Steph Hodgins-May

Biography

Steph Hodgins-May is a dedicated climate, environment and social justice campaigner, with a background in environmental law, advocacy, and healthy food systems.

Steph took her seat as a Senator for Victoria in May 2024, and holds the Early Childhood Education and Care portfolio, and the Science, Industry and Innovation portfolio.

She has worked as an adviser to the United Nations in New York, successfully strengthening Australia’s position on the impact of the climate crisis on food security, negotiating stronger reef protections and increasing Australia’s humanitarian intake of refugees and asylum seekers.

Steph’s fight for climate justice has taken her across the globe - she has worked as the Head of Pacific for a major international non-profit, achieving landmark legal victories in deep allyship with Indigenous frontline Pasifika communities.

Born to a fifth generation farmer and rural public school teacher, Steph has a close connection to her regional roots in Central Victoria. She founded a local organic food business informed by her upbringing on the family farm.

Steph lives with her partner and two young kids in St Kilda.