While most 11-year-olds were busy trying to stay cool on a hot Saturday morning, Taya Rundle was sitting in the front row of a crowd listening to Barack Obama speak to the leaders of tomorrow.

Taya Rundle has kept her invitation to Barack Obama's speech at the University of Queensland. (ABC Southern Qld:Peter Gunders)

A member of the Queensland Country Women's Association (QCWA) young leader's program, Taya was one of several invitees from the group.

"We found out we were going last week but were asked not to say anything due to security," she said.

Audience members were required to have photo ID. As a primary school student, Taya didn't have one, so her school created one for her.

"When all my friends asked me why I got an ID card I had to say 'I'll tell you on Monday'."

Taya's mother Paige Rundle says it was a unique opportunity for her daughter.

"The speech was all about today's youth being tomorrow's future," she said.

"I think the best part she will get from the speech is how to effect change."

"He said it is the young people who can make a difference in this world," Taya added.

"And I'm pretty sure I was the youngest person in the audience."

After the speech the US president shook hands with several audience members.

"I was one of them," Taya said.

"We didn't exactly chat, but he said 'hello, it is nice to meet you young lady'."

But Taya couldn't take a photo with Barack Obama.

"The security guards were saying 'no phones in his face'. So we just said hello."

She did take away a memory of the kind of handshake a president gives.

"It wasn't too firm, but it wasn't loose," she said.

"It was a gentle handshake."

While Taya hasn't yet decided if she will pursue a life of politics, she does have at least one plan for the future.

"I'm going to have a great story to share at 'show and tell' tomorrow," she smiled.