Ruth Lewis-Jones, BDes,
Cert IV Pastoral Care
Founder, Designer, and Managing Director
“I am passionate about helping girls not feel the need to hustle for their approval and acceptance, but claim their intrinsic worth and be unashamedly authentic, not molded into other’s expectations, but FREE – Free to confidently be all they can be.“ – Ruth
Ruth is the 2017 NSW/ACT Young Achiever for Community Service + The People’s Choice Award Winner. She was also nominated for Young Australian of the Year. In 2016, Ruth was named finalist for the Telstra Business Women’s Award.
Ruth Lewis-Jones is the inspiring founder and CEO of the internationally acclaimed ChooseREAL Campaign and Nationally implemented Esteem Designz Program creating interactive platforms and resources to equip and empower girls and women in our communities.
Based in Sydney, Ruth also works as a school chaplain, youth developer, designer and is sort after to work alongside many community and welfare organisations to invest in the potential of their girls.
Ruth is a beloved motivational speaker and workshop facilitator for schools, events and conferences. She is “one of us”, overcoming these debilitating pressures herself and discovering tools and strategies to create transformation, freedom, hope and courage in our lives.
Motivator why? Ruth was alarmed as she witnessed the confronting issues and ever-increasing pressures girls in her community youth group – girls she poured her heart and soul into – faced daily.
Just like any other girl they received messages of perfection through the media, constant comparison, peer pressure and unrealistic expectations, and were not confident in who they were.
Ruth was determined to create a solution so the girls would be assured of their identity and better able to face those relentless struggles.
She didn’t just want to help the girls she knew and cared for; she wanted to affect many more. She wanted anyone to be able to empower girls. That was when the dream of Esteem Designz Program became a reality.
Ruth graduated in 2010 with a Bachelor of Design from College of Fine Arts, University of New South Wales, majoring in textile and graphic design.
She witnessed the devastating impacts the media and marketing has on teenage girls: how it strips away her identity and value to buy into a false media image with its resulting pressures.
Ruth also studied the power of design to create change, provide direction, meaning and hope in people’s lives. How design can support and empower, enhance and eliminate, uplift and inspire. She decided to use that unique creative approach to meet the needs of girls by giving choice, freedom, and skills and provide an opportunity for breakthrough and restoration.
She has a passion for teenagers and desires to see them valued and empowered.
Psychologists, art therapists, counsellors, social workers, educators and welfare organisations have been consulted throughout the development and design of Esteem Designz Program to ensure the resource responsibly meets and addresses the needs of teenage girls and their associations.