Jessica Watson (OAM)

Perhaps the first inspiration memory I remember was when I met solo round the world sailor Jessica Watson at our local bookstore in 2011 and she signed her book True Spirit for me.  At the age I was at the time, the world was a big place and the idea of sailing around it was inconceivable.

But when I met Jessica it all became tangible.  I remember realising that she was a real person, not just someone on TV, and her achievements weren’t just stories. They were real too, and real people can achieve amazing things if they work hard enough.

Britt Cox (OLY)

For a number of years my family would spend a winter week at Falls Creek skiing and I even started down the path of training to become a downhill slalom skier.  On a couple of occasions I was lucky enough to meet Britt Cox.  I remember being completely overwhelmed but also inspired by the idea that I was training on the same hill as an Olympian.   Britt’s determination and achievements have been and still are a huge inspiration to me.

Michelle Curran (Mace)

Mace is the Lead Solo for the US Air Force thunderbirds and also flew F-16s.  Last year she left active duty to pursue full-time speaking, and now draws on her experiences to inspire others on lessons of perseverance and determination in following your dreams.

As a woman who is actively breaking down barriers whist encouraging others to achieve their full potential, I see her as a contemporary inspiration for women within the field of aviation.