Australian of the Year

Jemima Leydon was diagnosed with ovarian cancer at just five years old, undergoing emergency surgery, chemotherapy and months of hospital care. 

As a teenager, Jemima learned that ovarian cancer has only a 49% survival rate and committed her time, skills and voice to improving outcomes for others. Over the past decade, she has become a powerful advocate for ovarian cancer awareness.  

Since 2016, she has raised more than $170,000 for medical research and contributed meaningfully to the Ovarian Council Research Foundation’s (OCRF) Lived Experience Advisory Panel, ensuring patient perspectives shape grant‑making. Named by the OCRF as an Advocacy Trailblazer in 2025, Jemima also serves as a community ambassador for the OCRF and as a junior ambassador for the Childhood Cancer Association. 

Through her courage and generosity, Jemima uses her lived experience to raise funds for cancer research and support families facing childhood cancer.