Zahra Al Hilaly

Gender equality and youth advocate

2023 WA Young Australian of the Year Nominee

Zahra Al Hilaly is determined to be heard. A first-generation Australian from a Palestinian and Iraqi family, she advocates for gender equality and sustainable change at local, national and international levels. 

She helped deliver Christmas Island’s first leadership and advocacy summit for young people, which led to the creation of the Christmas Island Youth Association, encouraging young people to speak out about issues that affect them.  

Zahra has spoken for Australian youth at the United Nations and is in the UN Women’s 30 for 2030 Network of young gender equality champions.  

She is a participant of the UN Women’s Generation Equality Youth Task Force, where she aided in drafting of the Global Young Feminist Manifesto and contributed to the pledge of 40 billion dollars for gender equality initiatives by 2026.   

Zahra also delivers workshops to help organisations remove their unconscious biases when working with multicultural Australia.