Jess Walsh

Jessica Cecille Walsh (born 16 May 1971) is an Australian politician and trade unionist. She is a member of the Australian Labor Party (ALP) and has served as a Senator for Victoria since 2019. Since 2025, she has held the position of Minister for Early Childhood Education and Minister for Youth in the second Albanese ministry. She grew up in the suburb of North Balwyn. She holds the degrees of Bachelor of Arts (Hons.) from the University of Melbourne, Master of Arts from the University of Southern California, and Doctor of Philosophy in economic geography from the University of Melbourne.

Career From 1998 to 2000, Walsh was a research fellow at two progressive think tanks in the United States, the Institute for Policy Studies and the Economic Policy Institute.

Politics Walsh joined the ALP in 2005.

Walsh was elected to the Senate at the 2019 federal election, to a six-year term beginning on 1 July 2019.

Personal life Walsh has two residential properties in Melbourne and South Gippsland. She has an investment property in Byron Bay.