Ms Batty is fresh off handing the baton of Australian of the Year to Lieutenant General David Morrison.

She is one of two Australians named in the list, the membership of which is decided by a poll of Fortune's readership, and sits among lofty company. Also on the list is Angela Merkel (2), Pope Francis (4) and basketballer Stephen Curry (15).

Fortune and its readers clearly laud economic achievements. Topping this year's list was Amazon's Jeff Bezos, while Apple's Tim Cook took top spot in 2015.

Ms Batty was given 33rd spot for "selflessly putting domestic violence on the Australian agenda in a country where one in five women has experienced sexual violence after age 15," the magazine wrote.

Her son Luke, 11, was the victim of domestic violence when he was murdered by his father at cricket practice in February 2014.

Ms Batty has made it her mission to support women and children affected by family violence and trauma, and campaign on the issues.

"If Luke hadn't died in such an extreme way, I'd just be one of those 'family violence' people no one listens to," she is quoted as saying on her foundation's website. 

Mina Guli is the other Australian to make the list, at 45th spot.

Ms Guli is less well-known than Ms Batty, but her achievements are impressive.

The corporate lawyer turned activist ran 40 marathons across seven continents in seven weeks to raise awareness about water scarcity. She also operates her own activism organisation, Thirst.