Three Indian-origin women will represent Australia at this year’s G20 Youth Summit in Washington D.C., making up the majority of the country’s five-member delegation.
Isha Desai, Madura Katta and Riya Rao were selected through a competitive national process by Global Voices, which prepares young Australians for international policy engagement.
The summit, known as the Y20, is the official youth engagement arm of the G20 Leaders’ Summit and feeds policy recommendations directly to world leaders.
The trio will take on key negotiation roles across major global challenges, including economic reform, job creation, food security, global health, and conflict resolution.
Desai, who is negotiating on the global economy and job creation track, is currently researching gig worker rights and housing affordability in Australia.
A politics and international relations student at the University of Sydney, she is also developing a policy brief focused on climate refugees in the Indo-Pacific.
Madura Katta, who is contributing to discussions on food security, disaster preparedness and health financing, developed an early interest in global inequities after moving from Bengaluru to Canada as a child.
She completed a Bachelor of Science at the University of British Columbia before pursuing a Master of Public Health at the University of Queensland, focusing on system-level public health solutions.
As part of her work with Global Voices, she is also drafting a policy brief on reducing exposure to unhealthy foods to improve dietary outcomes in Australia.
Rao, a student at the University of New South Wales, will contribute to discussions on fragility, conflict and violence. Growing up in Sydney’s west, she said her experiences shaped her commitment to ensuring underrepresented voices are included in policymaking.
Her fieldwork in Vanuatu on a Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade-funded project further influenced her focus on community-led solutions and policy communication.
Earlier this year, the delegates met in Canberra, where they engaged with representatives from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet, and the Human Rights Commissioner, preparing for the negotiations ahead.
The strong representation of Indian-origin Australians reflects broader demographic trends, with the community projected to become one of the largest in the country within the next decade. For the delegates, it also signals a shift from participation to leadership in shaping both national and global conversations.
Founded in 2011, Global Voices has supported young Australians to attend major international forums, including the International Monetary Fund, World Health Assembly and United Nations meetings, helping build the next generation of policy leaders.
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