This International Women’s Day, meet the legendary ladies in Bali who are fighting to making a difference.
This International Women’s Day 2026 (Sunday, 8th March 2026), we’re shining a spotlight on the incredible women in Bali who have made huge positive impacts on the community. From eco-activists and local visionaries to international heroes– these women fight for the environment, the people, the animals and for peace. Yup, Bali is full of inspirational female Local Legends who deserve a mention on this historical day. Here are just a few of them…
Happy International Women’s Day to all the amazing women out there!
Women Fighting For The Environment
- Isabel and Melati Wijsen are the founders of Bye Bye Plastic Bags – a youth-driven community in Bali (and now across the world). For years, they’ve been taking action against the use of single-use plastic. They’ve spoke at over 1,000 global events (including TED Talks) and most recently, Melati built Youthtopia – a platform for young change-makers.
- Suzy Hutomo is the Co-Founder of Eco Tourism Bali – a sustainable, verification-based platform for accommodation and F&B venues to encourage eco-tourism and planet-friendly practices.
- Kania Maniasa is the Executive Director at the Green School Foundation – a non-profit organisation providing education on sustainability to Indonesian students.
- Maria Mutiara is the Founder and Director of The Rahayu Project – an initiative aiming to preserve Indonesia’s cultural heritage and sustainable resources.
- Elora Hardy is Bali’s world-famous bamboo architect and sustainable designer. She pioneered the movement towards wholly-sustainable design projects through her company IBUKU. Her projects include the boundary-pushing Green School Bali and Green Village.
Want to join the fight for the environment? Check out these eco charities in Bali and find out how you can help.
Women Fighting For The People
- Robin Lim is a human rights activist and CNN’s 2011 Hero of the Year. She founded Yayasan Bumi Sehat, helping underprivileged mums and their newborns achieve a better quality of life throughout pregnancy and after birth.
- Ni Luh Djelantik is Bali’s famed politician and activist for justice. She uses her local and social media influence to cast a spotlight on social issues in Bali. From exposing badly-behaved tourists and criminals, to fighting for gender equality.
- Jasmine Okubo is the Co-Founder of KITAPOLENG – an inclusive platform for local performing artists. She sets out to preserve rich Balinese traditions in the ever-evolving landscape of the arts.
- Camelia Sari is the Founder of the “Kindness Ripple Effect”. In 2025, she raised IDR 116,500,000 to build three homes for young families in Bali. She also supported flood victims, organised food drives and used her social connections to raise awareness and donations across Bali and Australia.
- Eileen Cassidy is an expat and social media influencer. She’s used her Instagram platform to raise funds for Bali Baby Home. Now, she is working towards raising AUD $325,000 to build a safe, permanent home for children who have been abandoned.
- Kim Farr is the Founder of Bali Street Mums Project – a foundation that aims to break the tragic cycle of poverty and female trafficking in Bali.
- Margaret Barry is the legendary Founder of the Bali Children Foundation. For two decades, she’s helped underprivileged children complete school and later find employment.
Women Fighting For The Animals
- Prue Barber is the woman behind Mission Paws’ible – a non-profit animal welfare organisation here in Bali. Prue has rescued over 800 animals and counting, and she also opened Bali’s first ever healing centre for injured animals.
- Bali Pet Crusaders is Bali’s first and original mobile sterilisation provider. The female-led team are on a mission to end the suffering of street dogs and cats. They prevent millions of animals from ending up on the streets through free sterilisations.
- Janice Girardi is the Founder of the world-famous Bali Animal Welfare Association. She and the BAWA team work around the clock battling to save Bali’s dogs, cats and heritage animals.
- Elizabeth Suttie is the Founder of Villa Kitty Foundation. The foundation rescues Bali’s abandoned cats, now with over 100 (and counting) resident felines in her care.
- Rhonda Lepsch and her team at Jet Set Petz helps Balinese families care for their pets as well as street dogs by providing free sterilisation, vaccination and even dog training.
Check out these wonderful animal charities in Bali that are in need of your help.
To learn more about International Women’s Day and the amazing women featured in this year’s #GiveToGain theme, check out the official International Women’s Day website.