International Women's Day 2025
Fella Hamilton has long championed the empowerment of women—a legacy that dates back to the 1960s when Fella herself volunteered for the Women’s Electoral Lobby (WEL), advocating for a society where women’s participation and potential were unrestricted, recognised, and respected.
Today on International Women's Day, under the leadership of Sharon & David Hamilton, we celebrate the achievements of women within our business and around the world.
Jessica Palti is a powerhouse of inspiration, dedicated to uplifting others from an early age. As the Co-Founder and Board Member of the Cambodia Rural Students Trust (CRST), she has played a pivotal role in transforming lives. In 2011, alongside her family in Melbourne, Jessica co-founded CRST—a not-for-profit, non-government organisation (NGO) committed to empowering students in Cambodia through education and opportunity.
Fella Hamilton’s connection with CRST was forged through the organisation’s collaboration with Days for Girls International. Last year, Sharon and David further strengthened this shared mission of empowerment by sponsoring two CRST students and funding the salary of one seamstress.
Jessica’s passion and unwavering dedication continue to drive meaningful impact, proving that a family’s vision can create ripples of change across the world.
We sat down with Jessica to hear about her inspiring journey at CRST and the other diverse roles she's taken on along the way. She discusses the profound significance of International Women’s Day and what it means to her.
1. What does CRST do?
By providing a hand up rather than a handout, Cambodia Rural Students Trust (CRST) empowers bright students from impoverished rural families with the opportunity to study at the best high schools and universities in Siem Reap, Cambodia. As a student-led and student-managed non-governmental organisation, CRST is committed to breaking the poverty cycle through education, mentorship, and skill-building. Our holistic approach goes beyond just a scholarship to study. Through mentorship, life skills, and business training, we equip students with the tools for a self-sufficient and impactful future, while also contributing back to the community. Through extensive mentoring, our students take active leadership roles, not only in managing the NGO but also in leading and managing six social enterprise projects that address pressing community challenges, including women’s empowerment, energy poverty, clean water and sanitation, and environmental sustainability.
2. Why & how did CRST start?
So you’ve probably heard the phrase “turning lemons into lemonade”—and that’s exactly what we did. In 2009, my 14-year-old sister, Stephanie, missed an application deadline for a school volunteer trip to Cambodia. Instead of seeing it as a loss, we turned it into a family mission. Two months later, six of us travelled to Siem Reap for a two-week volunteer experience at a rural English school—an experience that changed our lives. Over the next two years, we returned multiple times, meeting brilliant yet impoverished students who saw education as their path to a better future—not just for themselves, but for their families too. These students were the children of Khmer Rouge survivors, parents who had fled into the countryside during the war. Many couldn’t read or write, but they understood one thing deeply: education was the key to breaking the cycle of poverty. Determined to create a lasting impact, we founded Cambodia Rural Students Trust (CRST) in 2011, a student-led NGO focused on education, empowerment and inspiration. We began by sponsoring 22 students, whom we proudly call Generation 1. Fast forward to today, and we’ve just welcomed Generation 13! Over the past 14 years, CRST has supported 183 students, who have not only transformed their own lives but have also uplifted their families and communities. Through our social enterprise projects, they have reached thousands of rural students, extending the ripple effect of education and empowerment far beyond what we ever imagined.
Jessica Palti at work with the students at CRST
3. What has been your journey as the Co-founder & Board member of the CRST organisation & what does your involvement now look like?
Co-founding Cambodia Rural Students Trust (CRST) has been a rewarding and transformative experiences. What started as a small initiative to support 22 students has grown into a thriving, student-led organisation that has now supported 183 students and impacted thousands more in rural Cambodia. My role is still very hands-on and together with my dad, Aviv, we continue mentoring students, developing our education and social enterprise programs and applying for grants, securing sponsorships and sharing our mission, vision and outcomes with our donors. One of the most fulfilling aspects has been watching our students step into leadership roles, running programs that empower not only themselves but their communities. As a Board Member, I continue to provide strategic direction, mentorship, and global partnerships to ensure CRST’s sustainability and growth.
4. How is Days for Girls affiliated with CRST?
The Days for Girls program stood out to us for its sustainable, washable, and long-lasting menstrual kits—but equally important was its comprehensive educational component. We introduced the idea of launching a Days for Girls Enterprise to our CRST students in Cambodia, and to say they were excited is an understatement! They understood the life-changing impact this could have on their mothers, sisters, aunts, and rural students across the country. This was the beginning of Project G – Empowering Girls, just one of CRST’s social enterprise projects. We quickly got to work and became a certified Gold Standard Days for Girls Enterprise, training 5 seamstresses to produce high-quality kits, and preparing CRST students to become certified educators. Since 2018, we have sewn and distributed over 20,000 kits and provided menstrual health education to more than 25,000 high school students. By equipping rural high school girls with both knowledge and resources, we are not only keeping them in school but also empowering them to take control of their futures. This initiative continues to transform lives, creating a ripple effect of education, confidence, and opportunity for generations to come.
5. What other roles, projects & clubs are you involved in?
I am the Creative Director at Lifestyle Brands International, a leading home décor marketer with distribution across Australia and international markets. I am also a charter member of Rotary Passport Melbourne and the Public Image Director of the club. Currently, I am working on a humanitarian project with the Karen Women’s Organisation (KWO). Since the military coup in Myanmar in February 2021, more than 150,000 Karen Internally Displaced People (IDP) fled to the Myanmar-Thailand border. These communities, living in makeshift camps, are preserving traditions and educating their children while awaiting a return to their ancestral lands. Leveraging our network and experience through CRST, we are partnering with Days for Girls International to ship 3,000+ menstruation kits from the USA to Thailand. We are also overseeing the translation of the DfGI reproductive health education program into the Karen language, ensuring that students in IDP schools can access vital health education. Beyond menstrual health support, we are also distributing 2,250 SolarBuddy study lights, providing sustainable energy solutions that will empower children with the opportunity to learn, even after dark.
6. What is a typical working day for you, or is there even a typical day?
There’s no "typical" day for me—every day is different, which keeps things exciting! However, a few rituals keep me grounded. My mornings always start with a walk with our fur baby, Ollie (a brown Labradoodle who firmly believes he’s human), followed by some email ‘laundry’ – a strategy I picked up from Harvard Business Review’s productivity expert. Each evening, I prepare a to-do list for the next day, but flexibility is key! I juggle multiple roles—wife, daughter, sister, designer, marketer, mentor, sponsor coordinator, and project manager—switching between them as needed. Throughout the day I collaborate with our Lifestyle Brands team, CRST volunteers, and students, ensuring everything gets done, no matter how dynamic the day becomes.
7. What has been your association with Fella Hamilton & how is Fella Hamilton contributing to this cause?
My connection with Fella Hamilton began in May 2023, when I attended a breakfast they hosted for Celeste Mergens, the founder of Days for Girls International. We had some CRST students in Melbourne, and it was a fantastic opportunity to reconnect with Celeste, who had previously visited us in Cambodia in 2019. After the breakfast, we struck up a conversation with Mary, Sharon’s mother, who, in a small-world moment, realised she knew my grandparents! Sharon soon joined in, and as we connected the dots, our conversation naturally turned to Project G and our work in Cambodia. Fella Hamilton then kindly donated rolls of waterproof fabric used to make raincoats for a Rotary project I was working on in Timor Leste. A few months later, Sharon and David reached out as they were planning a trip to Cambodia after a clothing trade fair. They were eager to visit our Project G enterprise and see our work firsthand. In October 2023, the Project G team hosted them at the CRST Campus where learned more about CRST and helped pack our locally sewn menstrual kits. The next day, they joined our team for a Project G education workshop and kit distribution at a rural school 65km outside Siem Reap. Inspired by what they saw, Sharon and David generously committed to supporting Project G, specifically by funding the salary of one of our seamstresses and sponsoring two CRST students. Their support has been invaluable, and we are truly grateful for the growing partnership with Fella Hamilton, whose commitment to empowering girls and education is making a lasting impact.
8. What has been the most memorable moment in your career so far?
One unforgettable moment happened in 2019, during an educational workshop at a rural school deep in the Cambodian countryside. As we were wrapping up the lesson and preparing for the menstrual kit distribution, one of our team members pulled me aside. They shared that two students in the class—Bopha and Sievyien—had applied to join CRST and were eagerly waiting to hear if they had been accepted. They only had one final stage to go. I introduced myself to them, letting them know that the New Student Selection team would announce the results in a few months. I told them I hoped to see them again—though at that moment, none of us knew just how deeply they would become part of our CRST family. Later that year, both Bopha and Sievyien were accepted into CRST and joined the Project G Empowering Girls team as educators and team members. Fast forward to today and Bopha is now the General Manager of Project G, and Sievyien is the HR Manager! Seeing their journey—from hopeful students to empowered leaders driving change in their own communities is a powerful reminder of why we do this work.
9. What does International Women’s Day mean to you?
For me, International Women’s Day is a time to celebrate progress, acknowledge challenges, and take action to create a more equitable world. It’s about recognizing the strength, resilience, and achievements of women everywhere—especially those who fight against systemic barriers to education, opportunity, and equality. This day is also a reminder that there is still work to be done. From period poverty to gender-based violence to education gaps, millions of women and girls around the world still face significant barriers. International Women’s Day isn’t just about celebration—it’s about commitment. Commitment to equity, empowerment, and action that ensures every girl has the chance to reach her full potential.
10. What advice would you give to young girls today?
It’s the same advice I would give to myself, and any woman today. Dream big, take up space, and never doubt your worth. Too often we shrink ourselves to ‘fit’. Believe in yourself—you are capable of more than you think, so trust your abilities and don’t be afraid to chase your dreams. Surround yourself with people who lift you up - mentors, friends, and role models who inspire and support you. Use your voice - stand up for yourself, ask questions and advocate for change. And always remember, kindness is strength - lift others up, because we rise together.
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