Education: Elise Stephenson

“Education is multidimensional. It is learning from our parents and siblings, friends and community. It is institutions and schools and universities. It is observation and it is practice. But in order for education to reach all women, men, girls, boys and non-binary folk everywhere, it must meet them where they are. Teach in language and in lore and in land. Communicate with communities on their level and in their time, and walk beside them in the pursuit of their rights, interests, needs and future. WOW is that education community many of us have lost. It allows us to tap into our power of self-determination – it gives us the freedom to be you, and the freedom to be me.”

Elise Stephenson is a 28-year-old award-winning social entrepreneur and researcher at Griffith University, Australia. Co-founder of queer feminist creative agency, Social Good Outpost, she is passionate about creating future-proof societies. Elise is curator of the Youth Entrepreneurs & Leaders Speaker Series, bringing Australian social change to global audiences across topics such as domestic violence, climate change and environmental sustainability, gender equality, LGBTI+ inclusion, and more. Elise is recognised as one of 25 ‘Young Women to Watch’ in international affairs, one of Boston Consulting Group’s ‘30 Under 30 LGBTI+ Role Models’, and was awarded a United Nations Australia Association award for her pioneering work in LGBTI+ domestic violence prevention.