Harrowing humility

As she respectfully acknowledged the past and present traditional custodians of this land and noted how humbled she was to be in the presence of such distinguished guests, inspiring graduates, at an educational institution which embodied values that echoed her own – it struck me that our University was really the one to be humbled, by honouring this graduate.

Ms Zaheda (Zoe) Ghani, ECU Honorary Doctorate Recipient, champion of humanitarian causes and positive change in diversity and inclusion, was once a five year old girl growing up in war torn Afghanistan who was desperate just for the opportunity to go to school.

Zoe is now a successful technology executive, inspiring former refugee, talented and uplifting author, and dedicated ambassador of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).

At ECU’s recent Graduation Ceremony for the School of Education and School of Science, Vice-Chancellor Professor Steve Chapman congratulated Zoe as he presented her with the honorary degree of Doctor of Science honoris causa.

“We are delighted to recognise you with this honorary award for excelling in you in your field of technology, for continuing contribution to humanitarian causes and leadership in promoting women in technology,” said Professor Chapman.

“As an honorary graduate of this University you join an eminent group of individuals who are a source of inspiration to our students, and who have honoured the University by accepting our awards - Zoe, you epitomises the true spirit of inspiration, leadership and commitment.”

Zoe has channelled her drive for hard work, passion, and her wide-ranging expertise into furthering her career by taking on various roles in technology and product management before joining The Iconic in 2015 as Director of Product. Zoe then was appointed Chief Technology Officer for The Iconic in 2017. She is now one of Australia’s top technology executives, taking on her current senior role as Head of Product, Experience Platform, at software giant Atlassian in July 2020.

Her continued devotion to the wellbeing of refugee communities in Australia led her to become a member of the Australian Board for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). She has dedicated herself and her skills to serve this community becoming a UNHCR Ambassador in 2021, a key advisor and a Founding 50 member of The Leading Women Fund.

Zoe’s strong, passionate voice as well as her extraordinary resilience is further evidenced by the success of her 2022 debut novel, Pomegranate and Fig. This book was shortlisted for the Richell Prize for Emerging Writers in 2018 and she was the Winner of WestWords Emerging Writers Fellowship in 2019.

Zoe is a role model within, and beyond, the tech world for both women and refugees. Her determined approach to breaking down barriers and promoting women through support has seen her utilise her platform to champion women in STEM and to highlight the importance of visible role models and access to opportunities for both women and refugees.

When Zoe took the stage, she expressed how deeply moved and humbled she was by the recognition of what she called her ‘small contribution’.

“I am still waiting for someone to say, oh no sorry this was a mistake and take this prestigious award from me. This night has elevated my imposter syndrome to new heights!,” Zoe said.

So utterly relatable – however her journey is anything but relatable for most of us. It is truly harrowing.

The journey in life she shared with guests provided a true perspective of why the pursuit of education and the refugee cause is so deeply important to her.

Zoe was born in Herat, Afghanistan in 1977 just prior to the Soviet Union invasion in late 1979. She spoke of being obsessed with going to school at a time and a place where it wasn’t safe.

Growing up as a small child in Afghanistan in the early 80s, the war raged around her and she had a very real feeling that any moment a bomb would drop, like one had near the school.

One day her parents gave into her nagging and let her go to the school to see what the other children experienced – but it was just for a day and she was too distracted to concentrate. It was at that age that her parents decided to leave Afghanistan.

The family spent 4 years in New Delhi, living off their savings and help from UNHCR cash assistance, before they decided it was time to find a more permanent home as the war was not showing any signs of ending.

As the family applied to countries such as the USA, Australia and Canada, the prospect of new start, in a new country, with new experiences, was exciting and daunting at the same time, especially for a child.

Zoe explained it was exciting because it heralded a new start but daunting because for the first time she realised that going back to Afghanistan was no longer an option.

“It was not a choice of luxury, of choosing where we go, the way I am blessed now to have in my life, it was a question of survival. We were seeking desperately to be accepted by any country which would take us,” said Zoe.

In 1987 the family were accepted as refugees in Australia and resettled in their new permanent home Sydney, where Zoe was glad to be back in school.

She remembers how a kind teacher showed her the library and introduced her to the first novel she ever read, called When Hitler Stole Pink Rabbit – which became an inspiration for her own writing.

“The book by Judith Kerr is about a young girl around the same age as me, who became a refugee. Reading her story, it made me understand my own story; - here was another girl who had left the things and people she loved, who had to flee. I became obsessed with becoming a novelist like Judith Kerr and to write my own refugee story one day,” said Zoe.

“Since then I wrote and wrote, initially I wrote my biography as a nine year old, just like Judith had done, I sent it off in a scented diary with a lock and key to be published - only never to see it again.

“I have never visited a bookstore without wishing my book was also on the shelf. I am blessed that the dream did come true last year with the launch of my novel Pomegranate and Fig thanks to Hachette.”

Zoe reflected on some her most difficult times, living in a housing commission in Western Sydney where she walked home from high school to the words “go back to where you came from” ringing at her back.

She shared the pain and frustration at thinking, “I would go back, but I can’t” of wanting to explain, “there is a war there. We didn’t have a choice”.

Zoe said when she came home in tears, her parents reminded me of the bigger purpose of her life, that she needed to make the most of this chance, focus on her education and work hard and contribute to the country that has given us a safe home.

While initially struggling to adjust to her new life in Australia, her strength of character, determination and a genuine sense of gratitude helped her embrace the opportunity.

It was when the family became permanent citizens that she stopped thinking about herself as a refugee but rather a former refugee.

She believes there is a fine line between her and those refugees who are displaced inside Afghanistan or in camps or in exile right now around the world.

“There was a fine line between my pursuit of learning, the way it has gone for the women and girls of Afghanistan right now,” says Zoe.

“That could have been me. So I do my best to give back in small ways through my UNHCR and RACs (refugee advice and casework) NSW work; the purpose of the blessings is to share them and I feel blessed to be able to do so.”

In closing Zoe thanked Edith Cowan University for the great honour, saying she would strive to be deserving of it in all that I do.