‘Courage to put yourself out there with no certainty of success’: Meet the Trailblazers

This story is part of the March 9 edition of Sunday Life.See all 13 stories.

From climate activists holding the government to account to Hollywood stars defying stereotypes, and from sporting heroes to a renowned researcher, here are the 10 change-makers and rule-breakers who have inspired us.

Anjali Sharma, climate activist

Anjali Sharma was only 15 when she gained national attention as one of the lead plaintiffs in a landmark 2021 Federal Court case against the Australian government, arguing that the minister for the environment (then Sussan Ley) had a duty of care to protect young people from the harmful effects of climate change when approving fossil fuel projects.

Although the court initially ruled in the plaintiffs’ favour – a victory for Sharma and her team – the decision was later overturned on appeal. Since then, she’s continued to be a passionate and determined voice in the fight for climate justice, using her platform to raise awareness about the urgent need for climate action and environmental protection.

Sharma, now 20, is not only a trailblazer for her legal advocacy but also for her ability to inspire others to take action. She continues to be an outspoken advocate for sustainability and environmental justice, representing a new wave of youth-led activism that seeks bold, meaningful change in the face of climate challenges. She speaks with Sunday Life about her journey so far.

What accomplishment are you most proud of?
I’m most proud of the support that the team and I have been able to build for our Duty of Care campaign. We recently sent an open letter, signed by more than 50 prominent individuals and organisations, to the federal government calling on it to legislate a duty of care. Signatories include Emma McKeon, Australia’s most decorated Olympian, former leader of the federal Liberal Party John Hewson, five former Australians of the Year, a Nobel laureate, current and previous politicians, athletes, musicians, businesses, unions and organisations. I’m proud of the way we’ve been able to demonstrate that a duty of care to current and future generations in the face of climate change isn’t a niche or super-radical thing to ask for. Rather, it’s supported by people all around Australia and all around the world, people from all walks of life.

What would you still like to achieve?
As the law stands, there is no legislation that specifically addresses or acknowledges the intergenerational impacts of climate change. We know that as climate change and climate disaster increases in frequency and severity, it is future generations that will be worst impacted, and yet no Australian law seeks to put safeguards from these impacts in place. Our ultimate goal is for legislation that fills this policy gap. We want something concrete in law that will ensure that our health and wellbeing are core considerations when decisions are made about climate change.

What is the best advice you’ve received?
If people don’t find anything to criticise in your message, they criticise you. This is something I’ve had to keep in mind since the first time I fronted national media at 15, and the first time I discovered the racism and sexism that come with being a young activist of colour. It affected me a lot initially, but over time I’ve come to realise that people use my skin colour and gender as a mechanism to hurt me because they struggle to find faults in my core message – that young people deserve to be protected in the face of climate change.

Anjali Sharma first rose to national attention as the 15-year-old lead litigant in a class action on climate change against the federal government.Credit: Michele Aboud

Who inspires you?
The Duty of Care campaign team is me and three other amazing young women – Jess Travers-Wolf, Hannah Vardy and Daisy Jeffrey. They are the people who inspire me the most. I am constantly in awe of the way they juggle uni and part-time jobs with the advocacy we do. They are amazing communicators with creative minds, and so incredibly passionate. They inspire me to keep going on the hardest days, through the biggest setbacks, and the campaign wouldn’t be where it is today without their incredible dedication.

How can people get involved in climate action?
There are groups everywhere looking for people who have the time and energy to get involved. There’s Australian Youth Climate Coalition, for one, and many local councils have their own climate action groups – I know mine does. Online, you can follow these groups and join their events and discussions. But beyond that, you can always help with organising events, writing letters or petitions and meeting with key decision makers. You are so needed in the climate action space, especially in the lead-up to the federal election. GQ

Ash Barty & Evonne Goolagong Cawley, tennis grand slam winners

They say never meet your heroes, but the bond between Indigenous tennis legends Evonne Goolagong Cawley and Ash Barty has arguably inspired some of the sport’s greatest moments in the modern era. It’s also inspired toy maker Mattel to recognise their impact, and relationship, with a pair of Barbie dolls (other Australians with dolls styled after them include Julie Bishop and Kylie Minogue).

“What really made the relationship with Evonne so easy is that she always made me feel so welcome,” says 28-year-old Barty, who retired from professional tennis in 2022. “We really don’t talk tennis a lot of the time … it’s about connection … finding common interests, being open with each other.”

Barty, who spent 121 weeks as the world No.1 during her tennis career, says it was an honour to have a Barbie in her image. And while she didn’t play with the dolls as a child, she can see how much they mean to her three nieces. “That’s kind of the spark that you want,” she says. “You want to see in young kids all around the nation, all around the world … an opportunity to discover what their dreams are through creativity and curiosity.”

The details in the dolls also reflect the impact each woman has had on the other since they met 13 years ago, when Barty was a teen prodigy: Barty’s Barbie wears the outfit she wore when she won Wimbledon in 2021, itself a replica of Goolagong Cawley’s from her Wimbledon win in 1971. And Goolagong Cawley’s doll sports the look she wore when presenting Barty with the women’s singles trophy at the 2022 Australian Open.

Barbie maker Mattel has honoured Ash Barty (left) and Evonne Goolagong Cawley with one-off dolls in their likenesses.Credit: Nic Morley

“[Winning Wimbledon] was a really iconic moment in my career,” Barty says. “It felt natural to have that [outfit] as part of the storytelling.”

Having a Barbie in her likeness, adds Goolagong Cawley, “is better than any other trophy”.

Barty has had numerous idols and role models through her career, but she credits her mother, Josie, and older sisters Sara and Ali with instilling in her the values of respect, kindness and generosity.

“That led me into following or nurturing those relationships as I’ve become an adult and … Evonne was absolutely second to none in all of those [qualities],” she says.

Similarly, Goolagong Cawley, 73, lists her mother and sister among her idols. “Whenever I’d go and play tournaments, my mum used to wave and say, ‘Bye, have a lovely day.’ And then when I’d come back, all she’d ask was, ‘Did you have a lovely day?’”

This focus on enjoyment, rather than the outcome, is something Goolagong Cawley passionately wants to instil in the Indigenous youth she supports through her namesake foundation. “We have [helped to produce] lawyers, teachers, coaches, so they’re an inspiration to me, too,” she says.

Asked for three words to describe her hero, Barty chooses generous, humble and kind. “They’re probably not words you’d use to describe too many athletes,” says Barty. “They’re probably more personal words, but they reflect the way she behaved on the court, too.”

Of their relationship, Barty says: “[Evonne and I] really don’t talk tennis a lot of the time … it’s about connection … finding common interests, being open with each other.”Credit: AP

As a role model herself, Barty says it’s been important to show some vulnerability as well as celebrate her successes. “I saw vulnerability for a long time as a weakness, and now I see it as [an] opportunity … to grow, to become better, to set a better example.”

Being a trailblazer, says Barty, is about “having the courage to actually go and put yourself out there with no certainty of success. [As an athlete] I fell down plenty of times, but I was able to pick myself up and learn from it.” MS

Hannah Ferguson, CEO of Cheek Media

If the recent US election showed us anything, it’s that social media can play a defining role in political campaigns. This isn’t news to Hannah Ferguson, who is leading the way in speaking to young voters through her company, Cheek Media. The 26-year-old’s whip-smart Instagram account tackles subjects at the intersection of feminist, social and political issues.

“I wanted to deliver the kind of content and writing and delivery on social media that I wished I had when I was 15 or 16, and was starting to engage with this stuff,” she has said. “I wanted to be the thing I needed as a young person.”

Through Cheek Media, Hannah Ferguson is carving a new path for political coverage that resonates with young people.

Ferguson strikes a balance between heavy topics and humour, creating a space that treats issues affecting women with seriousness while also injecting levity – it’s common to find a quirky meme next to a thought-provoking opinion. She is redefining the intersection of media and politics in the modern age, empowering young women to develop informed opinions about the forces that shape their world. GQ

G Flip, musician

From the drum kit to the global stage, G Flip (born Georgia Flipo in Melbourne) first made waves in 2018 with their breakout single About You, followed it up with their 2019 debut album About Us, then solidified their status as a force in the music industry with their 2023 album, Drummer.

Beyond their undeniable talent, G Flip is an outspoken advocate for LGBTQ+ representation, proudly embracing their non-binary identity and using their platform to inspire others. Offstage, the 31-year-old has been open about their personal life, including their relationship with Selling Sunset star Chrishell Stause. The couple’s whirlwind romance and surprise 2023 wedding made headlines.

Musician G Flip has become a new homegrown role model for non-binary youth.Credit: Louise Kennerley

Whether it’s music, love or self-expression, G Flip continues to break barriers. “The journey to being your authentic self is never easy with the world’s judgment, but just stay true to yourself, because you’re beautiful,” they’ve said – and the world is definitely listening. GQ

Geraldine Viswanathan, actor

Born in Newcastle, NSW, to a Swiss mother and an Indian father, Geraldine Viswanathan grew up embracing the blend of cultures that have shaped her creativity. From a young age, the now 29-year-old was drawn to performing, first in school plays, then pursuing acting as a career. But work didn’t come easily in Viswanathan’s home country.

“I was told that I can’t play Australian,” Viswanathan recently said. “Like, in audition rooms, they’d tell me, ‘Well, you can’t play Australian.’ I’d be like, ‘Why not? I’m the f–ing most Newcastle bitch you’ll ever meet, I promise you!’ It was confusing. So I was just like, ‘OK, I’ll go to LA then.’”

Geraldine Viswanathan moved to Los Angeles after struggling to get roles in Australia.Credit: Louie Douvis

Sure enough, she found success in the US, bursting onto the scene with her role as Kayla in the 2018 movie Blockers, where her comedic chops made her an instant standout. But it was Viswanathan’s role in the 2019 drama Hala, tackling complex themes of identity and family, that showed her depth.

Off-screen, Viswanathan comes across as refreshingly real. She’s spoken openly about the importance of representation in media, and her determination to embrace roles that reflect diverse experiences. She’s not just a rising star, but a relatable one, too. GQ

Georgina Long, oncologist

Georgina Long – oncologist, academic and the joint Australian of the Year in 2024 – is renowned for her groundbreaking research into melanoma, with her work leading to significant improvements in treatment and survival rates for patients with advanced skin cancer.

Beyond her scientific accomplishments, Long is known for her compassionate approach to patient care, combining cutting-edge treatment with empathy. “The most important thing for me is giving them hope and making their journey as stress-free as possible,” the 54-year-old told Good Weekend magazine in August 2024.

Georgina Long was the joint 2024 Australian of the Year, and continues to inspire with her cancer-research work.Credit: Tim Bauer

Her work continues to inspire both her colleagues and the many lives she has helped save. But she’s also an outstanding role model for young women in STEM. Her advice? “My one thing would be to say, ‘You’re creative, you have fantastic ideas and don’t let anyone make you think otherwise.’ I grew up in the ’80s and it took me decades to realise, ‘Actually, I have great ideas.’” GQ

Shannon Martinez, chef and champion of veganism

Loud and brash are not words one traditionally associates with vegan cooking – until Shannon Martinez became the rock’n’roll face of the genre (even though she’s not fully vegan herself).

Martinez’s no-BS “messy queen” aesthetic – she despises over-styled cookbooks, for a start – has endeared her to fans of her Melbourne venues, Lona Misa and Smith & Daughters, not to mention readers of her four cookbooks, and resulted in hotel residencies in Sydney as well as her home town. She also inspired thousands of women with cancer, battling the disease valiantly (and publicly) during the COVID-19 pandemic while keeping all of her 52 staff in a job.

Chef Shannon Martinez has helped change people’s perceptions of a vegan (or vegan-curious) diet. Credit: Joe Armao

Now, the 42-year-old Spanish-Australian is becoming a cost-of-living hero with her celebration of frugal cooking – she also sports a “Never pay full price” tattoo. She even pivoted one of her venues to elevate snacking over a more straitjacketed fixed-menu format.

As the hospitality industry continues to tackle cultural issues – particularly the treatment of workers, often by older patriarchs – it clearly needs more strong women like Martinez to take the lead. MS

Sam Mostyn, governor-general

To borrow from Gilbert and Sullivan, Sam Mostyn is the very model of a modern governor-general. For starters, before allowing Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to nominate her as the Crown’s representative in Canberra, a role she took up last July, she insisted on consulting her family, including her 20-something daughter, Lotte.

Governor-General Sam Mostyn, pictured on Remembrance Day in 2024, is bringing a fresh energy to the role.Credit: Alex Ellinghausen

Before arriving at Admiralty House on the shores of Sydney Harbour, 59-year-old Mostyn worked as a lawyer, policy adviser, business executive, social justice advocate and sports administrator, playing a key role in the formation of the women’s AFL. But she was already campaigning for equality for women at 16, when she began university, and early in her legal career, when she realised her male colleagues were receiving better pay and benefits.

A refreshing face in a job that can sometimes seem mired in pomp, Mostyn has admitted to bouts of imposter syndrome in her career but has this sage advice: “Just keep saying yes.” MS

Bobbi Lockyer, artist

Talk about smashing stereotypes. Bobbi Lockyer, a Ngarluma, Kariyarra, Nyul Nyul and Yawuru woman from WA’s Pilbara region is a rising star on the art circuit who has pink hair, is a mother to four boys, and, in her own words, “couldn’t think of anything worse than grey walls and fitting inside the box”.

Lockyer’s technicolour style has earned accolades that include being the NAIDOC Artist of the Year in 2021, and the 38-year-old’s work has featured on the runways of Paris and New York. This summer, Lockyer’s designs appeared under the Christmas trees of many Australians after she partnered with cosmetics powerhouse Mecca on its festive packaging. Her work was also featured at the Australian Open tennis in January.

Bobbi Lockyer shines a light on issues facing Indigenous women through her art.Credit: Getty Images

Through her art, Lockyer raises awareness about issues close to her heart, including domestic violence (she has spoken about leaving an abusive relationship before meeting her current husband, Zach), birth trauma and racism. The fusion of art with important social justice issues? We love that. MS

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