Podium Director

Future Forward Australia

About Future Forward Australia

Future Forward Australia (FFA) is a youth-led not-for-profit working to engage, inform and empower young Australians to shape the country they will inherit. Through events, digital content, advocacy and partnerships, we create opportunities for young people to engage seriously with the major economic, social and policy challenges facing Australia.

Our work is organised around five pillars: Climate Change, Economic Prosperity, Education, Health, and Equity & Inclusion .

About Podium

Podium is Future Forward Australia’s platform for ideas, analysis and debate. It gives young Australians a place to contribute thoughtful, accessible perspectives on the issues shaping Australia’s future.

Podium publishes articles from young writers, emerging experts and contributors across FFA’s five pillars, with a focus on bringing new voices into public debate and making complex policy issues engaging and accessible to a broader audience.

The Role The Podium Director will lead the execution, editorial direction and growth of Podium publications.

This is both an editorial and leadership role. The Director will be responsible for building a strong pipeline of high-quality content, identifying and supporting contributors, setting the editorial calendar and ensuring Podium develops a distinctive and credible voice within Australian public debate.

Working closely with FFA’s leadership, content and digital teams, the Podium Director will help turn Podium into a recognised platform for the ideas and perspectives of the next generation of Australians.

Key Responsibilities

Editorial leadership

- Set and oversee Podium’s editorial strategy, priorities and publishing calendar.
- Identify timely and important issues across FFA’s five pillars and commission articles around them.
- Maintain a consistently high standard of argument, writing and evidence across published pieces.




- Edit submissions and work constructively with authors to strengthen their ideas and writing.
- Ensure Podium remains non-partisan, intellectually rigorous and open to a diversity of perspectives.

Contributor development

- Identify and recruit talented young writers, researchers, professionals and subject-matter experts to contribute to Podium.
- Build and maintain a strong network of regular and prospective contributors.
- Support first-time and emerging writers through the pitching, drafting and editing process.
- Create opportunities to elevate perspectives that may otherwise be absent from mainstream policy discussion.

Growth and impact

- Develop initiatives to increase Podium’s readership, reach and influence.
- Work with FFA’s digital and social media teams to package and promote articles effectively across platforms.
- Explore partnerships, guest contributions and collaborations with universities, organisations, researchers and other publications.
- Use readership and engagement data to understand what is resonating and continually improve the platform.
- Identify opportunities for Podium content to contribute to FFA’s broader events, advocacy and policy work.

Team leadership

- Build and manage a small editorial team as Podium grows, including editors and contributors where appropriate.
- Establish simple and effective processes for pitching, commissioning, editing, approval and publication.
- Work collaboratively with FFA’s executive team and other portfolio leads to align Podium with the organisation’s broader strategy.





About You We are looking for someone who is intellectually curious, engaged with the major issues facing Australia and excited by the opportunity to build a platform for ambitious young voices.

You may be a strong fit if you:

- Are an excellent writer and editor with strong attention to detail.
- Have a genuine interest in Australian public policy, economics, politics, society or current affairs.
- Can distinguish between a good topic and a genuinely interesting argument.
- Are comfortable giving thoughtful and constructive editorial feedback.
- Enjoy finding talented people and helping them communicate their ideas effectively.
- Are organised and able to manage multiple articles and contributors at different stages of publication.
- Are comfortable taking ownership of a portfolio and shaping its direction.
- Believe public debate benefits from substantive, good-faith disagreement and a diversity of perspectives.

Previous experience in journalism, publishing, student media, policy, research or communications would be valuable, but is not essential. We care more about judgement, curiosity, writing ability and initiative. What You'll Get The Podium Director will have significant freedom to shape one of Future Forward Australia’s core platforms and build something with genuine national reach.

The role provides an opportunity to:

- Develop a national network of young thinkers, writers and leaders.
- Build experience in publishing, editorial leadership and public policy.
- Work directly with FFA’s leadership and broader network.
- Shape conversations about some of the most important questions facing Australia.
- Help give a new generation of Australians a stronger voice in the national debate.

Location: Flexible / Australia-wide Commitment: Part time volunteer role, with flexibility around study and work commitments

Reports to: FFA CEO

📌 PODIUM Director (Australia)
🏢 Future Forward Australia
📍 Australia