Noor Azizah: NSW Young Woman of the Year 2024 recipient

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Noor Azizah, a Rohingya refugee, defied adversity to become a passionate advocate and educator. Noor resettled in Sydney in 2003 after escaping the Rohingya genocide in Myanmar. Noor's early life was marked by homelessness and hopelessness. Today, as the co-founder and Director of the Rohingya Maìyafuìnor Collaborative Network, a Rohingya-led and refugee-led organisation, Noor champions Rohingya human rights, sexual and gender-based violence issues, and education. Her work addresses translocal solidarity with a focus on women, peace and security.

Noor holds a Bachelor of Education and a Master of Peace and Conflict Studies from the University of Sydney. Recognised for her dedication, she received the 2023 Stellar South Asian Women Award for Outstanding Global Impact and was named one of the 2022 Young Women to Watch in International Affairs by Young Australians in International Affairs.

Noor is a refugee advisor for the UN in Geneva and a One Young World Ambassador. She serves on Australia’s Refugee Advisory Panel and contributes to organisations like the Gender Audit Team and the Annual Tripartite Consultations on Resettlement (ATCR) Refugee Steering Group. She is also an English as a Second Dialect Specialist teacher in Sydney, empowering diverse students.