Jacqueline Joudo Larsen

Jacqueline is Executive Director of Gender Equality at Minderoo Foundation, a philanthropic organisation working to create a fairer future for all by tackling the systems that hold inequalities in place. Jacqueline leads the Minderoo’s efforts to address gender inequality on a domestic and international level. She is also director of Walk Free, an international human rights organisation working to eradicate modern slavery in all its forms.

For 20 years, Jacqueline’s career has focused on addressing social justice and human rights issues, with a particular interest in understanding vulnerability and resilience to drive policy change. She played a central role in developing and producing the Global Slavery Index, Walk Free’s flagship report which underpins global advocacy directed at addressing modern slavery across social, legal, and economic systems. Jacqueline was appointed a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce in recognition of this high-impact research.

As Minderoo’s Executive Director of Gender Equality, Jacqui is charged with guiding the Foundation as it seeks to address the toughest, most persistent equality issues with humility, integrity and determination through its 2030 Strategy. This includes working in deep collaboration with the sector to accelerate and embed positive impact so that the value of women and girls can be fully realised.

Prior to joining Minderoo, she led policy research on human trafficking, crimes against international students, responses to sexual assault in culturally and linguistically diverse communities, and deaths in custody at the Australian Institute of Criminology. Her professional experience working with diverse and marginalised communities, together with her Assyrian-Australian heritage drives her commitment to creating an inclusive society where everyone’s inherent rights are protected.