Zahra Al Hilaly (she/her) is an Australian lawyer, journalist, and policy practitioner with eight years of experience working at the intersection of human rights, climate justice, and gender equality. With a strong commitment to amplifying the voices of marginalised communities, Zahra works across grassroots movements and global policy spaces to influence systems-level change.

Zahra has held leadership roles across prominent intergovernmental and advocacy organisations, including serving as CEO of Oaktree, where she led international development programs supporting young people across the Asia-Pacific. Zahra has also worked as an international consultant for UN Women and Restless Development, contributed to the Youth Negotiators Academy’s global climate training programs, and is currently a member of UN Women’s Leaders Network. She has led advocacy campaigns focused on equity, gender, and child rights, and regularly advises international organisations on climate diplomacy and multilateral processes, including the UNFCCC and the Commission on the Status of Women.

As a Palestinian and Iraqi woman, Zahra believes storytelling is a key to connecting people from all lived experiences and backgrounds. Her leadership has been recognized with honors, including the 2024 Forbes 30 Under 30, Western Australia Young Person of the Year, and the Australian Women in Excellence recipient, among many others. Zahra holds a Bachelor of Law, a Bachelor of Communications (Journalism), and a Graduate Diploma of Legal Practice.

Participant in: August 2023 Fellowship: The Arts as a Tool for Peacebuilding