Geelong based teacher, Ainslie Howard, completed degrees in Teaching and Arts at Deakin University. She has a particular interest in communicating with others; majoring in Indonesian language for her arts degree, studying German for many years and more recently, completing training in Auslan (Australian Sign Language).

She is active within the Geelong community, involving herself in activities such as organising fundraising and other media events for a committee member for the Geelong Supercats Basketball Team, playing representative basketball for a decade and running local secondary school programs.

Ainslie was also involved in aid work in the Philippines during 1997-98, focusing her efforts on better education and health facilities.

Her decision to seek a senate seat in Victoria arose out of her desire to see a positive future for her children. She believes that the climate change issue can be classed as a crisis, and that we must address it immediately. And that it isn't necessary to have a science to degree to understand that we are damaging the earth on a daily basis.

Ainslie wants to represent the majority of everyday Australians who are deeply concerned with the apathetic government attitude in dealing with these issues.

Married for seven years to Wayde, Ainslie has two young children, Emma and Samuel.