Harriet Riley

UPDATE (21 December 2009): Harriet Riley has pulled out of the Project TOTO shortlist due to other commitments (see bottom for more).

Name: Harriet Lucille Riley

City: Canberra

Occupation: Student/Journalist/Activist

Twitter: @harrietlr01

Blog(s):

http://hlriley.wordpress.com (online CV)

Bio:

I come from the wild South West of Australia, where I spent most of my childhood surfing, camping and dreaming about becoming a documentary filmmaker. In a week I finish my degree in International Relations at ANU, having devoted my studies to climate change, conflict and poverty. I work as a freelance journalist, fashion designer and serial intern with major NGOs including Oxfam, World Vision and WWF. I’m on my way to becoming a diplomat, author and all-round professional world-changer.

Why I want to be an outreach blogger:

Homer’s Odyssey –the world’s first Lonely Planet– opens with these words: “This is the story of a man who was never at a loss.” The though of crafty King Odysseus coming up with ingenious schemes to end wars and defeat monsters gets me inspired. It’s a reminder that human ingenuity can triumph over any crisis. That crisis might be small, like where to get your next meal in a foreign country when you’ve had your wallet stolen and don’t speak the language. Or it might be much bigger, like getting meals for everyone and ending poverty once and for all. Whatever the problem, you’re going to need patience, creativity and cooperation to fix it. That’s what I’ve got; I’m never at a loss. I can talk my way into, or out of, anything (I once talked Russian cops out of arresting me, and I don’t speak Russian). I make friends easily. I love to write and travel. I have a thorough knowledge of aid and development around the world, following four years studying and working in the NGO industry. I’ve run online campaigns for climate action with great success, and now, I want to do the same for poverty.

UPDATE (21 December 2009): Harriet Riley has pulled out of the Project TOTO Shortlist. This is what Harriet had to say: