Our Board of Directors
Meet our current Board Members
Mariam Veiszadeh (NSW)
FOUNDER & CHAIR
Mariam Veiszadeh, having personally experienced amplified levels of Islamophobia herself as a hijab wearing Muslim woman, founded the Islamophobia Register Australia in 2014.
She is an award-winning anti-racism advocate, former lawyer, diversity & inclusion practitioner, contributing author and social commentator.
In 2021, Mariam was appointed CEO of Media Diversity Australia.
She has held multiple board positions including formerly as Co-Chair of Australian Muslim Women’s Centre for Human Rights and Our Watch. She is also an Executive member Afghan Australian Advocacy Network #ActionForAfghanistan, a member of the Multicultural Advisory Group at the Australian Human Rights Commission and an Advisory Board member at Welcoming Australia.
Mariam has also delivered a TEDxSydney speech and featured as an Anti-Racism Champion by the Australian Human Rights Commission.
As a fearless advocate, Mariam is accustomed to being both an advocate against and a victim of islamophobia. In 2015, she made global headlines as she endured months of cyber-bullying for simply speaking out against bigotry. Australians responded by rallying behind Mariam using the hashtag #IstandwithMariam.
Mariam has many accolades to her name including Asian – Australian of the Year 2023 Awards, Professional Excellence Award Winner, Western Syd Uni Alumni Awards 2022 and Woman of the Year as well as Role Model of the Year, Australian Muslim Achievement Awards in 2015.
Dr Susan Carland (VIC)
DEPUTY CHAIR
Dr Susan Carland is an academic, author, and social commentator. She has a PhD from Monash University’s School of Social Sciences, and is a Discovery Early Career Research Award (DECRA) Fellow and a Churchill fellow, researching the intersection between gender and Islamophobia. She has been named on the ’20 Most Influential Australian Female Voices’ list by The Age, been listed on the 500 Most Influential Muslims in the World list, and named as a “Muslim Leader of Tomorrow” by the UN Alliance of Civilizations. In 2022, she was a national finalist in the Australian Financial Review’s “Emerging Leader” in Higher Education award, and she has spoken about her research on Muslim women at the UN in Geneva.
- Susan recently authored ‘A War on Words: preliminary media analysis of the 2023 Israel-Gaza war’, a report commissioned by the Register highlighting the impact media reporting has on Islamophobia within Australia.
Hilal Yassine (NSW)
Hilal Yassine is an experienced Entrepreneur & Business executive with an extensive background in business, management and law.
Hilal is the Group Managing Director of First Quay Capital and serves as a non-executive director of (ASX listed) DomaCom, Crescent Group, and several private family companies.
Hilal holds Bachelor’s degrees in both Business and Law (UNSW, Sydney), a Master of Laws (UNSW, Sydney) and a Master of Business Administration,
Mobinah Ahmad (NSW)
Mobinah Ahmad is a digital strategist, an academic, writer, mentor, public speaker, media personality and educator in social media. She is known for her development of a socio-cultural Friendship Theory in 2015. Mobinah has served the multicultural interfaith community for fifteen years with her engagement in community work. She has been featured in world-class media outlets representing her ideas, community work, faith and identity.
Mobinah is a successful business operations and management professional with over 15 years of progressive leadership experience in diverse settings, including media, corporate, community, and social justice and implementing strategies.
Nesreen Bottriell (VIC)
Nesreen Bottriell is an advocate, researcher, and experienced business professional with expertise in strategic leadership within the community and international development sector. Currently the Chief Executive Officer at the Australian Muslim Women’s Centre for Human Rights, she has provided strategic direction to the organisation in various roles for the past 5 years. Nesreen is dedicated to advocating for social justice, equity and the rights of marginalised women, children and their communities.
Nesreen holds a Master of Community and International Development, a Master of Business Administration and is a qualified CPA. She has contributed to multiple research publications, on topics including Islamophobia, racism, and family violence. She is also a Board director at Respect Victoria.
Basim Alansari (NSW)
Basim has extensive experience in executive management in Australia and internationally. While his undergraduate and postgraduate studies have taken him from management to medicine, science, bioethics and public health; his career has been the sum of it all. His multidisciplinary expertise and modern leadership style have enabled him to lead healthcare and disability executive teams in various roles. Basim is the CEO of psychCentral, a leading multidisciplinary mental health and health care organisation in Western Sydney. He sits on a number of community boards, University advisory boards and Governmental committees.
Silma Ihram (SA)
Silma Ihram has been an educator since establishing Al Noori Muslim Primary School in 1983, working continuously in education for almost 40 years. She was the founder of two Muslim Schools and a Vocational College. She has held the position of Principal in 4 schools during that time.
A Muslim convert since 1976, she has been an active member of Muslim Women’s Associations since
the 70s and has been a community activist and frequent media spokesperson. She was also a founding member of the Australian Council for Islamic Education in Schools. Silma has conducted research on Muslim youth in Sydney, Muslim women converts and the barriers that exist for Muslim women’s employment and most recently Islamic pedagogy. She was awarded the Centenary Medal
for her work in the community. Silma is currently studying permaculture and working as an education consultant.
Safiah Rind (VIC)
Safiah Rind is a Yamatji Badimaya woman based in Naarm (Melbourne) and has connections in Jambinu (Geraldton) and Mount Magnet region.
Safiah has experience working in community initiatives and research. She has a Bachelor of Arts in Mass Communications with a focus on journalism and photography. Safiah also has experience in organisational development and strategic writing. Safiah has been working with organisations for the last five years in multi-media and content creation. She has experience and a passion in documentary filmmaking, photography and script writing.
Naima Ibrahim (NSW)
Naima Ibrahim is a writer, community worker and early childhood professional. Her work has appeared in various publications and she has been shortlisted for Kat Muscat Fellowship and Monash Prize in Creative Writing. She is currently working on her debut novel.
Hoosein Ismail (WA)
BOARD TREASURER
Hoosein was born and raised in South Africa. From the struggles of apartheid in South Africa to his work with communities and WA state government agencies, Hoosein has spent his life in the service of others and is committed to bringing people together in the spirit of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
During the 1980’s he resisted apartheid in South Africa and on moving to New Zealand in 1999, he worked with migrant communities to help them integrate in their new found home. In Western Australia he continues to do the same whilst also serving on numerous boards, committees and not for profit management teams.
Hoosein serves on the WA Police Advisory board for culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) communities as well as the Community Grants Program Assessment Panel appointed by the Minister of Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs. Additionally, he serves as Treasurer for the Al Hidayah Centre and the Bennett Springs Residents Association. In 2019 Hoosein’s contribution for his advocacy for Human Rights was featured at an exhibition in Fremantle by the United Nations.
Sabreen Hussain (NSW)
BOARD SECRETARY
Sabreen Hussain is a lawyer in the Disputes and Litigation team at Allens, a leading international commercial law firm. She is an Executive Member of the Muslim Legal Network (NSW), and a Portfolio Manager of Diverse Women in Law. She holds an Arts/Laws degree with a major in Politics and International Relations and a minor in Global Business from UNSW. Sabreen is passionate advocate for the rights and opportunities of marginalised and disadvantaged communities, and was a 2023 finalist for Australia’s Stellar South Asian Women Awards (Community and Advocacy).
