Leadership Australia - A New Generation
Leadership Australia - A New Generation Alumni
Durkhanai Ayubi
State: Victoria
Durkhanai migrated to Australia in 1987 and went on to graduate with an Honours degree in Medicinal Chemestry from the Flinders University of South Australia. Since relocating to Melbourne, she has worked for the Federal Government agency which governs Australian media and communications. She looks forward to combining her public service skills with the leadership skills she hope to gain from this program.
Nesrean Sabbagh
State: New South Wales
Nesrean Sabbagh is a member of the local council advisory panel for Youth issues with the Blacktown Council, Youth Advisory Sub-Committee (YASC). She was the main speaker in an interfaith dialogue with another student from Ravenswood High School and was the recipient of the NSW Young Australian of the Year Award which was further published in the Blacktown Advocate Newspaper.
Zouhour El-Ghoul
State: New South Wales
Zouhour is now completing her Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice and recently completed her degree in Law and Social Science. She is currently employed at the Women’s Legal Service NSW as the Community Legal Education and Publications Review Officer and the current Vice President of ICRA Youth Centre Inc.Zouhour recently attended the Australian 2020 Youth Summit as a representative of young Australian Muslims, and has recently been selected to participate as a facilitator in the Federal Government’s National Student Leadership Forum.
Yasmeen Fatimah
State: New South Wales
Yasmeen is studying a Bachelor of Science at the University of Western Sydney and hopes to further her studies in Medicine. Her motto in life is, 'learn to accept destiny, after you try hard to change your destiny'.
Homa Forotan
State: Queensland
Homa is studying Biomedical Science majoring in Biomed and neuroscience at the University of Queensland. She is involved with the Muslim Student Association at the University of Queensland and also involved within her own community ethnic radio in Dari language at Radio 4EB.
Saltanat Bora
State: New South Wales
Saltanat is from an Uzbek and Uyghur background. She is undertaking her third year at the University of New South Wales, studying a Bachelor of International Studies and works as an English tutor to high-school students. Her aim is to help create a more positive image of Islam in the Australian community, and to help foster greater understanding across all cultures and communities. She also believes in the power and importance of education in developing a harmonious, tolerant society.
Sam Almaliki
State: New South Wales
Sam Almaliki is currently a Student of Law at the University of Wollongong. He is heavily involved with mainstream community organisations and holds many positions of responsibility. These include; Area Governor of his local Toastmaster Clubs, President and founder of the only junior winter cricket in NSW and 1st Vice President of his local Lions Club.
Abdul Rahman Ihdayhid
State: Western Australia
Abdul Rahman has completed studying Medicine at the University of Western Australia. Through the Medical Students Society at his university, he has previously run the sporting and community services portfolios. In thefuture, he hopes through his work as a doctor he can be of service to both the Muslim and wider community. He is also especially interested in dealing with Youth, to assist in the development of leadership, teamwork, communication and organisational skills.

Khadija Gbla
State: South Australia
Khadija is a is a member of the South Australian Government Minister’s Youth Council and provides a multicultural perspective of current and emerging youth issues and concerns. Additionally, Khadija is a member and secretary of the Charles Sturt Youth Advisory Committee and Chair of the Charles Sturt Mental Health Sub-committee. Khadija is also the youth leader for the Sierra Leone community on the Migrant Resource Centre’s Reference Group. As a passionate youth advocator, in 2006 Khadija became a peer educator for Shine SA who specialises in sexual health, education, advocacy, and support. In 2006, Khadija’s outstanding involvement and contribution to the South Australian community was acknowledged by receipt of a student citizenship award from The Order of Australia Association, Young Citizen of the year for the city of Charles Sturt Council, Multicultural Ambassador as well as being a finalist in the Channel Nine Young achievers Award for the category of a member of the Australian Youth Forum Steering Committee.
Saleha Awan
State: Darwin
Saleha Awan is in her final year of an Arts/Law degree. Additionally, she works part-time for the Department of Justice
Nadine Abdulhadi
State: New South Wales
Nadine is of Lebanese background and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in 2005 and Master in Teaching in 2007 from from the University of Sydney. She is currently teaching at a Secondary High School in the faculty of English and grateful to be able to educate young adults and help build for them a better future.
Nora Ihdayhid
State: Western Australia
Nora is of Palestinian background and currently studying pharmacy at Curtin University in Perth. She is also a member of the Curtin Muslim Students Association, where she has been involved in co-ordinating various activities including Qur'an classes, Eid Celebration events, an Islamic Fashion event as well as sisters sporting tournaments. She is also a volunteer with Muslim Womens Support Centre, and has helped organise an adventure camp for female Muslim youth earlier in the year.
Asma Babakarkhil
State: South Australia
Asma is of Afghan background and in her final year of a Bachelor of Business (International Business) and Bachelor of Arts (International Studies) at the University of South Australia, where she is also involved in the student Societies - Co-Vice Presient of the UniSA Islamic Society and President of the UniSA United Nations Society. Additionally, she works party time as an Interpreter for the two native languages of Afghanistan - Pashto and Dari and occasionally involved with assisting in settlement issue of Migrant families through the Afghan Islamic and Cultural Association.
Pashtana Yad
State: Werstern Australia
Pastana was born in Afghanistan, moved to India and then settled in Perth with her family 7 years ago. She is currently in her second year studying a Bachelor of Health Science. In 2006, she was a founding member of the Edmund Rice Centre Youth Leadership Group.
Mobinah Ahmad
State: New South Wales
Mobinah is a very passionate person and has been relied on for her skills and ability to work well under pressure. She holds a positive attitude. Strong morale, dedication and commitment and is a hard working individual keen to be involved in youth issues, policy development and community social cohesion work.
Metin Golbasi
State: Victoria
Metin came to Australia when he was two years old. In 2003, when he graduate from high school, alongside some fellow high school friends, we founded the Australian Turkish University Students Association, and planned and organised different social events, including: Folk Dancing, Theatrical Performances, informative public seminars, and many others. He has recently graduated from Economics at the University of La Trobe.
Nour El-Hooda Abdo
State: New South Wales
Nour holds a social work degree and has been involved in youth initiatives for many years both in government and non government agencies. She has been working at the Attorney General's department and working towards completing her Masters degree. She hopes to complete her Masters and undertake a PhD in a comparison study in Western Nations and the Middle East and explore opportunites for disadvantaged young people and its link to educational resources/opportunities.
Hamida Novakovich
State: Western Australia
Hamida has just completed her Arts degree at the University of Western Australia, majoring in Anthropology with Indonesian as a minor. she is currently undertaking a diploma of Secondary education, hoping to become a Social Studies teacher. She has been involved in extracurricular groups on campus at university, from Muslim Students Association to the UWA Guild where she was voted in as the Welfare Officer and Guild Councillor.
Fatoum Souki
State: Victoria
Fatoum works part time at the Victorian Arabic Social Cervices with Arabic speaking Youth in the West. Further, she also volunteers at the Western Suburbs Legal Service in Newport and just completed her practical legal training. Additionally, she has completed her Law/Legal Practice Management Course and Victoria University. She has just recently been admitted to practice law and is now working in the legal sector.
Omar Kabbout
State: New South Wales
Omar is studying Physical Education at the Australian College of Physical Education. He is currently coach of the local soccor team and has been the secretary of Karate at a sports club known as Spears Sports Club. On the sporting arena, he has represented NSW in Australian Karate achieving some noteworthy results. He has been an active volunteer at the Islamic Youth Association, 'Muslim Youth of Truth' where he plays a central role in educating Muslim Youth about drug abuse.
Nassiba Rezaee
State: South Australia
Nassiba previously lived in Afghanistan, but moved to Adelaide, Australia in 2005. She is currently studying at Kildare College in Adelaide, whilst working as a publisher designer for Karawan Organisation Inc. Nassiba is a member of the ASA and an executive member of the MSA.
Jasmin Ouaida
State: Victoria
Jasmin is from a Lebanese/Australian background and is currently studying a Bachelor of Social Science (Youth Work). She has been involved on a number of levels with community work, working closely with the Victorian Arabic Social Services. She has also completed training to become a pool lifeguard, as well as participating in the annual Youth Parliament of Victoria and was awarded the Lions Youth of the Year Award.
Naushad Ilahee
State: Victoria
Naushad is currently completing his majors in Finance and Marketing at Monash University, Clayton. He has been involved with the Economics and Commerce Student Society (Monash University), Monash Marketing Student Society, Amnesty International and the Islamic Council of Victoria. He is passionate about social justice and the implications of the global economic structure on poverty.
Mazen Bakour
State: New South Wales
Mazen was born and raised in Australia, with a Lebanese background. He completed his HSC in 2004 and has since worked as an Area Manager in the Hospitality Industry. Mazen has completed an Advance Diploma in Network Engineering. Recently he has worked as a Youth Development Officer for the Lebanese Moslem Association, working closely in the Canterbury/Bankstown region.
Farah Faiq
State: Victoria
Farah was born in Iraq in 1990 and has lived in Australia for 4 years. She has taken part in many community organisations such as the Domestic Violence Research Centre and other Muslim Youth organisations. Farah has been awarded the Merlyn Myer leadership award and in 2007 was a nominee for the Young Australian Muslim of the Year Award, in recognition of her community service achievements.
Farah Awan
State:
Farah is currently perusing a Bachelor in Business Marketing/Management and Human resource Management. She is originally of Pakistani/Asian descent, and moved to Australia at 13.
She is a member of the Youth Committee of the Islamic Society of the Northern Territory.
Shameema Kolia
State: Western Australia
Shameema migrated to Australia from South Africa nine years ago. The areas she is interested in working are, Muslims in Australia with a special interest in the identity of young Australian Muslims. She is also interested in the settlement of newly arrived migrants from humanitarian and refugee backgrounds. "My interest in leadership stems from these two areas’s which I believe needs leadership and representation at State and National levels to make a difference for the people."
Fawaz Ateem
State: Tasmania
Fawaz is currently enrolled at the University of Tasmania, completing a Bachelor of Engineering and has completed a Master of International Business.
Dahlia Rahman
State: Victoria
Dahlia is currently studying her third year of Journalism/Arts at Monash University in Melbourne. Born in Australia, Dahlia is also a part of the Life Saving Victoria Steering Committee for the Water Connections projects that targets the Muslim communities in the North-West region of Melbourne. Additionally, Dahlia has attained her Pool Lifeguard qualification in 2008, and hopes to initiate and facilitate weekly swimming lessons for Muslim women and children. In addition to this, Dahlia is involved with several other Islamic organisations, including the Mercy Mission Al-Farooq Program; and will soon commence work as the Website Content Officer for the Islamic Council of Victoria
Dahlia hopes to work with the Australian government in policy-making and research; and ultimately, become a university lecturer in Middle Eastern politics and Islamic studies.
Riyad Rahimullah
State: Queensland
Riyad Rahimullah was born and raised in Australia. He completed his honours degree in psychology with 1st class honours. Riyad has coordinated, organised, and assisted with many community events, predominantly for the Muslim Youth. His positions have included Muslim youth and community development officer for Muyslim Youth Services, president of the Muslim Students Association of the University of Queensland, and secretary of the Islamic Council of Queensland reveiw committee. Riyad has also been a committee member in various associations including the Muslim Students Association of UQ and QUT, Federation of Australian Muslim Student and Youth, Islamic Education Trust and Muslim Revers Education. Riyad plans to pursue a PhD and conduct research that will benefit the Muslim and Australian Community within the field of Psychology.
Manal Chawk
State: Victoria
Manal Chawk is an Arts/Law student at Melbourne University majoring in both development studies and political science. Her interests include photography, reading, and running, to name a few. She is actively involved in the community and in fundraising for various national and international causes
Fatih Erol Tuncer
State: Victoria
Fatih Erol Tuncer is a Melbourne born Australian Muslim with Turkish parents. Raised amongst Muslim role models, Fatih Erol aspires to one day become a good Muslim and continue the cycle of tolerance, understanding, dialogue, peace and service to the Australian community. A graduate in Human Resource Management / Marketing from Latrobe University, Fatih Erol currently works in media as a Program Editor and also works part-time as the acting co-ordinator of the Ansaar Muslim Mentoring Program at Whitelion. Fatih Erol is also a volunteer with the Selimiye Youth Support and Recreation Inc and finds great satisfaction in serving the community and spreading the message of peace.
Zarpana Babakarkhil
State: South Australia
Zarpana has completed a degree in Biomolecular Chemistry at the University of South Australia during which she worked as an interpreter with afghanistan migrants. She is currently completing an honours degree and continues to be involved with the Afghan Cultural and Islamic Association. Recently, she has developed a group for Muslim girls and is interested in pursuing involvement in the opportunities presented in local state government for the voice of Muslim women.