MARIAM ISSA

Mariam Issa is a human rights activist focused on supporting the rights of refugees and developing the strengths and confidence of women in Australia and Africa.

Mariam fled from Somalia to Kenya in 1991 escaping civil war ahead of arriving in Australia as a refugee in 1998, as a mother with four children and one on the way. Along with her husband Mohammed she settled her family into the largely Anglo‐Saxon bayside suburb of Brighton in Melbourne, Australia. There, Mariam cofounded RAW‐Resilient Aspiring Women in 2012 ‐ a not‐for‐profit organisation focused on building community and social spaces for women to connect in.

Through her work with R.A.W. Mariam has touched the lives of many women and facilitated many compassionate conversations. Her insights inspire many women to find their strengths, confidence and personal power.

Session Title: Authentic Curiosity

Mariam has a clear vision of her childhood teachers and is reminded to this day of their passion and purpose for educating the next generation in the small village she grew up in. Although these educators did not have the collaboration of the government, nor that of the children’s families and very few resources to run the school they built, they used engaging and exciting methods that instilled awareness and presence in their students. The values they instilled in Mariam have given her strong roots in recognising the needs of the people she serves and those she supports through her work today. These teachers also taught Mariam the power of aligning clear intentions with identified visions.

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