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Contributing
Writers - May 2012 Issue
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Durkhanai Ayubi is a senior policy
analyst of Afghan origin who migrated with her family to
Australia in the 1980s, at the height of the
Soviet-Afghan War. She believes that the pen is mightier
than the sword; this spurs her passion for social
commentary and writing about the experiences of
minorities. She is ‘a lover of all things challenging
and a rejector of all things dull’. She holds a
Bachelor of Science, and an Honours degree in Chemistry
from the Flinders University of South Australia, and is
currently undertaking a Masters in Business
Administration at RMIT.
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Dr
Ann
Black is a lawyer and academic at the Law School of the University of
Queensland where she teaches courses on: Introduction to Islamic law, Asian Legal
Systems, Criminal Law and Legal Method. Her main research interests are the two
Sultanates of Brunei and Oman, and the role of Islamic law in common law
nations, like Australia.
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Hanifa Deen
is an award-winning
author who writes narrative non-fiction and lives in
Melbourne. Her books include: Caravanserai: A Journey
Among Australian Muslims; Broken Bangles; The Crescent
and the Pen and The Jihad Seminar. Her
latest book is Ali Abdul v. The King (UWA Publishers
2011).
Previous appointments include:
Hearing Commissioner, Human Rights and Equal Opportunity
Commission of Australia, the Board of Directors, Special
Broadcasting Services (SBS) as well as senior positions
in WA and Victoria in ethnic affairs bureaus. Currently she writes full-time and
is an Honorary Fellow at the National Centre for
Excellence in Islamic Studies, University of Melbourne.
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Maysaa Fahour
is a primary school trained teacher and holds a Bachelor of
Education from the University of Melbourne where she majored in
Philosophy and Imaginative Teaching. She is currently serving
as Chairperson on the Islamic Museum of Australia’s Board.
She believes it’s essential to reinforce positive roles and
community values for Muslim youth living in 21st century
Australia. Maysaa has three wonderful children.
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Salwah
Kirk
leads a charmed working life of interest and variety,
and now lives quietly in retirement with her family, her garden
and enough time to read.
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Dakhylina Madkhul is a practising
psychologist who hopes that nobody will hold that
against her. She works as a counsellor with families and
children from culturally and linguistically diverse
backgrounds, including new and emerging communities. She
is actively involved in the educational and community
welfare sectors, with a particular focus on women and
young people. She was also a regular panel member
appearing on the popular SBS TV show Salaam Café.
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Miriam
Mortimore
is a third
generation Australian Muslim of Pakistani and British heritage. She has a
Bachelor of Economics and a Graduate Diploma in Information Studies. Based in
Perth, she has over twenty years experience managing research libraries in the
public and private sector. In addition to her library expertise, Miriam has also
worked in the information and knowledge management professions. Born to
Generation X, Miriam is a passionate advocate of post modernism and where
possible approaches her work life in non traditional ways, often deviating from
established practice.
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Amra Pajalic is an award-winning
author born in Melbourne's Western suburbs to parents of
Bosnian background. A life-long reader, she realised
early on that books representing her kind of story were
rare: books about being from a migrant background and
the family expectations that come with this, while at
heart being ‘Aussie’. In her writing she relates
stories that might not otherwise be heard. She holds a
Diploma of Arts in Professional Writing and Editing and
a BA.
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Mona
Said is currently working in the United Kingdom. She
prefers using a pseudonym to write her articles and is
also working on her first novel. She is a great
traveller and a strong believer in global citizenship
and hopes to return to Australia one day in the future.
She is a strong advocate for Palestinian rights.
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Silma
Ihram is an educator and
trainer. She has for many years been active in the field
of education through the establishment of pre-school,
primary, secondary and tertiary institutions. She holds
a Master of Arts Hons. and is a community advocate for
the Muslim community. She is currently the Director of
Diversity Skills Training in Auburn, SW Sydney.
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