Jason Ball is a trailblazer and his work championing equality in Australian sport and beyond has sparked nationwide conversations and real-world change.

His decision to come out publicly as a gay Aussie Rules player helped bring the issue of homophobia in sport to the forefront in Australia.

His story captured the national attention and acted as a powerful driver for action.

He credits his Bachelor of Arts (BA) at the University of Melbourne as laying the foundation for this work as an activist and campaigner.

“One of the big lessons early on was the power of a personal story to reach people,” he said.

“Sharing my personal experiences as someone who is gay and played sport and the homophobia I encountered was a real game-changer as we hadn’t had a story like that in the public space.

“I understood early on the transformative power of personal storytelling to inspire change.”

Since then, Jason has been a national figurehead for LGBTQI+ equality. He co-founded Pride Cup Australia, stood for two federal elections and was awarded Young Australian of the Year for Victoria in 2017.

Now living in London, Jason has stepped into the role of Executive Director at GiveOut, an award-winning community foundation supporting LGBTQI+ activism around the world.

He said his Arts degree was instrumental in helping him tackle complex social issues and drive change.

“Studying helped me cultivate a passion for social impact. Every job I’ve had since has been about creating positive change,” he said.

“Understanding systems of oppression and how to challenge them isn’t something you pick up overnight. My Arts degree gave me that critical lens.”

Jason also highlighted the communication skills, critical thinking and emotional intelligence that his degree helped build.

“One of the most valuable things was learning to look at problems from different perspectives and engaging with diverse viewpoints respectfully,” he said.

“That’s been essential in every aspect of my work whether campaigning, building movements or now engaging donors and supporters to back LGBTQI+ activism.”

When Jason was Head of Grant-Making at GiveOut he was responsible for building deep, trust-based relationships with LGBTQI+ activists around the world.

He worked closely with partners to understand their needs and turn their work into compelling, donor-ready narratives while also rapidly learning the principles of best practice grant-making.

“I came into the role without formal grant-making experience, but with a strong grounding in activism, global issues and strategy,” he said.

“What mattered most was my ability to connect with partners, tell their stories with integrity and learn how to manage grants responsibly and equitably.”

Now as Executive Director Jason’s focus has shifted to unlocking new resources and inspiring broader philanthropic support for the movement.

He says the skills developed through his BA like the ability to absorb complex material, construct a persuasive argument and communicate clearly have ben essential throughout his career.

“It was in my Arts degree that I learned to read widely, think critically, and write persuasively,” he said.

“Those are the tools I’ve used every day since, whether I’ve been campaigning, leading teams, or working across sectors.”

Jason said the degree also gave him the freedom to explore ideas and follow his passions.

“My Arts degree gave me the space to discover what interested me. From philosophy and politics to cinema and economics. It was all there,” he said.

He graduated with a double major in politics and cinema studies. While politics became central in many parts of his career he never pursued film professionally.  

“Even though I didn’t go on to work in film, it was something I seriously considered at the time. Those studies sparked a lifelong passion,” he said.

“I’m still a huge film buff, and I carry with me the critical lens and creativity that cinema studies helped develop.”

Jason’s journey from early activism to international LGBTQI+ leadership is testament to the power of purpose, action and education.

His vision for equality is one he believes can be achieved by more people choosing to follow their interests and recognising the real-world impact of the Arts, Social Sciences and Humanities.

“In today’s world, we need critical thinkers more than ever,” he said.

“We need people who are curious, who question the status quo, and who are brave enough to imagine something better. That’s the gift of an Arts education and it’s how we can build a more just and equal world.”