French-born Perth woman Gaelle Beech is committed to transforming fashion from the stuff of sweat shops to a profitable industry that empowers craftspeople in the developing world.

Fired with dreams of becoming an artist from an early age, Holly Marsden long relied on art to bring her joy. However, art become so much more to her after she endured a vicious sexual assault. She turned to painting to get her through her darkest days and now guides others to pursue their passion for art. She believes, quite simply, that art has the power to save lives.

This young Danish woman has dedicated her life to saving Nigeria’s ‘witch children’. From one day to the next these children are branded a witch, ousted from their families, often tortured, sometimes murdered. Outraged at the horrific practice, Anja moved to Nigeria to rescue accused children. She then homes those she saves in an orphanage and seeks to overcome the horrors they’ve endured with the healing power of love.

Evie Farrell was drowning in the Sydney rat-race, disconnected from her five-year-old daughter and yearning for something more. After the unexpected death of a friend she decided enough was enough. She quit her job, rented out her house and embarked on an 18-month travel adventure to reconnect with her daughter. She has gained so much from the experience that she now urges other mums to unleash the chains of convention, swap possessions for memory-making and embrace the rich tapestry of experiences that travelling as a family can offer.

Carina Hoang fled South Vietnam in the aftermath of the Vietnam War, endured a traumatic escape from which she barely survived, and now returns to the Indonesian isles to which she once escaped on an annual pilgrimage to uncover the lost graves of other Vietnamese refugees. Guided by faith, spiritual belief and the knowledge it was so nearly her laying in an abandoned grave, her efforts are bringing desperately awaited relief to families yearning to give a proper burial to long-dead loved ones.

Patricia Lavater has saved hundreds of lives through her work with troubled and drug-addicted young women. She takes women who’ve given up on life, and counsels them, helps them detox and, perhaps most importantly, reminds them of their inner potential.

When Karen Winnett’s daughter Eleanor was four months old she was advised her baby would unlikely live past two years old. Go home and love her while you’ve got the chance, she was advised. Or, worse, don’t get too attached as she won’t be with you for long. But this fiercely determined mother refused to listen. Through sheer grit, unflinching determination and steadfast denial Karen has kept her bright and intelligent daughter alive. This year Eleanor celebrated her 22nd birthday.