Dr Nora Amath (QLD)

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Dr Nora Amath is an expert community developer and sociologist whose research focuses on multiculturalism, social inclusion, diversity, leadership and community development.

Nora is a director of Yarah, a non-executive director of Islamic Relief Australia, an Adjunct Research Fellow at Griffith University, and an Australian Fellow at the Centre for Women, Faith and Leadership at the Institute for Global Engagement in Washington DC.  She is also a member of the Australian Multicultural Community Reference Group and is the founder and/or chair of a number of different organisations focussed on supporting people from diverse backgrounds, including the chair of the Australian Muslim Advocates for the Rights of All Humanity.  She also co-founded a DV refuge for multicultural women in Queensland and sat on the Queensland Women’s Safety Taskforce. Nora was the first female chair of Islamic Relief Australia.

In recognition of her efforts, Nora is a 2-time recipient of the Australia Day Community Awards, a recipient of the Queensland Day’s Award 2023 and a recipient of the Australian Muslim Achievement Awards as Woman of the Year. In 2017, she was a finalist in the Australian of the Year Awards for her social justice, interfaith and intercultural work . In 2024, Nora was included in the UN’s  Building a Better World: The Women Leading Religions for Peace global directory.

Sana Afiouni (NSW)

OPERATIONS AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT MANAGER

Sana Afiouni was the first employee to join the Register in July 2021 and has played a foundational role in shaping the organisation’s services. She established and continues to lead the Register’s victim support service — the core of the organisation’s work — ensuring that reporters receive compassionate, timely, and effective assistance.

Sana has developed vital referral pathways to mental health providers and support networks across Australia, enabling victims to access the care and resources they need. Her work directly supports the Register’s mission to empower and advocate victims of Islamophobia.

In addition, Sana also leads the Register’s digital marketing efforts. She manages content creation and oversees social media campaigns, helping to amplify the organisation’s message and engage with broader communities.

She is deeply passionate about fostering understanding and building bridges between Muslim and non-Muslim communities in Australia.

Sharara Attai (NSW)

DIRECTOR OF LEGAL AND POLICY                                              & CO-EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Sharara Attai is an Afghan-Australian human rights lawyer who is currently Co-Executive Director of the Islamophobia Register Australia.

Since joining the Register as inaugural Executive Director in December 2022, Sharara has expanded the work of the Register to incorporate education and training, and policy and law reform work. Under Sharara’s leadership, the Islamophobia Register Australia won the ‘Community Organisation of the Year’ award at the 2023 Australian Muslim Achievement Awards, and was nominated for the 2023 ZEST awards in the category of ‘Outstanding Project: Building Stronger Inclusive Communities’.  She is currently co-leading the development of a number of exciting new initiatives for the Register.

 Prior to joining the Register, Sharara had practised refugee law for 8 years. During her years of practice, she gave legal advice, assistance and representation to countless asylum seekers and refugees from a wide variety of countries. She’s also been active in defending refugee rights in other ways including through media articles.

In April 2023, Sharara became a finalist for the UNHCR – SBS Les Murray Award for Refugee Recognition due to her work with raising awareness on the plight of refugees.

 Sharara is also a picture book author, with her debut title ‘My Cousins, My World’ released in May 2025.

Nancy Higazy (VIC)

VICTIM SUPPORT AND OUTREACH OFFICER

Nancy has been committed to serving the Muslim community for over two decades in various
capacities. With a background in Social Work, she began by empowering individuals through employment support and facilitating access to meaningful job opportunities.
Transitioning into education, Nancy has served as a Secondary Teacher in Islamic schools, specialising in English, Humanities, and more recently, Qur’an and Islamic Studies.

Throughout her career, her consistent focus has been supporting the Muslim community, driven by her dedication to their advancement and well-being.

Lyeba Khan (NSW)

WELLBEING COORDINATOR

Lyeba Khan is an Australian actor, filmmaker and educator whose work sits at the intersection of artistic expression and a deep commitment to social justice. She is the Creative Director of Spaghettifish Productions, a collective that platforms Muslim voices and stories on screen and stage.

Lyeba is active across both Sydney and Toronto’s Muslim communities and media sectors. Her work includes producing charity shows, youth mentorship programs, and arts-based initiatives that promote community advocacy and spiritual strength. Her notable screen credits include writer/presenter on ABC’s ‘Behind the News’, actor in Screen Australia’s ‘Salma’s Season’ and voice over artist for the animated kids show ‘Zaky & Friends’. She also draws on her academic background in Islamic scholarship, history and languages to drive meaningful conversations through her community initiatives.