We are touched by each other, we dream to be better, to be brave, have courage, dream big and stand up and be counted.
We have a chance to do something for ourselves and for our children.
Meet the women changing the face of our world.
AS WOMEN AND MOTHERS REMEMBER WE CAN HAVE IT ALL,
JUST NOT ALL AT THE SAME TIME.
TRACEY SPICER
Tracey Spicer needs no introduction!
When you meet Tracey Spicer, you are immediately taken back by her photographic perfection and the moment she opens her mouth the room is silent and you listen.
She is a Mother and Journalist who is down to earth, thoughtful in her speech and has a world of experience and integrity in her ingrained into her.
She is a women on your team, someone who barracks for others success and is always there to offer her guidance and experiences to better others.
She is a highly skilled Journalist and role model.
You simply can't be left untouched and all the better after meeting her.
See Tracey's TED talk and you will be changed.
MADDISON CLARE
That smile breaks hearts, Meet Miss International Australia of 2014.
Maddison Clare is a girl who beams greatness and gets through life with a contagious giggle.
Known for her ability to take breath taking photos, she is also a truly beautiful spirit who is in the midst of a great adventure as Miss International Australia.
Maddison grew up on property around the Blue Mountains and dreams of a life full of fun, sun and spiritual adventure to which she is living out every day.
Its a joy to share her journey and be touched by her passion for life.
SARAH WARD
Maritime Archaeologist / Director, ArchaeoMar Australasia
Educated at the University of Southampton, Sarah is a qualified maritime archaeologist and commercial diver with 13 years of experience in coastal and marine cultural heritage, developed whilst working numerous projects in over a dozen countries across the UK, Europe, Australia, Asia and Oceania and the Pacific.
Meeting Sarah Ward changed my life, not only did I never imagine having anything in common with someone with so many degrees, I didn't ever imagine a women stepping bravely where no man or women has stepped for hundreds of years.
She is adventurous, brave, devine in everyday possible and she has stories that can not be topped or made up.
We say the sky is this limit, we Sarah is already into space and learning more about her reminds you how diverse and special we all are.
SAFFRON MEADE
Meet Saffron Meade, I chose this picture of her because it gorgeous and it demonstrates how brave she is and how open her heart is to new experiences,
Not only is Saffron a talented graphic designers, she is an incredible and shinning example of Motherhood and immerses herself with love and passion into her community, family and her work.
Saffron will be joining me each Saturday on my program in 2014 and I consider her one of my greatest assets to my team.
Started her design career working for a multimeadia/website company designing websites and doing company brandings. After 7 years of employment as Art Director for this studio, she decided to go out on her own and start up Avenue De Flaunt : Graphic Design.
Avenue De Flaunt started in 2005 as a small studio with a handful of clients and now is a buzzing studio with 2 designers and 2 web developers on hand with lots of clients that often require ongoing design/marketing and printing.
Saffron's passion for design and ethics would be her main difference from other design studios. She really enjoys helping a new business start from scratch or helping a client re-establish their business and give it fresh life.
Saffron's passion for design and ethics would be her main difference from other design studios. She really enjoys helping a new business start from scratch or helping a client re-establish their business and give it fresh life.
"CHARISMA AND PASSION"
Aimee Atkins
What a delight to meet Aimee Atkins!
She has simply had the most amazing career in the Australian entertainment industry, which all started from a childhood dream to play Dorothy the Dinosaur and once Aimee achieved this first mile stone nothing would stop her.
She is spirited, beautiful and an absolute delight to chat with. You really can't help but be infected by her warmth and excitement for children.
Her passion will drive her to endless successes and it's exciting to watch her bright future unfold.
I know you will enjoy my interview with her as much as you will enjoy her books.
For the past 14 years Aimee has worked in the children's entertainment industry, in both television and live productions. She has developed live shows, choreographing, performing and managing staff on tours with the ABC and The Wiggles. She was once Dorothy the Dinosaur, and has since worked with the ABC choreographing brands such as Dirtgirlworld, Bananas in Pajamas and Fifi and the Flowertots
"INTELLIGENCE AND LEADERSHIP"
Anita Haidary
Young Women for Change (YWC), founded in April 2011, is an independent non-profit organization consisting of dozens of volunteer women and male advocates across Afghanistan who are committed to empowering Afghan women and improving their lives through social and economical participation, political empowerment, awareness and advocacy.
YWC was co-founded by Noorjahan Akbar and Anita Haidary.
YWC was co-founded by Noorjahan Akbar and Anita Haidary.
Vision
Members of Young Women for Change are committed to promoting gender equality, empowering women and increasing Afghan women's social participation.
Members of Young Women for Change are committed to promoting gender equality, empowering women and increasing Afghan women's social participation.
What makes YWC different?
YWC is one of the premier Afghan women’s advocacy movements founded by Afghan women for Afghan women. We are a growing grassroots feminist movement with a long-term vision for women in Afghanistan. It was established to empower women across the country and recruit them to the struggle for gender equality. YWC members are all volunteers.
In addition to awareness programs, we have held the very first anti-street harassment march in Afghan history, and will be conducting the first ever large-scale study of sexual harassment in Afghanistan soon.
We also work towards women's empowerment and increasing their access to education.
YWC is one of the premier Afghan women’s advocacy movements founded by Afghan women for Afghan women. We are a growing grassroots feminist movement with a long-term vision for women in Afghanistan. It was established to empower women across the country and recruit them to the struggle for gender equality. YWC members are all volunteers.
In addition to awareness programs, we have held the very first anti-street harassment march in Afghan history, and will be conducting the first ever large-scale study of sexual harassment in Afghanistan soon.
We also work towards women's empowerment and increasing their access to education.
Anita Haidary, like other young Afghans, has experienced more in her 19 years than many of us do in a lifetime.
Anita Haidary was born in Kabul in August 1992 - four months after the creation of the Islamic State of Afghanistan, following the fall of the Soviet-backed Najibullah government.
At that time, Afghanistan had an interim government and the whole country was in a state of unsettled transition, with attrocities being committed by different factions.
In 1994, the Taliban took power in several provinces in southern and central Afghanistan.
On 27th September, 1996, the Taliban seized Kabul.
Notoriously, in regions under Taliban control, they imposed their political and judicial interpretation of Islam - forbidding women to work outside the home, attend school, or to leave their homes unless accompanied by a male relative.
While trying to gain further control, the Taliban committed systematic massacres against civilians, according to an extensive UN report.
When Anita was six years old, in 1998, her father - like many in the region - had to flee the country overnight. A month later, Anita followed with her mother and siblings, to start a new life in Pakistan.
In 2001, following the 9/11 attrocities, the U.S. and British air forces began bombing al-Qaeda and Taliban targets inside Afghanistan. Meanwhile, NATO, the European Union, Canada and India played a major role in the reconstruction of the country.
In 2003, her family felt it was safe to return to Afghanistan. Anita and her sisters and brother had to again adapt to new schools and a change in culture and language.
Some of Anita's high schooling took place in California, as part of the Future Leader Exchange Program (FLEX) and Youth Exchange and Study (YES) Program. She then returned to Afghanistan to finish high school in Kabul.
Anita went on to set up Young Women for Change (YWC) - together withNoorjahan Akbar - a movement of young Afghan women and men advocating against sexual discrimination and inequality.
Chris Crowstaff asked Anita about her school life in Afghanistan, Pakistan and the USA.
"A MODEL OF STYLE AND SUBSTANCE"
A MOTHER OF FIVE & GRANDMOTHER TO EIGHT.
(born 23 December 1942)
Is the 25th and current Governor-General of Australia (the first woman to hold the position) and former Governor of Queensland.
She attended the University of Queensland, where she completed a Bachelor of Arts and a Bachelor of Laws, becoming one of the first women accepted to the Queensland bar.
In 1968 she became the first woman to be a faculty member of the Law school where she had studied, and in 1978 she joined the new National Women's Advisory Council.
This was followed by a number of positions, including the first director of the Queensland Women's Information Service, the Queensland director of the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission and the Federal Sex Discrimination Commissioner in 1988.
Quentin Bryce’s contribution to advancing human rights and equality, the rights of women and children, and the welfare of the family was recognised in her appointment as an Officer of the Order of Australia in 1988 and a Companion of the Order of Australia in 2003.
On 26 October 2011,
The Queen of Australia invested Bryce as a Commander of the Royal Victorian Order at Government House in Canberra.
Bryce was appointed the Governor of Queensland in 2003. It was announced that Bryce was to become the next Governor-General of Australia.
Becoming the first woman to be the Governor-General.
"FLOURISHING"
Melissa Doyle
Most people think that the taxing part of Melissa Doyle’s job as co-host of the Seven Network’s popular Sunrise program is dragging herself, bleary-eyed and bedraggled, out of bed every weekday at an unspeakably early 3.30am.
Yet that is the easy part, says Melissa. The hard part is trying to be an effective, full-time mother to her two gorgeous children, Nicholas, four, and Talia, 18 months, and keep on top of a high-pressure, high-profile television career.
And with that delicate balancing act in mind, it’s actually the end of Melissa’s day — that forbidding, sometimes frightening period between 4.30pm and 6.30pm, known to weary, nerve-shot parents the world over as "the witching hours" — that is the most demanding and stressful.
That is when she is also expected to do all her preparation for the next morning’s show, after she has often been awake for more than 12 hours, completed three hours of live television and an afternoon caring for her children.
"That’s the real business end of the day at our house," says Melissa, 35, who shares the Sunriseset with co-host, David Koch, every morning, in a highly successful partnership.
"That’s when the kids are tired and fractious, and need to have their dinner, have their baths and get ready for bed, and I need to have my dinner before I take the nightly conference call with the show's producers and other presenters to talk about how we're going to handle the next morning's show and download all my e-mails and do my research and watch the news.
"It's frantic and consistently the most stressful part of our lives, and I really have to be very disciplined for it all to work — I even have a computer in the kitchen, so I can log on while I'm cooking dinner."
That is when she is also expected to do all her preparation for the next morning’s show, after she has often been awake for more than 12 hours, completed three hours of live television and an afternoon caring for her children.
"That’s the real business end of the day at our house," says Melissa, 35, who shares the Sunriseset with co-host, David Koch, every morning, in a highly successful partnership.
"That’s when the kids are tired and fractious, and need to have their dinner, have their baths and get ready for bed, and I need to have my dinner before I take the nightly conference call with the show's producers and other presenters to talk about how we're going to handle the next morning's show and download all my e-mails and do my research and watch the news.
"It's frantic and consistently the most stressful part of our lives, and I really have to be very disciplined for it all to work — I even have a computer in the kitchen, so I can log on while I'm cooking dinner."
Mel is a journalist, author and television presenter, best known to many as the co-host of Australia’s leading breakfast television program, SUNRISE. She has worked as a journalist in the electronic media for over 18 years and has hosted many successful programs and specials throughout her career.
Melissa began her career as a news cadet at WIN Television in Canberra and progressed through the news presenting ranks from Weather Presenter to 6PM News Presenter
at Prime Television as well as continuing her duties as an on the road reporter. She also spent some time on breakfast radio in Canberra.
In 1996 she started with the Seven Network and after a posting as Federal Political Reporter at Parliament House she returned to Sydney and has hosted and/or read the news on several Seven Network programs including a previous incarnation of Sunrise, 11AM, Ansett In Flight News, Sydney Weekender and Today Tonight.
Mel graduated from Charles Sturt University in Bathurst with a Degree in Communications and Broadcast Journalism.
In October 2007, Doyle's first book, The Working Mothers Survival Guide (co-written with Jo Scard), was published by Allen & Unwin. It sold over 10,000 copies in its first print run.
"DEVINE"
Oprah Winfrey
Oprah's favorite color is green.
As of 2007, Oprah Winfrey currently lives on "The Promised Land," a 42 acre ocean and mountain view estate in Montecito,California, outside of Santa Barbara. She bought the property for $50,000,000.
She has been ranked the richest African American of the 20th century.
In 2004, Oprah Winfrey hosted the Nobel Peace Prize Concert with Tom Cruise.
Oprah's mother, Vernita Lee, was a housemaid, and her father, Vernon Winfrey, was a coal miner and a barber before becoming a city councilman.
Oprah Winfrey was once the world's only black billionaire.
At the age of 16, Oprah went to live with her father in Nashville, TN. She became an honor student, joined drama club, and won an oratorical contest.
Oprah Winfrey is not very fond of shoes. Indeed; she prefers walking barefoot.
Raised in abject poverty, Oprah received her first pair of shoes in 1959 at age 6. She learned to read at age 2½.
Oprah Winfrey graduated from Tennessee State University, with a bachelor's degree in Speech and Performing Arts.
She is also, according to some assessments, the most influential woman in the world.
Oprah's favorite book is To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee.
Oprah Winfrey co-founded the women's cable television network Oxygen.
Oprah's name was supposed to be Orpah, however, it was spelled incorrectly on her birth certificate.
One of Oprah's nicknames is "O," which is also the title of her magazine
Oprah Winfrey is 5' 6.5" tall.
"COMPELLING"
Lisa Ling
Television journalist Lisa Ling was born August 30, 1973, in Sacramento, California.At 16 she was selected to host a national student newsmagazine and by 25 was a senior war correspondent, traveling to more than two dozen countries.
By the age of 18, she had become one of the youngest reporters for Channel One News, which serves 8.5 million students in 12,000 high schools nationwide.
Starting out as a reporter for the satellite news service, Ling went on to cover global news. She reported from as many as two dozen countries, including Russia, Cambodia, Algeria, Iran, Iraq, Vietnam, China, Japan, India, Albania, where she covered the bitter civil war and the Kosovo refugee crisis, and the Taliban-controlled Afghanistan. Before the age of 25, Ling was named Channel One's senior war correspondent.
In addition to her full time reporting gig at Channel One, Ling attended the University of Southern California. In 1996, she was part of a joint investigation with Time magazine into a Russian company accused by international agencies of smuggling nuclear weapons.
Lisa Ling has produced eight documentaries for PBS, which aired on the Los Angeles public television station KCET-TV; topics ranged from drug trafficking (she traveled to the Colombian jungle to find cocaine processing labs) to her 13-year-old cousin's unsuccessful struggle with liver cancer.
In early 1999, after several on-air tryouts, Ling was picked from among three finalists to succeed Debbie Matenopoulos as the twenty-something member of the hosting team of television newswomanBarbara Walters' successful daily morning talk show, The View.
Since 2006, Lisa Ling has been the host of National Geographic Explorer.
She is also currently a special correspondent for The Oprah Winfrey Show.
"FOCUSSED"
Meredith Vieira
Born: 30 December 1953
Birthplace: Providence, Rhode Island
Best known as:
Co-host of the Today show, 2006-11
Meredith Vieira is a television journalist whose credits include work on CBS's 60 Minutes and ABC's The View and five years as co-host of NBC's Today show.
Meredith Vieira got her start as a radio news announcer in Worcester, Massachusetts, after graduating with a degree in English from Tufts University (1975).
She was recruited in 1977 by WJAR-TV in Providence, Rhode Island, and her talent for human interest stories quickly earned her a job with WCBS in New York.
She spent three years there before joining the CBS network as a national reporter.
She thrived in TV's news-magazine format and appeared on West 57th (1985-89) before joining 60 Minutes in 1989. Vieira's departure from CBS in 1991 made headlines, with Vieira choosing family over work (CBS wanted her to work full-time, she wanted to work part-time).
Meredith Vieira jumped to ABC and was on the news magazine show Turning Point(1993-97) before giving up her roaming reporter days in 1997 to settle in with Barbara Walters and Star Jones on the daytime chat show The View.
Meredith Vieira jumped to ABC and was on the news magazine show Turning Point(1993-97) before giving up her roaming reporter days in 1997 to settle in with Barbara Walters and Star Jones on the daytime chat show The View.
Vieira did introductions, offered opinions and talked about her husband's battles with multiple sclerosis and cancer, winning viewers with a goofy sense of humor that could sometimes get a teensy bit naughty.
She increased her workload in 2002 when she took over from Regis Philbin as host of the syndicated version of the game show Who Wants To Be A Millionaire. When Katie Couric left Today to become anchor of The CBS Evening News in 2006, Vieira left ABC and took over as Matt Lauer's co-host on Today. She stayed until 8 June 2011, when she stepped down.
Meredith Vieira married Richard M. Cohen, a journalist and news producer, in 1986. They have three children: Benjamin (b. 1989), Gabriel (b. 1991), and Lily (b. 1993).
"DETERMINATION"
Heidi Elizabeth Damon
“I am not the victim,’’ she said during an impassioned five-minute speech. “I am the victor.
“My name is Heidi Elizabeth Damon. I have a name. I have a name that will go on forever. You have a number and the title of the crimes that you've committed. Your name is Sex Offender, Attempted Murderer. Nice to put you away."
Story: 'I am not the victim; I'm the victor,' woman tells attacker
Javon Cooper, 18, pleaded guilty to assaulting Damon, 40, in a Ybor City parking garage in Tampa, Florida on Aug. 19, 2009. He choked her until she passed out in broad daylight at 3 p.m. When Damon regained consciousness, Cooper was running away; her pants and underwear had been removed but she had not been raped. On Dec. 7, in the courtroom where he was sentenced to 15 years in prison followed by 10 years of probation for attempted rape and murder, Damon addressed him directly.
Damon appeared on TODAY Monday to discuss why she chose to make a public speech when many women who are victims of assault often conceal their identities.
“I felt that if I didn’t come out and put my name out there that it would be just another case of someone almost murdered, almost raped, and that it would just kind of be another story that passes by,’’ Damon told Ann Curry. “If I were to just go by Jane Doe, which I did for 2 ½ years up to this point, I think that people would be more apt to forget.’’
Damon became emotional when she reminders others who have been attacked to remember that they have done nothing wrong.
"UNITY"
Linda Anderson
Founder of Mums on the Go
Mums on the Go was co-founded by Linda Anderson who was committed to continuing to meet her own needs post-baby but without family support surrounding her she had two choices - Stop doing things for herself, or take her children with her! She soon realised how challenging it was to find child-friendly businesses. Word of mouth was a good source, but she wondered why there was no centralised resource listing these businesses. So she decided to create one and Mums on the Go was born.
"HELPFUL"
Margaret Saunders
Bedtime and Toilet training expert, parenting adviser,
Mother of two, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
Mother of two, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
Dear Parent and Friend,
As a mother of two wonderful daughters, Alicia and Katrina-Lee I know what its like when they wouldn't go to bed let alone fall asleep. When I was pregnant with Katrina-Lee and had gone to bed to get some well-earned rest Alicia (who was a young toddler) was walking around the house, with her head nodding as she was fighting going to bed and not wanting to go to bed let alone fall asleep easily and quickly.
Even though I was tired and pregnant I knew there was a loving way to put my child to sleep, that did not involve crying or hysterics.
Even though I was tired and pregnant I knew there was a loving way to put my child to sleep, that did not involve crying or hysterics.
I thought this was the time to implement a going to bed program that was gentle and loving and would work. What I came up with worked so well that soon she was asking to go to bed. When this happened at 6.00 pm on a Saturday night I knew I was onto something and I thought you might like to know about it too.
And then when Alicia was a little bit older, I knew I should have been toilet training her but I had now idea where to start. By coincidence a few days later I was having a cappuccino with a really good friend who happened to mention to me about a potty training and toilet training method that only takes one day. Too good to be true I thought. But I listened to what she had to say and thought I would try it out. Couldn't hurt could it to have her potty trained and toilet trained in just one day! Well it worked so well with her that I toilet trained her younger sister that way as well ... ... ...
I thought parents everywhere would want to know how on earth a child could be toilet trained in just one day with a system that was fun, enjoyable and that we both loved.
And then when Alicia was a little bit older, I knew I should have been toilet training her but I had now idea where to start. By coincidence a few days later I was having a cappuccino with a really good friend who happened to mention to me about a potty training and toilet training method that only takes one day. Too good to be true I thought. But I listened to what she had to say and thought I would try it out. Couldn't hurt could it to have her potty trained and toilet trained in just one day! Well it worked so well with her that I toilet trained her younger sister that way as well ... ... ...
I thought parents everywhere would want to know how on earth a child could be toilet trained in just one day with a system that was fun, enjoyable and that we both loved.
"PASSIONATE"
Martha Stewart
Martha Stewart is an American business magnate, media personality, and magazine publisher. Her ventures focus on elegant "homemaking," which fills the pages of her Martha Stewart Living magazine.
Lifestyle guru and businesswoman Martha Stewart was born Martha Kostyra, on August 3, 1941, in New Jersey. The second of six children, Stewart grew up in Nutley, New Jersey, a working-class community near New York City. She worked as a model from the age of 13, appearing in fashion shows as well as television and print advertisements.
she met Andy Stewart, a Yale law student, and the two married in 1961. Six years later, after the birth of their daughter, Alexis, Stewart
While incarcerated as inmate No. 55170-054, Martha "taught yoga, picked wild dandelion greens, and learned to appreciate the simple virtues of vending-machine chicken wings."
Martha's prison sentence was timed so she'd be able to get back to her Bedford, N.Y., estate for the spring planting.
While in jail, her personal net worth more than tripled, exceeding $1B.
Once released from jail, Martha allowed microwaves into the pages of Martha Stewart Living and other magazines.
Martha "insisted on personally approving every one" of the 3,000 items licensed through Macy's. According to her head of merchandising, at one meeting "Martha walked in with a pot, slammed it on the table, and goes,'This is crap. I don’t want my name on it.'"
At one Martha Stewart Living Thanksgiving shoot, produced and photographed at Martha's Bedford house, a kid's hair caught on fire and had to go to the hospital.
Martha's daughter, Alexis, made $400K last year for the TV showWhatever, Martha!
Martha has considered launching Grace, a magazine targeted to older readers.
Finally, she's got 2.3M Twitter followers.
"PERSISTANCE"
J K Rowling
A graduate of Exeter University, Rowling moved to Portugal in 1990 to teach English.
There, she met and married the Portuguese journalist Jorge Arantes. The couple's daughter, Jessica, was born in 1993.
After her marriage ended in divorce, Rowling moved to Edinburgh with her daughter to live near her younger sister, Di.
While struggling to support Jessica and herself on welfare, Rowling worked on a book, the idea for which had reportedly occurred to her while she was traveling on a train from Manchester to London in 1990.
She would take her laptop to a local cafe to write as her and keep warm as she couldn't afford heating.
After a number of rejections, she finally sold the book, Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (the word "Philosopher" was changed to "Sorcerer" for its publication in America), for the equivalent of about $4,000. The book, and its subseqent series, chronicled the life of Harry Potter, a young wizard, and his motley band of cohorts at the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.
Rowling, now Britain's 13th wealthiest woman—wealthier than even the Queen—does not plan to write any more books in the series, but has not entirely ruled out the possibility.
"BRAVERY "
Ellen DeGeneres (b. January 26, 1958) is an American stand-up comedienne, television host and actress.
She hosts the syndicated talk show The Ellen DeGeneres Show.
She also starred in two television sitcoms, Ellen from 1994 to 1998 and The Ellen Show from 2001 to 2002. During the fourth season of Ellen in 1997,
DeGeneres came out publicly as a lesbian in an appearance on The Oprah Winfrey Show.
Ellen DeGeneres attracted massive media attention when she came out as a
lesbian on her television show in 1997.
Known as "the puppy episode," the program stirred controversy and drew criticism from
conservative sectors.
DeGeneres and her partner, actress Anne Heche, came out at the same time, DeGeneres appearing on the covers of national magazines.
The caption accompanying her photograph on the cover of Time read,
"Yep, I'm Gay Her place in history as TV's first gay lead character was thus secured.
When she was growing up she dreamed of becoming a veterinarian,
but she gave up the idea because she was "not book smart." Instead, she waited tables, sold vacuum cleaners, painted houses, worked as a legal secretary.
At the age of 23, she began performing at a local coffeehouse. She got her big debut in 1986 when, acting on a tip from Jay Leno,
DeGeneres married de Rossi on August 16, 2008, in what was perhaps the highest-profile gay marriage after California legalized the unions.
"COURAGE"
Jessica Rowe’s passion for news and current affairs has seen her become one of Australia’s best-known television presenters and admired by viewers with her warm, down-to-earth manner and infectious smile.
She began her television career in 1993 and has since held various prominent positions within Australian television, including a decade as a co-anchor for Network Ten’s ‘First At Five News’.
She has also co-hosted the Nine Network’s ‘The Today Show’ alongside Karl Stefanovic, and now currently works as part of the Seven Network’s news-reading team, where she can be seen on both ‘Sunrise’ and ‘Weekend Sunrise’.
In 2007 she enjoyed swapping her news-presenting duties for dancing shoes, appearing on season nine of Seven’s ‘Dancing with the Stars’.
Aside from news and current affairs, another of Jessica’s passions is her advocacy work for mental health organizations. She is a patron for the ‘Mental Health Council of Australia’, an ambassador for ‘Beyond Blue’ and a patron of its work on postnatal depression, a board member of the ‘George Gregan Foundation’, and also a member of the ‘IVF Australia Ethics Committee’.
As well as all this, Jessica is a published author.
She has co-authored a book with her mother, Penelope Rowe, titled ‘The Best of Times,
The Worst of Times’, an account of their family’s experience living with Penelope’s bipolar disorder. Her second book, ‘Love, Wisdom, Motherhood’, reveals the struggles, the joys, and the heartache of motherhood through the accounts of eleven women.
Jessica has a Bachelor of Arts, majoring in Communications from Charles Sturt University, and a Masters of International Studies from Sydney University.
In her personal life, Jessica is married to ‘60 Minutes’ reporter Peter Overton and they have two beautiful daughters, Allegra and Giselle.
