A couple of hours before appearing on the #QandA show on Monday, I noticed a number of missed calls from a private number, but without any messages left. Curious... When I eventually answered, it wasn't a stalker or an invite to join a bank heist crew as I had suspected. Instead, it was a lovely lad from the Prime Minister's Office!
Thus, the news.
Wait: some background first!
The Australian Government has announced that is will be hosting the Y20 alongside the G20 that is being held in Brisbane in 2014.
The Group of Twenty (G20) is the premier forum for its members economic and financial cooperation. It brings together the world's major advanced and emerging economies, representing around 85 per cent of global GDP.
The idea of the Y20 is to give youth and young people a voice in these international discussions. As per the media release:
The Y20 will gather young leaders from the world’s twenty largest economies for an exciting exchange of ideas. It will help build skills and networks, and identify the most pressing economic challenges and opportunities facing young people today.
In order to prep for this, the Government has put together a team of young people to plan and manage the Australian Y20.
Guess who made the cut Alhamdulilah?!
It is an absolute honour and exciting responsibility and I am completely stoked to be part of literally a dream team of people from around the nation.
Chaired by the amazing Benson Saulo, the Director of the National Indigenous Youth Leadership Academy, the other members are:
• Ms Samah Hadid (NSW) • Mr Scott Limbrick (VIC) • Mr Ehon Chan (QLD) • Ms Amanda McKenzie (ACT) • Ms Holly Ransom (WA).
Ehon is an old friend and so I am even more stoked - his work always inspires :) Holly and Samah are also inspiring acquaintances and I am looking forward to meeting and working with Scott and Amanda.
We were selected for our backgrounds in various sectors and I will be focusing on the area of energy inshallah.
This is an awesome opportunity and I want to make it as open and genuine as possible. If you have ideas or are interested in contributing in some way, please get in touch and let me know your thoughts! The idea is to be as engaging and representative as possible and get the energy/innovation of young people up to the international stage - here is a chance!
I can't wait to work with this group and you all on this and will keep you posted!
Check out the official media release here.