2026 UN Women Australia

Congratulations, Anojii Suthakaran!

We are incredibly proud of Anojii, who has been named the national winner for Victoria in the UN Women Australia National Schools Competition 2026!

Her insightful, practical and thoughtful approach to climate action in the Asia-Pacific stood out among a very strong field of applications, which is a truly outstanding achievement.

As part of her prize, Anojii was presented with a certificate on stage at the UN Women Australia International Women's Day event on Wednesday 4 March at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre.

I was honoured to be selected as the 2026 Victorian National Schools Competition winner for UN Women Australia, a program that invites Years 10–12 students from across ACT, QLD, NSW, SA, VIC, and WA to explore the intersection of climate justice and gender equality. The challenge was to imagine being a senior decision-maker in Australia, supporting initiatives across the Asia-Pacific that empower women while addressing climate change. For me, it was an incredible opportunity to think deeply about solutions that could make a real difference for communities most affected by climate impacts.

As part of the prize, I attended the International Women’s Day Lunch at the Melbourne Exhibition Centre, a remarkable event celebrating women leaders and young changemakers. The afternoon featured a welcome from Her Excellency the Hon Sam Mostyn AC, insights from UN Women Australia CEO Simone Clarke, a keynote by Jennifer Robinson, and a panel discussion with Tanya Hosch AM, Jeremy Meltzer, and Mannie Kaur Verma. 

It was extremely inspiring to see how collaboration and leadership are shaping the future of climate action and gender equality.

This experience not only allowed me to present my vision but also connected me with incredible leaders and like-minded individuals. I am excited to take up the two-week remote work experience with UN Women Australia later this year, further exploring how young voices can drive change. Being part of this competition has motivated me to continue advocating for solutions that create a more equitable and sustainable world.

Anojii Suthakaran

Year 11