When we talk about online safety, we need more than policies and press conferences — we need protectors. People who don’t just understand the dangers of the digital world, but care deeply about the humans behind the screens.
Julie Inman Grant is one of those people.
She’s Australia’s eSafety Commissioner — and the first in the world to hold such a title. But more than that, Julie is a mother, a policy expert, and a fierce advocate for children and families in an online world that feels more complex and concerning by the day.
She’s not just drafting laws – she’s stepping into the firing line to stand up to big tech, billionaires, and the platforms profiting off our children’s attention, privacy and mental health.
A Mum Who Gets It
Julie’s lived experience as a mother is what makes her leadership different – and deeply necessary.
Having a woman (and importantly, a mum) leading the charge on online safety isn’t just refreshing – it’s strategic. Because let’s face it: mothers are the ones having the bulk of the hard conversations at home. We’re the ones setting screen time boundaries, managing mental health meltdowns, and googling “is Roblox safe?” at 1 a.m. (spoiler: no, it’s really not)
In this author’s opinion, online safety conversations should always have parents – in particular mothers – at the helm. Men in boardrooms rarely make decisions based on whats best for the family
Julie brings a mum’s lens into every room she enters.
She brings the weight of lived parenting into boardrooms, legal briefs, and global summits. She doesn’t just understand digital risk – she feels it.
From Tech Insider to Global Trailblazer
Before taking on this role in 2017, Julie spent over two decades working inside the belly of the beast, with senior roles at Microsoft, Twitter, and Adobe. She knows exactly how these platforms work, how they profit, and where their responsibilities lie.
But instead of climbing the corporate ladder, she pivoted to purpose — using that insider knowledge to hold platforms accountable.
She left the boardroom and chose the big-tech battleground. Parents around the world should be grateful.
Julie’s work has shaped international policy. It’s caught the attention of the U.S. Congress and global think tanks. But most importantly, it’s starting to shift power back into the hands of parents and regulators.
Taking the Heat So Families Don’t Have To
Going up against mega-tech isn’t for the faint of heart. Julie has faced threats, trolling, and abuse for simply doing her job – which is, quite literally, trying to keep your kids and mine safe online.
Your kids’ brains are worth protecting. Their mental and emotional health is worth fighting for. Julie is leading that fight.
She continues to lead with calm conviction, placing herself in the firing line time and time again because – as she’s said – “we don’t need to see a body count to know that this is the right thing.”
Julie is actively leading the global fight to shape a better tech-tomorrow despite risk of significant recourse. That kind of bravery shouldn’t just be respected. It should be celebrated and supported, loudly & consistently.
This Is The Leadership We Need
We’re now parenting in an age where a child’s first exposure to violence, pornography, bullying, or manipulation will almost certainly come from the device we handed them.
As tech platforms who have long been pitted against developing brains become bolder with their unrestricted brainwashing of your children and mine, we need laws. We need filters. But more than anything, we need leaders like Julie who listen to parents, understand children, and refuse to let the status quo go unchecked.
Julie Inman Grant is the leader every digital parent didn’t know they needed – until now.
So next time you hear her name in the headlines, remember this: she’s not just a commissioner. She’s a woman. A mother. A fighter. And she’s risking a lot to stand up for your kids
And in a world where silence is easier, she’s chosen to speak — for all of us.
Thankyou Julie. We appreciate you.