When Caitlin Figueiredo was just six years old, she pledged her life to "helping the less fortunate and providing a voice for those without one".
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It was an ambitious statement for someone in the first grade, but at the age of 21, there's no doubt Caitlin is using every spare minute to deliver on that pledge.
The ANU law student and born and bred Canberran recently won the Young Leader category of the Australian Financial Review's "Australia's 100 Most Influential Women" for her international work. In the past 18 months alone, Caitlin consulted to the United Nations on youth and gender equality, founded World Vision's youth movement VGen in Canberra, and became Australia's first Global Resolutions ambassador.
Last June, she met former first lady Michelle Obama in Washington after being named United State of Women's Gender Equality Global Champion.
"I'm on a mission to create a movement of passion-fuelled youth and leaders banding together to unify our world," she said.
"I want to use my work to empower every young women and girl around Australia to dream big, to take hold of change and act.
"If we can inspire more young women and girls to recognise themselves as influencers and come together and work together, we can bring about the change we need."
Caitlin Figueiredo is the guest speaker at an Act of Women Giving breakfast on Friday 3 March at EQ Café and Lounge, Deakin, from 7.15am. Tickets from humanitix.com.au