Maha Krayem Abdo OAM is a passionate advocate for social justice and serves as the CEO of Muslim Women Australia (MWA), formerly the Muslim Women Association, which, under Maha’s leadership, provides advocacy, policy advice, community development and domestic violence support for women and children.

Maha’s work has helped provide new arrivals and other women with safety and assurance. She also works at a local, national and international level to advise governments on policy, services and strategies for Muslim and non-Muslim women.

Maha knows the migrant experience firsthand having moved from Lebanon to Australia with her family in the 1960s. She has completed a Bachelor of Social Work, a Masters in Social Science, and Graduate Diploma in Family Dispute Resolution.

A trained social worker, Maha’s contributions to human rights, equality and community cohesion have been recognised through numerous awards. This year, Maha was a 2024 NSW Australian of the Year Nominee. In 2022, Maha received an Honorary Fellow from Western Sydney University, and was appointed as a Panel Member of the NSW Treasurers’ Women’s Economic Opportunities Review. In 2021, Maha was awarded the Committee for Sydney Unsung Hero Award, in 2016 Maha was the NSW Seniors Week Ambassador as well as the BreastScreen NSW Ambassador. In 2015 Maha was a finalist for the Australian Human Rights Commission’s Human Rights Medal, and she was the NSW Human Rights Ambassador for 2014-15.