Interview with Samantha Ratnam – Former Upper House Representative for Northern Metro (VIC)

From refugee to reformer, Samantha Ratnam shares how personal experience and public service intersect to drive political change.

In this episode of Bridged By Words, I sit down with Samantha Ratnam, former Leader of the Victorian Greens and Member for Northern Metropolitan Region in the Legislative Council. We explore her incredible journey from a Tamil refugee fleeing civil war in Sri Lanka to becoming one of Victoria’s most recognisable political voices.

Samantha shares reflections on her early work as a social worker, her advocacy for young people and refugees, and her path from local council and mayoralty to state parliament and beyond. From cultural inclusion to climate action, she gives listeners a raw and honest look at the demands of public life—and what keeps her grounded in the face of slow systems and urgent issues.

Tune in for a moving and motivating conversation about courage, community, values-based leadership, and what it really means to create change from the ground up.