to attend the United Nation’s Commission on the Status of Women and now works to implement its Voices against Violence program among Girl Guide groups.
“It inspires and empowers girls to be change makers in their communities, taking action for a better world,” says Emily . She was also involved in the Free Being Me campaign which promotes body-confidence and self-esteem.
“The leadership of talented young people in all spheres of life can transform communities and societies for the better. What the 60 young people announced today have achieved is remarkable and their plans for the future are truly inspiring. The Queen’s Young Leaders Programme is poised to unlock the potential of this diverse and talented group of young people,” said Dr Astrid Bonfield, Chief Executive of The Queen Elizabeth Diamond Jubilee Trust.
