Caitlin Figueiredo, a proud Goan-Australian leader and the 2024 ACT Young Australian of the Year, is recognised for her work in gender equality, youth empowerment, and inclusive policy reform.

Her career began at the United Nations Headquarters (New York), where she worked with the Executive and Deputy Director of UN Women on advancing gender equality. A Founding Member of the UN Commission on the Status of Women Youth Forum, she helped shape the UN’s largest platform for gender equality youth engagement. Caitlin also advised on the Beijing+20, Planet 50-50 by 2030, and HeforShe campaigns. Recognised by former First Lady Michelle Obama as a White House Global Changemaker, Caitlin has also worked with the Commonwealth Secretariat, supporting youth development and democratic participation across member nations.

Caitlin’s work is rooted in community. She has worked alongside Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, co-designing reconciliation, systems transformation, and self-determination policy initiatives. She is a Board Director at Think Forward, an Alannah and Madeline Foundation Ambassador, a member of the ACT Reconciliation Council and Organising Leader of Hands on Heart with the Uluru Youth Dialogues.

Caitlin has held public sector roles, including with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Department of Health, Office for Women in the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, and the ACT Government. She has consulted for global organisations such as Google and is currently a Senior Manager at Parbery Consulting.

Her achievements include being a Forbes 30 Under 30 honouree, a Queen’s Young Leader and the youngest winner of Australia’s 100 Women of Influence Young Leader category.

Caitlin holds a Master of National Security Policy (National Security College), a Bachelor of Development Studies with an Asia-Pacific regional specialisation (Australian National University) and a Certificate in Leading Change (University of Cambridge).