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About Global Voices
Youth Led, Non-Partisan, Not-For-Profit
Global Voices is a youth-led Australian not-for-profit committed to developing the next generation of leaders by providing practical experience in policymaking, international relations, and diplomacy.
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We are a non-partisan and non-advocacy organisation committed to providing opportunities for young people to understand the mechanics of domestic and global decision-making
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Since our founding in 2011, we have supported hundreds of young people to participate in our Fellowship Program and attend dozens of international summits, including at the United Nations, OECD, World Bank, IMF and Y20.
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Our Fellowship Program has become an integral part of student enrichment and outward mobility programs for dozens of universities and philanthropic groups across Australia.
Our Executive Team
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Elly Hanrahan
Chief Executive Officer
Passionate about all things environment and social justice, Elly (she/her) graduated from Monash University with a Bachelor of Advanced Science (Environment) with honours in Global Challenges in 2018.​ Elly has been a passionate advocate for the environment since she was a teen, with experience leading the Victorian branch of the Australian Youth Climate Coalition, completing internships with Solar Citizens, the North Queensland Conservation Council, and Gecko Environment during her university days.​ She now works at the Victorian Department of Energy Environment and Climate Action as a Policy Advisor and holds an active response role as a forest firefighter.​ Elly was a COP27 Fellow and loved it so much she decided to join the Global Voices team as a staff member!
Indigo Atkinson
Chief Operating Officer
After working as a fisheries observer first in New Zealand and then in Australia, Indigo (she/her) decided to shift her focus to policy and diplomacy. She is now in her final year of her Bachelors of Politics, Philosophy and Economics. Indigo has a breadth of interests spanning fisheries policy to the economics of climate adaptation to the history of political change. Underpinning her interests is the core value to build communities of change-makers at the local and global level. ​Outside of work, she enjoys freediving, ocean swimming and a good, gluten-free sweet treat. As a fun fact, she learned to solve a rubics cube when she sailed across the Pacific Ocean – and can teach you how to solve it, too!
Tahlia Moffatt
Communications Manager
Tahlia is a communications professional with a background in political campaigns and trade unions - currently working in the peace/anti-war field. She is passionate about the power of storytelling in shaping public discourse and driving collective action. With a deep commitment to youth empowerment, she believes young people must have a seat at every table where decisions are made about their futures. Tahlia holds an honors degree in International Relations, having completed a thesis on the role of new media technologies in shaping war discourse and knowledge production surrounding conflicts.
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Helena Jordan
Policy Manager
Helena has supported organisations working within areas of impact investing, gender based violence, refugee services and affordable housing, both domestically and internationally. Outside of work Helena pursues her mission for social impact by contributing to board and volunteer positions, while studying Auslan. Helena holds a double Bachelors in Arts and Global Studies and a Masters in Public Policy. She currently works as a public servant at the Victorian Department of Premier and Cabinet and is the board Co-Chair of Women with Disabilities Victoria.
Ben Chesler
Policy Manager
Ben (he/him) is a public servant, volunteer, and playwright. He has worked on policy ranging from energy efficiency to political finance. Prior to this, he worked in the disability and aged care sectors, and even had a stint inspecting recycling bins. In both his work and volunteering, Ben is driven to do good and provide service to his community. He now looks forward to mentoring the next generation of talented policymakers and community leaders. When he’s not working on policy, you can find Ben camping, writing, and hosting a radio show on PBS FM 106.7 in Melbourne.
Mary Pilkinton
Delegations Manager
Mary (she/her) has worked in the youth and climate sector, and is currently the Programs Manager at Climate for Change. Prior to this, she supported young people who are in a caring role in various roles at Little Dreamers. Having grown up as a Young Carer, Mary is passionate about applying her lived experience in her work. Mary studied a Bachelor of Science (Human Geography) at the University of Wollongong. She brought together her passions in her honours thesis, which explored the wellbeing benefits of nature spaces for young people with intellectual disabilities. Mary enjoys travel, urban bird-watching, and singing in community choirs.
Aletana Ajulo
Delegations Manager
Aletana is a practitioner in national security and human rights. She is a passionate advocate for youth empowerment, anti-racism and building cultural literacy. She brings a wealth of experience from youth NGOs such as Oaktree, Headspace and Young Australians in International Affairs. She was a 2024 FECCA youth scholar, has co-authored a piece for the Australian Strategic Policy Institute, is a Board member for Toora Women Inc and currently works at the Australian Human Rights Commission in their Race Discrimination team. Aletana holds a Bachelor of International Security Studies and a Bachelor of Science (Psychology) from ANU. In Global Voices, Aletana is excited to support and mentor the future generation of Australian leaders.
Kelsey McGowan
Delegations Manager
Kelsey (she/her) holds a Bachelor of Social Work (Honours), Bachelor of Social Sciences (Psychology) and a Masters of Human Rights Law. She is currently the Senior Human Rights Advocate at Youth Disability Advocacy Service, a core agency of the Youth Affairs Council of Victoria, and previous Board Director and Chair of the Diversity and Inclusion Committee at UN Youth Australia. Kelsey has varied experience across youth and human rights sectors, including in legal, education, international affairs, disability and mental health. ​As a Social Worker and Human Rights Advocate, Kelsey is passionate about empowering young people with the opportunities and resources to learn about and lead in the solutions to both local and global issues affecting their lives. In particular Kelsey believes in the power of diverse voices and lived experience in decision making and advocacy.
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Amber Anderson
Delegations Manager
Amber (she/her) is a foreign policy practitioner and is passionate about including youth in decision making. She is an advocate for Australia’s engagement with the Indo-Pacific, sparked by a stint living in Indonesia. She has had many opportunities to do just that through her work in government, community organisations and as a UNICEF Ambassador. During university, Amber interned at the Perth USAsia Centre and the Australian Embassy, Indonesia in Jakarta. She holds a Bachelor of Philosophy from The University of Western Australia (UWA), and completed her Honours dissertation in education policy. Amber was a Y20 Fellow and is excited to support other young Australians to have amazing experiences in international policy.
Our Board
Billi McCarthy-Price
Originally from picturesque Esperance, W.A., Billi McCarthy-Price is a Clinical Psychologist registrar, currently working at Open Arms Melbourne supporting the mental health and wellbeing of active military personnel, veterans, and their families.
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Billi has held previous positions as the former-CEO of Global Voices from 2018-2020, at youth mental health organisation Orygen developing policy and advice to government, at Victoria Police implementing their 2016 Mental Health Review recommendations, and within the Department of Defence supporting Australia’s military strategy and domestic and international strategic wargames.
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Billi has participated in the prestigious US International Visitor Leadership Program, Victorian Government’s Women’s Board Leadership Program, Pathways for Politics Program for Women, and most recently the Victorian Women in Security Program. She is a member of the Australian Psychological Society, the Australian Institute of Company Directors, and the Melbourne United States Consulate-General Youth Advisory Council.
Billi completed combined Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science (Hons) degrees, at the University of Western Australia and Sciences Po, Grenoble. She completed a Master of Clinical Psychology at Deakin University, where her thesis topic explored the impacts of an Australian youth surf therapy program on its participants.
Joyce Zhang
Joyce Zhang is a lawyer working primarily with government clients to support commercial contracting and grants processes.
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Moving to Canberra to study in 2017 broadened Joyce’s understanding of the machinery of government – the process of how political priorities are implemented via law and policy. ​ Prior to private practice, Joyce held public service roles in both Commonwealth and Territory governments in legal policy and administrative decision-making. She was part of the team delivering the ACT Attorney-General’s commitment to raise the minimum age of criminal responsibility in the Territory.
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When not battling emails or reviewing documents, Joyce prefers to enjoy minimal screentime on multi-day hikes and the company of a good novel.
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Joyce holds a Bachelor of Laws (Honours) and a Bachelor of Arts from the Australian National University. During her studies, she had the good fortune to be provided the opportunity to participate in the ‘Girls Run the World’ program.
Kyle Reeve
Originally from Adelaide, Kyle is a Canberra-based public servant with a diverse background spanning international economics, public policy, and frontline social services. He currently works at the Commonwealth Treasury, focusing on international economics and security.
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Before joining the public service, Kyle worked in the community services sector as a qualified social worker and youth worker. His work focused on supporting Indigenous Australians experiencing homelessness, children in government care, and newly arrived refugees and asylum seekers. Kyle has also worked internationally with non-government organisations in Brazil and Hong Kong. During this time, Kyle also worked for the United Nations Association of Australia as an editor.
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He holds undergraduate degrees in Social Work and International Relations from the University of South Australia, and a Master of Public Administration from the Australian National University. Whilst attending the University of South Australia, Kyle participated in a Global Voices delegation to the Commission on the Status of Women in New York.