First year student Linda Ma has been selected to represent Australia at an international summit in Russia with a focus on improving the lives of young women.

Linda, who is studying towards a Bachelor of Philosophy (Honours) majoring in Development Studies, will attend The G(irls) 20 Summit in Moscow from June 14-21.

“I’m really excited because this is the kind of thing I would like to get involved in,” says Linda who one day dreams of opening a leadership academy for young women in the Asia Pacific.

Linda, who is originally from Sydney, wants to see women in the Asia-Pacific region reach their full potential as leaders, teachers, writers, entrepreneurs, artists and businesswomen.

She is passionate about education and youth involvement in political affairs. After finishing high school she spent seven months travelling around the Asia Pacific learning about her heritage, teaching English in high schools and meeting women from all walks of life.

The summit brings together one female delegate, aged between 18 and 20, from each G20 country, plus a representative from the European Union and African Union. During the summit, delegates will look at the G20 leaders' agenda through the lens of the economic empowerment and inclusion of girls and women.

The delegates will debate, discuss and come up with ideas to improve the growth of communities, countries and companies by empowering girls and women globally and present these ideas to G20 leaders.

The delegates will draft communique to be forwarded to the G20 secretariat with ideas around improving women's empowerment and economic involvement, particularly in a development context.

For more information visit the Girls 20 Summit website