Dr Farkhondeh Akbari arrived as a refugee in Australia and completed her PhD in diplomatic studies at the Coral Bell School of the Asia Pacific Affairs at the Australian National University. Her PhD research was about diplomatic actors and peace settlement negotiations with non-state armed groups. She has previously worked with the United Nations in New York, the Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission, and Afghanistan’s Independent Directorate of Local Governance in Kabul. Farkhondeh has published widely on gender issues and has served as a strong advocate for human rights – especially the rights of women and girls.