Alanis advocates for better visibility and participation of women in Scottish Parliament.
30 Under 30
30 Under 30
30 Under 30 is our annual campaign to celebrate young women, girls and non-binary people in Scotland who are making changes in their lives, communities and wider society.
Left to right: Alyssa Faulkner, Alice Cruickshank, Gemma Smith and Khadea Santi from 30 Under 30 2024
Every year, 30 Under 30 celebrates young women and girls from across Scotland who are making change in different ways.
In our previous lists, you’ll find:
- Campaigners and activists
- Up-and-coming journalists and broadcasters
- Artists and writers
- Athletes and sportspeople
- Community organisers and advocates
- Charity workers and volunteers
We established the list in 2016 to address the lack of diverse representation of young women in Scotland on other 30 Under 30 lists.
30 Under 30 2024
Meet this year’s list!
Through our ninth edition of the list, we are delighted to introduce you to 30 young women and girls, aged 13–30, who are leading change and excelling in their fields. From campaigning to kickboxing, arts to community work, you’ll find 30 inspiring stories in this year’s list.
The young women and girls on 30 Under 30 2024 were chosen from the nominations we received earlier in the year by an expert panel made up of representatives from The Young Women’s Movement, Young Scot, Youth Link and our advisory collective of young women. Half of the panel had previously been featured on 30 Under 30 themselves!
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Alice is a journalist, presenter, and producer, who has spent her career telling stories.
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Alisha is a global activist pursuing justice and law at the University of Glasgow.
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Alyssa is a dedicated Diabetes activist, campaigning for better healthcare and services.
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Beth is the CEO of Dundee-based youth mental health charity ‘Feeling Strong’.
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Daniela is an MSYP dedicated to anti-racism and uplifting young voices in Renfrewshire and Scotland.
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Eilidh is a dedicated and medal-winning Kickboxer and student aged 17 from Aberdeenshire.
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Eireann is an inspirational activist tackling inequalities and injustices rooted in her own lived experiences.
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Elsie is proud to be a dedicated role model, active citizen and member of Girlguiding.
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Emily is an activist and volunteer supporting autistic women & non-binary people across Scotland.
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Grown and raised in Springburn, Emma has always had a passion for her local area.
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Working as a young female in STEM roles, Emma is passionate about breaking down barriers.
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Emma is an early-career theatre producer based in Musselburgh.
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Eva is a social activist focused on anti-bullying, youth mental health and youth advocacy.
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Gemma is a Linguistics Student and Steering Group Member for The National Leadership Network.
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Grace is a 21 year old final year law student and campaigner.
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Heather is an award-winning citizen designer and founder of a small and inclusive business.
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Izzy is a dedicated neurodivergence and disability consultant, advocate, and activist.
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Jasmine is the founder, president and coach of Gender Goals Trans/Non-binary Football Club.
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Josephine is a pop and session musician, hailing from the Scottish Highlands.
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Khadea is an artist, arts educator, and curator.
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Maya is a confident and ambitious young woman who enjoys advocating on behalf of others.
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Millicent passionately advocates for social justice, sustainability, and inclusivity.
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Natalie is the founder of Girls Who Walk Dundee, tackling loneliness and social isolation.
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Poppy is currently a high school student at the International School of Aberdeen.
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Rhiannon works at The STAR Centre: Rape Crisis Ayrshire as a support worker.
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Safiyah has been working on her rights work since she was eight years old.
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Shafa is a youth advocate/ campaigner, interested in policy reform and representation for underrepresented communities.
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Shannon is employed by OPEN, Shetlands first youth-led and youth-governed charity.
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Tasnim is a researcher-activist and consultant with a particular interest in intersectional disability justice.
From the blog
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I only recently learnt that I am autistic. And even though I experience Alexithymia (sometimes I struggle to identify, recognise and then communicate my emotions), my feelings about late discovery are contradictory, conflicting and colossal.
- 30 Under 30
- Rights
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In July 2024, Scotland was the first of the four nations of the United Kingdom to incorporate the UNCRC. This means children’s rights are now protected under Scots Law. This was celebrated as a historic moment: Scotland was leading the way. But what about adults?
- 30 Under 30
- Rights
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I wasn’t always comfortable with my identity as an adoptee. Even now, I’m not sure I can confidently own this part of myself, simply because so much of my life has been torn between three worlds.
- 30 Under 30
- Rights
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Would you like to start writing, but don’t know where to begin? In this blog, Jenny Lester from our 30 under 30 2023 list, gives us a quick guide on how to start the process!
- 30 Under 30
- Top tips
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How can chattiness be used to develop a career in science communication? In this blog, Amy Lee Shergold from our 30 under 30 2023 list, discusses how she found her niche within her scientific career.
- 30 Under 30
- STEM
- Work and careers
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Guest blogger Jenny Lester reflects on soon turning 30, by asking friends, family and colleagues of different ages to impart advice and knowledge about this stage of life, where they are now, and what’s to come.
- 30 Under 30
- Healthy relationships
- Work and careers
Nominating somebody for 30 Under 30
Nominations for 30 Under 30 are currently closed, and will open for the 2025 list in spring 2025.
Who is eligible for 30 Under 30?
Self-identifying young women and girls and people from marginalised genders (e.g. non-binary people) who feel comfortable in a space that centres the experiences of young women and girls, and are:
- Aged 30 or under at the time of the list’s publication
- Living in Scotland, or are Scottish living abroad
- Not previously featured on 30 Under 30
We encourage self-nominations as well as nominations from others. Please note that someone receiving more than one nomination does not inherently increase their chance of being selected.
What happens if I am selected for 30 Under 30?
If you have been nominated and selected for the final list, we will get in touch to let you know and ask if you would like to be featured. Each person on the 30 Under 30 list will have their own profile on our site, and we will celebrate their story on social media and in press. There may also be optional paid opportunities for them to create extra content for the campaign, e.g. blog posts, videos, social media takeovers.
Process for selection
The final 30 Under 30 list will be selected by a panel made up of The Young Women’s Movement staff, young women, and representatives from partner organisations in the youth work, charity and/or women’s sectors. The list will be selected by the panel in line with The Young Women’s Movement’s values criteria.