About us

Natasha Stott Despoja is a former Senator for South Australia (1995-2008).She is the youngest woman ever to enter the Australian Federal Parliament.

She held the positions of Australian Democrats Leader and Deputy Leader and is the longest serving Democrat Senator.

Natasha has made a contribution to a wide range of policy debates including as a spokesperson on higher education, science and biotechnology, Attorney-General’s, privacy, women, work and family. During her political career she also introduced Private Member’s Bills on issues including paid maternity leave, the Republic, genetic privacy and stem cells, and captioning.

Natasha is an Honorary Visiting Research Fellow at The University of Adelaide; is a columnist for The Adelaide Advertiser and The Business Spectator.

She is a Director of beyondblue; the Burnet Institute; the South Australian Museum and is a member of the Advertising Standards Board. She is a UNIFEM Ambassador for IWD2011.

She is currently doing a PhD at the University of Adelaide.

Natasha lives in Adelaide with husband, Ian, and children, Conrad and Cordelia.