The Pakistan Women in Leadership Network is part of a larger network of Australia Awards alumnae in South and West Asia who are dedicated to maintaining ties with Australia while actively promoting and supporting women’s development.
Discover who drives Pakistan’s most active members of the Australia Awards Women in Leadership Network, as well as the work they perform and the changes they wish to see in the country.
1. 1. Lubna Javaid
1.1. Programme Director — Pakistan Poverty Alleviation Fund (PPAF)
Samina Baig, the first Pakistani woman to have climbed Mount Everest, is one of my biggest inspirations—to me she is a true reflection of strength, determination and hard work.
Lubna Javaid
1.2. Who inspires you?
Samina Baig represents strength, determination, and hard work to me. She is the first Pakistani woman (of three) to summit Mount Everest and the first Pakistani woman to reach the Seven Summits (the highest mountains of each of the seven continents).
Dr Ruth Pfau, for her unselfish dedication to aiding Pakistani leprosy victims.
1.3. What changes do you want to drive in Pakistan?
Stability, representation of citizens’ demands in public policy, improved governance, poverty reduction, women’s empowerment, and acceptance of pluralism and variety are among the improvements I hope to see in Pakistan.
1.4. Tell us more about you?
I firmly believe in the adage “live and let live.” I want to encourage diversity acceptance. My love is travelling and learning about different cultures. I also enjoy photography and am excited to offer my perspective on the world with a larger audience. I’m currently studying to play the flute and hope to be able to perform some melodies soon.
1.5. Fields of work
- Governance
- Conflict Transformation
- Poverty Graduation
- Programme Design, Implementation and Management
1.6. Education
- Master of Development Studies from the University of Melbourne, Australia (made possible through an Australia Awards Scholarship)
- Master of Public Administration from Quid-i-Azam University, Islamabad, Pakistan
1.7. Social Life – Lubna Javaid
2. 2. Ayesha Jabbar
2.1. Education Consultant and Manager – Oxford University Press Pakistan
I want to improve the quality of education in Pakistan and ensure children across the country have access to reading material and libraries.
Ayesha Jabbar
2.2. Who inspires you?
Basarat Kazim, because she is a genuine woman of substance. For her courage, resolve, and humility—her elegance, resilience, and dedication to ideals.
My mother, for her courage, strength, and constant determination, and thanks.
Amina Saeed, for her humility, capacity to listen and interact, as well as her hard work and strength.
2.3. What changes do you want to drive in Pakistan?
I want to increase educational quality, ensuring that all children in Pakistan have access to books and libraries, and encourage inclusion and diversity.
2.4. Tell us more about you?
I am a teacher, storyteller, teacher trainer, and idealist in the development sector. I am a self-proclaimed philosopher, a desperate Twitter junkie, and a true activist! I like to read, cook, and draw. My current hobbies as an aspiring illustrator are calligraphy and hand lettering.
2.5. Fields of work
- Education Management
- Professional Development
- Educational Materials Development
- Teaching
2.6. Education
- MA in Education from the University of Melbourne, Australia (made possible through an Australia Awards Scholarship)
2.7. Social Life – Ayesha Jabbar
3. 3. Rabia Zafar
3.1. Director ORIC/Assistant Professor
3.2. Sardar Bahadur Khan Women’s University, Quetta
I want to win the Nobel Prize one day.
Rabia Zafar
3.3. Who inspires you?
- Hazrat Khadija
- Marie Curie
3.4. What changes do you want to drive in Pakistan?
I want Pakistan to be a wealthy country economically. With my personal efforts, I hope to bring about a revolutionary transformation in Pakistan’s science and technology fields.
3.5. Tell us more about you?
My professional and personal ambition is to one day be awarded the Nobel Prize. I am a single person who currently resides with my parents.
3.6. Fields of work
- Scientist
- Environmentalist
- Administrator
- Manager
- Socialist
3.7. Education
- PhD from Imperial College, London, UK
- Master of Applied Science (Environmental Science), from the University of Sydney, Australia (made possible through an Australia Awards Scholarship)
3.8. Social Life – Rabia Zafar
4. 4. Raheela Saad
4.1. Head of Gender & Child Cell – National Disaster Management Authority
My mother, who went back to complete her education after bringing up five children, is a true inspiration to me.
Raheela Saad
4.2. Who inspires you?
Bilquis Edhi, as a social worker, wife, and mother.
After raising five children, my mother returned to school to finish her studies.
4.3. What changes do you want to drive in Pakistan?
I see a Pakistan with equal opportunity for women and the freedom to make their own decisions—a nation full with greenery, music, and smiles.
4.4. Tell us more about you?
Following graduation, I entered the civil service. I’ve since earned three degrees and, more importantly, given birth to three princesses. I adore reading literature and gardening, but my greatest passion is travel.
4.5. Fields of work
- Public Policy
- Gender and Inclusion Management
- Disaster Management
- Training Design and Development
4.6. Education
- MSc in Project Management from the University of Queensland, Australia (made possible through an Australia Awards Scholarship)
4.7. Social Life – Raheela Saad
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