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.

Four women smiling at the camera

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 30 Under 30, 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.

See all of our 30 Under 30 profiles

30 Under 30 2025

Meet our most recent 30 Under 30!

Through our tenth edition of the list, we are delighted to introduce 30 young women and girls, aged 15–30, who are leading change and excelling in their fields. From campaigners to councillors, artists to community workers, you’ll find 30 inspiring stories in this year’s list.

The young women and girls on 30 Under 30 2025 were chosen by a panel made up of representatives from The Young Women’s Movement, 30 Under 30 alumni, and our advisory collective of young women. Each of the young women and girls on the list were nominated in April–June 2025.

  • Ainya Taylor

    Ainya has pale skin and dark hair.

    Ainya volunteers with Samaritans and is part of The Young Women’s Movement advisory collective.

  • Alexandra West

    Alexandra has pale skin and dark hair. She is wearing a white shirt and has sunglasses on her head.

    Alex is Public Affairs Officer at the National Autistic Society Scotland.

  • Beau Johnston

    Beau is wearing a white outfit. She has pale skin and long brown hair. She is standing in front of a stately building surrounded by different flags.

    Beau is an advocate for increased education on childhood cancer signs and symptoms and wider human rights.  

  • Beth Spencer

    Beth has dark hair with a fringe, and pale skin.

    Beth works at Scottish Women’s Institutes and is co-founder of FERAL.

  • Bethany Spain

    Bethany has pale skin and light brown hair with a fringe. She is wearing glasses and a bright gren blouse.

    Bethany Spain is a writer, youth leader, and advocate for social mobility, climate justice, and inclusive heritage.

  • Chloe O’Herlihy

    Chloe is wearing a blue jumper, a green scarf and glasses. They have pale skin and dark hair.

    Chloe has recently taken over ownership of Folk Creative Space in Edinburgh, an inclusive creative space.

  • Chloé Robertson

    Chloe has pale skin and dark hair tied back. She is wearing a white t-shirt and appears to be in an office.

    Chloé serves as a councillor for Irvine, having been elected to North Ayrshire Council in 2022 at the age of 22.

  • Chloe Wooldrage

    Chloe has long blonde hair and pale skin. She is standing in front of a blue background with stars on it.

    Chloe founded Tak a Stand, supporting survivors in Orkney to share their experiences of sexual abuse and harassment.

  • Emily Love

    Emily has pale skin and curly blonde hair. She is smiling at the camera.

    Emily delivers violence prevention workshops on healthy relationships, body boundaries and consent to young people aged 7-12 in Argyll and Bute.

  • Emma Ahlert

    Emma has pale skin and curly blonde hair. She is in Dean billage in Edinburgh and is wearing a pink jumper.

    Emma co-founded the Back Off Scotland campaign, and launched Elsie, a global community for freelancers in female and sexual health.

  • Evie, Poppy and Violet

    Three young women with dark hair and pale skin are holding up a feminist collage.

    Evie, Poppy and Violet are Mentors in Violence Prevention and took part in the Young Women’s Movement Changemaker Project.

  • Fatemah Ghanem

    Fatemah is wearing a black hijab and a red blazer. She is sitting in the Scottish Parliament debating chamber.

    Fatemah is a psychology student and youth leader passionate about tackling mental health inequalities and ensuring young people’s voices shape the systems that affect them. 

  • Favour Agbontaen

    Favour has dark skin and long dark hair. She is wearing a matching red suit and is standing in a government building.

    Favour Agbontaen is an internationally recognised advocate, global speaker, and youth leader championing human rights.

  • Gaia Ragone

    Gaia has pale skin and curly red hair.

    Gaia is an inspiring entrepreneur and community builder who founded Sapphic Socials and Content by Gaia.

  • Islay Jackson

    Islay has pale skin and long, curly brown hair. She is sitting in front of a Scottish Youth Parliament sign.

    Islay is the Convener of the Transport, Environment and Rural Affairs Committee at the Scottish Youth Parliament

  • Jodie Barnacle-Best

    Jodie has brown skin and long curly black hair. She is wearing a white t-shirt and smiling at the camera.

    Jodie is a creative projects manager working with cultural organisations across Scotland.

  • Kaydi Scottsville

    Kaydi has pale skin and her hair is dyed green and tied into space buns. She is wearing glasses and smiling.

    Kaydi is the CEO of the charity Diversified. She created the charity at age 15 to support young autistic and neurodivergent people in Scotland who have been let down by the education system.  

  • Laura Webster

    Laura has pale skin and red hair. She is wearing glasses and a black jumper.

    Laura Webster is the editor of The National, the youngest editor of a UK national newspaper.

  • Leah Higgins

    Leah has short red hair and pale skin. She is wearing a red top and sunglasses on her head.

    Leah is a long-time activist and co-author of the upcoming book Feminist Librarianship: Principles, Practices and Provocations.

  • Lucy Beth

    Lucy Beth has pale skin, dark curly hair and blue eyes. She is wearing a lilac top.

    Lucy is an award-winning performer, theatre-maker, and drama lecturer from Inverurie, Aberdeenshire.    

  • Melissa Cassidy

    Melissa has pale skin and red hair with a fringe.

    Melissa is a 19 year old author, blogger and disability activist. She is the founder of Alder Books, her own publishing company.

  • Mirin Gibson-Brown

    Mirin has pale skin and long blonde curly hair. She is wearing a black and white checkered fleece

    Mirin Gibson-Brown is a menstrual health campaigner who organised Renfrewshire’s first ever Menstrual Health Day.  

  • Muminah Koleoso

    Muminah is an award-winning writer, content creator, journalist and advocate.

  • Nicola Wilson-Torch

    Niocola has dark hair and pale skin. She is wearing a checked jacket.

    Nicola is a disabled PhD researcher at the University of Stirling committed to raising awareness of chronic illness.

  • Orlagh

    Orlagh has pale skin and blonde hair tied into a bun. She is wearing a red blouse.

    Orlagh is a young leader who has clocked over 1,300 hours volunteering in her community.

  • Rosa Ross

    Rosa has pale skin and short dark hair. She is standing in front of a harbour at sunset.

    Rosa is a young leader with Girlguiding, and part of the Teenage Cancer Trust Advisory Group, where she advocates for teenage patients.

  • Sam Macrae

    Sam has long dark hair, pale skin and blue eyes.

    Sam currently works for a Scottish Local Authority as a Promise Ambassador, advocating for the needs of care experienced people.

  • Sidrah Hassan

    Sidrah has brown skin, long dark hair, and is wearing glasses.

    Sidrah is an AI Ethicist who is dedicated to ensuring that AI-enabled harms are actively challenged and addressed. 

  • Tamara Rogovic

    Tamara has pale skin and long blonde hair.

    Tamara Rogovic is an Edinburgh-based multidisciplinary artist who serves as President of the Scottish Artists Union.

  • Toni Lee Pryde

    Toni has pale skin and long dark hair.

    Toni is a Community Development Worker who improves the lives of families in Edinburgh.

Be first to know when nominations open

Nominations for 30 Under 30 2026 will open in the spring.

Sign up to our newsletter

Donate to support 30 Under 30

Donate for young women’s rights

From the blog

  • Little Miss Imposter Syndrome

    Maya has long black hair, and is smiling at the camera. There are green trees and grass behind here.

    Maya McCrae talks about how young women are more likely to be impacted by imposter syndrome, and her experience of this in the workplace.

    • 30 Under 30
    • Work and careers
    • Young Women Work
    • Article

  • Late to the party – Rediscovering my autistic self

    Emily smiling at the camera in front of a bookcase.

    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
    • Article

  • Human Rights in Scotland

    Elsie smiling at the camera at a viewpoint.

    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
    • Article

  • The Care Community: Adapt for adoption

    Gemma smiling at the camera whilst outside on a patio.

    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
    • Article

  • How to start writing

    Jenny Lester, 30 under 30 nominee in 2023 smiling at the camera.

    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
    • Article

  • The gift of the gab

    Amy Lee Shergold, 30 under 30 nominee in 2023 holding a dog in her hands smiling at the camera.

    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
    • Article

  • Advice for 29 Year Olds

    A photo of Jenny on a swing, with a body of water in the background

    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
    • Article

Please confirm your preference

We use cookies to enhance your browsing experience. By clicking ‘accept’ you consent to our use of cookies.

For more information please see our privacy policy. If you have any questions, email us at hello@youngwomenscot.org.