Jacinta Allan was elected as the Member for Bendigo East in September 1999 at the age of 25, making her the youngest woman to ever be elected to the Victorian Parliament.
Jacinta is currently the Minister for Regional and Rural Development as well as Minister for Skills and Workforce Participation.
As the Minister for Regional and Rural Development, she is responsible for continuing the Victorian Government's successful economic development strategies for regional Victoria.
As the Minister for Skills and Workforce Participation, Jacinta is driving a whole-of-government approach to tackle skill needs and secure Victoria's future economic prosperity.
Most recently Jacinta served as the Minister for Skills, Education Services and Employment and Minister for Women's Affairs. Previously, from 2002 to 2006 she served as Minister for Education Services and Minister for Employment and Youth Affairs.
Before entering Parliament, Jacinta worked in the office of Steve Gibbons MP, Federal Member for Bendigo, and for two years prior to that she worked in the office of Neil O'Keefe, Federal Member for Burke, and the Commonwealth Department of Industrial Relations.
Jacinta was born and grew up in Bendigo and studied at St. Joseph's Primary School in Quarry Hill, and Catholic College Bendigo before completing her BA (Hon) at La Trobe University in Bendigo.